KONG Chinese Noodle Restaurant — Restaurant in Berlin

I wanted to give this place four and half stars but sadly it isn’t an option. So we went with 5. In the past I had complained about the two cardinal sins of berlin cuisine, the dumbing down of flavors along with the overhyping of the wrong ingredients to make westernized hipsterized bland cuisine of that culture. And even through the staff and minimalist aesthetic of Kong 2 is very hip, the food has done what elevated cuisine is suppose to do, taste good, taste oddly right, and warm the belly and heart. The bao is hand made onsite not reheated from some premade batch bought at mass Asian food supplier depots and the rise and flavor of the wrapping of the bao is on point with good traditional methods that look like they could have emerged from your mama’s kitchen. The fillings however eschew the normal fillings and have been elevated In delightful way without losing the flavor and feel of Chinese food. Here you have duck, instead of pork and leak. And the vegan options hit interesting flavors that isn’t just some Bland tofu Beto bland.

The fact is there is no dogma on how to fill a bao and some of the best have either done something standard exceptionally well or found a way to explore a fantastic new flavor combination in the filling. But unlike Michelin star places that stuff sea urchin and caviar into a bao, this place is still inventive but decidedly humble and delicious. The bao in fact reminded me of certain popular food stalls in south China where someone making baos for decades would put a quail egg or some surprise ingredients into the heart of the filling. So as you bit into its juicy heart, you get a surprise of flavor layers changing with each single bite. Sadly, most of the Bao’s on offer in berlin is just the go to pork and leek, some vegan options with tofu, etc. often pre purchased frozen and steamed before service. Kong 2 was not that.

My friend fellow foodie was so impressed that he talked his way into the small Kitchen and saw them making them all fresh on site.The appetizers were all well made, flavorful and slightly different then the basic version but not westernized, down deliciousness. She you get with KONG 2 is fast food prices at well made slow food quality. So why do I dock the half a star. Well, perhaps the fact that it was slow food quality was why the food also came so very slowly. The place definitely has half a star still needed for improving service and finding that rhythm is service necessary to make a better dining experience including just having a few planters to block the road noise coming off of Prenzlauer Allee. But these are things that can easily improve in time minor flaws that that food easily...

Wow, what a disappointment. The photos and the hype surrounding this place really set the bar high, but the food just misses completely.

Kong's Xiaolongbao neither do xiaolongbao (xlb) nor regular baos justice. The skin is so thick for a tiny bao - the ratio of skin to filling is ridiculous (50% skin). We ordered the beef/celery, braised pork and ginger duck . The ginger/duck filling had great flavor, but there was barely enough filling to enjoy it. The beef/celery was okay. But wow, the braised pork was laughable. There's probably 1/4 of a piece of red cooked pork in each bao. One of my pieces was completely filled with pork fat, no lean meat at all.

For appetizers we got the Shimeji mushrooms and spiced dried tofu. The mushrooms tasted like they came out of a jar or package from the grocery store. The tofu was meh.

Kong II is one of those places that tricks you with their marketing. Beautiful pictures, small dishes, nice plates/cutlery, and cutesy interior restaurant design. DON'T BE FOOLED - you're smarter than that. You deserve better and you know it.

You're better off going to the frozen section of an asian grocery store in Berlin and steaming them up yourself at home.

This place is a complete joke. Please know that Chinese cooking has so much...

Easily one of the best Chinese/Sichuan style food you can find in Berlin! As a native, I feel proud to see some of my favorite foods so well-represented here in Berlin.

Don't miss out on trying their spicy beef noodles and dumplings, the chili oil here is very authentic and genuinely gives that perfect warm spicy flavor to the food without being overwhelming. The portion size is also very satisfying, and we especially enjoyed the combination with healthy greens as well in the noodles.

The interior design is very charming, and perfect for a cozy night out with friends or family. The lightning and decoration creates a intimate atmosphere, and it was so easy to just forget about time while enjoying our dinner when we were there. In the summer, the outdoor area is also open, and don't forget to check out their summer specials (e.g. cold noodles, refreshing appetisers) as well!

Overall, highly recommend to anyone looking for a taste of authentic Sichuan/Chinese food in Berlin - you will not be disappointed! Don't forget to say hi to the owner as well, she is very charming...