China Pavillion, Andheri

Who doesn’t love Chindian (Chinese + Indian) food right? Well, if you claim otherwise, I’m pretty sure you’re in denial. Everyone out there has a thing for this one of a kind approach to Chinese food that has been specially concocted to suit the classic Indian taste buds. 

Say hello to Andheri’s comparatively new haunt, China Pavillion – that serves you typically lovable Chindian fare at very reasonable prices. A very predictable yet ambient decor (reminded me a lot of China Gate) makes up for a pleasant experience as a whole.

Owned by Ronchere Caterers, which was established in Mumbai by Mr. Yogesh Shetty, they have innumerable brands like Gopal Krishna (Vegetarian Restaurant), Curry n’ Fry and GK Caterers to their credit. Having come out of a comfort zone, China Pavillion is their latest venture that opened a few months ago but I only tried recently.

Here’s what we tried out:

Crispy Vegetables | Rs. 185 – Quite avoidable, this dish did nothing for us. The vegetables looked sullen and none of the incorporated flavours shone bright.

Chow Chu Paneer | Rs. 200 – A clear winner without a doubt, I wasn’t expecting much from yet another paneer starter but I was pleasantly surprised and couldn’t get enough of this simple yet addictive preparation.

Corn and Water Chestnuts | Rs. 200 – A bit on the spicy side, I wasn’t over the moon with this one although the water chestnuts made for a good change from the regular vegetarian offerings. 

Vegetable Lettuce Wraps | Rs. 190 – This dish could very well be their USP as I have never heard of something like it. The DIY style of eating this Chindian appetizer may seem a bit tedious but will be worth it after you bite into the sauce-laden, stuffed and crispy lettuce wraps.

Shanghai Chicken | Rs. 210 – A bit on the spicy side, this one dish could be an easy favourite for most Chindian fans. The lingering flavour is what gets this dish its importance; what more do you need?

Thin Min Lin Prawns | Rs. 350 – Prawns cooked in a butter garlic base, this dish didn’t really match up to my expectations as the prawns seemed too soggy and wasn’t as flavourful as it could’ve been.

Kung Pao Chicken | Rs. 210 – The winning starter according to me, I thought the chef really put his heart and soul into preparing this and it came through well. A #TGLPrecommendation for sure.

Saiwoo Chicken | Rs. 210 – In simpler words, the sesame chicken was pleasantly tangy and left a great after-taste. The sesame seeds bring about an interesting texture to this preparation which we liked.

After tasting so many starters, we didn’t really have the capacity to check out the main course. But we still managed to taste a few. Honestly, none of them except the Chicken in Soya Garlic sauce lived up to tasting. Special mention for the burnt garlic fried rice as it may pretty much be the best I’ve tried till date. Another #TGLPrecommendation from my end.

Here’s a crisp round-up of everything else we tasted from the main course menu.

Chicken in Hot Garlic Sauce | Rs. 220 – An absolute sucker for anything garlic, the sweet and spicy gravy here went well with the burnt garlic rice and the taste was easy on our palates.

Chicken in Soya Garlic Sauce | Rs. 220 – Zestful with every bite, the chicken in soya garlic sauce was flavoursome and complimented the Singapore Noodles.

Steamed Fish in Jade Sauce | Rs. 290 – The basa wasn’t up to the mark as it came across a bit over-done. The gravy felt too starchy and lacked the much needed impact.

Singapore Hakka Noodles | Rs. 200 – A hint of turmeric might not be everyone’s preference. But you could give it a try, although I personally prefer regular hakka noodles any day.

Burnt Garlic Fried Rice | Rs. 190 – One of the simplest dishes on the menu, the wholesome taste was well appreciated. A hero dish in itself, you could very well savour every bite as it is. I highly recommend it if you plan to order the main course after having your dshare of starters.

From home-style Chinese to classic Chindian, the menu is quite extensive with a variety of sauces to choose from. Customise your vegetables and meats with the available sauces and you get pretty much a good meal. What caught my attention was the basic one-liners alongside the sauce listings indicating its basic flavour and style of preparation. It may not be accurately authentic but some information is always welcome, right? The entire menu is moderately priced between Rs. 125 – Rs. 350.

While I chatted with one of the partners – Mr. Subhash Bolar, I learnt of their lunch buffet that’s priced at Rs. 299… Unbelievable right? Consisting of unlimited servings of 1 Soup, 2 Starters, 3 Mains, and a variation in Rice and Noodles, you know you cannot resist a deal as good as this. I intend to check it out very soon and so should you!

Contact No. – 022 26352900

Until next time! 🙂