"At Mandarin Kitchen, you can count on being a pinky finger away from a humongous plate of lobster noodles at all times. It’s what this Chinese spot in Queensway is known for—for good reason. Huge tables in the whitewashed room are filled every night of the week, by groups of old friends with tall glasses of Asahi, and three generations sitting around a single round table, waiting for the lazy susan to land in front of them with the salt and pepper squid. photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch The long menu might make you spiral with indecision, but know that the famous lobster noodles are all you will need. It’s the reason you’ll see seven bright orange, lobster-filled plates of it coming out of the kitchen in the space of 30 seconds and why you should make entire social plans around it. Just be prepared to shout across table to have a conversation in the roaring dining room. Food Rundown Salt And Pepper Squid It's salty squid, fried to a nice crisp. What’s not to like? photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch Ginger And Spring Onion Lobster Noodles Deep orange lobster claws and tails sit on a mountain of heavy, buttery noodles. When these arrive it’ll quickly look like your table is playing a delicious version of heads down, thumbs up. Only it’s noodles up (into your mouth). Don’t be afraid to get messy cracking the lobster shell—you’ll want every part of the light, tender meat to go with the moreish, slurpable noodles. If there’s any ginger and spring onion sauce left over, dip anything else into it. Prawns In Garlic & Chilli Sauce These prawns were a little rubbery, and the mild sauce was forgettable." - Rianne Shlebak
