Our recent lunch excursion to Ping Pong Soho, centered around the much-talked-about Bento Box offering, exceeded all expectations. Despite the time constraints of city working life, the efficient service and prompt arrival of our dishes ensured a delightful experience without feeling rushed.
Upon entering the restaurant, we were ushered to a semi-circle high table with a captivating view of the bustling surroundings through floor-to-ceiling windows adorned with vibrant Chinese upside-down umbrellas. Being midday, the restaurant was expectedly quiet, however, this did not last long, and diners started to quickly fill the restaurant throughout the lunch period.

The Bento Box menu, briefly explained to us by our waiter featured a well-thought-out selection process using cards and pencils. The menu structure, starting with fixed servings followed by dumplings and mains, provided a streamlined ordering experience. The addition of barcodes on the cards for allergen and nutritional information was a thoughtful touch.

Our Fixed Servings included steamed jasmine rice, edamame with celery salt, and vegetable spring rolls accompanied by an array of flavourful dips. The seafood dumplings, served piping hot in a bamboo pot, were a delightful choice among the enticing options of chicken gyoza and spinach & mushroom dumplings. For our mains, the soy-marinated chicken skewer won over the chicken katsu by a slight margin.

The flavours of each dish were exceptional, with a few drops of Ping Pong’s homemade soy sauce, even elevated the jasmine rice to a tasty treat. The act of extracting the edamame beans from skins added a satisfying touch to the overall experience.

As someone accustomed to the routine of grabbing a standard ciabatta sandwich meal for lunch, Ping Pong’s Bento Box emerged as a revelation—a quick, incredibly tasty, and reasonably priced alternative. The experience has firmly placed this restaurant on my radar for future lunchtime escapades. I eagerly anticipate returning to explore more of Ping Pong’s offerings, confident that the quality and efficiency of their service will continue to impress.

Lunch Bento Box priced at £11.95, available Mon- Fri 12-5pm.

Locations: Soho, Southbank, St Christophers Place, St Katherines Docks and St Pauls.

For more information visit www.pingpongdimsum.com/lunch-bento-box

Written by Lorna Byrne
Photo courtesy of Ping Pong