As we were browsing through the Michelin - London 2007 guide, this caught our eyes - Yauatcha 丘記茶苑. It is a Chinese restaurant that has been awarded with 1* Michelin. So far, we have tried the Dim Sum at Lotus Floating in the Docklands and I still think it’s good for the price that we pay (it’s cheaper, good value for the money). However, presentation and taste wise, I think Yauatcha has brought these important elements of Dim Sum to another level.
Yauatcha is located in the West End, it’s just a few minutes walk from Oxford Circus Underground station. It has blue tinted glass exterior that looks really modern and neat. As we pushed the main entrace door and walked in, we were immediately greated by the staff.
Since I booked a table 2 hours before, we didn’t have to worry that there would be a queue or a long wait which usually happens at most of the Chinese Dim Sum restaurants. In fact, I realise that there’s no such thing as queuing or waiting near to the entrace and paying full attention for the number to be called and yey we got a table now and it’s our turn to eat!!
The deco looks fabulous, very calm and chic. Near to the entrace, there’s where you can pick your dessert. There’s a selection of desserts presented nicely near to the Chocolate counter where can be boxed them away. However, they are not the usual Chinese desserts such as Egg Tarts, Mango pudding, Tao Fu Fa, etc… that you usually find on the standard Dim Sum menu. They are more Western desserts with a bit of Asian touch. Oh yeah, they sell the Macarons too?!

There’s a shelf where various types of Chinese Tea are stored. Thus, a long list of tea to be chosen from the menu. From blue tea to green tea! We decided to try blue tea, by the name Tsui Yu 翠玉. Well, it sounded that the tea was gonna be blue in colour, but, it still had the normal yellowish to greenish colour.
Dim Sum can be steamed, deep fried, grilled, and baked. Of course, there are some stir-fry dishes can also be ordered. We ordered the following

So, my favourite(s)? It is very difficult to choose. Let me start with my least favourite. I’d say that the dessert doesn’t taste as good as it looks. If we were gonna make another visit next time, the following are still not to be missed: Har Gau is always my favourite. Shanghai Siew Long Pau, great sensation of taste when you have the whole in your mouth. It’s my first time to have this kind of bun! Steamed scallops dumplings, this is very different from what I’ve tried before. It’s served and steamed on top of prawns + fish + curly parsley paste. Overall, our rating is 8 or 8.5 /10.
15-17 Broadwick Street
Soho, London W1F 0DL
Tel: 020 7494 8888