If you are looking for a really good Chinese restaurant or just a good quality restaurant that is open late in the centre of London, then you should visit Chop Chop by Four Seasons at the Hippodrome in Leicester Square, which is open every day until 4:00am.
Chop Chop is perfect for a light pre or post-theatre meal as well as a more filling evening or late night dinner, with its range of delicious dim sum (if you have visited old Hong Kong, you will know what I mean) and Cantonese menu that also offers a range of vegan options and reasonably priced wines.
Opened just six months ago by one of London’s most renowned Chinese restaurant groups, Four Seasons, Chop Chop at the Hippodrome offers a relaxed, casual dining experience with top class attentive service.
Designed by Rachel O’Toole, the restaurant takes influences from 1960’s Hong Kong with formica-topped tables, stools, intimate booths and high counter seating. And whilst the décor and approach might be modern, the food at Chop Chop is as authentic as it gets. Four Seasons is renowned for serving some of the best Cantonese food in the country and we were certainly suitably impressed with the quality of the dishes we were served.
I always love the opportunity to use chopsticks and what better way than to start our meal with a selection of delicious dim sum.
The array of authentic Cantonese dishes also includes crispy duck pancakes, which is one of my favourites, hot and sour and pork and prawn wonton soup and prawn, pork and vegan dim sum dumplings and buns. The spring rolls are a must, and we also enjoyed a portion of their crispy prawns and signature dumplings.
For the main event, we of course had to choose their renowned Hong Kong style roast duck, named by The Financial Times as ‘the best in the world’. Made to a secret recipe, the roast duck is thoroughly dried before it is marinated with a special mix of spices and herbs before it goes into a specially built roasting furnace which distributes the heat evenly around the duck’s body, resulting in its golden crispy outer skin.
We also had a portion of their signature Char Sui BBQ Pork accompanied with some soft egg noodles, fried rice, sweet and sour pork and freshly steamed broccoli.
Other tempting dishes include a Roast Crispy Pork Belly, Black Pepper Lobster with asparagus, Soya Chicken and a vegan Braised Aubergine.
The drinks menu is not overwhelming and offers a nice selection of wines from France, Australia and New Zealand. There is also cider and bottled beers that include Tsingtao Chinese beer, a couple of lagers and Guinness. If you are a tea drinker, they have a selection of Jasmine, Chinese Oolong and Chrysanthemum. We chose a reasonably priced (£29) New Zealand Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Noir from Marlborough, which paired perfectly with our meal.
Fully sated, we did not have any room left to try one of their tasty sounding desserts, but we did like the sound of the Chop Chop Ice Cream Stick, with a choice of White Rabbit, Brown Sugar Tapioca Balls, Pandan and Coconut Jelly or Taro. Maybe next time.
Overall, we were impressed with both the superb quality of the dishes and excellent service and will most certainly be back again to try some of the other dishes on the menu. If you are partial to Chinese food, then Chop Chop at the Hippodrome is a must try!
The Details
Chop Chop at The Hippodrome, Cranbourn Street, Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7JH, England.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7769 8888
Website: www.hippodromecasino.com/chopchop
Email: chopchop@hippodromecasino.com
Located on the corner of Leicester Square, make your way through the main entrance of The Hippodrome and walk through the casino floor before taking the stairs down to the restaurant on the lower ground floor. The closest Tube station is Leicester Square on the Piccadilly and Northern lines. Chop Chop is open for dinner Monday to Sunday from 6:00pm to 4:00am.
Type of Restaurant: Chinese Restaurant
Price Band: Medium
Insider Tip: Do try the Hong Kong style Roast Duck, as it’s reputed to be the best in the world according to The Financial Times.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9/10
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is Editor of Our Man On The Ground, a former member of The British Guild of Travel Writers and professional photographer.
Photographs courtesy of Chop Chop at the Hippodrome
Be the first to comment