To start: Scallops Delight, stuffed with prawns

Piping hot: Sizzling prawns with mango

Chinatown is more of a draw for tourists than London foodies these days, hence the casual, frantic nature of many of the restaurants in the area. I’ve yet to find a restaurant that’s stood out amongst the others, until now. During a recent evening out with friends, one of my pal’s grandfather’s (who has lived in London for decades) chose the restaurant, declaring that Yming serves the best Chinese food in the West End.

Located on Greek Street, just off Shaftesbury Avenue, it is admittedly just on the boundaries of Chinatown. With its aquamarine interior and pristine white tablecloths, it is evidently a more upmarket venue than many of the other Chinatown eateries. We were greeted by the warm and friendly staff – good service being something my friend’s grandfather had noted – and shown to a large table by the window so we were able to watch the people of Soho go by during our meal. We started off ordering a bottle of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc (£17.50) from their extensive drinks menu, which was light and refreshing on a humid summer’s day.

Yming is located on Soho’s Greek Street, just off Shaftesbury Avenue

Carnivores will enjoy the ribs

Although there is a good choice of set menus available, we opted for several dishes from the predominantly Cantonese choices and shared them amongst ourselves, tapas style. We started with Scallops Delight, which came stuffed with prawns, which was delicious combination and an unusual way of presentation. A popular choice was the spare ribs and homemade vegetable dumplings. For my main, I ordered the Sizzling Prawn with Fresh Mango, which was literally still sizzling as it was presented on the table. The mixture of seafood and fruit made for a sweet and zingy combination. For a side, we stayed traditional and opted for a large portion of egg fried rice.

Overall the food was tasty and very filling – none of us had room for dessert. The service was very friendly and attentive. Although prices were a little higher than similar cuisine establishments in the area, the quality of the food, setting and service made it worth the increase. I will definitely be returning.

• Yming, 35-36 Greek Street Soho, W1D 5DL. Tel: 020 7734 2721. Nearest tube: Leicester Square, Tottenham Court Road or Piccadilly Circus. For more information, visit the Yming website.

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