Glenn L.
Yelp
It was my first night alone in London and I wanted "comfort food" (i.e., Chinese), as I wasn't ready yet to explore the dining or pub scene. Google maps advised me this was a sit-down restaurant only 2 blocks from my B&B (Royal Foundation of St. Katharine's, see separate review) and that the place would be open til 11pm on a Thursday. Glad I came.
First, the restaurant may be "skinny" and compact, but it is clean and well-lit facing semi-busy Commercial Street in London's East End. Second, the young female hostess and male server were very friendly and attentive. Third, even at 10pm, there were two young Chinese couples eating there (definitely a good sign), both with HotPots. Fourth, out of curiousity, I ordered the Kung Pao Chicken (as I've had this at dozens of restaurants throughout the U.S.). It's probably the best I've ever tasted - definitely on the sweeter honey-glazed side, lots of peanuts and spicy hot (lots of red chili peppers). You'll be sweating half-way through, so bring your handkerchief or a portable mini-fan! Serving size is fairly generous.
Prices were a bit higher than expected: Kung Pao Chicken dish (£8.80 = USD $11.70); small bowl of steamed white rice (£2.00 = USD $2.66); the smallish-can of Coca-Cola (8 oz?) (£2.20 = $2.93), and automatic 10% service charge. Total £14.30 (USD $19.02). Everything is a la carte (i.e., no complementary rice like in the U.S.)
Would I make a special trip here from other parts of London? No. But if you're in the East End (Limehouse), you could do a lot worse. I'll probably stop by again next time I'm in the neighborhood.