Most people would treat a hangover in a greasy spoon or in the basement of a McDonald's. I opted for Cha Cha Roll, Soho's new and popular Asian lunch and snacks joint. I ordered the following:
- Spices Shredded Ox Roll
- Saikyo Miso Salmon Roll
- Soft Shell Crab Roll
I started on the salmon roll which was fairly anticlimactic. Most mouthfuls are not filled with salmon but plain, leafy vegetables. Once you reach the salmon there is nothing much to admire and a touch of soy sauce would have improved things somewhat. It does have a nice crunch however and was pleasant enough.
The first bite of the soft shell crab was a similarly be-vegetabled experience with nothing more than shredded carrots. But then the second bite came. A bite with some of the crispy, scrumptious soft shell crab which made everything better. Beautifully tender with a satisfying salted creaminess, this is worth going to Cha Cha Roll for on its own.
Being the greedy late luncher I was, I still had room for the ox roll which is noticeably wet in comparison to the other two, with stew juices pouring through the wrapping. One criticism of these rolls on the whole is that they aren't the easiest things to eat. The seaweed casing doesn't quite reach round full circle leaving a precarious gap for food to crumble through. The ox roll was by far the toughest test to eat from a logistical perspective and requires patience, serviettes and a disregard for keeping up appearances whilst devouring this. It was a little too sweet for me but has great texture with a nice chew.
You don't need to buy three rolls, one will suffice for a lunch portion and make sure that one order is the soft shell crab. read more