ORIENTAL CANTEEN

2a Exhibition Rd. South Kensington. SW7 2HF

Phone: 020 7581 8831

Nearest Tube: South Kensington




Location Location Location. Man this tiny corner restaurant has it good. Walking distance from South Kensington tube and a net catcher for any Imperial College student. Wish I had this kind of place as a university student. Wished I owned a place like this.

I can’t emphasise enough how tiny this place is. You can probably fit less than 20 patrons upstairs and just a few more downstairs. Etiquette is pretty much you share your table if needed and you order fast, eat fast and then get the hell outta there. Not a joint to languish and linger in. Nor is it a place where you can stroll up in a wheelchair or a pram. It's just too tiny.




They serve a mix of Cantonese and Malaysian food. I wouldn’t say that their roasted duck rice or crispy salted pork are the crème de la crème of what London has to offer. But it’s good value (around a fiver) and good portions.

Char Kway Teow is pretty authentic (still like the Selfridges one better). The curry laksa is alright only. Not rich enough for my liking. (Don't you hate it when sometimes you can actually taste curry powder in the soup?) But a worthy contender I guess if you have a bit of a crave. Char sui (roasted pork) is good – but how can you go wrong?



They have heaps of other dishes of course. Most of them are of them are stir-fried noodles or rice with your choice of meat. But if it’s ala carte you’re after, then you can order individual dishes with rice on the side. By the way, the vegetables are hideously expensive…£7 for a small dish of gai lan (Chinese greens).

So if you’re after a cheap eat, in a hurry and not too bothered about getting your vege intake for the day…and you’re in the area…Oriental Canteen is your best bet.

HRH