Restaurant He in Camden

Excellent food, all dishes had distinct flavors but with a light touch and presentation was simple and unfussy, it felt like Michelin star quality food in a small neighborhood restaurant. The decor is equally simple but has flair. The service was prompt and efficient. Highly recommended on every level.

0 stars. Absolutely horrendous experience with staff just oblivious to the appalling running of the restaurant (not sure if on purpose or have a low EQ). A summary: - Came in and managed to get a table in the busy evening (probably the only bright spot). - took 20 minutes to actually get their attention to order (yes there’s two staff for running the whole restaurant of around 30 diners) whilst the table next to us already had food server. - table next to us were clearly more direct and shouted the orders (even after they were served) to add some drinks to which the staff responded to when we had our hands up to order which were ignored for 20 mins. - the staff would just say “please wait” in Chinese every time I asked if I could order. - most outrageously, the table next to us had all their food and drinks finished when we had not received a single dish. Table next to us even asked if they can get their last dish faster so they can finish and leave. - I complained to say that the table next door came in at the same time and they had almost finished, especially when the final dish was served to them before we had a single dish served. As usual the staff ignored my complaint. - once we finally had the good served, it was average. The squirrel fish was just pre made and heated and the seafood had sand in it. Not to mention half the food, particularly the salted duck (the dish that the restaurant brands off) was not even available to order. - when we asked for the bill they just gave us a scrap paper with the number to pay without showing us the breakdown of the cost and no chance for me to even dispute or ask for the service charge to be removed (which is illegal - you need to show the breakdown of the cost). Absolutely horrendous experience - borderline reportable to the consumer conduct authorities and regulators. Please avoid this place at all cost. Poor service is okay is you actually can make your order and the food is decent - but not in the case of clearly being mistreated and ignored. Save your money and go somewhere else. This is not a good representation of true huaiyang cuisine anyway. Don’t be scammed. I’m going to post this on Xiaohongshu too so that the Chinese disapora read this and avoid this place too

I had about an hour to spare before a conference with a client back in chambers. Judging by the conversations around me I think at least one of the duos at three other occupied tables were lawyers. The menu hadn’t changed since my last visit. Its pages were slightly creased from previous use, I was less adventurous this time in my choice of sliced chicken roll as my starter but was not in any way disappointed. My main of beef brisket and sliced potato with red peppers was a hearty and satisfying stew, its gravy soaking nicely into the bowl of pillar rice accompanying it. But better still looked the large bowl of a soup based dish at the table to my right. I need to return so I can share something.

One of the more elegant compact modern restaurants in Holborn’s Red Lion Street Restaurant He champions Huaiwang cuisine. Said to be one of the four great regional cuisines of China it is said to be derived from the native cooking styles of the lower reaches of the Huai and Yangtze rivers and centred on the cities of Huai’an, Yangzhou and Zhenjiang in Jiangsu Province. In practice it means dishes centred around and using all the different parts of one main ingredient. Think a Chinese equivalent of St. John. Hence my starter was all about different pieces of duck such as wings, gizzard, neck and heart all in a deep flavoursome broth which I pours into my bowl of rice. This I also used as a supplement to my main of oxtail in onions and peppers. The first time I’ve had oxtail in a Chinese restaurant as well as the first time I’ve had it in a tangy sauce. Am keen to go again to try the likes of millet scallop soup and blueberry yam. The waiter assumed I had been before perhaps because of my adventurous choices. But there’s a lot more yet to entice.

完全不明白为什么评论里那么多攻击服务员的，我们去的时候那位大哥非常的nice，而且也带着口罩。菜品味道在伦敦的中餐算是比较好的了，而且价格非常的实惠。

Had dinner here last night with a friend, expecting good things based on how busy it was. We were seat straight away at a table where one of seats faced the wall and the other faced the couple next to us. Menu’s were provided quickly with our drinks orders. The food order took a good while to be taken after that, to the point that we had to specifically ask them to take our order. We ordered crab, duck, beef and fried rice dishes. The duck dish came first on its own with no indication of when the rest of the dishes would arrive. We had to wait a good 10mins before the beef and rice dish arrived (again after asking about it). Then the crab and main fried rice came out. The beef dish was not bad - standard beef with black bean sauce and rice. The duck was mainly bone, fat and cartilage and the crab was inedible - a very questionable taste to it. The fried rice was as expected - standard egg fried rice. It’s very obvious they’re poorly and under-staffed in the kitchen and main restaurant as there is zero quality consideration with the food i.e. arrives whenever and just like what you get. There’s a very complacent attitude to the restaurant overall. We will never go back there again.....

This restaurant has changed hands since I last visited it and I used to enjoy the simplicity of the food, so fancying a Chinese meal I walked to here from my office and as I was approaching the door the waitress let the door go in my face - should have got the message then. I entered the restaurant and had to chase the waitress down and when she was directed by what I now assume to be the owner to approach me, she asked how many - I was on my own and asked for a table for one, there was several tables spare, but the owner instructed the waitress to say I had to wait, not being very happy about this odd situation I left. His loss as I will not eat there ever again, but he knows there is more passing trade than to worry about me. However, poor, poor show.

I really like it in Restaurant He, the service is friendly, helpful, and relatively informal. They clearly take pride in their food and are always very happy to talk about the history of the dishes, and where they relate to in different parts of China - I can't remember exactly the type of cuisine though. A lot of the flavours are relatively delicate and I wouldn't go expecting to have a salty MSG type explosion in your mouth, it's all a little more considered here. Recommended. I have been a fair few times and will be returning.

The restaurant is known for Jiangsu cuisine, which tend to sport food on the healthier and less spicy side. The menu has many authentic dishes that are common to the region such as Lion's Head and sweet and sour spare ribs, both usually my favorites. Overall, we felt the food were really well prepared, not greasy, and resembled home-style cooking. Did I also mention they have a good selection of Chinese desserts. Highly recommend it if you are looking to try healthier type of Chinese cuisine.

Walked past this place many times and always meant to go in, as always fairly busy and beautiful smell wafting out the door... finally did and had such a lovely dining experience. The menu is really unique and fresh and tasty. Good pricing for big dishes. Really impressed! And as for the owner, staff and decor - so nice! Will be recommending this place to everyone I know. Really different. I want to try everything on the menu! Hidden gem for sure.

Read some good reviews and decided to go with my Boyfriend for dinner. Service was slow, things not coming out together. Food came out slow and had a really distinct taste that we were not used to but didn’t enjoy. We aren’t fussy eaters but we really didn’t like it. Probably not suitable for people who don’t like cold hard fish, or really sugary pork. Quite expensive too for what we had.

This small Chinese restaurant is not your typical high street eaterie. Located about a five to 10 minute walk from Holborn tube station, it is attractively decorated in a modern, minimalist style. The menu is not extensive and does not have items like prawn toast. Alas, I found the service rather hit and miss, with a lack of attention and a rather odd habit of trying to take plates off the table, even before we had finished! Having said that, there was no pressure to give up our table after we had completed our meal, even when there were folks waiting to be seated, so I wondered if it was just Chinese custom to clear away any used dish as quickly as possible. To start, although the dish came after my main was served, I had some pork dumplings. They were very tasty. It was billed on the menu as a snack but as there were five, and they were not small, I think it would have been better to have reduced the price and also the number or to have suggested it was a dish to share. For my main course, I had the most delicious prawn and egg white concoction. It was, again, of a generous size. Both dishes were beautifully presented. We shared some fried rice and Chinese vegetables (actually just cabbage). I was the only one drinking and had just a small bottle of beer. Three starters, three main courses, two portions of rice and one of vegetables, as well as my beer, came to just over £90 with service. So not cheap but not expensive and I thought a fair price for the quality of the dishes we ate.

Went here with 3 friends for dinner on a Thursday night. The food is delicious. We LOVED the whole steamed fish, the broad bean dish and the aubergine. Very friendly service. Allowed us to sit, chat and drink tea long after we paid. Highly recommend:)

Nice laid back atmosphere, really friendly and helpful service, unusual menu from a very different area of China, delicious and generous food, no hassle or pressure, lots of tea, good wine, sensible prices (specailly for Central London) ....a really excellent find, great little place!

This is a relatively new Chinese restaurant serving Jiang Su food - and it's authentic and really good food. It's simply but elegantly furnished, with nice comfortable chairs to sit in (a major plus!) Service is helpful and eager to please and prices quite reasonable. They do a shortish lunch menu as well as the full a la carte, and my friends and I took advantage of that on a recent lunchtime visit. My kimchee was absolutely delicious and easily the nicest I've ever had. It was much sweeter than the usual Korean version and I finished the full serving very happily. My fried rice with beef, cabbage, carrots, onions and egg was also delicious, similar to the Malaysian Nasi Goreng, but without the spicy kick. I loved it. My friends were also pleased with their sweet and sour chicken, and particularly with their bao which they said were delicious and filling. Portion sizes are generous, and our cups of Chinese tea were kept topped up, so it's good value overall. I'll go back to try more things on the menu!

A tiny Chinese restaurant with fushion food. Good service, clean and wide variety of choice. Worth to try.

Following a Sunday Times review, I went with a friend. The food is indeed outstanding. Of particular note was the “ pancake rice dish” which was something we had never had and utterly delicious. This small restaurant has loads of pluses. The menu is exciting...

Following last Sunday's fascinating review by Marina O'Loughlin in the Sunday Times we booked for a family birthday dinner and what an experience it was! Really friendly and helpful service from first to last with a menu which made compelling reading. To avoid endless discussion...

Tasy, original Chinese food in an friendly and lively atmosphere. Many Chinese customers speaks for itself.

Delicious food, very traditional chineses Huang am food. Great environment with beautiful Chinese decoration. The service is amazing as well, they are really patient and introduce and recommend dishes to all customers depending on their preference. Highly recommended.