Restaurant of the Month is brought to you by Dine Birmingham, the city's online restaurant guide.
This beginning of February saw the arrival of the Year of the Horse, an auspicious year in the Chinese 12-year calendar. So where better for our restaurant of the month than a recently arrived addition to the city’s Chinese culinary constellation?
Chung Ying Central is not entirely a new beast, being born into the family that already includes Chung Ying restaurant, the flagship venue, and the nearby Chung Ying Garden, both cosily nestled in the heart of Chinatown,
But the new venture has sprung up boldly in the Colmore Business District, on a mission to bring Eastern hospitality to those suited corporate types, used to downing an espresso and chomping on a panini between meetings.
With a plush plot in the Colmore Business District, Chung Ying Central has attracted a slick crowd.
What’s the vibe?
Definitely upmarket, even glitzy. Think boozy business lunches and entertaining clients. The decor is markedly different from its more homely sister restaurants in Chinatown. Gold and black walls, a luminous bar panel, mood lighting - this sister is all glammed up for the big city.
What’s on the menu?
Chung Ying Central specialises in dim sum: small sharing dishes that can be thought of as Far Eastern tapas. These can be incredibly varied. Some examples include steamed king prawn and chive dumplings, deep-fried baby octopus with garlic and steamed pork and prawn dumplings.
Apart from these, there’s a wide range of authentic Chinese mains to choose from as well. Forget your takeaway choice of chow mein and noodles, and be more adventurous with something like steamed sea bass fillet with ginger and spring onions, or fried scallops in hot and spicy sauce.
And don’t forget the cocktails! Chung Ying Central has marked the Chinese New Year by launching twelve new concoctions; one for each sign of the zodiac. This year’s special, the Velvet Horse, blends raspberry liqueur, cranberry juice and Absolut Mandarin.
Delicious dim sum at more than reasonable prices, Chung Ying Central remain wholly Eastern yet wholly pocket friendly.
What’s the damage?
Dim sum cost £4 each, while mains range £8-15 on average. Cocktails are £5.95 each and available on a two-for-one deal during happy hour.
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