Leong’s Legend (Gerrard Street) | Taiwanese
If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s the unpredictability of the British weather. Which makes eating outdoors a somewhat hit and miss occasion.
But at Leong’s Legend it’s all hit and no miss, where you can enjoy the food of the Taiwanese streets in comfortable and, more importantly, dry surrounds.
However, you’ll have to find it first. And only then can you gain entry by knocking on what appears to be a locked door.
Once inside this wooden-panelled den, delicacies found on the streets of Taipei fill the menu – Soup Dumplings, Oyster Omelette, Beef Noodle Soup, Chilli Crab and delicious Taiwanese Pork Buns. The latter, a soft, floury open bun filled with melt-in-your-mouth slow-cooked pork belly and a sprinkle of crunchy peanut and coriander is legendary in Taiwan. And also here.
If you’re wondering who, what or where Leong is – the name refers to Mount Liang from the ‘Water Margin’ story – one of Chinese literature’s most celebrated tales. It involves a group of rebels taking on a corrupt government.
Live by the sword, die by the sword. The rebel spirit lives on at this maverick restaurant with delicious rarities you’ll be unlikely to find at other Chinatown eateries.
Just don’t forget to knock before you enter.