Lan Kwai Fong

Sadly lunch here recently was a sorry affair. I should say immediately that the service was absolutely fantastic - they were very welcoming and eager to please - it's just a shame that the food let them down so badly. A very cheap lunch offer of two courses for £7.95 equals (I'm afraid, in this case) a rather cheap offering in food. I started with tofu, chili and garlic which had excited me but arrived rather limply in a heavy batter, albeit with an excellent scattering of chili; the flabby batter and ensconsed soggy tofu made what might have been an incredible dish boring, greasy and unpleasant. My second choice of Tao Pan Chicken unfortunately never arrived. I think my order was misplaced and instead I was served what I assume was their Chicken in Black Bean sauce - either that or the food was even worse than I thought and they don't differentiate between dishes - and it was sadly gloopy and contained the dreadful reconstituted meat which makes me shudder to eat. The accompanying fried rice which I spent about 50 pence on was worth what it cost.

I get the impression that these guys are pushing cheap drink promotions alongside average food and while it certainly might appeal to some it's not what I'm after when I want great food. I wish them all the best but I won't be eating here again.

Dr Mukti (DI User), 28/12/11

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Never been here since it changed hands from being The Elm Tree pub, but so glad I did! The spicy monkfish dish was great and the service was superb. I also like the fact that they have semi-circular huts outside where you can eat and smoke. Comparatively cheap, too - my friend and I had two mains, two rice dishes and two large glasses of wine for about £30. A hidden gem. They need to be better at their marketing.

Amie (DI User), 29/08/11

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I ordered the lunch special, and I'm sorry to report it was subpar. What really stood out was the roasted duck. It was overcooked to the point of being too hard to eat. When I complained and a new one was brought to me, it was still overcooked. The spring rolls were similar: no point in ordering them rather than buying the same thing from a supermarket. My friend ordered the Tao Pan chicken, and it tasted bad. Not going back here given the other East Asian options in Oxford!

Foodie (Unverified), 03/08/11

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My boyfriend and I discovered Lan Kwai Fong last winter and we go all the time now - it's like our "comfort food" place. The staff are SO LOVELY and we are always treated like old friends. Big portions (and they don't skimp on rice - I hate places that do that), good prices, interesting specials. I organised a small surprise dinner for my boyfriend here a few months ago for his birthday, and they couldn't do enough for us. Ooh, just thinking about it as I write this makes me want to go now...

Sarah (Unverified), 16/09/10

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Not in the best area of Oxford but finally, a good chinese restaurant where they don't use msg.
Amazing food, lots of vegetarian options and a great service. Had a starter, a big main and a few drinks for £20.

cj (Unverified), 25/08/10

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Yup, the atmosphere and decor are a bit strange, but the food is great! Really, really good, specially the duck and lamb and pork dishes. The chicken tends to be a little bit odd, in a slightly glutinous way, but everything else I've tried has been good - delightfully fresh-tasting and, most importantly, msg-free.

Minnie the Muncher (Unverified), 08/06/10

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Love the food at Lan Kwai Fong! Wide range of choices for food and drinks. You should also give it a go for their cool cocktails.

Jenny (Unverified), 01/06/10

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This place is extremely naff and the staff are eccentric. Do not be put off! The food is largely very tasty - bar the 'wet' noodle dishes which tend to be excessively starchy and underpowered. The food perhaps lacks a bit of heat, but it's just so much fun!

Go for the garlic aubergine or the special jiaozi.

J (Unverified), 22/05/10

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We live on Cowley Road and often pop in for a quick takeaway, or if we have more time we sit down for a proper meal. The staff are always super friendly, competent, and well worth getting to know. The menu is enormous, but so far have liked everything we try. Highly recommended for Chinese & Asian fusion food.

catalanchickenlover (DI User), 24/12/09

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Me a convert...? No! You must be joking! I would love to keep this restaurant a secret, but I can't lie !OK, we went out one night 8 months ago and fancied a change, so strolled down the Cowley Road past Tesco! A pub with A boards written in Chinese and English beckons, and so do the staff. The bar is a bit glitzy with telly and bright lights, the restaurant is home to some of the best Chinese, Thai and Chinese fusion food you can have in Oxford - don't rely on me as a convert! Go taste, enjoy the family service, go 5 times and you are smitten! Mondays are best - it's quieter, well sometimes! The menu is extensive and fun, but ask for something special and it's - do I say this? They will know who I am - chicken feet! They tempted me to try them! I did, well after I mustered up the courage I had them. They were different but ok, but it was fun to try something very SE Asia and they are OK, lol lol fun! But the food is scrummy, we go most weeks on a Monday to enjoy the staff, the ambience and best of all the menu! Don't believe me? Then see how many Chinese families, students and other restaurant staff eat and relax, there it is! For me the best restaurant in town.
Expensive no, service is attentive! The food, well it's worth spending £35 for two including wine! Prove me wrong! This such a great restaurant and bar with... dare I say it... karaoke! In a sound-proofed (almost) area. It is what the Cowley Rd is all about, great service, lively, good surroundings and great food, and yes, I am a chef. xxx

Chef Henri (Unverified), 02/11/09

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Went there again last night. We were wondering if it might have changed but it's still lush. One little complaint, we were very hungry and waited ages for our food. Trying to get nice young waitress to marry my son and I can have lush food for life........

18/10/09

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The converted pub exterior put me off going here at first; it seemed such a strange building for a Chinese restaurant that I didn't have much hope of it being nice food. But I was recommended it by a friend whom I trust on all matters foodie, and she was right. This place is great!

The food feels really fresh and light and almost healthy rather than gloopy and greasy and heavy. The dumplings are made fresh for you and arrive like beautiful works of translucent art. The menu is interesting and full of surprises - I can recommend the crispy lamb with hoisin dip as a nice change from the usual, and the duck in plum is soooo good.

The atmosphere is relaxed and fun, especially if you like a bit of cheesy 80s music in the background. If you're just there for a meal and would have a Total Eclipse of the Heart at the idea of crooning out a classic on the mic then fear not because the karaoke is mercifully in the other wing of the building and won't really disturb your meal.

But what really made it for me were the staff and their dedication to making it a fun and relaxed evening with truly gorgeous food. For instance, I've never managed to master using chopsticks and, when my partner was showing me up big-style, the manager was kind enough to try and teach me on my request. After seeing me struggling in vain, she disappeared off without saying a word to make me my own 'chopstick for plebs' creation with the help of some folded paper and two rubber bands! As a result of her Blue Peter-stylie kindness I was able to eat the entire meal with chopsticks for the first time! It made my day and I will be returning many times, always with my trusty 'chopsticks for plebs' in hand!

This is the best chinese in Oxford by miles - and there was a real gap for one, I think. Go and try it - you won't regret it. They do takeways too, with a loyalty system on the menu and special deals for Mondays and Tuesdays like free wine etc.

Dangerweasel (Unverified), 17/08/09

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I was a sceptic but now I'm a convert! Hot and spicy prawn Tom Yum was thick and flavoursome (and also available in chicken or veggie); prawn toast was juicy and there were loads of pieces; we were new customers so we got some special cream-and-chocolate-sauce-decorated strawberries brought to us as a surprise for afters! The TVs were pretty massive, loud and distracting but then I have been told that this recreates a pretty authentic atmosphere in terms of busy Chinese eateries :) We managed to cope and will be going back - the menu is MASSIVE so I imagine a few repeat visits will be required to work our way through it. They also do takeaway (with a loyalty points scheme that eventually qualifies you for a hefty discount) and I'm pretty sure you could still sit and have a drink at the bar or outside, Elm Tree-style, if you weren't eating. The 'no MSG' promise from the kitchen is amazing - how many fast food joints do you know that maintain that as a policy?! - and service is quick and friendly. Great!

Roo (DI Reviewer), 09/07/09

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I love the Cocktails at Lan Kwai Fong. There are over 30 types of cocktails to choose from. I Especially love the Lan Kwai Fong 3 ( Jessica Love Juice), will try their special Cocktail PK Jai on my Birthday.

Jenny (Unverified), 08/06/09

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The best Chinese in Oxford! My friends and I are addicted (even without the MSG). Just about to go get takeaway from there now. Staff are friendly, food is excellent, big portions at good prices. It's about £15 each for five starters and two cocktails (which are also amazing in their glass mugs, check out Lan Kwai Fong 1 with the lychee and aloe vera). Get on the karaoke too.

Alex (Unverified), 08/05/09

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Lan Kwai Fong was a real find, really good food (try the Hot and Spicy Soup!) and a very friendly staff mean that we had a relatively inexpensive tasty meal.

There was a big group in that had hired the private kareoke bar, seemed like a really good idea if you were planning to have a party.

I wasn't drinking but the list of alcoholic beverages was extensive, especially the cocktail list.

EgonRonay (Unverified), 04/05/09

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A real find! Don't be put off by the idea that this is just a bar - the food is really something. Although it's presented in a very British way it's very good and not at all the standard Chinese takeaway options. Recommended are the dim sum, particularly the fried meat dumplings and the little steamed prawn dumplings with their translucent wrappers. Also the deep fried squid.

P (DI User), 30/03/09

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Can only add to previous positive reviews of 'LKF' as the food and service are both very good.

I visited on a week-day lunch time looking to sample some of their Dim Sum dishes. I started by ordering a bottle of Chang beer at the main bar (there were a choice of 12 from around the world on the menu) and sat down to puruse the drinks menu. Within a couple of seconds a waiter presented me with a bowl of complimentry prawn crackers to nibble on which I thought was a lovely touch. The drinks menu is quite amazing as it has a huge array of cocktails and shooters on, some of which defy belief in their alcohol content. How about rum, Goldschlager anf Jagermeister ("Liquid Cocaine")!? Or maybe vodka with Tabasco sauce ("Afterburner")? Or for the less adventurous how about Jack Daniels with Chinese tea!? There are also 3 different types of absinthe with one weighing in at 80% alcohol volume and Jager bombs for the student/party crowd to get their lips round. The prices all looked reasonable and whilst most of this stuff is far cruder than most of the other cocktail bars' wares available in Oxford, I dare say there's still a market, especially half-way up/down the Cowley Road. If nothing else it will give some serious Dutch courage for the advertised Karaoke happy hours!

After all this crazyness, you'd probably imagine the restaurant wouldn't be up to much however that is far from the truth. The dining room (to the right of the bar) is attractively decorated and on my visit was the recipiant of a romantic ballad cd compilation that was being piped around the room. I can't remember the last time I had Chinese accompanied by Eternal Flame. I was presented with a Dim Sum menu and a full Chinese menu which included standard chinese dishes as well as more snacky noodle-based dishes and looked great. I like the cool ticking system on the menu to chose what you want which is original in Oxford as far as I'm aware(?).

I opted for some Dim Sum and had 4 dishes mixing both steamed and fried dumplings. I also had some chicken feet for good measure. The best were probably the fried meat dumplings and also the beautiful translucent clam steamed dumplings. Prices range between £2.50 - £4.50 per dish and were generously served. I didn't go for anything on the main menu but another table had some really fresh looking chow mein and some duck which looked really tasty. I just about had room for a pudding and chose from their crepe list one offering Cherries and ice cream. This was also generously served and very tasty again (though the cherries seemed the tinned/jarred variety in a gloopy overly sweet sauce).

A great lunch and I'm sure I'll be back for dinner, when I'll eat from the main menu. As an additional incentive they gave me a voucher to get a free bottle of beer or a cocktail next time I visit. You can't argue with that. The only minor negative I would suggest is that the multi-tude of fluorecent signs outside advertising karaoke and the other delights are a bit much and de-value the place making you think it's some creepy night-club or late bar, which is far from the truth.

Joe B (Unverified), 22/02/09

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Went there for my son's birthday on 7th Feb and had a great night. Was very surprised to see so many people there. The food was very nice again and the staff could not have made the night more enjoyable. Thank you Alan!

10/02/09

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I went there with a group of five, Tuesday night and was not sure at first as it was 7pm and the place was empty. We were pleasantly surprised how they have turned a dingy pub in to a spotless place to eat. We found the staff a bit overpowering at first but when we settled in we realy enjoyed our meal. We tried lots of dishes and they were all lush. Cannot wait to go back.

Alice Iffley Road (Unverified), 16/01/09

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Not only is this the best Chinese Restaurant I've eaten at in Oxford, it's the best dining experience I've had in East Oxford since Dil Dunia opened. Would recommend to everyone I know!

Lan Kwai Fong is an incredible anomaly - reasonably priced (with mains including rice or noodles costing around £6.50) and incredibly tasty, fresh and immaculately presented food. They take their cooking seriously and are as friendly as you could imagine a place to be. Considering that you can easily pay £6.50 for a main elsewhere on the Cowley Rd and have poorer quality ingredients, choosing Lan Kwai Fong is a no-brainer.

I had the classic Wonton Soup for starters which, while not revealing too much about the restaurant's finesse, had generously filled wantons made with good quality pork. Very tasty. My friends had Satay Chicken (really good satay sauce) and meat dumplings (excellent presentation!) which both looked great and received an excellent response.

For my main course I had the Chicken fried with fresh Mango and it was, simply, divine. The meat was served in a shelled-out mango with big pieces of fresh mango among the tender chicken, alongside some perfectly cooked and generous rice. It was the tastiest Chinese meal I've had in ages, without a doubt. While not as adventurous looking as the menu of Shanghai 30's (honestly, what is?), I felt that the dishes on offer were better tasting and I'd have no worries about ordering anything on the menu given the quality of the meals I saw. My friends' dishes looked really excellent (pork noodle soup and beef shank).

Given the amazing quality of the food thus far, I couldn't resist trying a dessert (something I rarely do at Chinese restaurants) and had the Banana and Chocolate Crepes. Amazing. Totally took me by surprised at how tasty, plentiful, well-made and well-presented they were. None of this flimsy single crepe with half a banana nonsense, here we had generous folds of pancake covered with a goodly amount of thinly sliced banana, with a gorgeous chocolate sauce with ice cream on the side. I ate far too much and didn't regret it.

Service was prompt, competent and incredibly friendly. The decor, which at first seemed like it could be quite overpowering was actually whimsical and relaxing. While I wasn't drinking heavily I was also impressed at the range and price of the cocktails and mocktails on offer. For me the plentiful beer selection was welcome and the Tsingtao washed down a very fine meal indeed.

Stunning.

Ian (Unverified), 05/01/09

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