Though it may not be a neighbourhood that first springs to mind when you think about London's restaurant scene, Putney is home to some real culinary gems. This is what brought me to the area recently, as Cho Asia was calling my name: an independent pan-Asian restaurant that's found a stone's throw from the river.
This spot was opened in early 2024 by Chef Parminder Singh - an acclaimed chef who appeared on MasterChef The Professionals in 2022, following 15 years of experience working in fine dining across Dehli, New York and London. So, needless to say, I was excited to see what he could do at his very own place.
The intimate Putney restaurant is run by acclaimed chef Parminder Singh.
DesignMyNight's Review Of Cho Asia Putney
Visiting on a cold autumn evening, we were met with a rush of warmth as soon as we stepped into the restaurant. This is an intimate space that was almost full with diners, featuring rows of booth tables surrounded by green and gold decor, all glowing in the warm light. We were seated at a cosy corner table, which looked out over the rest of the room.
We ordered a bottle of Mont Rocher Rose (£32), which was dry and fruity with a pale pink colour, with notes of peach and cherry. With our first glass, we nibbled some rice crackers (£4.50), thin, crispy crackers that we dipped in a spicy chilli sauce.
Though their menu spanned starters, mains and grill dishes, it was the small plates that intrigued us most, so we decided to share a selection of dishes. The first of these was bang bang cauliflower (£10), bold bites with a real kick to them that were drizzled in a creamy sriracha mayo. Equally spicy was the chilli paneer (£10), soft cubes of the cheese coated in a flavourful chilli sauce, mixed in with with chopped peppers and onion.
Sample small plates from across Asia.
The vegetable dumplings (£9) were tender in texture and filled with Chinse-style boiled vegetables served in a hot chilli oil. They had a similar filling to the vegetable spring rolls (£10), which were wrapped in a fine filo pastry and dipped in a delicious sweet chilli sauce. On a more meaty front, the 1990s chilli chicken (£11) was succulent and full of spice served in bitesize chunks.
From the cold section, the dahi sev puri (£10), a popular Indian street food, were puffed shells loaded with yoghurt, coriander and sweet chutney over seasoned potato. We also ordered the crispy corn (£10), which I had expected to be ribs but was in fact a bowl of roasted sweetcorn pieces, combined with spring onions a strong salt and pepper flavouring. This was a flavourful addition the the meal, though I think if you ordered just this as your starter it might become sickly.
We did split one main dish: the vegetable Thai green curry (£11.50). The creamy coconut sauce was mouthwatering and just the right level of spicy, swimming with colourful vegetables. We spooned this over fluffy steamed rice (£5) that soaked up the vibrant green curry - a combination I would highly recommend if you're ordering a main course here.
There are indulgent desserts on offer here, if you've got room for them.
My personal favourite dish was the wild mushroom bao (£10). These buns literally melted in the mouth, ultra fluffy and filled with a tangy mix of mushrooms, chestnuts and shoots in a sticky sauce, oozing with sriracha mayo.
though we were pretty stuffed at this point, we did share one of their desserts too. The rich chocolate brownie (£7) was served fresh from the oven, chocolate sauce still bubbling. This indulgent treat was the perfect end to our meal, particularly when combined with the cooling vanilla bean ice cream that was scooped on top.
Overall: Cho Asia London
After sampling a pretty extensive selection from the Cho Asia menu, I can safely say that they know a thing or two about dishes from all over Asia. I would recommend trying several of their small plates, whether that's to start or as your whole meal, as this way you can enjoy several different flavours spanning the continent. All in all, I can see why Chef Parminder as received so much praise over the years, as this restaurant is a real triumph.
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💰 Price: £140 for two, excluding service charge. 📍 Address: 90 Lower Richmond Road, Putney, London, SW15 1LL. 👌 Perfect for: sharing small plates. ⭐ Need to know: the chef here has been on MasterChef The Professionals in the past. |
Check out these Chinese restaurants in London for more delicious Asian eats.
