Dim Sum Duck Review Highlights Cantonese Cuisine

Dim Sum Duck, a walk-in-only Cantonese restaurant in central London, is drawing attention for its authentic dishes and affordable pricing. The restaurant, located on Pentonville Road after expanding from a smaller King's Cross location, has garnered a reputation for its "greatest hits of Cantonese classics."

Despite not taking reservations, the eatery's popularity means queues are common. The dining experience emphasizes the food over amenities, with plastic plates and bowls, and swift, friendly service.

Highlights from the menu include xiao long bao, praised for their thin yet sturdy dough containing a rich broth. The har gau are noted for their generous prawn fillings and delicate casings. Cheung fun, described as "sublimely slippery rice noodle," offers a satisfying contrast of soft and crunchy textures due to the inclusion of crisp bean curd skin alongside prawns. These dishes are characterized as precisely made and steamed, embodying what is described as "peak" dim sum.

The restaurant also excels with its seafood preparations. King prawns are expertly cooked and served with a generous amount of deep-fried chili and garlic, encouraging consumption of the entire prawn, shell and all. Razor clams are prepared with fresh chilies and vermicelli noodles. For a comforting option, the congee is offered with minced pork, preserved egg, pickled vegetables, and fried dough pieces.

Dim Sum Duck is recommended for its authentic Cantonese fare, with an estimated cost of £35 per person. The restaurant is located at 186 Pentonville Road, London N1, and its website is dimsumduck.com.