Ten Of The Best | Min Jiang’s 10th Anniversary Menu, Kensington High Street, London

This August, Min Jiang are celebrating their 10th anniversary in the best possible way – a four-course set menu (£60) that showcases their brilliance with 10 new dishes. We fell in love with Min Jiang back in 2014, despite it’s (slightly dated) opulence, we found it unpretentious and charming. We remember our meal clearly and fondly, that’s testament to how good it was. The food is stunning and the views of Kensington Palace and gardens are to die for. Yet unlike Duck & Waffle and the like, you won’t get people standing around your table trying to get that perfect Instagram shot and subsequently ruining your meal.

Our evening began with Min Jiang’s verion of a Tom Collins (their anniversary cocktail) – strong yet sweet with homemade raspberry cordial. This was followed by a delicious rainbow-coloured 4 piece Dim Sum platter of Alaskan king crab, lobster (shaped like a goldfish), truffle (not too overwhelming) and succulent black pepper duck.

Next up was their famous wood-fired Beijing Duck which has been re-invented. It’s been cooked slightly longer with a different marinade – making the skin even crisper – and brushed with truffle oil.

This masterpiece is served three ways. Duck dish one: a stack of bite sized deliciousness, from the bottom up – thick Chinese pancake (more like a light bread), shiitake mushroom, deep-fried rice paper, wafer thin crispy duck skin and topped with a slither of truffle. Duck dish two: a more traditional duck pancake, just don’t be put off my the ‘Chinese fungus’ as it was described – it’s only slightly fermented finely chopped mushrooms. Duck dish three: the meat carved closer to the bone, served in duck ‘juice’ (literally squeezed from the carcass) and a little bowl of sticky steamed rice.

One thing we loved about this menu was it was perfectly satisfying, we didn’t roll out stuffed to the brim – as not every dish was rich and fatty as many duck dishes can be. Langoustines with Sichuan chilli, gently poached in Chinese wine were a change direction both in flavour and texture. There was a real creeping heat from the chilli, starting as a subtle hum on the tongue, slowly building to a tingle on the cheeks. An intelligent heat that knew exactly when to stop, before it got too uncomfortable or spoilt the flavour – those clever chefs.

Talking of Chinese wine, we enjoyed a glass of Chinese Sauvignon made by an Austrian winemaker named Lenz Moser who’s’ hell bent on bringing Chinese wine to the masses. A really good drinkable wine, we’d never have considered ordering a Chinese wine until we tried this – job done, Lenz.

Combo of warm Malibu sauce and cold Malibu parfait

Malibu parfait with compressed pineapple and chocolate and hazelnut crumb was the perfect mix of texture, temperature and flavour. Pouring the warm Malibu sauce added the theater, watching the white chocolate shell buckle and melt was actually quite hypnotic.

After 10 years of serving up some of London’s best gourmet Chinese dishes this  special anniversary menu shouldn’t be missed. But you need to move fast, its only available till the end of August.

Find out more here
2 – 24 Kensington High Street, London W8 4PT
Telephone: 020 7361 1988
Email: dining@minjiang.co.uk

Opening hours:
Lunch 12.00 – 15.00 | Dinner 18.00 – 22.30
Bar 12.00 – 15.00 | 18.00 – 23.00 (22.30 on Sundays)

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Nearest station: Kensington High Street (11 mins walk)

We ate as guests of Min Jiang, this does not affect our review in any way. We always write with complete honesty.