Chung Ying, Birmingham

Celebrating its 30th year, this restaurant in Chinatown is well worth your money,

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For decades Chung Ying has been a landmark at the heart of Birmingham's Chinatown. Credited as the catalyst for the development of the area it was the original restaurant in a zone that has since become a highly popular part of the city.

And there is no clearer evidence of the success of Chung Ying than the fact the restaurant celebrated its 30th birthday earlier this year.

Couple this with the fact that it also runs a successful sister restaurant Chung Ying Garden just a two-minute walk away on Thorp Street, and the proof is in the pudding that it must be doing something right.

The venue has become something of a landmark in Chinatown, with the impressive green canopies and red window frames and banners.

A more recent addition is the outside decking area at the front where in the warmer months you can enjoy a bite to eat and a drink while watching the buzz of the area, which is just a stone's throw from the Arcadian centre and Hippodrome Theatre.

I visited the original Chung Ying on a Friday night so the restaurant was busy as you'd expect. The clientele was a real mix of all ages and backgrounds, with double dates, cosy dinners for two and large parties all present, giving the venue a relaxed, informal atmosphere.

Before we were seated we were given the chance to have a drink in the bar area while we looked at the menu.

Situated to the immediate left as soon as you walk in, the well stocked corner bar has a padded seating area and table, while the main restaurant area is on the right. And if you think the space is smaller than it looks on the outside, there is an additional dining space upstairs. The decor itself is straightforward and unfussy. Simple tables, square and round, are draped in cream tablecloths, while diners can take a pew on dark brown wooden chairs with a soft red fabric upholstery.

There is also much greenery inside the restaurant with planted trees at various spots across the dining area. The first thing you notice when looking at the menu is that it is extensive. There are dozens of dim sum dishes alone and classic Cantonese favourites, while the more adventurous can sample dishes such as ostrich or kangaroo.

There is also a wide selection of fresh seafood, including lobster for those who want to splash out. Vegetarians also have a good choice. I wanted to sample some of my favourite dishes so after munching through a basket of prawn crackers, myself and my companion decided we'd go for two sharing starters and a main course each as we were feeling hungry. First to arrive was the pork yuk shung, which was £10 for two people. The pork was well seasoned and tasty, while the lettuce leaves to roll it in were crisp and fresh, a perfect light start to the meal.

Next we shared a quarter duck and pancakes, which was £12. The duck was brought to the table in one piece and our waiter expertly shredded the delicate meat off the bones in seconds.

The duck was cooked very well, and delicious combined with the cucumber, spring onions and hoi sin sauce, while the pancakes were soft and warm. You can get the portion as a half or whole duck, but a quarter was plenty for the two of us.

Already feeling full, we needed a bit of a break before we went on to our main courses of sweet and sour pork, £8.50, sizzling lamb cutlets with black pepper sauce, £12, and a side order of egg fried rice to share, £2.50.

The dishes were delicious and unlike some Chinese food, didn't sit too heavy on the stomach. The lamb in particular was not overcooked, while the sauce had a punch with a nice peppery flavour, complemented by the rice, and the sweet, sticky, tangy pork.

The food and service were spot on and the bill, which included a bottle of white wine, came to around £60 for two, which considering we'd had two starters each, represented good value in my opinion.

Whether it be a special occasion, or just because I fancy a good Chinese meal in nice surroundings, I'll definitely be making a return visit.

ADDRESS

Chung Ying, 16-18 Wrottesley Street, Birmingham B5 4RT

Tel: 0121 622 5669

Web: www.chungying.co.uk