The Best Lunch Ever: Ping Pong – London Southbank

On Friday I got to have my first taste of the much raved about dim sum (and other delights) at Ping Pong and I was SO excited – partly because I got to catch up with one of my oldest friends, Jess, who had just handed in her dissertation (yay!) and because I had been wanting to visit and review Ping Pong for AGES. It had literally been years, and on the train I was just dreaming of the food I might get served at this place. I was not disappointed – the food and drink was amazing, and kick started a fantastic weekend in London – a city I fall in love with more and more every time I visit.

Jess and I sat staring at the menu for a good ten minutes before we had any idea as to how and what to order – everything looked so good. 

We finally decided to just go with one of the set menus – the Super 8 was only £8 for a soup, steamed dumplings, a rice dish and a tea. Pretty good for central London dining.

I ordered the lime and mint iced tea to start, and it was the most refreshing, stunningly perfect tasting drink I have ever tried. It tasted like jasmine tea, with the addition of fresh mint and wedges of lime. I am so looking forward to trying to recreate this because it was just insanely good. 

The tea I ordered with my food was a jasmine flowering tea – just look at how beautiful it is. 

Soup – vegetable broth. This was quite salty, but nice, and the spring onions really made it.

 

Ahhhh. The steamed dumplings. The ones I was looking forward to most. Chicken, prawn, beef and vegetable. Just so so so good. (Aren't I good with words?)

And the rice dish – the 'main', if you like. The chicken was marinated in honey and chilli which was the best, and the mushrooms were these incredible big fat meaty ones which I am sure have a name but I am too ignorant to know the names of mushrooms! The rice was sticky and just, perfect. 

Oh man, since eating at Ping Pong I have been thinking about it and dreaming of all that steamed goodness, as well as that iced tea which will be in my heart forever and ever. Hands down one of my favourite places to eat and I recommend it to everyone. Go, right now!