Gourmet San

261 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 Tel: 020 7729 8388

Most recently I have been enjoying Gourmet San on the Bethnal Green Road. It’s Schezuan – they say you can always spot how good a Chinese restaurant by the number of Chinese eating in it – I don’t know how true this is as have put it to practise a few times and not been too impressed. But here, it’s packed with Asians and the food is fantastic . The menu is extensive and so far I’ve only manage to touch the surface. There are two menu’s, one is a takeaway which includes dishes that don’t appear on the main menu such as the Chilli crab, and then there is the never-ending main menu, which has my name written all over it – some of the dishes are irresistible from pigs trotters in brown sauce, to grilled pigs kidneys.....I’ve found that the only way to go is in a group of at least four otherwise you don’t get a proper experience of the food as portions are big and I’m usually full after the ‘s first few dishes have arrived. I’m one of those people that need to know every dish that is being offered for fear of missing out on something great – I feel I still have so much to discover here as the walls are adorned with further special dishes all in Chinese and so far I’ve not been lucky enough to have the staff translate to me. The place is as you’d expect, a simple, cafe style dining room dining room with a small upstairs. It’s light, bright and busy and you mostly need to wait 10 to 20 mins for a table but it’s worth it.