London is home to several restaurants that specialize in roast duck and whenever roast ducks are mentioned, the names that come to mind are the usual Four Season and Gold Mine.

But what you really need to try is New Fortune Cookie at Bayswater. This nondescript restaurant sits just right beside one of the exits of Lancaster Gate station, and it is super accessible via public transport.

New Fortune Cookie has been a perennial favourite and one restaurant that we must dine at whenever we are in London. Why? Because it is the best.

Over the last 5 years, we’ve had meals here every single time we visit London and none of them disappointed us. New Fortune Cookie is the most affordable option if you compare it to Gold Mine Restaurant and Four Seasons Restaurant, and has a good consistency to boast.

The duck is prized for its fats (in a wonderful way), and every bite of the fatty duck comes with a gratifying aroma that lingers. If you are a fan of fatty ducks, this is the real deal. Their meat to fat ratio is absolutely wonderful.

For £12 per half duck, New Fortune Cookie wins in terms of price.

The menu is huge, and includes many other Chinese stir-fry dishes but we’d say to not waste your time and just go for duck and more duck. If you must, they’ve got pretty fragrant Egg Fried Rice (£3.50).  And for us typical Chinese who need our greens, you’d be pleased to know that stir-fry vegetables start from £6.80. That’s pretty reasonable, huh?

Pro tip: go during dinner and with every order of at least half a duck, you can ask for a free soup of the day.

The Dragon Chamber is the first speakeasy restaurant in Singapore. A new dining concept by TungLok Group, The Dragon Chamber is hidden within Lokkee at Plaza Singapura.

For the uninitiated, a speakeasy usually refers to a bar which is hidden from plain sight; with that, part of the fun is in digging out its whereabouts. Go through a secret entrance in Lokkee and enter a different world. The Dragon Chamber is effortlessly hip and cool without trying too hard.

Do be warned that this new concept is not a space for political correctness. Only individuals aged 16 and above are permitted to enter. Contrasting Lokkee’s familiar, lovable Chinese-American recipes, The Dragon Chamber pushes boundaries by adopting experimental techniques and working with unconventional animal parts—think grilled pig’s tail and crocodile foot—to create a myriad of exotic dishes.

Whoever said dining in Singapore is getting boring most definitely need to know about The Dragon Chamber. Now, we promise you an experience unlike any other.

A KINKY INTERIOR

If you have been wondering about the story behind The Dragon Chamber, it is actually inspired by secret hideouts and gambling dens where Chinese gangsters used to hang out at. Let your hair down and be free from any social limitations!

The short journey from Lokkee to The Dragon’s Chamber is intriguing in itself. Entering through a random red door located in the middle of Lokkee, you will find yourself stumbling through a tunnel filled with mirrors and red fluorescent lighting. After which, you will move past a set of curtains which will eventually reveal a totally different space.

Upon entering and soaking up the atmosphere of the place, we finally understood what being in an underground Chinese triad den felt like. It was rather daunting at first, we won’t deny. The lights were dimly lit (there is only a total of 14 filament bulbs lighting up the entire place), giving the speakeasy restaurant a dark and dingy feel.

‘BAKKWA’ BACON SALAD

Making a grand entrance with an amazing fog effect, we were blown away by the beauty of the ‘Bakkwa’ Bacon Salad (S$32++). It is indeed a feast for both your eyes and taste buds.

What you get is succulent bacon strips grilled “bakkwa style”, giving it a lovely caramel coloured sheen and has a sweet and smokey flavour. Accompanied by fresh, oriental green salad, do not miss out on the lotus root croutons.

‘GUO TIE’ POTSTICKERS WITH DANCING CRAB® SIGNATURE SAUCE AND BAKED CHEESE

A collaboration with Dancing Crab®, those who are a fan of the Louisana seafood restaurant will recognise its signature cajun sauce which has been incorporated into grilled potsticker dumplings (S$18++). It is then topped with cheese before baking in the oven.

It was subtly spicy, giving it a good kick and the tartness from the sauce helped to cut through the intense meatiness of the potstickers really well.

CRISPY CORN ROLLS

Any corn lovers out there? You get to create your very own Crispy Corn Roll (S$14++) at The Dragon Chamber with stir-fried sweet corn and mini Sakura shrimp stuffed in tortilla cones.

JOSPER GRILLED PIG’S TAIL

Do not be put off by its name because the Josper Grilled Pig’s Tail (S$28++) is nothing too gross. In fact, it is very flavourful and much effort has been taken to prepare it. Grilled in a Josper oven, this method of cooking results in juicy and tender meat encased in delicate, crispy skin.

The staff will pull the meat apart. You have the option of enjoying it on its own, or wrapped up in lettuce leaves along with fresh cilantro and basil leaves to offset the intense porky flavours. To give it an additional kick, drip in a few drops of chili padi-infused fish sauce and enjoy!

‘MALA’ IRISH DUCK

This is not your typical mala dish. What we love about their ‘Mala’ Irish Duck (S$60++ for whole; S$36++ for half) is the in-house special mala sauce drenched over beautifully roasted Irish duck—it has a rich mala flavour without being overly spicy that it stings your tongue. A must-try for all duck lovers!

DRAGON’S CLAW

We wouldn’t blame you if you are wondering what Dragon’s Claw (S$60++) is because of its ambiguous name. It is essentially a crocodile’s foot! Yes, not one for the faint-hearted but nobody goes to The Dragon Chamber without trying this.

A Singapore farmed crocodile foot is braised in a herbal sauce and served atop a bed of kale. The melt-in-the-mouth texture and herbal taste resembled that of braised pig’s trotter.

Trust that The Dragon Chamber is not one to skimp on theatrics. The dish comes served surrounded by a ring of fire and once the fire dies out, that’s when you tuck in.

X.O. ‘GRUB’ CHOP SUEY

Daunting as it may look and sound, fret not because no actual grubs were used in making this dish. The X.O. ‘Grub’ Choy Suey (S$24++) features grub-like abomination that is actually a special type of artichoke.

The dish is stir-fried with mushrooms, kale and zucchini.

LOBSTER CRISPY NOODLES

The Lobster Crispy Noodles (S$25++ for regular; S$48++ for large) at The Dragon Chamber is one of our favourites. The juicy grilled lobster is as stunning to look at as it is delicious.

When the special gravy is doused over and the crispy ‘sheng mian’ absorbs the decadent sauce, enjoy it together with the scrumptious lobster and your day is sure to be made.

WAGYU TRUFFLE HOR FUN

It would be a sin to skip the Wagyu Truffle Hor Fun (S$50++). This dish left all of us speechless; it was easily the best dish on The Dragon Chamber’s menu.

Imagine medium rare A4 grade Wagyu beef atop warm hor fun. It is made all the better with crispy deep-fried hor fun strips, poached egg with a runny yolk and truffle gravy. The sheer explosive flavours is mind-boggling. As luxurious as hor fun can get, we will never look at hor fun the same way ever again.

SWEET MULBERRY EGG TEA

End your meal with Sweet Mulberry Egg Tea (S$7++), the house’s signature dessert that is brewed with egg, mulberry tea, dates and cane sugar.

Also known as ‘Sang Ji Sheng’, this is a delectable ancient Chinese dessert with many health benefits such as lowering blood pressure and improving blood circulation.

The Dragon Chamber
68 Orchard Road
#03-02 Plaza Singapura
Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 6884 4566
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

This post is brought to you by TungLok Group.

Golden Peony is an award-winning upscale Chinese restaurant located on the third level of Conrad Centennial Singapore Hotel. The fancy establishment is helmed by celebrated Hong Kong native Chef Ku Keung. He who possesses a wealth of culinary experience will impress with his selection of Cantonese delicacies executed with adroitness.

Despite receiving numerous accolades, Golden Peony’s menus remain surprisingly reasonable.

This month, the restaurant is launching three new exciting value-for-money set menus that is sure to pique your interest – the most popular is Chef Ku Keung’s Tasting Menu (S$100++ per pax), the Golden Peony Dim Sum Weekend Experience (S$59++ per pax) and Golden Peony Weekend Dinner Family Set Menu (S$180++ for four pax).

And that’s not all. We have partnered with Golden Peony to reward you with exclusive and very rewarding offers. From now till 31 October 2016, look forward to complimentary FREE-FLOW house red or white wine, one dines free with every three paying adults and a complimentary roast London duck upgrade when dining at Golden Peony! Read on to find out what these awesome perks are.

EXECUTIVE CHINESE CHEF KU KEUNG’S TASTING MENU

WHAT TO EXPECT: Golden Peony Executive Chinese Chef Ku Keung’s Tasting Menu showcases a carefully curated five-course meal that is available daily during lunch and dinner.

Indulge in five gourmet creations put together by celebrity Chef Ku Keung and think of the feast like a degustation at a very reasonable price of S$100++ per pax. The menu changes every 3 months, featuring Chef’s signature and newly launched dishes.

The current menu will have you beginning with an appetiser platter, which consists of a Fresh Prawn and Sea Jelly with Minced Garlic, Preserved Asparagus and Steamed Beancurd filled with Prawn Mousse topped with Scallop and Crab Roe. Eat these bite-size savouries with their homemade XO chilli sauce.

Golden Peony’s specialty dish – lobster meat wrapped with sliced fish and fish roe, served with baby spinach in a rich seafood broth – is a decadent highlight featuring a palm-size seafood plated beautifully on a crystal-like glassware dish atop a black ceramic plate.

But what we absolutely dig is the popular Roast London Duck served two ways. We have previously fallen in love with the hotel’s rendition of London Duck from its Sunday Brunch, and this star dish will be part of the tasting menu too!

Eat the poultry as it is or like how you would eat a Peking duck by wrapping the succulent flesh in delicate crepe. The thin wrap – handcrafted from scratch with three types of flour – is unbelievably soft and actually does not harden even when left in the open for long.

The fourth item on the tasting menu is the Pan-fried King Prawn with Superior Soy Sauce served with Fish Noodle and Baby Cabbage. These noodles are no ordinary noodles – they are actually made from fish, and they are springy and slightly sweet.

The 5-course meal will be concluded with Golden Peony’s divine avocado-coconut dessert. Chilled Avocado Cream with Vanilla Ice-Cream served in a Whole Young Coconut alongside a Baked Sweet Potato Filo Pastry – the former is a creamy addiction that is subtly sweet with nuances of coconut fragrance, while the latter is a signature dessert that is made in the shape of a swan. This dessert alone is well worth the experience of the Tasting Menu.

PRICE: S$100++ per pax

PROMOTION FOR READERS OF LADYIRONCHEF*: Enjoy complimentary free-flow red or white house wine by simply quoting ‘LIC_Tasting’ upon making reservations.

WEEKEND DIM SUM EXPERIENCE

WHAT TO EXPECT: Celebrate the end of a work week with Golden Peony’s Weekend Dim Sum Experience during lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Diners get to select four choices of dim sums and four specialty dishes per table and a choice of soup from the extensive menu. End on a sweet note with your favourite dessert choice.

From classic Cantonese Steamed Prawn Dumplings (aka Har Gow) and Steamed Barbecued Pork Buns to modern contemporary Crispy Sea Perch and Avocado Roll topped with Mild Spicy Lime Sauce, expect a mouthwatering plethora of artisanal dim sums. The sea perch is the best thing we’ve tried at Golden Peony – fresh white fish deep-fried with avocado, then coated with a tangy sauce; it was addictive beyond comprehension.

There are three types of nourishing broths to choose from; think double-boiled chicken soup and double-boiled striped snakehead. Also make sure to try the Wasabi Mayo Prawns.

PRICE: S$59++ per pax

PROMOTION FOR READERS OF LADYIRONCHEF*: One dines free with every three paying adults for the Weekend Dim Sum Experience menu. This gives you more reasons to dine out with friends, yes? Simply do so by quoting ‘LIC_DimSum’ upon making reservations.

WEEKEND DINNER FAMILY SET MENU

WHAT TO EXPECT: We could hardly believe our eyes when we saw that the price of Golden Peony Weekend Dinner Family Set Menu – S$180++ for four pax. This is certainly one of the best dining deals in town.

The family set menu is made up of five premium dishes – a half portion of Roast London Duck, Double-boiled Superior Fish Soup with Fish Maw, Bamboo Pith and Wolf Berries, a choice of either Stewed Prawn Glass Noodle or Steamed ‘Soon Hock’ Fish, Traditional Claypot Rice with Chinese Sausage, Live Sausage, Wax Duck and Wax Meat and Chilled Lemongrass Jelly with Aloe Vera and Lychee.

This is the same London duck, except that you will get a full duck instead of a half portion if you quote ‘LIC_Family’. That’s right – no other terms and conditions.

And the steamed fish dish is what we all affectionately know as the ‘wedding fish’, except that Golden Peony’s rendition is way better and fresher. And the premium soya sauce used is also less salty.

Do note that this Family Set is only available during dinner on Saturdays and Sundays.

PRICE: S$180++ for four persons

PROMOTION FOR READERS OF LADYIRONCHEF*: You are entitled to a complimentary upgrade from the usual half duck portion to a whole London duck by quoting ‘LIC_Family’ upon making reservations.

*These promotions are only valid till Monday, 31 October 2016. Black-out dates do apply and these offers cannot be combined with other discount benefits. The hotel reserves the right to amend the above terms and conditions without prior notice.

Golden Peony
2 Temasek Blvd, Level 3
Conrad Centennial Singapore Hotel
Singapore 038983
Reservations: +65 6432 7482/88 or sinci.goldenpeony@conradhotels.com
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 10.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Website: www.connoisseur.sg
Nearest Station: Promenade

This post is brought to you by Conrad Centennial Singapore Hotel.

TungLok Signatures has been around for a long time and has since branded itself as one of Singapore’s most established and well-loved Chinese restaurants for impeccable service and high quality food. The restaurant serves modern interpretations of traditional Chinese food, while still keeping traditional flavours intact, hence, appealing to both the older and younger generations.

TungLok Signatures’ cuisine concept is centred upon offering a menu which is planned and executed by Hong Kong-born Senior Executive Chef Li Man.

It features a unique combination of traditional Chinese cuisine, such as Cantonese Shanghainese and Sichuan dishes with a dash of Modern creations – authentic in tastes but with TungLok’s distinctive touch.

It is little wonder TungLok Signatures has been a perennial favourite among Singaporeans and visitors alike, and it is the benchmark for Chinese cuisine.

#1 AUSTRALIAN LOBSTER TWO WAYS – CHILLED & DEEP-FRIED

If you are shooting for a fancy meal or simply want to indulge in the best and most luxurious dishes, go for the Australian Lobster prepared in two ways (S$58++ per pax). Lobster is a tricky ingredient to perfect. However, the masterchef at TungLok Signatures has aced both ways of preparation.

The chilled lobster is exemplary and very refreshing. We recommend starting out with this one before moving on to the deep-fried lobster. The deep-fried lobster was something we couldn’t forget – beneath the crunchy exterior is a glistening juicy center that is well complemented with the accompanying honey sauce.

#2 BRAISED MINCED PORK RICE

We have to admit, this pork rice bowl (S$8.80++ per pax) did not catch our attention at first as it faded into the background beside all of the other upmarket, classy dishes. But we regretted judging it after the first mouthful. The braised minced pork a la Taiwanese style was so tasty and flavourful, with the egg to complete the experience.

#3 BRAISED BAMBOO CHARCOAL BEANCURD

This black beauty is a signature dish in TungLok Signatures and something we can never get bored of. You may think it is just another bamboo or beancurd dish, but we are telling you this – the Bamboo Charcoal Beancurd (S$24++ per sharing portion) is going to be the best beancurd dish you’ll ever try.

The beancurd is handmade with a flawless texture, with light woody notes of bamboo. The sweet pumpkin sauce elevates the taste of the beancurd without overpowering the freshness of the dish entirely. No trip to TungLok Signatures is complete without this dish!

#4 FLAMBÉ VOLCANO SALT-BAKED FORTUNE CHICKEN

The Salt-Baked Chicken (S$98++ per chicken) is both a treat for the eyes and the palate. The poultry is enormous and the chef will flambé it right before your eyes; it is theatrical to say the least.

The chicken is only flavoured with a salt crust, and the natural juice of the poultry is brought out through the flambé process. Great sharing dish, even better experience.

#5 PAN-FRIED FRENCH FOIE GRAS AND PEKING IRISH DUCK SKIN

This was unforgettable. The Pan-Fried French Foie Gras (S$22++ per pax) is meant to be rolled up with glistening Peking Irish Duck Skin and Wheat Wrap to produce a magical umami goodness in your mouth. All the premium tastes wrapped in one; the kind of “explosion” we appreciate.

#6 PAN-FRIED LOBSTER STEAK IN CHEF’S HOMEMADE SAUCE

More lobsters for you? Yes, we have the Lobster Steak (S$28++). This is slightly different, with the sweetness of the crustacean brought out through light pan-frying.

#7 SICHUAN-STYLE DEER TENDON WITH CHILI ON HOT STONE PLATE

It is not every day that you see Deer Tendon (S$38++ per serving) on menus. The tendon must be eaten quickly so as to savour the best taste. The texture is very similar to beef tendon and no less delicious. You might be intimidated by it if you haven’t tried tendons, but the Sichuan sauces and spices will balance the taste out altogether.

#8 ‘SOON HOCK’ FISH TWO WAYS – DEEP-FRIED & STEAMED

Fish is a mainstay at every Chinese restaurant. TungLok Signatures takes it up a notch by, again, serving it two ways (S$12++ per 100g). The steamed version is cooked in a traditional Chinese style, with Chinese Wine and Parsley. Steaming it with Chinese wine gives it a very pleasant aroma and also a very smooth and moist texture on the fish. It is no wonder that this is always the preferred way to cook fish!

The Deep-Fried Soon Hock is served simply with some soya sauce as to not over-complicate matters. We liked that the fish remained juicy inside despite being deep-fried to a golden brown.

#9 CHILLED DURIAN WITH BLACK GLUTINOUS RICE PURÉE

To end your meal, complete it with the all-time favourite – Chilled Durian with Black Glutinous Rice Purée (S$12++ per serving). The local-style dessert is served in a coconut shell and filled generously with black glutinous rice and very creamy durian. We went a little too gaga over this!

#10 YUAN YANG ALMOND & SESAME CREAM

However, if you prefer something a little lighter, the ‘Yuan Yang’ Almond and Sesame Cream (S$6++ per serving) might work better for you. Each bowl is beautifully presented as a Yin and Yang symbol. The cream is rich and smooth and it comes with plenty of healthy and beauty benefits.

TungLok Signatures currently has 4 outlets. Besides the flagship outlet at Orchard Parade Hotel, you can also visit the other branches at Changi City Point, VivoCity and The Central @ Clarke Quay.

TungLok Signatures
Orchard Parade Hotel #02-18
1 Tanglin Road
Singapore 247905
Tel: +65 6834 0660
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

This post is brought to you by TungLok Signatures.

If you want to get fat, go to London. The British city has cuisines from all over the world, and the sheer number of options is mind-boggling to say the least.

Meal times are never dull when in London, and we always look forward to the next meal because our list of places to check out never ends.

Getting this done was hard, because it is hard to point down to just one or two favourites. But here’s a Guide to 14 of Our Favourite Food Places in London; first-timers to London should visit all of these to have a fair glimpse of what London can offer!

#1 ASSA KOREAN RESTAURANT

Assa is our go-to Korean restaurant when in SoHo, London. The prices are relatively affordable (by London’s standard) and the Kimchi Pork Stew (£22) is the tastiest.

If you are with friends, or simply feeling extra hungry, go for their value-for-money set. For £35, you get a Korean stew with kimchi, rice cake, two bowls of rice and two drinks.

53 St Giles High St
London WC2H 8LH, United Kingdom
Daily: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Tottenham Court Road

#2 BIG EASY

We found a lobster shack that can rival Burger and Lobster. At £20, you get a whole Maine lobster that is beautifully grilled, complete with fries and side salad. And it comes with a complimentary cocktail, too!

Not too sure if we were extremely lucky or what but on the several occasions we went, the lobsters were significantly huger than B&L’s, and the meat was a lot fresher. It is now a pit stop for us when in Covent Garden.

It has also one of the best kept-secrets in London. On every Monday, you can get UNLIMITED servings of a platter of North Carolina Chopped Pork, BBQ Chicken and St Louis Pork Ribs with Coleslaw, Beans and Fries for just £19.90. And it comes with a pint of beer too.

12 Maiden Ln
London WC2E 7NA, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 3728 4888
Mon to Wed: 12pm – 11.30pm
Thu to Sat: 12pm – 12.30am
Sun: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Leicester Square

#3 BURGER AND LOBSTER

This – the famous Burger and Lobster. Where do we even start?

The concept of Burger and Lobster is brilliant. There are only three items on the menu – burger, lobster and lobster roll – and at £20 each, they represent fantastic value.

A whole fresh lobster grilled/ steamed (choose the steamed option), accompanied by a generous bowl of lemon butter dip, a side salad and a bucket of fries. All for only £20.

Burger and Lobster has the winning formula: a sexy crowd, sexier cocktails, unpretentious and fun atmosphere, and brilliant food at unbeatable price. As much as Burger and Lobster has become a place where every tourist would go to, it still remains as a must-visit dining destination in London.

6 Little Portland St
London W1W 7JE, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7907 7760
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Oxford Circus

#4 DINNER BY HESTON BLUMENTAL

If you are a fan of Chef Heston Blumenthal – chef and owner of The Fat Duck – you definitely have to drop by Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the swanky Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park.

On a budget? Opt for lunch instead of dinner with the three-course sample menu – very reasonably priced at £36.

Dinner by Heston Blumental is a concept that banks on the comfort of ancient recipes. How the culinary team will surprise you is with its modern interpretations of these age-old traditional recipes, without steering away too far from its original ideas and tastes.

When you are at it, please do yourself the favour and order the Tipsy Cake. The famed dessert is reason enough for us to go back just for it.

66 Knightsbridge
London SW1X 7LA, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7201 3833
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Knightsbridge

#5 DISHOOM

It is no secret that Dishoom is our (and many others’) favourite Indian restaurant in London. Mystically sexy, Dishoom should be on everyone’s bucket list when visiting London. From its menu and price points to its decor and ambience, no other Indian restaurants come close.

Their menus differ during different times of the day, and while we love the classic lunch/ dinner menu, the breakfast is what we would get out of bed for. Be there as early as 8am to avoid long queues.

22 Kingly Street, London W1B 5QB
Tel: +44 20 7420 9322
Mon to Thu: 8am – 11pm
Fri: 9am – 12am
Sat: 9am – 12am
Sun: 9am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Oxford Circus

#6 DUCK AND WAFFLE

Everyone visits Duck And Waffle for two things – the splendid view overlooking the city of London from the 40th floor of Heron Tower, and the signature dish – Duck and Waffles (£15 during breakfast, £17 all day) – which gave the restaurant its name.

Duck and Waffle opens 24/7, but reservations are still recommended anyway because they are perpetually booked.

Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate
London EC2N 4AY, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 3640 7310
Open 24 Hours
Nearest Station: Liverpool Street

#7 FLAT IRON

There is only one dish on the menu at Flat Iron restaurant – the Flat Iron steak. The steak may not be of the best cut but at £10 for a steak, it is considerably cheap and warrants a visit.

You can order accompanying sides such as dripping cooked fries, creamed spinach, and roast aubergine.

Occasionally, they would offer special and better steak cuts at seasonal prices, as well as surprises such as burgers.

17 Beak St
London W1F 9RW, United Kingdom
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Piccadilly Circus

#8 LANTANA

Lantana is an all-time favourite brunch spots in London, and it is arguably the best. There are three outlets in the city, but we like to patronise the one on Charlotte Street.

It is a casual Aussie-style café with very relaxing vibes that is perfect for brunch over hearty food, coffee and pastries. If you are there for breakfast, you must try the English Muffin Breakfast with sausage patty, fried egg and bacon. The chilli jam is to die for.

The Asian Duck Rice surprised us. The ingredients – duck, pancetta, cucumber and chilli jam – elevated this seemingly ordinary dish to something quite special, and to us Asians, nothing beats the comfort of a fried rice dish.

13 Charlotte Pl, Fitzrovia
London W1T 1SN, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7637 3347
Mon to Fri: 8am – 6pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Goodge Street

#9 KANADA-YA

We have tried numerous ramen shops in London, but sadly, most of them are catered to the Westerners’ palate and nothing near to how authentic Japanese ramen would taste like in Japan.

Kanada-ya is an exception. The tonkotsu ramen is exactly how a good pork broth ramen is supposed to be, with rich and flavourful broth, pork slices flavoured egg with a runny center, fungus and leek.

64 St Giles High St
London WC2H 8LE, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7240 0232
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Tottenham Court Road

#10 MAISON BERTAUX

One of the oldest patisseries in London is Maison Bertaux, our go-to place for a quiet afternoon tea in London. They offer many beautiful cakes and rustic pastries. Make sure you try their almond croissant.

28 Greek St
London W1D 5DQ, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7437 6007
Mon to Sat: 8.30am – 11pm
Sun: 9.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Leicester Square

#11 NEW FORTUNE COOKIE

After trying several roast ducks in London, New Fortune Cookie won our hearts with the best roast duck in London. Better than our previous favourite, Gold Mine. And better than the famous Four Seasons.

And at £9.50 for half duck – as compared to £13 at Gold Mine and £13.50 at Four Seasons - it is the cheapest option. The staff here are friendlier, and we like how we do not feel pressured to leave. In case you have no idea, the staff at Four Seasons will always chase you out once they see that your plates are empty.

1 Queensway
London W2 4QJ, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7727 7260
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Queensway

#12 PATTY AND BUN

We have said it before and we will say it again: Patty and Bun’s Smokey Robinson burger is hands down the best burger in London.

Messy, greasy and finger-licking good, the Smokey Robinson Burger (£8.50) comes with everything you need in a burger – caramelised onions, bacon, smokey mayo, cheese, tomato, lettuce, and a juicy beef patty.

Beyond the amazing burger, the mood at Patty & Bun is hippy and loud; you instantly feel cool just by dining there. It truly delivers a unique and complete burger experience.

22-23 Liverpool St
London EC2M 7PD, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7621 1331
Mon & Tue: 11.30am – 10pm
Wed to Fri: 11.30am – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Liverpool Street

#13 PRUFROCK

Prufrock has achieved cult status in London and it is widely recognised as one of the best coffee shops in the city. The coffee here is rich, creamy and well-balanced; indeed, it is easily the best cup of coffee you can find in London.

There is a small selection of sweet and savoury baked goods to go along with your cuppa.

Its flagship cafe on the bustling Leather Lane in Clerkenwell also offers coffee tastings, training and events.

23-25 Leather Ln
London EC1N 7TE, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7242 0467
Mon to Fri: 8am – 6pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Chancery Lane

#14 THE MUFFIN MAN

Have you heard? These are the best scones in London!

The Muffin Man is an old-school English tea shop in Kensington that serves a variety of breakfast dishes, rustic cakes and scones.

Come here for tea and get the legendary scones and you will be rewarded with crumbly, perfectly baked goodness. The Devon Cream Tea set (£6.50) comes with a pot of tea, two toasted scones with jam and Devon cream.

If this still ain’t a quintessential British experience, we don’t know what is.

12 Wrights Ln
London W8 6TA, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7937 6652
Mon to Sat: 8am – 8pm
Sun: 9am – 8pm
Nearest Station: High Street Kensington

For more recommendations, read our London travel guide on what to eat and where to go to.

London is synonymous with good food, and where the Chinese community is concerned, roast ducks are a must when in the British city.

Sure, there are many upmarket Chinese restaurants serving exquisite Chinese cuisine and dimsum, but most would agree that when in London, nothing beats the comfort of a plate of roast duck and a bowl of egg fried rice in a relatively old-school Chinese-looking eatery complete with (gaudy) red and gold decor.

So London has three very famous names when it comes to roast duck – Four Seasons Roast Duck, New Fortune Cookie and Gold Mine. These three are the most talked about restaurants, but which exactly is the crème de la crème?

We’ve been to all three many times on numerous occasions, and this is our humble take on the best roast ducks in London.

FOUR SEASONS CHINESE RESTAURANT

WHY YOU SHOULD COME HERE: This is the legendary Four Seasons Roast Duck that everyone talks about, and is dubbed as the most branded place in London for roast duck.

HOW MUCH: It is £13.80 for half a duck – which is rather pricey considering how it does not taste fantastic and the skin ain’t crispy.

VERDICT: There are two outlets in London – one in Chinatown (that everyone goes to) and one in Bayswater. Surprisingly, the standards differ vastly. Let’s just say no one should waste their time at the Chinatown outlet.

The Bayswater outlet has (just very) slightly better service, and strange enough, better roast ducks. While it was not life-changing, it was a been-there-done-that experience for us. That said, we won’t head back to Four Seasons Roast Duck when in London because the next two options that we are about to share are much better.

EXTRA NOTE: You have been warned that service is atrocious and the staff are infinitely rude.

NEW FORTUNE COOKIE

WHY YOU SHOULD COME HERE: Because it is the best. We had meals here on several occasions and none of them disappointed us. New Fortune Cookie is the most affordable option among all three places, and has a good consistency to boast. The duck is prized for its fats (in a wonderful way), and every bite of the fatty duck comes with a gratifying aroma that lingers.

HOW MUCH: For £10.50 per half duck, New Fortune Cookie wins in terms of price. It is the best roast duck in London, and the cheapest among all three.

EXTRA NOTE: The service is commendable and the staff are ever approachable. They do pretty mean Egg Fried Rice (£3) too!

GOLD MINE RESTAURANT

WHY YOU SHOULD COME HERE: Gold Mine Restaurant sits on the same stretch as Four Seasons Roast Duck in Bayswater and it is a cosy outlet with friendly staff. The roast duck is always good, with beautiful crisp skin and very fragrant sauce.

HOW MUCH: At £13.50 per half duck, Gold Mine Restaurant is a great option when you need your Chinese food fix.

EXTRA NOTE: The chunks of duck sits atop a bed of white cabbage that we always polish off too, because it being soaked in the sauce is too good to pass!