Ping Pong Southbank

Anon

I had a very bad experience at Ping Pong. I was recently there for my birthday. The staff were very impolite, unprofessional and negative. They took very long to prepare the meals. Some meals came out quickly and got cold quickly because they hadn't brought out full orders. It was not a pleasant experience. I will not be returning to this venue again. The service was very poor.

Aayan D

Nina K

Great quality dim sum with speedy service. The variety of dishes on offer is great and varies from season to season. The service is quick and the food is always very tasty and fresh. Lovely cocktails and teas.

Rachael S

Food always delicious, creative cocktails. A staple of every visit to Southbank!

Nikolett T

Cheap and tasty.

Charlotte H

I booked Ping Pong for my birthday with friends. We had one of the larger tables upstairs which is a bit more private and has a lovely atmosphere. The waitress said happy birthday which was sweet and they had put Christmas crackers on our table which was a nice touch. The food in Ping Pong is why I return again and again, it's fresh, tasty and there's so much choice. 5 out of 7 of us had never been and at the end of the meal they all said how much they loved it and how great it was! The food was delicious, we always do a mix of rice, fried, specials, baked and dumplings. My favourites are the spring rolls and the Char Sui Buns - fluffy clouds of loveliness! The cocktails are lovely and a fair price for London (my mojito was £7.55). The food is also very reasonable, we had plenty of food and divided between 7 with tip came to £13! Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. The food comes at different times but it's never long between the first arrival and the last. They also cater very well to vegetarians and they ask beforehand if there's any food allergies. Overall I had a wonderful meal with friends and really enjoyed my birthday - Thank you Ping Pong!

Nina K

A perfect place to meet a group of friends for a tasty and interactive dinner! The variety on the menu is wonderful and can cater for a variety of tastes and fussiness. Although we all ordered 4 items each and there was a table laden with steaming baskets and crispy bundles, we actually got through almost everything. Our waitress was very helpful and friendly. The steamed spicy chicken dumplings are still my favourite, although there are so many other wonderful things on the menu it is always tough to decide! A wonderful restaurant that will fill any dim sum gap!

Amrita D

Ping Pong doesn't seem as bad as the online reviews suggested. If you expect your chinese to come from a hole in the wall in Chinatown, then Ping Pong is not for you. I quite enjoyed my dining experience at Ping Pong Southbank. The concept of Ping Pong is like a chinese tapas bar, where you are served dim sum instead of tapas, and they promote sharing. Of course, you can choose not to eat dim sum and order a plate full of noodles and eat it all by yourself! Their cocktails, and coolers for the non-alcoholic are refreshing, We had Lemon and Lychee, Black and Pink and Vanilla and Chilli. We chose the set menus as these are quite well planned and saves you from picking out ten different things from the menu. I wouldn't say that the food was an out of the world experience, but I would go there again. Sharing evokes lively conversation and Ping Pong has the right atmosphere for it.

Niamh D

First things first, this restaurant is a chain, and with that comes a certain amount of ‘generic’ dining style. I firmly oppose comparing Ping Pong to say, a little home owned dim sum hideaway in China Town. What you do get however is consistency, and for some that counts for alot. What Ping Pong does offer however, is quality fresh food, very helpful staff and a great atmosphere. Some might be put off by the ‘group dining’ scenario. Sharing an always too small table with random strangers (Though this has provided some of my most amusing ‘Overheard in Ping Pong’ anecdotes). As a vegetarian (yes, sorry) the set veggie meal is fantastic at £9.95 – more than enough food and a great selection. My carnivorous other half cannot get enough of the Roast Pork puffs and generally orders 2 portions. The drinks are reasonably priced, with near permanent deals and offers. The staff are exceptionally polite and helpful. The decor chic and the upstairs bar very pleasant to spend 15 minutes while you wait for a table (Note: you will ALWAYS have to wait – they don't take bookings) The only complaints I have are that I hate queueing and yes, Ping Pong is slightly impersonal, however for a quick informal bite near southbank, there's not much around that beats it. (And trust me, I've tried everywhere!) Overall I really like Ping Pong, you won't find me in chinatown battling the tourists – I have neither the time or the patience! Tip: You MUST try the flowering Jasmine tea – absolutely stunning – I even bought some to take home.

Niamh H

I am disappointed, I was hoping for so much more… I love dimsum and always stop into one of the bakeries in Chinatown for a charsui pork bun on the way to the theatre to prevent my tummy rumbling before the interval. Ping pong just didnt deliver – apart from the staff – who were great, friendly, efficient This is a busy restaurant and on a blamy summers evening when the SOuth Bank is alive and buzzing in a pre-olympic throb The food was very diasppointing and it added up to an expensive meal they clearlykeep the drinks prices down to lure you in and then you order more and more unsatisfying dishes I feel sorry for whomever has to do all the washing up!