Banquet Chinese

Review summary

1. I

   Irene

   Essex

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Very welcoming, delicious dim sum and friendly staff. One of our favourite restaurant
   

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2. W

   William

   VIP

   London

   12 reviews

   4.0

   12 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   I ordered a range of Dim Sum. The Chiu Chow Fun Guo has a very nice thin chewy (which Chinese like) skin/ pastry with plenty of minced meat but the usual few crunchy peanuts were missing ! Personally, I am not keen on the "spicy pickled vegetable" (Char Choi) which dominated the entire taste. The Chicken Claws were "fleshy" and came in a well proportioned sauce. The Savoury Meat Croquette and Taro Croquette and Squid Rings were crispy but amazingly "grease free" !! Even if one was to put an absorbent kitchen towel round them, I do not think one could find any grease !! All the Dim Sum items were as good as one will find in London China Town EXCEPT three items - Siu Mai, Beef Cheung Fun, Vietnamese Spring Rolls. It would be wrong to say these three items "were as good as in London China Town". As someone who was moulded to appreciate Dim Sum (from infant) every Sunday lunch, I will say the Banquet's Siu Mai, Beef Cheung Fun and Vietnamese Spring Rolls stand side by side with the best Dim Sum Restaurants in Hong Kong. I do not think I can hand out a more emphatic accolade !! The Siu Mai has a good proportion of "prawns : pork" in terms of quantity and "size of pieces". Thus, well textured. The beef in the Beef Cheung Fun is tenderised but not excessively. The pastry is almost of perfect consistency - thin, not hard or soggy. The Vietnamese Spring Rolls warrant a specific mention. I never used to order this until recently as the "rice paper skin" was not properly prepared (soaked in water before wrapping/ frying) resulting in the Vietnamese Spring Rolls' "loss of crispiness" as the rice paper skins had gone "chewy". Over the last few weeks, the Dim Sum Chef demonstrated he has mastered the art of preparing rice paper skins - rendering almost perfect Vietnamese Spring Rolls.
   

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3. V

   Vivian

   London

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on 28 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Definitely we will go back for sumptuous dim sums and the authentic Northern and Cantonese Chinese dishes. Ample of car parkings as well.
   

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4. R

   Rachel

   London

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on 22 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   I’ve been going here for years. Frankly one of the best restaurants in Essex period. Friendly staff, great food. Highly recommend.
   

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5. P

   Paul

   VIP

   Essex

   12 reviews

   5.0

   12 reviews

   Dined on 19 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Always a pleasure - nice place, excellent food, and friendly amd efficient service.
   

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6. l

   linda

   Essex

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 16 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Always really amazing tasty food. The waiters all friendly and hard working. Excellent restaurant.
   

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7. D

   Debbie

   Essex

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on 13 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   This is one of our family favourite places. Today was my 60th birthday celebration, and as usual the food was excellent. We have been going to Banquet for years and a change of ownership but consistently yummy food. Highly recommend
   

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8. W

   William

   London

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 12 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   We selected Banquet set menu. Excellent quality food. Large quantity so boxed up leftovers.
   

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9. W

   William

   VIP

   London

   12 reviews

   4.0

   12 reviews

   Dined on 12 February 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Siu Mai and Deep Fried Glutonese Rice Dumpling (Ham Shui Kouk) were good. The Calarmari Rings were excellent - crispy and without a hint of grease. I should not let it pass without noting my usual Beef Cheung Fun. It is probably one of the best I have ever had - even including experience in Hong Kong. The beef filling is seasoned but not too salty with a hint of Coriander. It was the Cheung Fun pastry that took my breadth away - reasonably thin but retain a "chewy texture" (that all Chinese like). The mixed soya sauce was just about right - not too sweet. Lastly but not the least was my usual Sliced Pork Black Bean Sauce Ho Fun. The Ho Fun is as close to "wok flavour" as one could expect in the U.K. (with the Hong Kong/ Malaysia/ Singapore type jet engine cooker not allowed to be imported). Again, I would say as good as Hong Kong. The absence of "wok flavour" was purely down to non-provision of Hong Kong type jet engine gas stove. (Incidentally, I have lived in the U.K. for almost 53 years and I have YET to experience "wok flavour". On a few occasions, like today, it was very very close.
   

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10. S

    Simon

    VIP

    Essex

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 9 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    The best Dim Sum anywhere. Better than London and really friendly people. It’s our favourite restaurant.
    

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