If there’s one thing I get over excited about, it’s Chinese Dim Sum. It’s something I’ve only very recently become a fan of, but now that I’ve entered the realm of the divine Chinese dumpling, I simply can’t get enough. I love the delicious, flavoursome parcels individually stuffed with delightful fillings of aromatic steamed vegetables and succulent seafood.  Notoriously renowned as one of the best Dim Sum restaurants in London, I of course jump at the chance to sample Min Jiang's mouthwateringly tasty, authentic Chinese menu.

From the tenth floor of the Royal Garden Hotel, you’re spoilt with the spectacular views overlooking Kensington Gardens, making Min Jiang a popular haunt for traditional afternoon Dim Sum. We have an early evening dinner reservation so it’s still light enough to savour the fantastic views of the beautiful gardens. As we arrive, we’re greeted by a flock of friendly waiting staff who swiftly place a beautifully presented Lichitini cocktail on the table, within minutes of ordering. It’s gone fairly quickly, but I do get a moment to wistfully marvel at the lovely view as I sup on my refreshing, exotic aperitif.

The restaurant itself is sleek and contemporary with statement black and red walls and flecks of mirrored detailing. A collection of authentic Chinese ceramics are dotted around the restaurant and the soft, ambient lighting creates a serene, relaxed atmosphere. As we peruse the dinner menu, there's a tantalising selection of delicious Chinese courses, ranging from crispy and steamed Dim Sum, to noodles and rice dishes. It's an overwhelming menu but the attentive staff are on hand to happily explain the flavours and ingredients in every dish.

By recommendation we already have the signature dish pre-ordered; crispy, aromatic Bejing duck. As a crispy duck devotee, I can safely say this is a Chinese duck with a difference. We order half a duck, which seems excessive but the chef uses every part to create a starter and a selection of main course dishes, which are served with a choice of rice or sticky noodles. To start, we're given an Amuse-bouche taster portion of crispy duck fat (carved from the neck) to nibble on whilst our duck pancakes and Dim Sum parcels are prepared. I'm not usually a fan of any type of fat on meat, but when the salted, silky cuts of duck fat are dipped into sugar, the flavours really infuse. It's a surprisingly pleasant taste, if not a little rich, so we're fairly conservative with our portions, knowing that we have a lot more tasty food to come.


Our Dim Sum arrives together with our carafe of Saké. Not traditionally Chinese I know, but they offer a great selection so we thought it would only enhance our Oriental tasting experience. We have about five or six steamed Dim Sum parcels with chunky prawn, minced pork, steamed vegetables and flakes of crab meat. Each one is a heavenly pocket of fragrant flavour, mixed with Asian spices and piquant dipping sauces, perfectly complimented by our smooth, chilled Saké.

Once our Dim Sum has been suitably devoured, it's time to tuck into our beautifully roasted Bejing duck. Delicately cooked and rich in colour, the glossy duck is presented to us and carved neatly into thinly sliced chunks. Succulent pink pieces of breast meat with a crispy outer layer of skin that’s packed full of flavour. The usual signature Hoisin sauce, delicate, sheer pancakes and shredded spring onions and cucumber accompany the duck, but Min Jiang also serve their perfectly roasted duck with an innovative combination of garlic purée, with pickled radish and cabbage in a slightly sweet, tangy dressing. I find that plum sauce somewhat overpowers the taste of duck, so the mixture of salty garlic and sweetly pickled vegetables is a gorgeous, fragrant alternative that really accentuates the distinctive flavour of the meat.  

Following our delightful duck pancakes, we have yet more duck to look forward to sampling. We opt for fried noodles with sliced duck together with a collection of vegetable side dishes and a spicy beef dish, with an explosive kick of fiery ginger. Still feeling rather full from our duck and Dim Sum starters, we realise we may have indulged a little too much, but each bite is so lip-smackingly tasty that weendeavour to finish every last morsel.

The meal was a wonderfully decadent experience, and one that I would definitely recommend for special occasions, or if you fancy an indulgent romantic treat. Perhaps order frugally, as the portions are quite large, but if like us you order slightly too much, you can always swap your dessert for a fabulous espresso Martini at the bar instead.

For more information on booking a table at Min Jiang, and to view a sample menu visit www.minjiang.co.uk

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