Honest Bao

The temperature is dropping, the daylight is shrinking, and let's face it, turning on the heating now feels like setting fire to a wad of £50 notes. But fear not, there is one glorious solution to our cold and budget woes: a steaming, bubbling hot pot. It’s a warm, communal hug in a bowl, and the perfect excuse for a hearty, hot meal. Honest Bao zipped around Birmingham to pit two major Chinese hot pot players against each other. Who's bringing the true heat? Haidilao Hot Pot: The Luxury Liner 1 free broth per person Haidilao isn't just a restaurant; it's a global Chinese franchise that treats dining like a five-star event. It's famous (or perhaps infamous) for its over-the-top customer service—we’re talking free board games for the waiting crowd and even complimentary manicures (probably not in the UK though)! While a full pampering session isn't exactly a prerequisite for my mid-week dinner, the staff's dedication to service here is truly superior. Decent ...

As you know, the Birmingham Chinese Quarter is seeing a mini food court explosion, and The Arcadian Food Court is the newest kid on the block trying to muscle in on the action. I went in with high hopes, ready for a feast, but left feeling... well, let's just say my bao bun was frowning. This place is packed with Chinese cuisine – think Dim Sum, Siu Mei (roast meats), rice noodles and a Korean spot as well. The physical space is actually decent. It’s not overly cramped, and the staff are zippy fast at clearing tables, which is always a plus. However, in this day and age, their most unforgivable sin is the mobile signal blackout and the complete lack of Wi-Fi. Are we dining or entering a digital detox prison? Sort it out, people! The Half-Assed Claypot Rice Caper 🍚 Disappointing rice I ordered the Clay Pot Rice, a classic Hong Kong dish where rice is slow-cooked in a clay pot, resulting in a glorious, golden, crispy crust . My version was, to put it politely, half-assed. The rice m...

Alright, people, let's talk about Korean Fried Chicken (KFC). Not that KFC, though frankly, some of my previous experiences in London have made me wish for Colonel Sanders' original recipe just for some consistency. My relationship with UK-based Korean fried chicken has been… complicated. I’ve dipped my toes in a few spots – I remember Wing Wing a while back, and the newer kids on the block like KoKoDoo, and even some independent joints. The verdict? Meh. It is a decent fried chicken in London but just not something I will eat again The usual suspects: batter thicker than a London fog, chicken that seemed to have gone through a dehydrator, and seasoning so aggressive it felt like a flavour attack rather than a flavour profile. I get that KFC is meant to be bold, but when the sauce or seasoning completely overpowers the actual chicken, you’ve lost the plot. It’s supposed to be a harmonious dance, not a flavour wrestling match where the chicken tap-outs in the first round...

My previous posts ( here ) showed I was feeling pretty good about the local grub – had some cracking seafood that promised good things. So, for my final hurrah, I thought, "Google Maps, you're the boss!" Found a highly-rated bistro called L'Oignon (The Onion). Reasonable prices, menu looked decent. I was genuinely looking forward to it. Don't get me wrong, the food wasn't inedible. It was... fine. The kind of fine you say when your Auntie asks how her slightly dry cake is. Average and basic are the best words I can muster. Average foie gras with toast The irony is not lost on me: this place is called L'Oignon, and the Onion Soup, which should be their signature dish, was just very average. It lacked that deep, soulful, slightly caramelised onion hug you expect.  Tender chicken but again over seasoned sauce The main offender across the board, though? The salt shaker was clearly working overtime. Everything felt over-seasoned. The chicken was still tender, y...

When you're craving proper Chinese food in London, your brain immediately screams 'Chinatown!' and you're mentally bracing for the jam-packed street. But London's culinary map is expanding faster than my waistline after a day out. I was loitering around the Temple station area, pretending to be a fancy lawyer (didn't work, my shoes were too muddy), when my stomach issued an urgent demand for noodles. A quick search later, and I found myself staring at Noodle Nova, a new kid on the block that's doing Lanzhou beef noodles. The Vibe and the Broth Giant vase in the centre First impression: Nice décor. And true to its Chinese name, Qing Hua Yu (青花鈺), which means something like 'Porcelain Jade,' there was a rather large, fancy vase in the shop. Clearly, they've gone for aesthetic as well as noodle. Spicy broth taste good too but I prefer non-spicy one Now, onto the main event. As a specialist beef noodle joint, they offer a whole spectrum of noodle thi...

When the calendar flips to September, signaling the glorious return of oyster season! And where did I find myself celebrating this auspicious occasion? Alsace, France. A landlocked region famous for Riesling, half-timbered houses, and... absolutely no sea. It's a bit like looking for a decent curry in Antarctica. But where there is great wine, there is usually a desperate need for great food—and a surprising number of places happy to oblige with the fruits of the sea. After some serious digging, I found two spots that prove you don't need a salty breeze to enjoy a fresh oyster. Chère Amie: The Unexpected Speed Date Picture this: my dining buddy and I are aiming for a late dinner, but the pre-dinner hunger pangs were a real issue. So, we thought we'd try to squeeze in a 'quick' seafood hit beforehand. No reservation. No plan. Just sheer, unadulterated gluttony. We waltzed into Chère Amie in Strasbourg and, luckily snagged a spot. Fresh oyster in a reasonable price Th...

Emerging from a cloud of steam and wok hei to bring you the lowdown on Birmingham's sneaky-good Hong Kong Cha Chaan Teng scene.  For the uninitiated, a Cha Chaan Teng (or "tea restaurant") is Hong Kong's glorious answer to a diner—a place where East meets West on a plate, delivering comfort, speed, and enough stir-fries to fuel a small army. While there's no single fixed menu, you can bet your last pork floss on finding dishes kissed by that smoky, magical wok hei essence. I've been rummaging through Brum's Chinese Quarter, and let me tell you, while you can't book a flight to Mong Kok, you can find some seriously authentic CCT vibes right here. Kei Hing Restaurant: From Stall to Star Tender and well marinated with wine Now, Kei Hing is a bit of a local legend in the making. It started life as one of those humble, unassuming food hall stalls and now they've got their own bona fide setup within the food hall. And thank goodness they did. '...