Ling's Pavilion

Fancy 'Chindian' for dinner?

Chindian cuisine is a blend of Chinese and Indian food that is served almost everywhere in Bombay. Indian spices such as cumin and turmeric are added to the dishes which gives Chinese food that extra umph. It also broadens the selection of vegetarian options which is crucial for a place like Mumbai, where there is such a strong meatless culture.
We decided to venture out to “Ling’s Pavilion,” a two-story, 22-year-old restaurant, located in Colaba. 

We started off with three appetizers: fried chicken wontons (Rs. 120 = US $2.15), salt and pepper shrimp (Rs. 200 = US $3.59), and salt and pepper baby corn and mushrooms (Rs. 150 = US $2.69). From the prices, I figured the portions would be minuscule. But to my surprise, they were not. There were at least 10 wontons on the plate which were accompanied by a smoky sweet sauce. I particularly liked how even though the wontons were deep-fried, they didn’t taste nor feel too greasy.

The salt and pepper shrimp were perfectly seasoned; but, the vegetables were dunked in way too much pepper to the point where I needed to chug multiple glasses of water to try and extinguish the blaze on my tongue.

For our main course, we ordered:  Mongolian chicken (Rs. 180 = US $3.23), sweet and sour potatoes (Rs. 130 = US $2.34), and mushroom rice (Rs. 180 = US $3.23). The Mongolian chicken was extremely fiery as the cubes of chicken were coated in a tangy gravy, filled with dried red chilies.

The sweet and sour potatoes were a lot healthier than the version that I was expecting - which was a great surprise! The potatoes were cut into thin strips just like shoestring French-fries and cooked in a thin tomato-based sauce with just a tinge of sweetness. I was expecting deep-fried potatoes in that thick, sticky, and clumpy sauce served all over the U.S.

The mushroom rice was served in an earthen pot, which is similar to a clay pot. The simple addition of mushrooms to the rice gave the whole dish such a pleasant aroma and accompanied the soft, fluffy steamed rice very well.

After this meal, I unfortunately had no space for dessert. However, word on the street is that they have an excellent chocolate cake, which I will certainly try on my next visit!