Chongqing Chinese cooking that will blow your socks off
Tucked beneath Kingsland Road, Jiāonest is a cosy new basement restaurant serving up fiery Chongqing flavours inspired by chef Hua Yang’s childhood. It’s intimate and personal, from the handmade ceramics and bespoke furniture (created with local artists) to a spice and herb-loaded menu that nods to Hua’s family herbal medicine shop back in China, and the dishes her grandparents used to make. It feels more like eating in someone’s flat than a restaurant – maybe it’s the medicinal dishes that feel like something a loved one would make to help you feel better, or the service that’s a little amateur but all the more charming for it.
Eat This
The menu changes often, but a few signatures keep coming back, like the Duck Duck Rice Toast: three deep-fried, sando-style slabs that’ll have you contemplating another round. Don’t do it, portions here are generous.
Two standouts for us were the chicken dishes: the Gōng bǎo Fried Chicken, a bowl of crisp, juicy perfection topped with an excellent spicy mayo; and the Medicinal Herbal Chicken Thighs, a family classic coated in Chinese herbs and spices. We also loved the Pork Bung Bowl, tender pork intestine simmered in a medicinal broth. Chef-owner Hua’s parents ran a herbal medicine shop in Chongqing, and every bowl here feels like it’s going to cure your ailments.
Grandma’s Mapo Tofu was another big hitter – spicy as hell, rich, silky-soft, and guaranteed to clear your sinuses. Pickled radish and mixed-grain rice pair nicely on the side, while a spicy veg salad brings that pleasing málà (spicy and numbing) kick that Chongqing cooking is known for.
Drink This
We love pairing spice with beer, so a couple of cold Singhas hit the spot, though there’s a solid wine list too, including a few natural options. Unlike a lot of spots around here, pours are super generous, which only adds to that “eating at a friend’s home” vibe.
Why Go
Jiaonest is a pretty unique spot, especially in this part of town. With winter closing in and everyone catching something, it’s exactly the kind of place to make you feel warm, fed, and looked after. And who knows, with all those medicinal herbs flying around, you might just dodge the next bug. If taking care of yourself tastes this good, we’re all in.
230 Kingsland Rd, Whitmore Estate, London E2 8AX
jiaonest.life
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