Leong's Legends

Chinese, Dim Sum·
££££
·
Soho, London, W1D 6AX ·Call020 7287 0288

SquareMeal Review of Leong's Legends

Done out like a storybook market inn, this Soho sibling of the Bayswater original is patrolled by tough silk-clad women, who aren’t above rushing their customers, but can be persuaded to offer guidance if you don’t know what’s what. Taiwanese dishes to look out for are the siu long bao soup dumplings, spicy beef noodles & braised pork belly, all served in generous portions; a dish called ‘Taiwan’s most popular omelette’ is a homely staple, if salty enough to beg for some rice, & there’s always plenty for offal-seekers, such as hot & fiery beef slices with tripe or fried pig’s liver. If the place is crammed, a less crowded satellite called Leong’s Legend 2 is a stroll away at 26 Lisle Street (020 7734 3380).

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £30 - £49
Cuisines
Chinese, Dim Sum
Ambience
Cool, Fun, Lively
Food Occasions
All day dining, Dinner, Late night dining, Lunch
Perfect for
Birthdays, Celebrations, Child friendly, Group dining [8+]

About

Soho is like a culinary equivalent of a cabinet of curiosities. Down every winding road you'll find speak easy bars and concept restaurants, each with a new surprised behind the door. Take Leong's Legends, for example, this Taiwanese restaurant on Gerrard Street gives nothing away up front, and asks its guests to dock on the apparently locked door to gain entry. 

It's got a great location; nestled in Chinatown, it's surrounded by the area's buzzing bars and nightlife, with atmospheric lanterns decorating the streets. Like this whole neighbourhood, Leong's Legends has a deeper story to tell with its name referring to Mount Liang from the ‘Water Margin’ story, which is one of Chinese literature’s most loved stories. 

Once inside, there's a mix of modern and traditional decor with artistic wall murals, a rich colour palette and atmospheric lighting as detailed lamps cast shadows across the walls. While, the staff add to the concept and experience with traditional outfits, too. 

The menu here is extensive and offers a breadth of variety across Taiwanese dishes you know and love, and perhaps some you haven't discovered yet. There are also set menu options and specials to help you decide, for those who are too spoilt for choice. For example, the Hot Pot option allows you to choose a soup base such as classic pork bone broth or Sichuan spicy broth, followed by a selection of meat-based toppings or vegetables. 

While, set menus make things easy - we like the sound of the crispy seaweed, with vegetable roll, followed by a dim sum platter and finished with stir fried beef noodles with Taiwanese shacha sauce. There's also plenty of choice across bao buns stuffed with succulent pork, dim sum like crystal prawn dumplings and shrimp puffs, as well as sweet desserts like custard buns - yum!


FAQs

Do they deliver?

Not currently

Helpful? 0

Location

4 Macclesfield Street, Soho, London, W1D 6AX

020 7287 0288 020 7287 0288

Opening Times

All day
Mon 12:00-23:00
Tue 12:00-23:00
Wed 12:00-23:00
Thu 12:00-23:00
Fri 12:00-23:00
Sat 12:00-23:00
Sun 12:00-22:00

Reviews

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1 Review 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Rich M

04 March 2012  
Food & Drink 4
Service 2.5
Atmosphere 3
Value 4.5
Whatever you do, don't turn up to Taiwanese institution Leong's Legend without all your party present… I'd have had a better reaction standing outside a school offering peeks at my etchings than having the temerity to arrive friendless at Leongs. On learning that my guest was running late I was made to stand on the staircase, like a chubby schoolboy waiting to see the headmaster, until she arrived. It may have slightly classier decor than other Chinatown joints but the welcome and service are reassuringly brusque. We were there on recommendation for the weekend dim sum menu, I've become slightly obsessed by the dainty Oriental tapas of late. Once I'd persuaded them that I did have someone joining me and wasn't some sort of solo dining restaurant pest, I took advantage of my guest's tardiness and got my ordering on. She arrived as the food did (or possibly the other way round), my social pariah status at an end. At an average of £3-4 a plate, £25 will more than cover two hungry souls. It was all fresh and seemingly home made, standout were their siu leung bau, or soup dumplings, steamed purses filled with piquant broth and a hunk of garlicky pork mince. There's nothing finer than taking one of these bad boys onto your spoon, biting the tip off and sucking the fresh hot salty liquor out. At £5.50 for eight pieces, they're also very, very good value and an acceptable lunch in their own right. The char sui bau are also excellent versions of the pillowy soft steamed BBQ buns filled with anunctuous porky sauce. We worked our way through a number of other steamed options and a portion of fresh turnip puffs. If I had one, tiny, criticism it would be that the noodle wrapper on the cheung fun was too thick and chewy but that's the only thing I could score them down for. The menu goes wider than dim sum, and once you've got past the front door it's cleaner and friendlier than a number of other places along the strip. You wouldn't have a problem bringing clients or parents here and for a weekend lunch service without the frenetic trolley action of New World I'd be happy to recommend Leongs. I'll definitely be back, just as soon as I can get my friends to arrive on time.
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020 7287 0288 020 7287 0288

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