Hou Hou Mei — Restaurant in Great Britain

Diners at Hou Hou Mei in Inverness can expect to indulge in delicately crafted aromatic duck spring rolls, tantalizing bowls of ramen, mouth-watering sticky sesame chicken, and luscious Thai red curries.

Specialising in the Chinese custom of sharing dishes, Hou Hou Mei allows for you to choose from their diverse menu of delightful small plates, indulgent main courses and delicious desserts.

You’ll find Hou Hou Mei (which translates as Very Very Yummy!) in the city centre. The ornate lanterns hanging from the ceiling cast a soft, inviting glow and the screen painted with vibrant blue peacocks will catch your eye. Although thoroughly modern, there is warm nod to tradition creating a calm and harmonious atmosphere.

As soon as you are seated you are offered a steaming pot of Jasmine tea. It’s delicate and slows your pace. There is something about the act of pouring tea that settles the mind and soothes the senses.

Dinner choices came easier and I was a lot more decisive! Could it be the Jasmine tea provided clarity of mind and cleansing of my palate?!

First dish, Chicken Satay Skewers (£7.50). A mouth-watering dish that perfectly exemplifies the delightful fusion of flavours found in Southeast Asian cuisine. Succulent pieces of grilled chicken, marinated in a tantalising blend of aromatic spices, are skewered and cooked to perfection. The smoky charred exterior of the chicken gives way to tender and juicy meat that simply melts in your mouth. But it's not just the chicken that steals the show; it's the accompanying satay sauce that elevates this dish to new heights. Creamy, nutty, and slightly tangy, the satay sauce is a delectable blend of ground peanuts, coconut milk, and an assortment of spices. With each bite, the flavours of the chicken and sauce harmonise in a delightful symphony that leaves you craving for more.

Second dish was the Pork Wor Tip (£6.50), also known as potstickers or Chinese dumplings, is a delightfully flavourful and highly addictive dish. These bite-sized parcels are filled with succulent ground pork, mixed with aromatic spices, garlic, and ginger, resulting in a delicious combination of savoury and fragrant flavours. The delicate, slightly chewy dough provides the perfect casing for the juicy pork filling. These Wor Tips were steamed and pan-fried offering up a satisfying explosion of taste and texture. These dumplings were served with a tangy soy vinegar dipping sauce, adding an extra layer of umami goodness.

3rd dish was the Tataki Sirloin Steak Wok Fried Noodles (£22.00). Wow this dish blew me away! Tataki sirloin steak is a culinary masterpiece with its exquisite flavours and tender texture. This Japanese dish showcases the art of searing the beef ever so lightly, leaving the centre rare and bursting with succulence. The sirloin is carefully marinated in a delicate blend of soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and mirin, allowing the flavours to infuse and maximise the steak's natural richness. The seared exterior adds a subtle smokiness, while the juicy pink centre unveils a melt-in-your-mouth experience. Each bite of tataki sirloin steak is a symphony of flavours, with the umami of the marinade perfectly complementing the buttery tenderness of the meat. I chose the thin and delicate wok-fried rice noodles. The noodles danced with an array of colourful vegetables, such as crunchy bell peppers, crisp bean sprouts, and mangetout.

Three dishes, a pot of Jasmine tea and a beer down, there was no where for dessert to even fit although the Asian Pear Sticky Toffee Pudding did pique my interest. I did get a fortune cookie but I think I lost it in the rain running back to my hotel room!

How I wish we had a Hou Hou Mei, in Edinburgh. They would certainly be the talk of the town! From food to service Hou Hou Mei knocks it out the park!

Hou Hou Mei is a must-visit for food enthusiasts longing to savour the rich and diverse flavours of Asia in the heart of Inverness.

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I wish I could award more stars - from beginning to end I had a wonderful meal. I was early but this wasn’t a problem. I was shown straight to my table and offered a choice of complimentary Jasmine or Black tea. I was asked about any dietary restrictions and I was brought a fresh menu marked up to show what I should avoid and the items they could tailor to my needs. I started with the chicken satay skewers - 4 tenders cooked to perfection and served with a generous helping of satay sauce. For my main I chose the Tataki Sorloin Steak (med rare). This arrived on a huge mound of tender stem broccoli. The steak was tender and succulent and the broccoli still had a bite to it - perfect! The steak also came with a portion of Jasmine rice. Whatever you order, do your self a favour and get a side order of the Kimchi and picked veg - both home made and so tasty. The pickles were fresh and crisp. The pickling brine wasn’t too strong - it allowed the individual flavours of the veg to come through. The kimchi was tasty with not too much heat. I prefer mine with a bit more ooomph but there was enough raw chilli garnish to take it up a notch. They both made me smile.

I also had a mock tail - Asian Pear based with mint, elderflower and ginger beer - would definitely order again. I ended up bringing half of my main course home- can’t wait to finish it off today.

Quality ingredients, cooked well,

I was dining alone and had a great experience. I could imagine it being a brilliant place for a group - ordering everything in the menu and sharing all the dishes.

Chopsticks are the first choice tool but knives and forks are available.

Service was friendly and had that great balance of being attentive without being overly interfering. Staff were knowledgeable and, as a lone diner, I didn’t disappear into the background - if you know, you know.

I can’t...

Hou Hou Mei was recommended by many and decided to book for a special occasion dinner which unfortunately didn't live up to the hype we expected.

Booked a table for 5pm and arrived just before. We had to wait for a couple who hadn't yet arrived before we got seated which we didn't mind though found a bit odd as most of the tables were empty. Once seated the ordering method and menu layout was explained to us and we were given a choice of complimentary tea.

Service seemed nice, though we did get 4 check backs in the space of around 10minutes which did seem a bit too much especially to my dining companion with a mouthful of noodles. Then at the end it seemed like no body was around to get the bill so it was a mixed service experience.

Atmosphere: The restaurant was very hot and did feel quite stuffy. We did visit during summer but just didn't expect to be so hot when dining.

Food: Overall a bit of a mix and liked some things.

Chicken Satay small plate: Dining companion described the chicken as flavourful and like a roast on a skewer. The let down was the satay sauce - completely different to what we have ever had and was odd that it was chilled cold.

Prawn crackers: nothing special but nice enough.

Pulled Beef Ramen: Good portion. Broth had a lot more flavour at the bottom. Was good but dining companion said they have had better and wouldn't order it again.

Hong Kong Chicken: Well cooked chicken but for £18 it was expensive and didn't feel value for money. It was served with complimentary Jasmine rice which was asked not to come. (Don't eat rice or noodles and when enquired if could be swapped with prawn crackers was told for a charge - which was okay and when the rice still came it just felt like food waste.)

For us it is not a place we will be returning to or would recommend...