Chop Chop
- Food served: Tue–Fri noon–2pm, 5.30–10.30pm; Sat/Sun 5p–11pm
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 8
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Takeaway
- Music on stereo: Chinese muzak
- Capacity: 80
- Largest group: 80
- Open since: 2006
- Average price 2 courses:
£5.50 (set lunch)
£16 (evening meal) - House wine: £9.85 per bottle
- BYOB: £5 corkage
This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.
'Authentic' may be an over-used claim on many menus, but at Chop Chop it's entirely appropriate. Don't be fooled by the garish red and yellow façade: it might look like any other takeaway, but Chop Chop is the real deal. Genuinely charming and knowledgeable staff explain chef/proprietor Jian Wang's ethos: serving the north-eastern Chinese food that the Chinese people eat. Diners are encouraged to order three or four small dishes, each to be shared among the whole table. In fact, in the informal, almost canteen-like surroundings, accompanied by a chilled Chinese beer, it's the only way to eat. Jian's specialty dumplings are unmissable: boiled or fried and plunged into dipping sauce mixed to taste by the diners themselves, combinations such as pork and chive and beef and turnip are bursting with flavour. The simplicity of the dishes belies a flavoursome pay-off: a deceptively cool glass noodle salad delivers a fiery chilli kick, and crispy shredded potato with coriander, spring onions and sesame seeds is a mouthwatering delight. Chop Chop has built a loyal following since its 2006 opening and, with food like this, deservedly so. As their flyer asks: 'Can a billion people be wrong?'
- High point: Delicious north-eastern Chinese cooking straight from the heart
- Low point: Canteen-like surroundings lack finesse
The LIST Card F24
This restaurant offers the standard 2-for-1 LIST Card promotion for:
Lunch: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu
Dinner: Mon, 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
Comments
- 1. R Dineen, Edinburgh – 15 May 2008, 10:54amReport
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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