If you walk by Cha Chaan Teng in Holborn without stopping, you might have no idea you missed a golden opportunity. In fact, if I had not been looking for the address on 38 Kingsway, London WC2B 6EY, I would not have these two juicy secrets for you.
Mr. Sunny and I were invited to try the new summer menu at the Hong Kong fusion restaurant and were very excited. You know we love just about anything in or around Covent Garden. Eager to indulge, we did a little research to explore what Cha Chaan Teng had to offer.
That picture shares two insider tips about Cha Chaan Teng that anyone who likes sunshine and a good deal will appreciate. If that’s you- keep reading!
Cha Chaan Teng Review- Ambiance
See, if you walk down Kingsway like I did, you could miss this restaurant because its best features aren’t really visible from this angle.
The exterior is very unassuming. In fact, when we got inside we started thinking maybe our pre-game investigation wasn’t accurate. We went down a few stairs to a lower level and took a look around to see the 1950’s Pan Am decadence and modern Asian street art inside the restaurant but were curious about one thing…
‘Where was the secret terrace?’
Before taking our booked table, we asked if they have any additional seating besides the small tables outside on Kingsway and what we could see in front of us.
‘Certainly!’ said our server, who guided us another direction up some stairs to a tranquil area that seemed to good to be true in Central London.
Of course it helped that it was a beautiful sunny evening, but seriously, this spot is perfect for a quiet dinner outside in London. Yes- I said quiet. You wouldn’t think that a restaurant not too far from the Holborn underground station would have such a great ambiance in the open air. But, during the two hours we were there we felt secluded from the after work hustle so popular in Holborn.
Cha Chaan Teng Review- Cocktails and Food
Wow! As we took our seats and relaxed knowing that we were in a for a real treat, we were informed that it literally was our ‘Lucky Hour’ because their drink specials were from 5-8pm every day. During that time cocktails are just £5 and lager £3. And… on Sunday you can find those prices ALL DAY!
We knew our meal was going to be complimentary for the purpose of a review so this detail didn’t apply to use directly that night. But, it’s always exciting to learn that you can recommend a money-saving opportunity for people who like fun drinks!
Above shows the Cha Chaan Teng Gin Sour and Lychee Cobbler. Both are winners!
At Cha Chaan Teng we enjoyed the Crispy Duck Bao Bun, Lightly Glazed Crispy Soft Shell Crab and Lobster Prawn Toast. Feast your eyes on the food in the image featured below…
Next, Mr. Sunny and I enjoyed the Sha Cha Fried Fish Tossed in Sesame Seed and Crispy Cantonese Chicken.
If you are ready to splurge and aren’t counting calories, these options would be for you. I am not sure if it just took us a bit of time to dive in because we were soaking up the sunshine outside and I was taking time photographing the dishes, but we might have wanted our food to be a little warmer.
However, we sure made a huge effort to eat as much as possible and thought there would be no way to add anything extra. Our server, who was super friendly and knowledgable, did suggest the Pandan Raspberry Ripple Arctic Roll. On such a glorious, sunny day in London, we couldn’t resist.
Cha Chaan Teng Review: Prices
We found the prices to be comparable to what you would expect in Central London at a location that offers an excellent atmosphere outside and an array of signature dishes. But, really, those cocktail prices during Lucky Hour! Amazing!
Other hot items on the new summer menu you could try are:
- Dried Chilli and Cumin Beef Hor Fun
- Braised Bean Curd and Shitake Fritter
- Steamed Whole Sea Bass
- Tiger Prawn Singapore Fried Noodles
Cha Chaan Teng Review: There is more!
Since I mentioned that it’s a great spot for an office lunch, you might want to keep this restaurant in mind for bigger work do things. Cha Chaan Teng in Holborn also has conference and event space for groups of 40-250 people. They offer boardrooms and suites equipped with screens, projectors and a PA system for all manner of events, talks or meetings too.
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