Gourmet chips and dips at Hipchips in Soho

Chips and dips are the staple of any party. A great snack to stave off hunger in between meals. When it comes to regular crisps eaten solo, I can take it or leave it. However, I’ve always loved chips with dips. When it comes to dips from the supermarket, we’re usually limited to the likes of guacamole, salsa or houmous. Here’s where Hipchips comes in, a casual dining destination offering chips and dips.

Located on bustling Old Compton Street, Hipchips is an interesting concept restaurant with a simple premise. It stands out from other eateries because it offers snacks. Having opened in 2016, it caters to those looking for a mid-afternoon or evening snack rather than a meal. While the premise sounds strange, think of comparing it to a savoury (or sweet!) version of an ice cream parlour or cake shop. The menu is very straight-forward – a choice of sweet (cinnamon sugar) or savoury (salt) chips and a huge selection of dips. The chips themselves are made from a variety of seasonal, heritage potatoes, such as Highland Burgundy or Shetland Black.

Sweet chips with Banana Mousse with Rum Caramel and Lemon Tart & Raspberries

Depending on your mood or tastes, deciding on the chips is the easy part. While there’s a huge range of dips to choose from, you don’t have to limit yourself to one flavour. Hipchips offer a variety of menu options, from a small chips and two dips for £4.95 to the large portion with six dips for £12.95. My friend and I were interested in trying both sweet and savoury and up for experimenting.

Before picking up your first chip, I recommend setting the boundaries on ‘double dipping’ if sharing with a friend. The chips can be pretty big so one dip is not always going to cover it. Although I’m usually not mad about beetroot, I was pleasantly surprised with the Beetroot and Lemongrass Marmalade, a lovely combination of sweet and savoury thanks to the Nuoc Mau (Vietnamese Salted Caramel) and Crème Fraiche. I really enjoyed the Veggie Ceviche (Chunky Tomato, Lime, Coriander, Red Onion and Chili), which had a nice kick. However, my favourite savoury dip had to be the Baba Ganoush (Smoky Aubergine Dip with Lemony Yoghurt and Garlic).

Moving on to dessert dips, I was spoiled for choice. As someone with a sweet tooth, I was torn between the flavours when it came to a favourite. Every month, Hipchips develops a different dip, with the August offering being a Banana Mousse with Rum Caramel. The combination of banana, rum and caramel was a winner for me and I anticipated I was going to love it before trying it. Thankfully, I was right. I thought the Peanut Butter and Jam swirl was particularly interesting. Taking a popular sandwich filling and turning it into a dip is a clever concept. Meanwhile, chocoholics will also enjoy the Campfire S’more (Chocolate Mousse with Marshmallows), one of the chunkier, thicker dips that can be a bit trickier to scoop, but worth the effort.

Overall, Hipchips is a quirky concept that is a great place for a stopgap in between meals. It’s fully licensed selling a selection of wine, beers and ciders so could be a sensible option to those looking to line the stomach on a night out. The staff was friendly and can give you helpful menu descriptions if you are struggling to decide. Worth a pitstop next time you’re in Soho feeling peckish.

• Hipchips, 49 Old Compton Street, Soho, W1D 6HL. Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus or Oxford Circus. For more information, visit the Hipchips website.

Hipchips opened in Soho in 2016

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Disclaimer: Metro Girl was a guest of HipChips for this review. However my views are, as always, honest and my own.

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