There’s a very particular energy to dining in London at this time of year. The city’s terraces start to fill, and menus everywhere pivot towards something greener, lighter. It’s easy to get swept up in the predictable rhythm of it all – set brunches, pastel desserts, the same seasonal clichés on repeat – which is exactly why a visit to Xi Home Dumplings Bay feels refreshing.
Set just moments from the buzz of Spitalfields market, Xi Home Dumplings Bay doesn’t need to shout for attention with gimmicks, serving traditional dishes with warming flavours. The space is warm and unfussy, with the quiet confidence of somewhere that knows exactly what it’s doing and is doing it well.
A Taste of Spring at Xi Home Dumplings Bay
And for spring, they’ve introduced a brand new menu worth talking about. The “Taste of Spring” menu is a considered, quietly confident celebration of Northern Chinese seasonality, built around one key ingredient: bamboo shoots. The new menu is running from 1st April through to 31st May across all locations, including Xi Home Dumplings Covent Garden and Xi Home Dumplings Bang Bang Oriental Food Hall.
Not the kind that lurk in the background of a stir-fry, but fresh, seasonal bamboo shoots – the kind that signal a shift in Northern China’s kitchens. Tender, slightly sweet, with a clean, crisp bite, they’re treated at Xi Home Dumplings Bay with a level of respect that feels both traditional and instinctive, making them the centrepiece of their Spring dishes.
Celebrating Traditional Flavours
The chilled bamboo shoots arrive first, and they set the tone immediately. This is a dish that relies entirely on the quality of its ingredients. There’s no heavy seasoning, no unnecessary flourish, Just cool, delicate slices of bamboo shoot with sesame oil and spring onions – almost restorative after the heaviness of winter eating.
Things deepen with the stir-fried bamboo shoots with cured pork and garlic, which leans into something richer without losing that sense of balance. The bamboo shoots hold their own, cutting through the savoury intensity of the cured pork, while the garlic chives bring everything together. It’s comforting, but not heavy, exactly what you want from a transitional spring dish. It should be mentioned that whilst the Taste of Spring menu uses bamboo shoots as its centrepiece, it does rely heavily on pork, which means it is not the most accessible menu for vegetarians or vegans.
Xi Home Dumplings Bay’s Seasonal Dumplings and Buns
Then, of course, there’s the bunny bun. It would be easy to dismiss this as a novelty – something designed for Instagram rather than actual enjoyment – but that’s not what’s happening here. Yes, it’s shaped like a bunny. Yes, it’s undeniably charming. But beneath that playful exterior is a properly executed, handmade bun that stays true to Xi Home Dumplings Bay’s Northern Chinese roots. The filling, a mix of pork and finely chopped bamboo shoots, is juicy, lightly textured, and perfectly balanced. It’s a clever nod to British Easter traditions and is definitely very Instagrammable, but it never loses its authenticity.
And then come the dumplings. This is, after all, what Xi Home Dumplings Bay does best. Handmade daily, with thin, delicate wrappers and generous fillings, they strike that balance between comfort and delicate precision. There’s a sense of care in every bite, but nothing feels overworked.
The Spring bamboo and pork dumplings are the standout of the seasonal selection, unsurprisingly. The bamboo shoots bring a gentle sweetness and crunch that lifts the richness of the pork and lap cheong, creating something that feels both light and deeply satisfying. The beef and celery dumplings, a Northern Chinese classic, deliver exactly what you want them to: savoury depth, a hint of freshness from the celery, and that unmistakable sense of familiarity.
For something slightly more unexpected, the seaweed and pork dumplings add a subtle umami edge. There’s a delicate oceanic note that lingers just enough to keep things interesting without overpowering the dish.
To finish – or, more realistically, to share somewhere in the middle – Xi Home Dumplings Bay’s Spring bamboo and cured pork stew is worth committing to. It’s generous, warming, and deeply flavoured, with the bamboo shoots absorbing the richness of the broth in a way that feels indulgent.
What’s particularly compelling about Xi Home Dumplings Bay right now is how cohesive everything feels. This isn’t a menu that’s been pulled together to tick a seasonal box. It’s thoughtful, rooted in tradition, and executed with a clear sense of identity. You can feel the influence of Northern Chinese cooking throughout: hearty, generous, and quietly elegant.
There’s also something to be said for the atmosphere. In a dining landscape that often leans towards the performative, Xi Home keeps things grounded. Service is warm but unintrusive, the focus firmly on the food and the experience of sharing it. If you like dumplings and are looking to try more Chinese restaurants, you can find our roundup here.
In a season that’s often defined by reinvention and excess, Xi Home Dumplings offers something simpler, and arguably more satisfying: A menu that celebrates ingredients at their best, handled with care and confidence, in a space that feels entirely at ease with itself.
Or you could find yourself here instead, ordering one more round of dumplings, breaking into a perfectly soft bunny bun, and remembering that sometimes, the most memorable meals are the ones that don’t try too hard at all.
