tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post1094239113795005780..comments2024-03-19T09:45:21.051+00:00Comments on Eat Noodles Love Noodles: Dim Sum @ Ping Pong - Is It THAT Bad?Mr Noodleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13327242172810414292noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-73911821455389192402012-02-09T13:31:01.632+00:002012-02-09T13:31:01.632+00:00Kelly - I don't think I've ever sampled Cr...Kelly - I don't think I've ever sampled Crystal Jade's XLB but I wouldn't mind seeing those guys in London, too. I've never been to Ippudo but used them as an example of the calibre of chain restaurant that I'd like to see. Dim sum is, of course, better in HK but remember that Ping Pong are very much near the bottom of the league. <br /><br />GChick - thank god for the cocktails! You're lucky that dim sum/yum cha tends to be better in Melbourne. I doubt very much if Ping Pong would ever succeed there.Mr Noodleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13327242172810414292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-60761396922933902412012-02-08T22:30:05.212+00:002012-02-08T22:30:05.212+00:00Hilarious post. When I was in London Ping Pong ke...Hilarious post. When I was in London Ping Pong kept on inviting me to their restaurant and I kept on saying no as I knew I could only write bad things. I have actually eaten there (sadly) a few times when other people have organised the location. The best I can say is that the cocktails and the tea are both quite good.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15550630880349913974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-18060764331031061682012-02-08T09:13:40.076+00:002012-02-08T09:13:40.076+00:00Crystal Jade's Xiao Long Bao is better than Di...Crystal Jade's Xiao Long Bao is better than Ding Tai Fung's though the service at Ding Tai Fung's is much better. <br /><br />As for Ippudo...the broth is too hearty for HK, but might be great for chilly London. <br /><br />Dimsum is great in HK as most places steam and fry when you order ensuring that the quality will be decent at the very minimum.Kellyhttp://www.thehungryegghead.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-86971980719267256182012-02-07T14:24:23.225+00:002012-02-07T14:24:23.225+00:00Kake - as I think we've previously discussed, ...Kake - as I think we've previously discussed, there's less scope to balls-up non-steamed stuff. <br /><br />Gworm - you raise an excellent point about 'brand consistency', but why should this result in the lowest common denominator, as is all too often the case in blighty? Wouldn't it be great if the brand values were a benchmark of excellence. Take, for example, Din Tai Fung (the dumpling restaurant) - I heard a story that they ended a franchise agreement in southern China becauuse the franchisee's quality wasn't good enough. <br /><br />catty - I am at pains to point out that I was fully aware of Ping Pong's bad rep before going there. Consider this an 'investigative blogging' trip to see whether Ping Pong's bad reputation is deserved.Mr Noodleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13327242172810414292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-87904849820188974272012-02-07T13:19:24.561+00:002012-02-07T13:19:24.561+00:00I cannot believe you went to Ping Pong!! Did you n...I cannot believe you went to Ping Pong!! Did you notice there were no other asian people in there???? Urgh, I went once and everything was bland, and then made the mistake of going again and it was bland. They have a good cocktail menu though, which is um.. good I suppose, but a real dim sum restaurant wouldn't have cocktails!!cattyhttp://www.thecattylife.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-2037124258673634692012-02-07T12:59:05.322+00:002012-02-07T12:59:05.322+00:00Once again, you have taken one for the team - than...Once again, you have taken one for the team - thanks for that Mr "F" N. I can chalk this up as somewhere never to go. Anywhere that cooks centrally and reheats is going to be pretty bad, in order to maintain "brand consistency" they usually aim for the lowest common denominator... Bleurgh. <br /><br />It's not just limited to Asian style food either as anyone who has ventured into any themed pubs/big UK chains can probably attest. It's food as fuel and not for fun at all.The Grubwormhttp://www.thegrubworm.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-38065653440795618652012-02-07T12:55:18.685+00:002012-02-07T12:55:18.685+00:00To be fair, I did like their non-steamed stuff whe...To be fair, I did like their non-steamed stuff when I went to the one on Goodge Street; the aubergine dish there was actually really good. The dishes I had with Su-Lin at the St Paul's branch were truly terrible though.Kakehttp://www.earth.li/~kake/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-58029275555516032132012-02-07T12:27:43.364+00:002012-02-07T12:27:43.364+00:00Frank - I hear what you're saying, but the XLB...Frank - I hear what you're saying, but the XLB you've sampled in London is like 'Aston Villa' - unlikely to challenge for honours but decent enough. However, Ping Pong is very much 'Tranmere Rovers' - never likely to rise above the lower leagues. <br /><br />In other words, I can understand why you might think XLB in London in decent. But even if some peeps know nothing about dim sum, they should realise when food is overcooked and dumpling wrappers are sticky and unpleasant. <br /><br />Kavey - you're spot on. You don't have to be an expert to realise when something is bad.<br /><br />Leluu - worse than Pho (the chain)?<br /><br />Cian - but harsh on McD's, it doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't. Whereas Ping Pong's business model is predicated on urbanity and sophistication - a kind of cut-price Yauatcha/Hakkasan.<br /><br />Dini - I thought the service was OK when I went, but I guess that's the luck of the draw.<br /><br />Su-Lin - I remember your review! Let's replace them all with DTF's!Mr Noodleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13327242172810414292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-46574822211253687232012-02-07T12:24:40.514+00:002012-02-07T12:24:40.514+00:00Yup yup yup, I've only been once and that once...Yup yup yup, I've only been once and that once was with Kake. It was pretty awful.Su-Linhttp://tamarindandthyme.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-6894174311149894342012-02-07T11:55:14.715+00:002012-02-07T11:55:14.715+00:00LOL - so trueLOL - so trueFrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03410641601158831943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-22908953217260553302012-02-07T11:48:50.334+00:002012-02-07T11:48:50.334+00:00Hi, I've been 3 times, to 3 different branches...Hi, I've been 3 times, to 3 different branches (to give it a chance). I've been met with sloppy over-steamed dim sum, charged for condiment sauces given to me without being made they were chargeable and surly service. Once I can forgive, but for the price and the fact I've always had poor service (perhaps because I've been in their eyes, only a table for one), it really isn't for me.Dinihttp://www.dolcedini.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-53121494280432747452012-02-07T11:46:50.698+00:002012-02-07T11:46:50.698+00:00It's the McDonalds of dim sum. It feels like i...It's the McDonalds of dim sum. It feels like it was set up by 2 ex-bankers or as some kind of management consulting project to create an experience for large groups of urban professionals looking to have 'modern' chinese food in a sharing 'exotic' format with THE CRAZY TEA WITH THE FLOWER IN IT OMG.Cianhttp://www.meatsalad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-71054944718219353352012-02-07T11:43:38.382+00:002012-02-07T11:43:38.382+00:00hate this place with a passionhate this place with a passionUyen Luuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01064309074528821301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-80689963293535326152012-02-07T10:37:13.267+00:002012-02-07T10:37:13.267+00:00I dislike ping pong. I went twice, to two differen...I dislike ping pong. I went twice, to two different branches, a long while back, think they were still reasonably new. It was all style over substance and more like a nightclub than a restaurant. On both my visits, staff seemed more interested in looking cool and/ or chatting amongst themselves than in serving us. <br /><br />And the food was poor. No two ways about it. <br /><br />Shortly afterwards, a bunch of bloggers were invited to go in and review, and seemed to like it, so perhaps they can turn out decent stuff when pushed, but it wasn't the experience I had as a regular paying punter. <br /><br />Since then I've not bothered going back... don't want to throw good money after bad.<br /><br />I'm not even a coinnoisseur of dim sum... but the stuff at Ping Pong was just not good.Kaveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16662875905365870280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-19403062752992167492012-02-07T10:13:03.034+00:002012-02-07T10:13:03.034+00:00@Mr. N...
My point wasn't on the availability ...@Mr. N...<br />My point wasn't on the availability but the fact that I thought the XLB I had was good. Purely as I haven't had the good stuff. That is the same with Ping Pong. People think it is good because they don't know what the real deal is! <br /><br />The shame is on them though because - as you say, good dim sum IS readily available in London. They just can't be bothered to check it out.Frankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03410641601158831943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-34298203847873254132012-02-06T23:24:08.219+00:002012-02-06T23:24:08.219+00:00Ha ha! Yes, I knew it would be mediocre at best bu...Ha ha! Yes, I knew it would be mediocre at best but I guess I wanted to understand Ping Pong's appeal. And I also wanted to see if the food was as bad as I imagined it to be.Mr Noodleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13327242172810414292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-24082645316975232312012-02-06T19:46:55.494+00:002012-02-06T19:46:55.494+00:00I'm just amazed you ventured inside pretty muc...I'm just amazed you ventured inside pretty much knowing how rubbish they were gonna be. But as my Nan always used to say "never slate anything until you've tried it". Wise words from the old girl.Mzunguhttp://www.ilivetoeatandeattolive.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-33921521010478623672012-02-06T17:46:52.692+00:002012-02-06T17:46:52.692+00:00Chz - cocktails. It's what everyone says is go...Chz - cocktails. It's what everyone says is good about Ping Pong when they 'fess up to having been there!<br /><br />Frank - the XLB and the general dim sum situation aren't really comparable. The fact is you can get decent dim sum in London at accessible and classy restaurants such as Princess Garden and Phoenix Palace. In other words, there is no need to visit Ping Pong. In contrast, it is difficult to get really good XLB in London. <br /><br />Having said that, the gulf between XLB in Shanghai, for example, and London is analogous to the gap between a top-of-the-table football team and a one in mid-table. Extending this analogy, the gulf between the best dim sum in London and Ping Pong is like comparing a Premiership team to a League One side. <br /><br />ikans - dim t makes Ping Pong look good! On DTF, an update soon... <br /><br />Lizzie - I also heard that Ping Pong use a central kitchen, which might explain the lack of delicacy if not the crap stingy fillings! And what is it with their experimental fillings? Pork & pineapple - why?Mr Noodleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13327242172810414292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-44868318314887794162012-02-06T10:37:55.868+00:002012-02-06T10:37:55.868+00:00Bleugh. Apparently all the food is made off site a...Bleugh. Apparently all the food is made off site and then steamed / fried upon serving which might explain some things. <br /><br />The last time I went to Ping Pong there was some sort of pork and pineapple monstrosity in a spring roll that I had the misfortune to experience. Never again.Hollow Legshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07152329184111658897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-7905632551819173702012-02-06T10:07:45.039+00:002012-02-06T10:07:45.039+00:00Wow...
my flat-mate swears by PingPong which expl...Wow...<br /><br />my flat-mate swears by PingPong which explains why we haven't eaten out together in over a year. Fair play for taking the plunge - maybe you should go DimT next week...<br />btw - any updates on your quest to bring Din Tai to London?ikanshttp://ikans.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-29324002866580745712012-02-06T10:00:39.721+00:002012-02-06T10:00:39.721+00:00I think the reason why Ping Pong does so well is p...I think the reason why Ping Pong does so well is people don't know what they are missing out on. "What the real deal should taste like" <br /><br />I have a similar situation with XLB. I really enjoyed the ones at Dumpling Legends and Leong's Legends but I have been well informed, by no other than Mr. N himself, that these are nothing in comparison to the real deal. <br /><br />So I believe for many - ignorance is bliss. Which is kinda sad I 'sposeFrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03410641601158831943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-23176009176141824812012-02-06T09:31:27.169+00:002012-02-06T09:31:27.169+00:00Goodness! It looks like it's got worse over th...Goodness! It looks like it's got worse over the years. I used to say at least it was a decent place to meet people before heading out (the cocktail menu was fairly good). While you could obviously get better dim sum for less, it was passable and the locations were good. Looks like it's not even good for that any more.Chznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-80839091439287875262012-02-06T08:11:08.130+00:002012-02-06T08:11:08.130+00:00LChow - I know exactly what you mean. But as with ...LChow - I know exactly what you mean. But as with Banana Tree, is there any reason why the food is so mediocre/poor?<br /><br />Thebao - I can't be sure if they steamed the dim sum all at the same time, but that might be why some of the steamed stuff was badly overcooked.<br /><br />Kake - thanks!<br /><br />Ute - Ping Pong's a big wasted opportunity imho. If the food was any cop, it could do wonders for the profile of dim sum. <br /><br />HF - good point on Royal China. I hear mixed reviews, and it isn't anywhere that I'd choose to go to. Having said that, in contrast to Ping Pong, Royal China goes about doing dim sum in the proper way, which is to be applauded. <br /><br />PS: More on the DTF campaign soon! And yes, let's try to get more Asian/Chinese resto groups to blighty!Mr Noodleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13327242172810414292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-27530368551064216682012-02-06T03:38:46.385+00:002012-02-06T03:38:46.385+00:00Good for you for actually trying to find some posi...Good for you for actually trying to find some positives! But we really do need more decent chain restaurants. I'll make you a deal - when I get back to the Big Smoke I'll help you with your DTF campaign if you'll help me in trying to get Haidilao (Sichuan hotpot) to London!<br /><br />Also, I remember for a long time Royal China successfully rolled out decent dim sum across London. Not sure what the standard is like now but it's possible to have good mass dim sum!Hungry Femalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08397192657765670513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659859995099007525.post-10737171080605510012012-02-05T20:27:17.687+00:002012-02-05T20:27:17.687+00:00uhhh these dim sum look vile! Before I knew what d...uhhh these dim sum look vile! Before I knew what dim sum are supposed to taste like, I thought ping pong was not bad. I think that's the main problem - people are scared to try new things and stick to the chain-Westernized version without knowing what the miss out on! <br />Brave one to face ping pong all by yourself...Ute@HungryinLondonhttp://www.hungryinlondon.comnoreply@blogger.com