Chinese food in Britain is a funny thing - there are so many people who profess to love Chinese food, then will recommend you their favourite takeaway and it turns out to be a vendor of gloopy-sugary-MSG-flavoured gristle.
This is one of *those* Chinese takeaways. It seems to do a very brisk trade, and probably satisfies quite a few people's palates, but essentially it is third rate food they are serving.
There aren't many others in the area, so I think this partly explains it's success, as it's not that cheap - say £5.40ish for the cheapest full meal, a sweet and sour dish with rice. For £4 you can get chicken or pork balls in batter with sweet and sour sauce. The sweet and sour sauce isn't good. I'll forgive some pretty bad sweet and sour sauces - if it's sweet, and it's sour, it will usually do, but this one is about level with a regular supermarket ready meal. It's got a strange taste to it, that's not quite right.
I've tried about 5 different dishes - they were all at a similar level. The best was peking duck with pancakes and plum sauce - it was pretty good, nothing wrong with it.
The staff are nice - always polite and friendly, even though they are often dealing with drunks and the wandering winos who stumble along Kingsland Road.
In conclusion - if you know what good Chinese is, and that's what you want, look elsewhere. If you're not too fussy and just want something tasty with rice, then go ahead. I still order from here, but mainly because it's my local. read more