| Leong’s Legend new franchise in Bayswater |
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| Food | |
| Sunday, 13 June 2010 | |
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 Leong’s Legend, a popular Taiwanese restaurant with already two franchises in Chinatown has bravely embarked on its latest challenge to open a third in Bayswater. Despite the large population of ethnic Chinese in Bayswater, Leong’s Legend is facing fierce competition from numerous high profile Chinese restaurants in the vicinity, including Four Seasons, Royal China, Ping Pong Dim Sum, Mandarin Kitchen and Magic Wok. But there is still a market for it especially as Bayswater is speculated to become London’s new Chinatown.
The restaurant’s name Leong’s Legend is inspired by one of the most popular Chinese novels The Water Margin, which features 107 heroes who gathered at Leong Mountain to fight a corrupt government during the Song dynasty. These heroes are painted on the restaurant’s walls and their arms are hung on the walls as decorations. “Often British customers ask as what these decorations mean, and we tell them about The Water Margin. It’s a great way to promote Chinese culture,” a member of staff told me.
The restaurant’s wooden interior resembles the atmosphere of an old Chinese inn, which is a frequent scene in The Water Margin. The slightly dark room makes one feel calm and relaxed. The spaced out tables and low lying lamps create a feeling of enclosure and privacy.
Loyal customers of Leong’s Legend all praise its soup dumplings (Siu Loung Bao) – eight pork or crab dumplings with rich broth sealed inside. But the new Leong’s Legend has added two new dishes that have received equally high ratings by customers – casket and Tainan steamed meat ball.
Casket is a piece of thick crispy box-shaped toast stuffed with minced chicken and mixed vegetables. Its strong cheese flavour has suited well to Londoners’ taste. Tainan steamed meat ball is similar in ingredients with Chaozhou fun guo, but richer in flavour and has a much thicker translucent skin that shines and preserves the meat’s warmth perfectly. Although the new menu also increased its selection of vegetable side dishes, the number of vegetarian main courses is still very limited. To continuously update Leong’s Legend’s menu, head chef Michael Tan frequently visits Taiwan to learn authentic new dishes and bring them to his London customers.
Most dishes have been strengthened in flavour compared to their Taiwan counterparts to suit many London customers’ taste. However, spicy dishes have been made milder, and sweet chilli source is frequently used. Across the dishes there is a good use of peanuts, picked daikon, coriander and spices - typical of Taiwanese restaurants. Freshness of ingredients and detailed preparations have distinguished Leong’s Legend from many other Chinese restaurants. The cost too is quite reasonable, one can easily have a filling meal for under £20.00.
 Taiwan Most Popular Omelette (£7.00)
Rich in filling with nuts and vegetables, covered with sweet chilli source  Leong’s Braised Pork Belly (£6.50)
Pork is rich in flavour and melts instantly in mouth  Quick Fried Diced Beef with Garlic slices (£10.80)
Very tenderly cooked, although has received criticism for being small in serving  Sticky Rice with shredded Pork (£.3.80)
Although the rice is placed below, it has absorbed a lot of the pork’s flavour while cooking  Mango Pudding, Almond and Bean Paste Cakes (£2.80 each)
Very refreshing deserts, containing beans, chopped mango and almond respectively Legend's Siu Loung Bao - 8 pieces (£5.00)
 Casket - Minced Chicken & Mix Vegetables in a Crispy Box Shape of Toast (£4.80)
 Tainan Steamed Meat Ball (£3.20)
Leong’s Legend I
4 Macclesfield St, Chinatown, W1D 6AX Tel: 020 7287 0288 Nearest Tube station: Leicester Square Leong’s Legend II
26-27 Lisle Street, London WC2H 7BA Tel: 020 7734 3380 Nearest Tube station: Leicester Square Leong’s Legend III
82 Queensway, Bayswater, London W2 3RL Tel: 020 7221 2280 Nearest Tube station: Bayswater Opening Times: Sun-Weds 12.00pm-11.00pm
Thurs- Sat 12.00pm-11.30pm
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