Food: China Town

To the untrained eye China Town can seem like a gaudy tourist trap. A fun place to wonder through but the MSG riddled all day buffets are enough to put most off from settling down for a feed. But if you know where to go, you will be in for a Chinese culinary treat.

I always head to Four Seasons, 23 Wardour Street - a tip off from some of Soho's top chefs, (they used to head here for a midnight feast after dinner service). The front is unassuming and first impressions aren't improved by the bright strip light interior but look past this and order some lesser known and delicious authentic Chinese dishes.

I get things going with a bowl of Westlake soup - a thick clear broth of chicken stock, minced beef and egg white that cooks as you slurp. Zing it up with a splosh of shaoxing vinegar when it arrives. Unfortunately I wolfed it down before I got a picture.

Next, straight out of the frier, the salt and pepper squid is meaty and crispy and great to share.

You can just see the Westlake soup in the background!

As you walk through the door, there is usually a chef wielding a scarily huge knife hacking up the honey bbq pork. I always go for one portion made up of half cha sui barbecued pork and half crispy roast belly.

Make sure you order some chinese veg. The kai-lan has the density of broccoli and the crunch of pak-choi. Four Seasons toss theirs in garlic sauce.

Kai Lang

Classic egg fried rice

I've written about how good these bbq pork buns are before here. They are still great and still only £1.30. Sun Leun, 14 Little Newport St.

Warming up my gloved hand with a cha sui bao

While you're there, pop into See Woo, 18-20 Lisle Street. Upstairs pick up some Siu Mai pork and prawn dumplings (I've found that the The Royal Gourmet brand are one of the best) then head downstairs and buy a bamboo steamer for a couple of quid to cook them in. 

Dumplings

At home- the dumplings ready in the steamer