Sichuan Folk

"This old-school Chinese restaurant off Brick Lane can be a bit of welcome respite from some of the trendier spots in the surrounding area. This is a white tablecloth, big menu with pictures kind of affair. The hot pots are excellent and much-needed for 90% of the year, and the twice-cooked pork in chilli oil with buns is one of the tastiest (and biggest) things you can get for under a tenner in London. This is a great spot for a catch-up with mates, a last-minute dinner, or anything really." - jake missing, rianne shlebak

"Sichuan Folk can feel like a welcome respite from some of the trendier spots surrounding its location just off Brick Lane. This is a lazy susans, big menus with pictures kind of affair. Their hot pots are excellent and the twice-cooked pork in chilli oil with buns is one of the tastiest (and biggest) things you can get for under a tenner in London. This is a great spot for a catch-up with mates, a last-minute dinner, or anything really." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, rianne shlebak, daisy meager

"What better place to warm the heart than this little Sichuan eatery just off Brick Lane? Sichuan Folk is known for its herbal and healing tonic broths loaded with jujube red dates, ginseng, ginkgo nuts and lotus root. Hoover up the lunchtime deals or the all-you-can-eat hot pot option for £22.80 per person where there’s luncheon meat, thinly sliced beef, prawns, mussels and fishballs galore. Fancy going it alone or in a small household? Try the off-the-menu ‘Maicao’ instant spicy steam pot that combines the best bits of a classic hot pot dipping ingredient menu like luncheon meat, crab sticks, enoki mushrooms and lotus roots with scorching ma la soup-sauce." - Angela Hui

"The Sichuan restaurant off Hanbury Street is worth knowing about if you’re looking for somewhere a little less likely to be packed to the rafters before or after the cinema. Their twice-cooked pork in chilli oil has seen us get through many an evening and, if you’re feeling unexpectedly emotional at having paid money you earned to watch something by the ‘director’ M. Night Shyamalan, then the steamed buns will soak up your tears." - jake missing

"This old school Chinese restaurant off Brick Lane can be a bit of welcome respite from some of the trendier spots in the surrounding area. This is a white tablecloths, big menus with pictures in affair. Their hot pots are excellent, and the twice cooked pork in chilli oil with buns is one of the tastiest (and biggest) things you can get for under a tenner in London. This is a great spot for a catch up with mates, a last minute dinner, or anything really." - Jake Missing