Ho-Hum or Haute Cuisine?
There is another House in Soho area than Soho House. While I did have some enjoyable moments, thanks to my sweet friend, the overall experience left me feeling somewhat confused.
This restaurant, which boasts of offering the finest in Pan-Asian fusion cuisine, fell short of my expectations in most dishes. To me, it seemed to miss the mark in delivering the delightful essence of all the Asian cuisine.
Our chef seeks to bring harmony and balance to his dishes with taste, texture, colour and the freshest ingredients all designed to surprise and delight the palette.
Ambience:
If you just pass by this restaurant, outdoor ambiance has an appealing Asian theme. The ground floor had a nice atmosphere as well, but I noticed a few aspects that seemed a bit budget-friendly, especially if you go upstairs. I’m thoroughly examining every aspect like Sherlock Holmes, my friend!
I’ll skip discussing the service and drinks because they were neither jaw-droppingly amazing nor face-palm bad. Oh, there’s one thing I’d like to mention: please avoid bringing all the dishes at the same time. I’m not here to shoot an Instagram reel show.
Price:
The prices are quite reasonable, even cheaper than those at casual Chinatown restaurants.
What I Ordered:
Veg Tempura
While I relished the crispy tempura coating and the inherent sweetness and earthiness of the vegetables, I found the outer layer to be a tad too thick.
Har Gow
Probably the outside was slightly too thick for its own good.
Chicken Xiao Long Bao
We’re talking about that thick outer layer again, probably House of Ho 23AW has this double layer trend. But it was not all bad – they had the hearty soup inside.
Crispy Duck Salad
The fresh greens and watermelon offered a refreshing contrast to the richness of the duck and the sauce. The nuts contributed a delightful crunch. My only wish is that the duck itself had been a bit more moist in terms of the meat.
Kung Pao Chicken
There was definitely something amiss with the dish. I know exactly what it was – the chicken had an unexpectedly chewy texture, almost like I was having a vegan tofu Kung Pao.
The sauce was missing that signature Chinese pepper kick, and to top it off, the garlic bits were giant, making them quite a challenge to eat.
Sadly, in the midst of all this, I found solace in the fried rice noodles beneath.
Conclusion:
My dining experience at The House of Hô was a mixed bag. While the restaurant offered a delightful ambiance, especially in the area where we were seated, also they have good menus, it fell short in delivering the promised Pan-Asian cuisine. The lack of depth in flavor and the misjudged textures of some dishes left me somewhat disappointed.
I would recommend exploring other restaurants in the area if you’re in search of casual yet delicious food. Fitzrovia offers a multitude of enticing options such as Six by Nico, which falls within a similar price range.
*Good option for Halal though!
Their looking good menu: https://www.houseofho.co.uk/a-la-carte-menu
Website: https://www.houseofho.co.uk/
Not sure but if you want to book:
