Mainland China, Veera Desai Area, Andheri West, Mumbai

Mainland China Andheri West: Restaurant Name
Phone: +919320478302, +919320478302, +919320478302
Address: Shalimar Morya Park, Ground Floor, Off New Link Rd, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400053 India
Time: 12:30 Noon – 15:30 PM and 19:00 PM – 23:30 Midnight
Meals for two: ₹2,700
Cuisines: Chinese, Asian, Seafood, Japanese, Sushi, Desserts, Beverages
Facilities: Home Delivery, Takeaway Available, Full Bar Available, Live Sports Screening, Family Friendly, Desserts and Bakes, Valet Parking Available, Indoor Seating

Mainland China, Andheri West, Mumbai: About

I love braving the rained out traffic choked drive and then diving into the fleetly evolving restaurantscape of Andheri. Checking out brand new restaurants (like Badmaash) is exciting. Equally exciting is to chance upon my old favourite which has been reborn in a new avatar. Mainland China (MC), one of the oldest, most popular stand-alone Chinese restaurant chains. Will the reborn Andheri MC retain its consistency? That’s the moot point.

The Many Advantages Of Dining Solo:

Dining solo is an absolute must. It enables me to dash in unannounced, to focus on the food, the service and most importantly on the diners around me. Like this solo diner in Mainland China, who is relishing her one dish meal of duck and rice. She’s obviously a regular here. I invite her to my table to taste all the dishes I’ve ordered. Yes! Dr Sonia Kaur is not only a regular here but also of MC Pune and Bangalore. She works with UNESCO and is very happy with the new look and new menu too. Wonderful to meet this charming foodie.

Decor: Mainland China, Andheri West, Mumbai

Gone are the huge Xiang warriors at the entrance. Enter a sleek, smart, black granite floored large room, infused with blue-green, and with Oriental touches. Lamps and more modern framed art work on the walls. A new PDR has been added on (it seats 16). Pleasant, modern and relaxed ambiance, with plenty of space between tables. It’s the perfect backdrop for the new menu.

Dim Sum And Then Some:

The new menu judiciously adds new age dishes while retaining MC’s old favourites. Delicately steamed dim sum have always been MC’s strong point. The new dim sum sparkle the menu. Plump with moist flavour, the Peking poach chicken dumpling is a must try. As is the unique potsticker and crispy, vegetarian Cheung fun. Both textural triumphs. Plenty for vegetarians, Turnip cake delights Dr Sonia Kaur most of all. Many a non traditional Chinese ingredient infuses many of the dishes. Truffle oil kale, kailan, chives and more. Also recommended is the Sanpei chicken in yellow bean sauce. Thankfully the old favourites are here for us, the Crackling spinach, Chicken straw mushroom Sui Mai Corn & water chestnut dumpling come up tops. General Taos’ chicken continues to reign. Delicate and delicious, creamy Lemongrass cheesecake makes for the perfect sweet finale.

Minus Points:

The menu is too large and meanders all over. It confuses. Adding on of sushi to please all, deleting old Chinese staples (lychees) are some of the downsides. Sichuan Numbing chicken doesn’t live up to its name. And the new dessert of “Berry forest” with its dry ice smoke and candy floss on a stick is more show than go. Avoidable.

My Point:

I still recall the wonder and delight at the refined authentic flavours of my meal in 1994 at Saki Naka’s Mainland China. It was the very first MC. Since then the dynamic Anjan Chatterjee’s MC s have grown to 58 in India, Muscat and Dubai. His brilliant 31-year-old son Avik’s masterminding the transition to a younger more contemporary MC is evident not only in the décor, but also the menu (along with talented veteran chef Rajesh Dubey). Removing the lunch buffet adding weekdays set lunch menu (₹745) and a elaborate weekend brunch (₹1350) are welcome new changes. It’s the judicious balance of old and new, spicy and subtle that hits the sweet spot. Most importantly, it’s the maintaining of consistency, of keeping the quality high and price points low that works the magic. May MC’s tribe increase!