We stayed at a Hotel near London City Airport, as we had an early fight next day. Wanting dinner, and not wanting to eat at the hotel, (you know what that’s like) we look around for a near by restaurant. Yi Ban, Chinese restaurant was literally across the road.
First thing to say, on a Sunday evening this is not the place for an intimate quiet dinner. As you walk in your greeted with what looks like an industrial complex, as you climb the stairs you can hear the general hub-bub of lots of people, and once you enter the restaurant you see, the place is packed with families, mainly Chinese, and you discover that this is the place where all the Chinese families in the Eastend come for sunday lunch/dinner.
The menu is clear, with pictures, the waiting staff are friendly, helpful and very, very quick ! They bring the drinks we ordered, then we order starters, which arrive just as swiftly.
Then you have your first taste of the food here, and you can understand why it is packed with local Chinese people, the food is fabulous ! I have eaten in may Chinese restaurants around the UK, and very few come close to the food at Yi Ban.
We finish the Aromatic crispy duck, and order main course, we watch the planes take off from London City Airport. Our main course arrives, and again fantastic food, and lots of it. We finish our meal, and collect the bill, service charge already added, sometimes this irkes me, but not here, as food and service could not be bettered.
If we had one little complaint, it was all over too quickly, two hours seemed like two minutes. If you like Chinese food and your in the docklands area, I would strongly suggest you give Yi Ban’s a try…If you can get in!
