From St James to Surbiton

Saturday, August 08th , 2026

House of Ming is a smart Chinese restaurant in St James. This was my second meal here and the food was a little more up and down than at my first visit, though still enjoyable. It is smartly decorated and the price reflects that. It is aiming at the same level as places like Imperial Treasure, but does not quite reach those heights.

Koyal is probably serving the best Indian food in London right now. along with the new up-market Tresind. The level of cooking here is very high indeed, with even little details like the salad garnishes with the meat dishes being unusually interesting and well made. The humble bhajia is elevated to a remarkable level here, and the tandoori cooking is superb. This is terrific cooking at a modest price point.