Phone: +442072472200
Address: Middlesex Street, London I-, United Kingdom, E1 7EZ
City: London
Dishes: 5
Reviews: 4638
Website: http://www.oldplace.co.uk
"Good hole in the wall Szechuan. I used to live in Shoreditch and frequent Gourmet San in Bethnal Green. My Old Place near Aldgate have the same owners and I was happy to have this replacement near the new flat. If you live local, it is better for takeaway that eating in at the restaurant. Though the atmosphere is convivial, the decor is basic with fluorescent tubes on the ceiling. There are a lot of hard surfaces, so acoustics are poor when the restaurant is crowded. It was crowded on a Saturday night. It's always a good sign when a Chinese restaurant is packed with Chinese people. One of my go-to Szechuan dishes is braised potato, green pepper and aubergine. As usual this dish was delicious, pungent and garlicky. It's a little hotter than usual here. Some of the green peppers were sweet paprikas but there were also smaller, thinner fleshed, hot peppers in the mix. If you can't handle heat, be careful to pick over the peppers. Yu-Shiang Beef was very good. Beef was extremely tender. I liked the fact that the julienned bamboo had been soaked in water which removed that distinctive woody taste I dislike. However, they did add a lovely crunch. Made with a nice black vinegar (the Chinese equivalent of balsamic) and ever so slightly sweet and a subtle hint of dried chilli. I'd order this again. Smashed cucumber was flavorful with lots of garlic and fresh coriander. One order is a lot of cucumber salad for two people. In the future I will order this when we are a larger table. We had a single serving of plain rice which was actully enough for two people. A copious takeout order with leftovers for tomorrow's lunch was £27. That said, the portions although generous, were not out control huge like I remember at Gourmet San."
Menu - 5 options
All prices are estimates.
Gnocchi
Soft potato dumplings served with a creamy pesto sauce and topped with Parmesan cheese.
Fried Rice
Stir-fried rice with vegetables, eggs, and choice of protein, seasoned with soy sauce and sesame oil.
Green Beans
Freshly sautéed green beans with garlic and a hint of lemon for a vibrant, crunchy side dish.
Kung Pao Chicken
Kung Pao Chicken: Stir-fried chicken with peanuts, vegetables, and chili peppers in a savory and spicy sauce.
User
my favorite place in the opposite to go for a real Chinese meal, eating is always good and they must try the green beans with pork and the lamb spits. very good
Address
Reviews
User
This is my favorite restaurant in London. The flavors are amazing, and the quality of the food and service is excellent. I especially love the spicy chicken dishes here.
User
Very authentic Chinese cuisine. Felt like I was transported back to northern China! Service could be better (or existent) but the tasty food makes up for it. I will go back.
User
This restaurant offers a lovely setting with a fantastic selection of freshly made dishes. The ambiance is delightful, and the friendly staff enhances the overall experience.
User
During my tour in London, I was uncertain about finding a good Chinese restaurant, but I'm glad I came across this authentic Szechuan spot. The flavors are rich without being overwhelmingly spicy, though I’m sure the heat level can be adjusted to suit your taste.
User
So there is good Chinese food in Aldgate! For the longest while I lost all hope there was anything authentic in this corner of London, but My Old Place surprised – and proved me wrong. It’s a hotspot for Szechuan cuisine and you’ll see that reflected in the clientele. It’s a local’s secret, so listen up!
User
I love a good Chinese place. Not the fake tourist ones fitted around but a good authentic one. I can always tell the food is going to be great when the staff are blunt. Just what I'm used to i guess. Everything was seasoned perfectly I especially loved the Sichaun dan dan noodles. That's always a personal favourite and this place made a great version. Unfortunately they didn't have any of their handmade dumplings in so I will have to return!
User
No frills authentic Chinese- I expected the dishes to be a lot more spicy (as Szechuan cuisine is reputed to be) but it was all pleasantly manageable. Favourite of the night was the beans with mince; the kung pao chicken, beef in Chili oil and Dan dan noodles were also very tasty (though they all could have had more heat). Perfect washed down with some cold Tsingdao beer! EDIT: after visiting a few more times, I've realized that their northern Chinese dishes are better than their Szechuan dishes- the stewed potato, aubergine and eggplant dish is a delight, as are the cold flat noodles in chili oil. Homestyle pork and chive dumplings also a treat.
User
Me and Fen disagree on many things. Music, politics, whether are not you can get head cancer if you don’t dry your hair before going to sleep (a Chinese myth apparently), but the one thing we can agree is an undying fondest for pungent, tongue blisteringly spicy Szechuan food. I’m told My Old Place (or 老地方, also named Gourmet San) has a bit of a reputation among local Chinese as being one of the best Szechuan restaurants East London has to offer. Heck, its even got glowing reviews on English food sites, as shown here, here and here. Honestly, having recently eaten at the fabulous Bar Shu – a trendy, Michelin star winning eatery in the middle of Soho – I was somewhat doubtful whether I cou...
User
Good hole in the wall Szechuan. I used to live in Shoreditch and frequent Gourmet San in Bethnal Green. My Old Place near Aldgate have the same owners and I was happy to have this replacement near the new flat. If you live local, it is better for takeaway that eating in at the restaurant. Though the atmosphere is convivial, the decor is basic with fluorescent tubes on the ceiling. There are a lot of hard surfaces, so acoustics are poor when the restaurant is crowded. It was crowded on a Saturday night. It's always a good sign when a Chinese restaurant is packed with Chinese people. One of my go-to Szechuan dishes is braised potato, green pepper and aubergine. As usual this dish was delicious...
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