Chop Chop

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Chop Chop
248 Morrison Street
Edinburgh, EH3 8DT
Phone: 0131 221 1155
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  • Food served: Tue–Fri noon–2pm, 5.30–10.30pm; Sat/Sun 5–11pm
  • Number of wines sold by the glass: 8
  • Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Takeaway
  • Music on stereo: Chinese muzak
  • Capacity: 80
  • Largest group: 80
  • Open since: 2006
View larger map of EH3 8DT
  • Average price 2 courses:
     £14 (lunch)
     £14 (evening meal)
  • House wine: £10 per bottle
  • BYOB: £5 corkage
Eating & Drinking Guide 2009

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2009 – in the shops now or buy online.

'Authentic cuisine' has become a tired old phrase, but for one restaurant that can boldly lay claim to genuine authenticity, look no further than Chop Chop. The strength of its case comes from the experienced hands of the head chef who hails from North China, the original home of the kitchen's recipes. Without a single concession to the standard Anglo-Cantonese fare that dominates Britain (you can't even get a coffee in here), the menu serves up an intriguing insight into what people eat in the world's newest superpower. Lamb with salt and cumin is a curious combination of soft meat and robust earthy notes, and is one of the fastest sellers on the starters list. There's a number of well-executed fish dishes, and the crispy Northern pork or chicken prove popular due to both their proximity to dishes you may find in more traditional venues and their added slice of freshness and originality. There's a canteen approach to the interior with little in the way of décor beyond a ceiling dangling with humble paper lightshades. Your eyes may not fall in love with the presentation or the surroundings, but the philosophy here starts and ends with the food.

  • High point: Like being transported into a North Chinese canteen
  • Low point: Little in the way of ambience

The LIST Card F24

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This restaurant offers the standard 2-for-1 LIST Card promotion for:

Lunch: Tue, Wed, Thu

Dinner: Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun

Exclusions: Business Lunches, Valentine's Day

Remember: book by phone (0131 221 1155) and ask for a LIST Card booking.

The LIST Card is a dining scheme that gives you promotional two-for-one offers at a range of restaurants in Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond. Find out more.

Chop Chop dumplings set for supermarket sales

25 Feb 2008

Edinburgh restaurateur Roy King, who runs Chop Chop, has announced that the dumplings for which they are famous are now being produced for sale in Sainsbury's. He insisted on maintaining his policy of 'fresh ingredients only and no pre-cooking…

Comments

1. R Dineen, Edinburgh – 15 May 2008, 10:54amReport

Chop Chop is a great place to go to experience authentic chinese food at a great price.

Great menu with lots of options and i always want to have just that little bit more.

The service can be a little haphazard but in some strange way this can add to the experience (if you are not in a rush).

However, the restaurant itself can become very busy so book if you can.

Just a point to Mr King... it has been open long enough now for the decor to be smartened up and the loos need a more professional paint job. This does pull down from the experience as it makes the loos look unclean (which they are not).

Get the paint brush out.

2. jimjamjem, Easter Road – 1 July 2008, 5:26pmReport

So good to see a Chinese restaurant doing something different. Great if there's a few of you so you can try as much from the menu as possible.

3. Roman, Edinburgh – 9 July 2008, 4:14pmReport

Not to my taste! In fact it's the most unpalatable Chinese food I have ever tasted and I've travelled all over the world!

4. Richard K, Wales – 10 July 2008, 9:46pmReport

Sorry Roman didn't like it; I'd vote it the best Chinese food I've ever eaten in Britain. I came away each time wishing I could find space for just one dish more. Excellent service too.

5. Hackel, Minneapolis, USA – 7 December 2008, 11:27pm(2s)Report

The dumplings were quite good, which you might say is their specialty, however the Northern Fried Lamb was really disgusting. Chewy meat with an awful breading in a nearly congealed sauce. Also, this restaurant raised its prices instead of passing the 2.5% VAT rebate on to its customers. Also NO discount for take-away, and no delivery. Rubbish, I say. I won't be going back.

6. Nina, Edinburgh – 24 December 2008, 3:56pm(3s)Report

The food was good. The dimsums were tasty. The service was good too with a lot of advice on dishes on offer which I found very helpful. The venue lacks atmosphere though and feels more like a canteen than a restaurant which is a shame.

7. Big-Yin, Old Town – 2 February 2009, 4:51pm(4s)Report

Great food. Just the right sized portions and a good mix of different offerings to mix and match. I recommend the peanut and mustard noodles!

8. Shawn, Edinburgh – 18 February 2009, 2:55pm(4s)Report

I was treated to a meal here last July for my birthday, by a friend who lived in China for a year, so I valued her opinion that the food was good. And it really was, so much to choose from too, if only i'd had room to try a few more things. Yes, the place could do with a bit of an update in the decor department, but the staff are great, and i've been buying their dumplings (sold at Sainsburys) ever since.

9. Derek&Wendy, Edinburgh – 9 April 2009, 11:01pm(5s)Report

Excellent food wish we had found the Chop Chop sooner but glad we have found it now

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