Chi Kitchen

Name: Chi Kitchen
Address: Debenhams, 334 - 348 Oxford Street, London, Marylebone, W1C 1JG, UK
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7823 1888
Rating: 8

Chinese Restaurant in Marylebone

8 / 10 from 1 review

Address
Debenhams
334 - 348 Oxford Street
Marylebone
London
W1C 1JG

Map

History

Telephone
020 7823 1888

Cuisine
Chinese

Region
Marylebone

Nearest Station
Bond Street
0.11 miles

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Seating up to 68 covers on the ground floor of Debenhams' flagship Oxford Street store, Chi Kitchen offers a relaxed and welcoming feel. Offering all-day dining in an open plan environment, guests can watch the chefs at work, as they freshly prepare the sushi, sashimi and charcoal grilled delights.

All In London Review

An interesting and welcome change to traditional afternoon tea

I’ve had Afternoon Tea in a lot of places – top London establishments and beautiful stately homes a bit further afield. And yesterday I went along to experience afternoon tea with an Asian twist at Chi Kitchen (brainchild of Masterchef Champion Ping Coombes) – conveniently located on the ground floor of Debenhams on Oxford Street but with its own entrance onto the street as it is open late into the evening.

When we walked in my companion declared that he knew it was going to be good by the look and feel of the place. The décor is simple but modern – clean wood, metal lines and funky minimalist lights. There’s just a suggestion of its Asian roots. The staff are all dressed in black and keen to help. Large windows look onto the busy shoppers and office workers outside – so we gloated at our air-conditioned comfort - and low level bench booths provide you with your own space.

There’s an amazing range of cocktails, drinks and beverages. We postponed drinking tea to sample some alcohol-free cocktails. My Virgin Mojito (£5.85) was exemplary – I didn’t miss the rum – and my companion’s Virgin Colada was equally delicious. We tucked into some prawn crackers with chilli and spicy mayonnaise dips while we waited.

Our tea arrived on a traditional three tiered plate. We started at the base and worked upwards.

First were lighter-than-air and fresh tasting vegetable spring rolls. My companion said “the best spring roll I have ever tasted”. Then taro cake (a sort of rice flour pancake) with a delicious plum sauce-like topping. And a curry puff that was the first rather ordinary tasting thing we encountered. Chilli dipping sauce was in the centre.

The next level offered salmon nigari – perfectly cooked rice and firm salmon topped with some caviar. Then plump and sticky prawn dumplings. Another dipping sauce in the centre.

The top tier had cassava cake – warm and dense and “a bit like Oriental angel cake”. Then a lime green Pandan Kaya Bun with a distinctive dark matcha green tea filling. Finally, there was a generous portion of caramel cheesecake which was super-sweet.

I had some Earl Grey tea which was presented in a gorgeously organic shaped pot and my companion sampled the frothy Malaysian pulled tea (served in a glass) which I can only imagine is an acquired taste – a little sweet for my palate.

It was an interesting and welcome change to traditional afternoon tea and I can imagine it will be very popular for those who want either a break from their shopping or some relaxed time out of their busy offices. It will doubtless be as attractive to the younger generation who perhaps resist traditional afternoon teas as it will be to the older generation who will welcome a change. And you would be entirely comfortable dining there alone.

Afternoon tea costs £12.50 per person with unlimited Malaysian tea or coffee or £15 per person with a glass of Prosecco.

What was also impressive was the main menu for the restaurant. It spans Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Malaysian, Thai and Korean dishes – most with meat and vegetarian options. Temptations included sashimi, sushi, dim sum, robata BBQ, Nyonya curry, Sambal, Kung Po, Laksa as well as noodles and rice and various small plates. I particularly liked the sound of duck watermelon salad (£8.25), prawn tempura (£8.95) and spider soft shell crab (£10.50).

Reviewed by KimT on Jun 2, 2017
Published on Jun 2, 2017

The Pan-Asian

Department stores have long moved away from having self-service cafes for their customers. Instead they're opening "proper" restaurants to make you want to leave home for, and perhaps even pick up a new lampshade while you're there. Chi Kitchen, part of the same group as Mango Tree, is on the ground floor of Debenhams on Oxford Street. With dishes from the Far East and South East Asia, you'll find pho, sushi, nasi goreng, dim sum and pad Thai all on the same menu.

The Korean steak is a cut of sirloin marinated in bulgogi sauce, a Korean staple. Cooked on the robata grill, they suggest medium rare but it arrives a little overdone. Seared salmon served over sticky rice lacks oomph and is also slightly underwhelming.

However the Chi Kitchen Rolls are very good. These California-style sushi rolls are filled with yellowtail, red pepper, sweet ebu prawn, tuna and yuzu mayonnaise, with toppings of salmon and glistening roe. The chicken wings - also from the robata grill - glazed in a spicy BBQ sauce, and the chicken and prawn dim sum, are delectable. Grilled corn on the cob comes with deliciously savoury miso.

On the night we visit there are couples, people dining in the company of their iPads, and groups of girls on shopping trips, but there's been some effort to make the restaurant distinct from the store with a separate entrance and dim lighting. A fortunate layout means some tables are nestled into alcoves giving privacy away from the hubbub of the perfume counter, and there’s a soothing soundtrack of Middle eastern instrumental music on in the background.

Reviewed by Leila anonymously on Mar 17, 2016
Published on Mar 17, 2016