Karen's Unicorn
- Food served: Tue–Fri noon–2pm, 5–11pm; Sat/Sun 2–11pm. Closed Mon.
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 8
- Delivery: £1.20 (minimum)
- Private dining: 20/25
- Also offers: Children's portions, Children's high chairs
- Music on stereo: Chinese pop music
- Capacity: 70
- Largest group: 50
- Open since: 2009
Tell us more about this place.
- Average price:
£8.95 (set lunch)
£18 (evening meal) - House wine: £15.95 per bottle
- BYOB: £6 corkage
The 2012 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the current (2012) edition.
Karen’s Unicorn sets out to subvert your preconceptions of a typical Chinese restaurant. Whether you choose the original, cosy Stockbridge branch or its newer and more glamorous sister in the New Town’s Abercromby Place, any Chinatown clichés are firmly banished. Instead, a bold black and purple colour scheme carries through from furniture to statement lighting effects, creating a modern ambience with broad appeal. The cooking may not be quite as cutting-edge as the décor but dishes are well-portioned and attractively plated. Appetisers include fried and steamed dim sum, soft-shell crab and squid, and there’s a good choice of specials in the wide-ranging Cantonese menu. Fat battered king prawns in five-spice and chilli, and slivers of Chinese roast pork drizzled with piquant honey sauce are both great combinations. Even the noodles, shot through with plenty of golden onions, are delicious. Plus there’s a good selection of drinks to wash it all down, with Chinese and Australian beers and no fewer than eight wines by the glass on offer. Unicorns are rare beasts – and this incarnation is no exception.
- High point: Consistently good food and service
- Low point: Some may feel modernity is achieved at the expense of character
Reviews of Karen's Unicorn (8b Abercromby Place, Edinburgh)
- 2. Blair, Edinburgh – 20 January 2011, 6:17pm
Karen's UnicornReport -
The first reviewer "GW" said all that needs to be said, but I would just like to give my support too.
The team running Karen's Unicorn used to work at The Loon Fung, and K.U. serve the same high quality food that their former employer's served. K.U. offer a more lively, attentive and modern experience.
The staff are friendly and young, and the management really do want their diners to have a good experience so don't be shy in asking to speak to the manager to offer praise or constructive feedback.
- 1. GW, Edinburgh – 21 September 2010, 5:49pmKaren's UnicornReport
-
Our local Chinese place. Fantastic food, good prices and very good service. A great New Town secret. Love it there.
To post a review you'll first need to sign in: Forgotten your password?
Not registered? Sign up – it only takes a minute.
RSS feed of these reviews
