Unapologetically fiery Hunan and Sichuan cuisine served in a functional, bright dining room that contrasts with its upscale Islington surroundings.
Ordering Strategy
Ignore the Cantonese section of the vast menu and focus strictly on Hunan and Sichuan specialities. The cold starters (like spiced fungus or smacked cucumbers) are essential for managing the heat of the main dishes.
What to order
Chairman Mao’s Red Braised Pork
Universally praised and 'famed' for its jellified skin the colour of an old lacquered screen; it is a dish described as the star of the show for those serious about food.
Deep Fried Beef with Cumin
A huge, burying pile of sliced beef loaded with chilli and cumin that Jay Rayner says is the sort of thing you want to bury yourself in for an intense flavour hit.
Pumpkin Cakes
Lightly sweetened discs of pumpkin-rich batter deep-fried until they puff up like soufflé potatoes; they offer a hit of crunch, crisp, and sweet air that critics would return for specifically.
Fried rice with salted chillies
Described as utterly compelling and an unusual, lovely shade of pink, it's the perfect side to mop up the intense sauces of the main dishes.
What to skip
More in Angel
- Panda's KitchenSichuan · ££88
- Plaquemine LockCreole & Cajun · ££82
- The ShoapScottish · ££82
Signal Score
Signal score reflects how strong and consistent the review coverage is, not a star rating.
Top critic: Jay Rayner (80%)
Editorial Weight 49 pts
Authority + depth + recency
Agreement 7 pts
How aligned the critics are
Coverage 10 pts
How many real review signals exist
Public Signal 9 pts
Google rating + volume
Boosts 0 pts
Manual boosts + hidden gem
Review signals
3 Elite · 0 Editorial · 5 total signals
Public signal
4.4★ (516 reviews)
Good to know
The restaurant has private karaoke rooms available for groups. The menu is photo-heavy, which critics actually found helpful here rather than a warning sign.
Locations
Trust signals
- ○Not yet visited
- mediumConfidence level
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