We knew about China Town for a long time and when we decided to find the best Chinese place in Warsaw we knew we were going to start there. We ordered takeaway food from China Town thousands of times, we also visited the modest place on Al. Lotników on many occasions. Place where pretty much every time you can meet the Chinese eating their specialties. I love their Gong Bao chicken with peanuts and Maks has been in love with their fried rice with ham and shrimps since his birth. This one seems the most similar to fried rice served in his favourite eatery in Chinatown in Bangkok.
Despite our love for the place, we haven’t written anything about it for a while – most of you probably never read about it since we wrote the entry about China Town in winter of 2011! It was on another blog (called With fork through the world) in completely different times. A lot has changed, but the food in China Town is still delicious, lots of Chinese still go there and you can still eat some unusual meals there which sometime may sound a bit weird… because what can a fish-flavoured aubergine e??? And how do 100 years old eggs taste???
The menu in China Town is quite a challenge! Lots of things to choose from. Beginning with the starters presented in numbers that make your choice even more difficult. Some classic things onboard – spring rolls, won tons and tofu but also 100-years old eggs (!!!), dried soy beans in sticks (ever tried that?), lots of tongues, stomachs, chicken paws (yuck!) or salted duck eggs. If you want to go a little bit crazy – that’s the place!
This time we go for easy and safe meals cucumber with garlic (PLN 12). As for curiosities – we get a fish-flavoured aubergine (PLN 25) – it’s more of a main course, but it might as well serve as a starter for two. I have to admit that I’m a bit afraid – what is it then: an aubergine or a fish? Łukasz promises that it’s delicious.
cucumber with garlic – PLN 12
fish-flavoured aubergine – PLN 25
Turns out that we like …. the fish-flavoured aubergine the most from the starters 🙂 It’s very soft and melts in our mouths, has a spicy flavour and doesn’t taste like a fish at all! There’s some minced meat in the sauce which makes it a non-vegetarian meal despite the name. The cucumber is alright, but I prefer a spicy one with garlic, for example the one from Harbińskie Pierożki. As for tofu – it’s OK, you can nibble on it while you wait for your meal but I would prefer to order a fried tofu Japanese style instead.
When it comes to main courses we’ve had our favourites for a long time: Gong Bao chicken with peanuts for me and tofu mapo for Łukasz. It tastes the best in China Town. This time we’re having lunch with a friend who goes for a crispy duck (PLN 39). There are also lunch sets available during lunchtime. One of these includes Gong Bao chicken and costs just PLN 17 served with rice and salad. Mordor – China Town is quite a bargain for lunch! 🙂
Gong Bao chicken – lunch version- PLN 17
tofu mapo (spicy) – PLN 25
cripsy duck served with pineapple – PLN 39
The case with main courses is similar to the one with starters – you can get lost easily. There’s thousands of them! Pork, beef, chicken, duck, fish, shrimps, calamari, tofu! Lots of original positions such as crispy intestines with leek(!). From our previous visits I remember fish-flavoured stripes of pork (delicious!) and battered pork tenderloins in rice vinegar sauce (also nice!).
It’s loud and crowded in China Town during lunch time. You can spot men in suits, the Chinese and ladies aged 70+ at one of the tables – as diverse as it gets. Same goes for the weekends. That speaks for the place. Also, lately we heard some Chinese guys naming China Town one of two best places with Chinese food in Warsaw. China Town tastes great, but we will keep searching and checking where they serve best Chinese food in town: got any recommendations? We already have China Garden on the list and our plan includes a few other spots. Maybe you have your own picks for the Best Chinese in Warsaw list?? Come on, don’t be shy! 🙂
PRACTICAL INFORMATION:
Al. Lotników 28
tel. 22 857 34 90
PS. Galeria Mokotów surroundings is not the only place where China Town operates – you will also find it on Al. Jerozolimskie 87, a few steps from Central Station, in CH Reduta and in Centrum Ursynów. We haven’t eaten there though so I can’t promise it’s the same.. but I’m counting on it 😉 Addresses of all branches can be found HERE.
China Town, Chinese cuisine, Warsaw
