Food was so tasty portion sizes were big. Staff were very helpful & friendly strongly recommend it
Very good food.Nice dim sum too.Beautiful view, get to watch planes flying in and off from City Airport. Free parking.Very convenience.
Yi ban is is situated opposite of London city airport . The staff is helping, caring and cooperative as well the food is also very delicious the Chinese cuisine is blissful and delicious
What an amazing place, friendly staff, free rice crackers and fried rice on Tuesday evenings. Can’t beat that on a working day. Their food quality is great as well for this area of London.
This is a very good Chinese restaurant in the custom house area. Their fried rice and the dishes i had are really good. I don’t remember their names but amazing food. Another good thing is from the restaurant you can see the city airport. Flights keep coming in. :p
Also, if you are a vegetarian and you are not very comfortable with non indian cuisines, you may still try this place. (One of my veg friend’s comment)
If you want an authentic Chinese food, you need to get here ASAP! The staff was a bit annoyed and rude when we asked to make everything spicy but the food was so amazing that we forgot all about that.
Fine dinning with a good view.
Recommended
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Yi-Ban should have been at least a 4/5 star restaurant. However, this contemporary eatery likes to shoot itself in the foot and is let down by inconsistent standards and its disengaging staff.
Getting to this remote and isolated eatery is a mission on public transport and a bit irksome by car. Just when you think that you must have taken a wrong turn, you realise that the unattractive concrete box of a building is in fact the London Regatta Centre, and is the right place. Yi-Ban is located upstairs.
Fortunately, the interior is more welcoming and contemporary in style, featuring large floor to ceiling windows that overlook the Royal Docks and the London City Airport. Plane watching whilst eating is a thing, apparently. To be fair, I find it to be a novelty, for a few minutes at least. At nighttime, the waterside setting does create a somewhat romantic ambiance and offers a good night-scape.
The menu is expansive and includes very good Hotpot and Seafood offerings and a very popular Dim Sum selection. It is a traditional Chinese menu, with some Vietnamese additions. The Seafood in particular, is adventurous and includes exotics such as Abalone, Sea Whelk and Sharks Fin. Some people may be offended by a few of the exotic items on the menu; so make sure you and your fellow diners find it palatable seeing items such as Shark Fin on a menu, before booking. The best dishes include: the Peking Duck, Salt & Chilli Prawns, Steamed Sea Bass with Onion & Ginger, Sea Whelks in a Curry Sauce, Sizzling Ginger Lamb and the Singapore Vermicelli.
Unfortunately, the cooking standards vary as much as the menu. There is a reoccurring problem of inconsistent and sometimes indolent cooking. This is frustrating, as the same dish may differ somewhat on a repeat visit and either be too salty or have an excess of overtly pungent sauce or be overcooked. You get the picture, one rarely gets the same tasting dish twice. I find this vexing, as with a little basic competency, dishes could easily be consistently good or great and not just average. The Dim Sum is case in point, as they are often cool and not hot. On occasion, some were cold and a few tasted of microwave reheating! This results in the calibre of the food being too erratic or clumsy for my liking and, given the task of getting to Yi-Ban in the first place, it sometimes feels like a let down.
The reception staff can be welcoming, but the waiters seem to sometimes go through the motions without noticing the customers. Some are also abruptly rude and require tolerating! Clearly, the waiters should be the ones tolerating the customers, but no one seems to have told them. However, they do seem to be friendly with their regular clientele. At peak business times, customers can be ferried in and out and it is very busy over the weekends; so book in advance.
Yi-Ban is a pretentious eatery which tries to be more upmarket than it actually is and generally ends up charging too much for the quality and standards it actually delivers. That is not to say that Yi-Ban is not a good eatery, because it can be, it just depends on the mood of its staff at the time of your visit. Overall, I have found the dining experience at Yi-Ban rather ostentatious, underwhelming and definitely hit and miss. I think Yi-Ban fancies itself as a good West End alternative, but is wide of the mark; especially when it comes to consistency and customer service. This is a real shame, as Yi-Ban does have some good dishes and with improved customer service and a little love, care and attention, it could be a real gem.
Yi Ban is one of my favourite go to places for dim sum when I'm not in central London (note: I live on the east side of town).
The restaurant itself is very airy, lots of natural light beaming in from the glass windows and a balcony for you to admire the view of the river and the occasional plane taking off/landing (one of the reasons why kids love it here).
Dishes I'd recommend from the dim sum menu:
- Prawn cheung fun
- Steamed beef tripe in ginger sauce
- Deep fried squid cake
- Crispy prawn dumplings
- Thai style chicken feet
Why do I go to Yi Ban?
- Location is convenient from where I live
- Food is good
- Decent size portions
- Reasonable price
However, I'm not sure I would venture all the way here if I was coming from north/west/south London.
Warning: It does get very busy here on a Sunday so be prepared to grab a ticket and wait!
Service seems pretty friendly only amongst the regulars. Our first visit certainly did not gain any friendliness or effort to try to convert us into Yi-Ban’s patrons. Waited relatively long for our dim sum and when questioned, they hurriedly passed our dim sum order through and were told that we had to re-join the queue because they messed our order initially. Neither an apology nor feeling of remotely penitent for their order snafu; so, not a surprise at all when a cold, inimical gaze followed on after we requested the service charge to be removed. After all, I was prepared to be put through the wringer by the manager as to why the service charge was to be removed. We stood firm with the manager and was eventually “acceded” a bill without the service charge. Charming!
A real wow for a first date, not cheap (about £40 per head including drinks), but worth every penny.
We've tried almost everything on the menu now, and what we haven't tried is probably not very good (or so I tell myself).
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Yi-Ban, London Regatta Centre – It was all so exciting - a day out, dim sum treat, some place new, bright sunny morning with clear blue sky. On the DLR, approaching Royal Albert station from Stratford, London City Airport's runway unveils the beginning of the air infrastructure. Oops, just passed the London Regatta Centre where Yi-Ban is. The building is a long grey cement building that although sits at the front of the dock, just does not stand out in comparison to the airport.
Yi-Ban sits on the first floor of London Regatta Centre. The stairs leading to the restaurant does not even suggest an ambience or atmosphere of Yi-Ban's style. We arrived at a queue ahead of us. Got our numbered ticket and waited. And waited. And waited. On Sundays, reservations are only for after 1700 hours. No means of sitting. When our number is finally called, we looked like we probably lurched at the maître d'.
We entered in the middle of this rectangular dining area. Bar on the left and stage on the right. Yi-Ban holds Chinese ceremonial weddings; if you are familiar with these, you will understand the existence of a stage for the ceremony. Inside, Yi-Ban sticks to minimal decoration. Large window panes facing London City Airport's runway. Unfortunately they were covered with blinds otherwise, the view of the dock and the planes taking off and landing will be quite a sight. Three rows of tables filled the dining area with space enough to walk comfortably between the tables. The place was full, buzzling, mostly with large Chinese families. Atmospheric feel brings nostalgic memories of the dim sum in Ipoh.
On Sunday afternoons, Yi-Ban thrives on dim sum. The tables are prepared with cutlery and a numbered pictorial menu with an order sheet. Small plates of dim sum range (similar to the old fashioned with less pretension of fusion flavours) from GBP 2.50 – GBP 4.00, noodles and rice dishes are from GBP 7.00. A la carte menu but I took a quick glance, eager to get on with our dim sum order.
It was a long wait because they have screwed up our order. My patience was certainly tested.
Service seems pretty friendly only amongst the regulars. Our first visit certainly did not gain any friendliness or effort to try to convert us into Yi-Ban's patrons. Waited relatively long for our dim sum and when questioned, they hurriedly passed our dim sum order through and were told that we had to re-join the queue because they messed our order initially.
Anyway, we enjoyed Yi-Ban and I have a list prepared for when I return next. I have to say the noodles just looked and smelled so good. I wished I had had some. It is true in this case to say, “do not judge a book by it's coverâ€.
The food:
1. crispy roast pork dumpling GBP 2.50 – crisp pastry, delicious filling with well balanced flavour of char siew.
2. glutinous rice wrapped in lotus leaf GBP 3.80 – it was good but i thought Yum Cha takes the biscuit in this dish.
3. steamed prawn and chive dumpling GBP 2.80 – I favour these pastries to the other ravioli like pastry. This is silky and a little chewy (in a good way) with a good filling.
4. steamed crystal prawn dumplings GBP 2.80 – and we favour prawns. Juicy prawns.
5. salad prawn dumplings GBP – another delicious dim sum. Not oily, crispy and crunchy, paired well with the mayonnaise sauce.
6. grilled pork dumplings GBP 2.50 – similar to gyoza which i am not fond of but this took me by surprise and I likes it.
7. whelks curry sauce GBP 2.80 – chewy. This is the only dish that suggest a fusion style. I find that it is not up to par with the rest of the dim sum dishes.
8. mini egg tarts GBP – these are the best that I had ever had. Flaky pastry without being too buttery with a warm and soft centre that still holds it's structure after the first whole half bite of the dim sum.
Beautifully presented and tasting food. Staying at the Double Tree it was only a short walk. We visited early on a Friday. Around 4pm and the restaurant was quiet but was getting busy when we left. We had a set menu at £35 each with an addition. Food was outstanding (and so much) plenty for 2 with a lovely view
We previously came here for a wedding banquet and it was very well done. So many courses which was very well cooked and fresh as there were plenty of seafood dishes. Their roasted meats are delicious crispy pork and cha sui that's moist with full flavours.
We came here for the dim sum between 6 people with drinks came to 180 quid we had a great time and it was filling.
On weekends there is a long queue but it's worth the wait. Also Chinese desserts are very good.
I highly recommend here. When you know loads of Chinese go here. It's gotta be good. Enjoy. Press like.
I have had four meals at Yi-Ban over this year and once attended as a party of eight. (All eight meals were excellent and served together).
Every time the food quality is excellent, all meals well prepared and very tasty.
The sizzling dishes (on a hot skillet) are also worth a look; all of these are really nice.
Lots of Chinese are always eating here as well, which says a lot.
Food is always out quickly, and the takeaway service is also good
Restaurant is one big room with commanding views over the airport (London City) and the sugar factory (Tate and Lyle). Although this makes it rather busy, and not really suitable as a quiet meal for two if that is what you are after.
Staff are plentiful and always available without being intrusive.
Price is also very reasonable for London
You have to get in early to avoid the queues on Sunday but its worth it. Really fast service and the food is great here. Plenty of options for dimsum. Plus you can have a nice view of the airport across the river if you are there when the planes are taking off. I would recommend getting some dessert here too, the mango options in particular!
Update: went here for dinner and the food is still good!
Hands down one of the best view Chinese restaurants in town!
Look at the harbour view, as well as the nearby city airport. You can literally see planes taking off right in front of the 180 degree window view!
The food is also great - great variety and very authentic. Approved 👍🏻
Delicious Chinese food with prompt friendly service. A great view from our table. Sweet and Sour Pork was delicious, but the Mango Beef is not to be missed. If I went back again, I'd order two portions.
Some of the dim sum dishes came cold/like warm but most were executed well, as many people mentioned, service isn’t really the strength of this restaurant 😅 but it’s popular because there aren’t many alternatives in the area 😌 still, I’d come here again if I’m in the vicinity because the quality of food is high and value for money 😋
A cut above Chinatown . Everything you would want for a dum sum restaurant... got the all the usual classics and as well as some interesting crab dim sum options. They also do a cracking lobster noodle platter . And views are fantastic if you like planes
We came for yum cha on Sunday and came here at 11am and it was easy to get a table. By midday, it got busy and full, so I'd recommend coming before then. Between the three of us, we shared the prawn dumplings, scallop dumplings, Shanghai dumplings, meat croquette, pan fried pork dumplings, chicken claws in black bean sauce, glutinous rice rolls, crispy cheung fun, beef hor fun and mini egg tarts - everything was decent. The staff were really friendly and polite which is sometimes a rarity at Chinese restaurants.
Food was excellent, and so was the variety of foods offered in the menu. The pictures of the dishes in the menu helped a lot in decision making. Atmosphere a bit heated, as staff tend to give tourists a weird look. Also on our first visit here, our orders were not completely delivered, and still they put this on the bill when we wanted to pay. The quality of food is the only factor keeping this review a 4-star.
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