Food review: Chop Chop, Edinburgh

Nothing beats a good Chinese meal, but finding a decent, authentic Chinese restaurant can be few and far between. It's a travail recently countered by the revelation of Chop Chop by ourselves in Edinburgh. 

Chop Chop is an award winning restaurant made famous by Gordon Ramsay’s tv show ‘The F-word’, where it was voted by their regular customers as their favourite Chinese…and it’s easy to see why. Located a stones throw away from Haymarket train station, it’s hard to miss with its bright yellow exterior (see below), the interior is basic, simple and relaxed with traditional Chinese art and lanterns on display.

The smell of the aromatic spices hits you as you walk in and instantly transports you straight to Northern China, which is what this restaurant is all about, introducing the more unusual and unique tastes of the North East of the country rather than the usual, basic dishes you find at your standard Chinese restaurant.

The friendly staff gave us the warmest of welcomes and spent time explaining the menu and specialities. Starters wise we gorged on spring rolls, which were light and crispy, and dumplings, the latter delicate and packed full of flavour. Our delicious main courses, Chicken and Peanuts and Northern Crispy Chicken, were both wonderfully tangy and cooked to perfection, along with sides and prawn crackers. 

There’s no waiting round in this restaurant either, the food is served and as soon as its cooked, meaning that you could get your main before the starter, which makes it a much more relaxed and casual dining experience.

Chop Chop is not your regular Chinese restaurant, it does not offer the expected, instead going for high quality authentic Northern Chinese cuisine - and does this very well, providing simple, tasty and lovingly prepared food that delivers on taste and won’t break the bank. If it’s good enough for Ramsay, it’s definitely good enough for you!