Kai Mayfair

Kai Mayfair

http://www.kaimayfair.co.uk

Reviews and related sites

Kai Mayfair - London Restaurant Reviews | Hardens

“A very modern take on Chinese cuisine” excites devotees of Bernard Yeoh’s “stylish and contemporary” Mayfair fixture, one of London’s top Asian venues.

“I’m not sure it is genuine Chinese rather than influenced by China, but presentation is artistic and there are really interesting menu choices”.

Kai Mayfair - Wikipedia

Kai Mayfair is a Chinese restaurant located on 65 South Audley Street, Mayfair, near Park Lane in London, England.

In 2009, Kai Mayfair was awarded a Michelin Star[1] being the only Chinese restaurant added to the 2009 Michelin List in UK.

Among its other awards include the Harden's Guide's award for Best Chinese Restaurant in London (2009 Edition)[2] and The Zagat Survey's Best Chinese Restaurant in London for three years from 2003 - 2005.

[3] The restaurant also received nominations for Restaurant (magazine)'s UK Best Dishes as well as Tatler Magazine's Best Kitchen Awards in 2006.

Kai Mayfair | The Luxury Restaurant Guide

Review analysis
food  

Kai Mayfair is possibly one of the most elegant Chinese restaurants available today.

Since its opening in 1993, and retaining a Michelin star since 2009, it has been decorated by numerous magazines, guides and surveys as the Best Chinese Restaurant.

It is set over two beautiful floors, with ultra sleek, comfortable and stylish decor, illuminated by arty wall hangings and off-set by the classic staple starched white table linen.

Chef Alex Chow produces classic Cantonese dishes with traditional roots, alongside exciting new experimental creations almost begging to be sampled.

Owner Bernand Yeoh magically manages to ensure this always retains that welcoming neighbourhood restaurant feel, even if that just happens to be the finest area of Mayfair.

High price of star quality at Kai | London Evening Standard

Review analysis
food   staff   value   menu  

Michelin has always pussyfooted around recognition of the worth of ethnic restaurants, despite the fact that in London and the UK they make up a large part of the affordable face of eating out.

A new star for a Chinese restaurant this year goes to Kai Mayfair.

Alex Chow from Kuala Lumpur has been chef at Kai Mayfair for quite a few years and surely not much has changed except maybe prices have soared even higher.

Fish dishes start at £20 for aubergines stuffed with minced prawns and zoom to £53 for sea bass, Dover sole or lobster.

Hot and sour soup was good but not, as suggested in the menu notes, the best we’d ever tried.

Classics Revisited: Kai Mayfair

Review analysis
food   desserts  

It is brought to the table for you to sandwich in a crisp lettuce leaf with a spear of pickled cucumber before wrapping the whole caboodle in a floppy steamed pancake with a smear of plum sauce, like a porky crispy duck.

There’s more tabletop fun to be had from Wagyu beef cut into strips as thin and fleshy as a flayed saint.

You’re meant to cook them on a heated slab of Himalayan salt (like something you might warm your backside on in a spa), then daub the quick-cooked beef with a slick of garlic and soy sauce.

Chow puts desserts at the beginning of his menu to underline their importance at Kai (no banana fritters or red-bean pancakes here).

I wasn’t totally sold on a durian and vanilla soufflé; the contrast of the durian’s cheese-and-onion custard flavour with a salted caramel sauce was one of the oddest things I’ve eaten recently.

Kai Mayfair | Restaurants in Mayfair, London

Review analysis
food  

It’s not only sceptics who reckon that dining at a Chinese restaurant in Mayfair usually means high prices for ordinary food.

And, yes, apart from the set lunch menu, prices at Kai Mayfair conform to the stereotype.

Hot and sour soup is a whacking £13, and don’t even think about the wine list if you’re on a budget.

At our meal, the kitchen showed an inventive streak from the off, with miso soup being paired with goji berries and boosted by a spicy kick.

A refreshing almond curd encircled by dragon fruit and lychees concluded the meal.

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