food in london is really delicious

From schoolwork to COVID-19 to miles of ocean, I faced quite a few barriers to visiting my cousin in London. She even missed her wedding. But I finally got the chance to cross the Atlantic, and I spent an unforgettable week there. She and her husband took me on a tour of must-see spots in the city. What left me with an unforgettable memory was not the old-world architecture or stylish storefronts, but the thrill of unraveling the food landscape with my particular taste.

Immediately after landing, I was engrossed in a pleasant conversation with my cousin and his wife. It felt like no time had passed since we last met. However, we had little time to relax before embarking on our dining itinerary.

Our first stop was The Ivy, a famous classic British restaurant in London, a place rich in history. We decided to order some of the most iconic British dishes such as Sunday roast and Yorkshire pudding, along with fries and fish sides. Let’s be honest: British cuisine’s poor reputation is not unfounded. The dishes were pleasing to the eye but a bit flat in terms of taste. However, the reason this restaurant remains popular is probably because it offers customers the flavor of their hometown.

Now that you’ve sampled traditional British flavours, you’re ready to dive into an authentic culinary tour.

At dusk, we wandered around Soho, soaking up the tempo of London’s nightlife. For my first dinner after getting off the plane, I chose a quaint Spanish pub called Lobos Tapas for some tapas. The Iberico ham was silky thin, the octopus very tender, and the salt-dusted padrón peppers had a mild sourness. Each dish had a persistent, layered flavor, enhanced by the smoking technique.

The next day we strolled through Chinatown. The food collection was vast and ranged from old-fashioned lao por bing to Asian-style bagels, from classic brown sugar pearl tea to chic fruit tea with cheese. We chose JinCheng Alley for lunch. This is a Sichuan restaurant that my sister’s friend from Chengdu often goes to for authentic taste.

Provided by Huang Yuyu

the table changed quickly Mara Panorama: Sparkling chili oil with Sichuan peppercorns gives each dish an enchanting glow. Originally mild-tasting meats like rabbit and chicken feet are elevated to mouth-watering flavors through a clever blend of sauces and spices. The Sichuan vegetables were equally noteworthy. Our choice of fried eggplant, dipped in a light batter, created an unforgettable contrast between the crispy shell and the juicy pulp inside. The combination of pea shoots and yasai, although modest in appearance, surprised us with its silky softness and inherent freshness.

One evening during the week, we dined at Golden Dragon, a restaurant that specializes in Hong Kong-style Cantonese cuisine. A hallmark of Hong Kong cuisine is the clever use of rich sauces. For example, the lobster we ordered was smothered in a garlic-rich sauce, and the addition of green onions and ginger gave it extra flavor and sweetness. Fried tofu is topped with shrimp sauce and served in a soft bowl that lets you enjoy the luxurious flavor of the sea.

It was a strange discovery that I encountered “Fujian fried rice” here. The name of this dish sounded very familiar, but I was confused because it was nowhere to be found in my home province of Fujian. I suspected that some inventive Fujianese immigrant had invented this recipe. This comforting plate was topped with fluffy rice drizzled with rich oyster sauce and served with duck slices and mixed vegetables. Despite its simple construction, the flavors of this dish are multifaceted and demonstrate how immigrants deftly introduced their traditions into new cultural landscapes.

On our last day in London, we stopped at Tempah Soho, a smokehouse in the bustling Chinatown. Carefully, we chose the Hundred Day Dry Aged Steak, which was cooked medium rare. With one bite, the buttery, tender beef melted effortlessly into an explosion of flavor as powerful as the might of Basdar’s warriors. In addition to the steaks we chose, we added a variety of sides, including tacos topped with soft shell crab, juicy lamb carnitas, and creamy, melt-in-your-mouth burrata. For a moment, I was lost in a maze of meat, flavors and textures engulfing me from all sides like crashing waves.

Provided by Huang Yuyu

After dinner, we headed to the final destination of our trip to London: Sky Garden. Perched atop a skyscraper, it offers a variety of bars and breathtaking panoramic views of the London skyline. I chose a sweet and sour berry cocktail, my cousin chose a refreshing mojito, and my cousin-in-law chose a soothing rum. The light alcohol had me in an introspective mood. The slightly sour taste of my cocktail reflected my bittersweet feelings as our fleeting reunion drew to a close.

Remembering where my journey began, I ended it at a British breakfast spot at Heathrow Airport. So I ventured to try the infamous black he pudding. Its ominous dark color and the fact that it contains pig or cow blood as its main ingredient make it an eyebrow-raising oddity. It may sound strange, but it actually had a fairly innocuous taste, with a spongy texture and a slight saltiness. My attention instead shifted to the eggs benedict, savoring each element: the silky poached egg, the English muffin dipped in hollandaise sauce, and the smoked ham on top. We wanted to capture this classic combination in our memory as a fitting end to a wonderful journey of taste.

“The food in London is really good” – given Britain’s past “reputation” for unexciting cuisine, I was still somewhat surprised when I typed these words in my trip summary. However, as a global hub, the influx of flavors from around the world has turned London into a hotspot for food lovers. Against the backdrop of Britain’s 1,000-year history, this dramatic change that has taken place in less than 20 years is truly remarkable.

Rooted in a rich history but blended with modern changes, London has fostered a modern lifestyle. After graduating from university, many of us consider moving to big cities like New York, Tokyo, Singapore, and London. I, too, often think about how to adapt to a fast-paced urban lifestyle right now, and that might start with exploring a menu dotted with unfamiliar words.