Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 34 and Version 24 of Silk Road, SE5 8TR

Version 34	Version 24
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Chinese cafe-style restaurant and takeaway in [[Locale Camberwell\|Camberwell]], specialising in food from Xinjiang, a large autonomous region in the northwest of China where the default meat is lamb (rather than pork, as in most of the rest of China). It was previously at 49 Camberwell Church Street (pictured), but [https://www.timeout.com/london/news/cult-south-london-restaurant-silk-road-has-finally-reopened-022224 moved to number 47] in early 2024.	Chinese cafe-style restaurant and takeaway on Camberwell Church Street in [[Locale Camberwell\|Camberwell]], specialising in food from Xinjiang, a large autonomous region in the northwest of China where the default meat is lamb (rather than pork, as in most of the rest of China).
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When nine of us visited on a Monday evening in September 2010, the place was busy — it's a good thing we'd booked. Service was still good, efficient and friendly. Despite the meaty nature of much of the menu, the vegetarian in our party was as happy as the rest of us. On this occasion we spent just £15/head, including booze and tip. Our later visits were in smaller parties, and ended up being a little more expensive.	When nine of us visited on a Monday evening in September 2010, the place was busy — it's a good thing we'd booked. Service was still good, efficient and friendly. The food was generally quite tasty, although the dumplings (£2.50/10) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/5008512788/ photo]</small> and the famed lamb skewers <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/5008631343/ photo]</small> (80p each) didn't particularly impress [[DrHyde]]; there was nothing wrong with them, they just didn't stand out. ([[Kake]] agrees — the spices on the lamb skewers were overwhelmingly powdery rather than flavourful, and the meat wasn't as deliciously crisped as I'd been hoping. And when [[DrHyde]] visited again in August 2011, the lamb skewers were again not that great, although everything else was lovely, especially the twice-cooked pork belly.)
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We've generally enjoyed most of the food here, with a couple of exceptions. The menu is divided into cold dishes, hot dishes, Xinjiang-style dishes (including skewers), noodles, and dumplings.	The big plate chicken (£15) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/5009014306/ photo]</small> was delicious, though; the flavours in the gravy were much more complex than in the other dishes, and the chicken was neither mushy nor bland. Both [[Kake]] and [[Laura]] wished we'd ordered more of this.
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Among the cold dishes, spicy salad/tiger salad (老虎菜/lǎo hǔ cài; £3 in Sep 2010) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/5008499866/ photo]</small> was cruder than renditions [[Kake]] has had elsewhere, consisting simply of large chunks of tomato and onion topped with handfuls of fresh coriander. Mixed shred salad (拌三絲/bàn sān sī; £3 in Sep 2010) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/5007866269/ photo]</small> was similarly simple; nicely garlicky dressing, but dominated by the glass noodle vermicelli rather than an even mix of the three shreds advertised (carrot and spinach should have been the others). Cucumber in sauce (涼拌黃瓜, sampled in Oct 2011) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/6407974517/ photo]</small> was both refreshing and flavourful.	Home style aubergine (家常茄子/jiā ché qié zi; £5) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/5009028456/ photo]</small>, although not really a Xinjiang dish, was one of [[Kake]]'s other favourites; the aubergine was peeled before cooking to a perfect texture, and the sauce was quite balanced if fairly nonspecific in flavour.
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The hot dish selection includes plenty of vegetable dishes. Home style aubergine (家常茄子/jiā cháng qié zi; £5 in Sep 2010, also sampled in Oct 2011) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/5009028456/ photo]</small>, although not really a Xinjiang dish, was one of [[Kake]]'s favourites in our order; the aubergine was peeled before cooking to a perfect texture, and the sauce was quite balanced if fairly nonspecific in flavour. Sour and hot shredded potato (酸辣土豆絲/suān là tǔ dòu sī; £4 in Sep 2010) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/5009040345/ photo]</small> was also good, with the potato slivers nicely judged to be crisp yet not undercooked.	Spicy salad/tiger salad (老虎菜/lǎo hǔ cài; £3) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/5008499866/ photo]</small> was cruder than renditions [[Kake]] has had elsewhere, consisting simply of large chunks of tomato and onion topped with handfuls of fresh coriander. Mixed shred salad (拌三絲/bàn sān sī; £3) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/5007866269/ photo]</small> was similarly simple; nicely garlicky dressing, but dominated by the glass noodle vermicelli rather than an even mix of the three shreds advertised (carrot and spinach should have been the others).
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Cabbage in vinegar sauce (醋溜白菜/cù liù bái cài; £4 in Sep 2010) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/5009608904/ photo]</small> was somewhat unbalanced, with the vinegar flavour coming across as harsh rather than tangy. Home-style cabbage (熗蓮白, sampled in Oct 2011) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/6411643759/ photo]</small> was much better, cooked just enough to stop it tasting raw, leaving it crisp and juicy.	Cabbage in vinegar sauce (醋溜白菜/cù liù bái cài; £4) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/5009608904/ photo]</small> was somewhat unbalanced, with the vinegar flavour coming across as harsh rather than tangy. Sour and hot shredded potato (酸辣土豆絲/suān là tǔ dòu sī; £4) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/5009040345/ photo]</small> was better, though, with the potato slivers nicely judged to be crisp yet not undercooked.
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We've also tried a few of the meat-based hot dishes. [[DrHyde]] and friends enjoyed the double-cooked pork slices (回鍋肉) in August 2011. [[Kake]] et al. were less impressed by the stirfried chicken gizzards (孜然雞胗) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/6408079593/ photo]</small> in October 2011; they were really much chewier than optimal.	Despite the meaty nature of much of the menu, the vegetarian in our party was as happy as the rest of us. But best of all was the price: 9 of us pigged out for only 15 quid each, including booze and tip.
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Big plate chicken, a Xinjiang specialty (£15 in Sep 2010) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/5009014306/ photo]</small> was delicious; the flavours in the gravy were much more complex than in the other dishes, and the chicken was neither mushy nor bland. Both [[Kake]] and [[Laura]] wished we'd ordered more of this.	[[secretlondon]] visited some time previously, on a Sunday evening in February 2009. I had lamb with noodle and egg (£7) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretlondon/3281454733 photo]</small>, 10 dumplings (£3) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretlondon/3282270408 photo]</small> and a pot of tea (£1). Background music sounded like Chinese easy listening.
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None of our party were keen on the famed lamb skewers (80p each in Sep 2010, also sampled in Aug 2011) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/5008631343/ photo]</small>; the spices on the lamb skewers were overwhelmingly powdery rather than flavourful, and the meat wasn't as deliciously crisped as one might have hoped. Lamb kidney skewers (sampled in Oct 2011) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/6411681391/ photo]</small> were better, with much less powderiness.	[[Kake]]'s verdict: It's a testament to the quality of regional Chinese food currently available in London that I can even <i>think</i> of criticising the food we had here. It was certainly all a lot better than your average generic Anglicised Chinese, it was very cheap, and it's the only place I've ever had Xinjiang food in London. I just felt that it wasn't quite as good as all the rave reviews had led me to expect, which is more to do with me than with the restaurant.
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Boiled dumplings (£2.50/10 in Sep 2010) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/5008512788/ photo]</small> didn't particularly impress [[DrHyde]]; there was nothing wrong with them, they just didn't stand out. [[Kake]] rather liked them though; this style of dumpling isn't meant to be particularly refined, and it's hard to complain at this price. [[secretlondon]] has also visited here, on a Sunday evening in February 2009, ordering lamb with noodle and egg (£7) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretlondon/3281454733 photo]</small>, 10 dumplings (£3) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretlondon/3282270408 photo]</small> and a pot of tea (£1). Background music sounded like Chinese easy listening. [[Kake]]'s verdict: It's a testament to the quality of regional Chinese food currently available in London that I can even <i>think</i> of criticising the food we had here. It was certainly all a lot better than your average generic Anglicised Chinese, it was very cheap, and it's the only place I've ever had Xinjiang food in London. I just felt that it wasn't quite as good as all the rave reviews had led me to expect, which is more to do with me than with the restaurant. Having said that, I've been twice now and would go again!
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* [https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/sep/06/chinese-restaurant-silk-road-london Observer review] (Jay Rayner) * [http://web.archive.org/web/20100326190921/http://www.timeout.com:80/london/restaurants/venue/2:26554/silk-road Time Out review] (Sally Peck) * [http://web.archive.org/web/20220322132548/https://www.chowhound.com/post/silk-road-report-london-693038 Chowhound thread] * [http://web.archive.org/web/20140914220545/http://www.hownottodoafoodblog.com:80/2013/11/silk-road-camberwell-church-street-se5.html How Not To Do A Food Blog review] * [http://www.tehbus.com/2009/10/silk-road-taste-of-xinjiang-in.html A Rather Unusual Chinaman review] * [http://web.archive.org/web/20200810053452/http://www.helengraves.co.uk/silk-road-camberwell-review/ Food Stories review] * [http://web.archive.org/web/20161019172556/http://ginandcrumpets.com:80/silk-road-camberwell/ Gin And Crumpets review]	* [http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/580033#4250828 Chowhound thread] * [http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/584399 Another Chowhound thread] * [http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/693038 Yet another Chowhound thread] * [http://www.dimsum.co.uk/food/where-do-chinese-people-eat-out-in-london.html#josc2368 dimsum.co.uk comment] * [http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/sep/06/chinese-restaurant-silk-road-london Jay Rayner's review in the Observer] * [http://www.london-eating.co.uk/35489.htm London Eating comments] * [http://ginandcrumpets.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/silk-road-camberwell/ Gin And Crumpets review] * [http://www.tehbus.com/2009/10/silk-road-taste-of-xinjiang-in.html Tehbus' review] * [http://sharmilaonfood.tumblr.com/post/117305475/silk-road-camberwell Sharmila On Food review] * [http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/reviews/22429.html Time Out review] * [http://willeatformoney.blogspot.com/2010/02/silk-road-camberwell.html Will Eat For Money review]
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	* [http://helengraves.co.uk/2010/03/silk-road-camberwell/ Food Stories review]
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* [https://pickyglutton.com/2019/04/29/silk-road-review-noodles-kebabs-camberwell/ Picky Glutton review] * [http://richardelliot.blogspot.com/2014/11/silk-road-sichuan-chinese-in-camberwell.html Richard Elliot's review] * [http://willeatformoney.blogspot.com/2010/02/silk-road-camberwell.html Will Eat For Money review]
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<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Kake]], [[Sarah]], Les, and KC, October 2011.</div> address='47 Camberwell Church Street' category='Cafes,Chinese Food,Featured Article,Needs New Photo,Restaurants,Takeaway' edit_type='Minor tidying'	<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[DrHyde]] and some tourists he was chaperoning, August 2011.</div> address='49 Camberwell Church Street' category='Cafes,Chinese Food,Restaurants,Takeaway' edit_type='Normal edit'
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host='2001:8b0:ca94:869f:8ab:31d6:3d4f:2b60'	host='195.149.50.59'
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latitude='51.473886'	latitude='51.473516'
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longitude='-0.089386' major_change='0' map_link=''	longitude='-0.087897' major_change='1' map_link='http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=532783&y=176738'
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os_x='532790' os_y='176722'	os_x='532783' os_y='176738'

Chinese cafe-style restaurant and takeaway on Camberwell Church Street in Camberwell, specialising in food from Xinjiang, a large autonomous region in the northwest of China where the default meat is lamb (rather than pork, as in most of the rest of China).

Its Chinese name is 新疆風味 (Xīnjiāng fēng wèi), which roughly translates as something like "Xinjiang local flavour". The menu is in Chinese with an English translation — see Kake's Flickrset with photos of the menu. The decor is quite plain, and the seating is at long tables with wooden benches photo. Note that as of September 2010 they're cash only.

When nine of us visited on a Monday evening in September 2010, the place was busy — it's a good thing we'd booked. Service was still good, efficient and friendly. The food was generally quite tasty, although the dumplings (£2.50/10) photo and the famed lamb skewers photo (80p each) didn't particularly impress DrHyde; there was nothing wrong with them, they just didn't stand out. (Kake agrees — the spices on the lamb skewers were overwhelmingly powdery rather than flavourful, and the meat wasn't as deliciously crisped as I'd been hoping. And when DrHyde visited again in August 2011, the lamb skewers were again not that great, although everything else was lovely, especially the twice-cooked pork belly.)

The big plate chicken (£15) photo was delicious, though; the flavours in the gravy were much more complex than in the other dishes, and the chicken was neither mushy nor bland. Both Kake and Laura wished we'd ordered more of this.

Home style aubergine (家常茄子/jiā ché qié zi; £5) photo, although not really a Xinjiang dish, was one of Kake's other favourites; the aubergine was peeled before cooking to a perfect texture, and the sauce was quite balanced if fairly nonspecific in flavour.

Spicy salad/tiger salad (老虎菜/lǎo hǔ cài; £3) photo was cruder than renditions Kake has had elsewhere, consisting simply of large chunks of tomato and onion topped with handfuls of fresh coriander. Mixed shred salad (拌三絲/bàn sān sī; £3) photo was similarly simple; nicely garlicky dressing, but dominated by the glass noodle vermicelli rather than an even mix of the three shreds advertised (carrot and spinach should have been the others).

Cabbage in vinegar sauce (醋溜白菜/cù liù bái cài; £4) photo was somewhat unbalanced, with the vinegar flavour coming across as harsh rather than tangy. Sour and hot shredded potato (酸辣土豆絲/suān là tǔ dòu sī; £4) photo was better, though, with the potato slivers nicely judged to be crisp yet not undercooked.

Despite the meaty nature of much of the menu, the vegetarian in our party was as happy as the rest of us. But best of all was the price: 9 of us pigged out for only 15 quid each, including booze and tip.

secretlondon visited some time previously, on a Sunday evening in February 2009. I had lamb with noodle and egg (£7) photo, 10 dumplings (£3) photo and a pot of tea (£1). Background music sounded like Chinese easy listening.

Kake's verdict: It's a testament to the quality of regional Chinese food currently available in London that I can even think of criticising the food we had here. It was certainly all a lot better than your average generic Anglicised Chinese, it was very cheap, and it's the only place I've ever had Xinjiang food in London. I just felt that it wasn't quite as good as all the rave reviews had led me to expect, which is more to do with me than with the restaurant.

Randomness Guide to London Menu

Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 34 and Version 24 of Silk Road, SE5 8TR