Xi Xiangzi

Xi Xiangzi is the creation of two people from different countries who share the same passion for good food and authentic Hunan cooking – Aymeric Figureau from France and his Hunan-born wife Liu Jun. A sign outside declares that the restaurant serves ‘Hunan food with a French touch’.

Actually, there is no noticeable French touch to the Hunan cooking; the French connection is found in the listing of cheese, sausages and other French items at the end of the menu. Instead, the home-style food here will bring back memories of Changsha to any native of the region.

Huiguo rou chao xianggan, smoked bean curd with pork belly, and qincai rousi chao xianggan, smoked bean curd with slivers of celery and lean meat, are typical Hunan dishes, and both are excellent renditions. Gan doujiao zheng wuhua rou, steamed belly pork on a bed of pickled green bean, is also flavoursome. Duojiao yutou, steamed fish head doused with chillies, is a signature dish.