Mambow — Restaurant in London

My partner and I love Asian food generally. Since she become a non-meat or fish eater, we always look for interesting new restaurants that we can both enjoy, without the feeling that she has only a limited choice between salads and vegetables. So we were passing by Mambow in Clapton South West London and, to be honest, were firstly attracted by the name and large glass window frontage, which showed very happy faces inside! We decided to try it and were immediately met with a friendly greeting from one of the staff and since it was only midday, we're given a cosy table for two. Whilst we have our favourite dishes, it's always an opportunity, in a new place for us, to ask about their recommendations, after mentioning our different dietary requirements. They are more likely to know what tastes go together and if you really enjoy food, then you have to create a bit of trust with the person bringing it to you. In so many restaurants, the mention of veggie or vegan brings on an immediate 'oh!' from the waiting staff; but not here. I have found there are often many non-meat options and having tried them myself, have been delighted by the exciting tastes - without a pice of chicken, fish or beef in sight! We (particularly my partner) were hoping for that experience. Well, after quickly being served a few delicious starters (one of my favourites being the prawn toast - even my partner draws the line within her veggie diet to allow herself to eat those delicious angel wings - on the basis that it doesn't LOOK like a prawn!!). What then followed were several dishes that were beautifully presented and cooked to perfection. The exotic flavours and tastes from succulent meats, perfectly cooked tofu and baby aubergines to the crispy Adam Heh deep fried prawns and Lor Bak crispy pork were mouthwatering - all clearly having come direct from the pan. Eating at Mambow was not just a wonderful meal, it was a really nice atmosphere to sit, talk about life and be surrounded by wonderful food. A true experience. But don't snack before you come to Mambow's. Arrive with your tastebuds desperate to be given every culinary pleasure. You won't be disappointed. I would love to go there once a week, but I will try to hold back (maybe every two weeks) so I can re-live the first time experience of this excellent eatery. The best things in life are worth waiting for...next...

We had been looking forward to trying this restaurant for some time, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a massive disappointment. From the start, the experience felt uncomfortable—they lock the door after you arrive, which immediately felt unwelcoming.

The menu looked promising, with interesting dishes that sparked excitement about trying something new. We ordered two small plates (chicken and mussels), which were decent. However, things went downhill from there. The large banana blossom salad and beef ribs we ordered were a complete letdown. The spice level was overwhelming, masking any other flavours and leaving us unable to taste the actual dishes. On top of that, we both felt unwell afterwards. The ribs were so tough and chewy that they were impossible to eat, and we ended up leaving most of the food untouched.

Adding to the frustration, we were told we had to order dessert immediately when receiving our main dishes if we wanted any, as our table was booked for another group in 30 minutes. This made us feel rushed and unwelcome, as if the focus was more on turnover than providing a pleasant dining experience.

The atmosphere felt contrived rather than inviting, with loud techno music and food served in plastic dishes, which did not justify the high prices. The experience felt like yet another “trendy Hackney scam,” offering style over substance. Having lived in Hackney for 10 years, I’m tired of these types of places that prioritise being “cool” over delivering quality food and service.

The way the bill was handled only added insult to injury. It was slapped on the table without finesse, and when my partner discreetly tried to pay, the server loudly confirmed the price with the card machine, making the entire situation feel cheap and awkward.

Overall, they charge as if they’re a high-end restaurant but deliver an experience that’s closer to fast food, and not even good fast food at that. There are so many better options nearby—like the Vietnamese restaurant down the road, which offers fantastic food and excellent service.

I rarely write reviews, but this place truly takes the piss. Save your time and money and go somewhere that values...

This restaurant has been voted the best restaurant in London in 2024 time out magazine list, so I have to confess that the expectations were high. I am not a connoisseur of Malaysian cuisine, but I wa together with my best friend who visited Asia, and Malaysia, many times, so there we went to check it out. The space is small, furnished in a cool, relaxed way, the atmosphere is great, and the service is enthusiastic, competent, charming, and efficient. The food is good too, in some dishes it is sublimely cooked, like the clams starter that we had, outstanding and delicately cooked and prepared with flavours that were a medley of lightness, spicy kicks, and unexpected bursts of white pepper; sublime. The ham hock was still good but not as great as the clams; the double roasted pork was good, the cuttlefish had a flavour that we both did not like, but that does not necessarily mean that there was a fault in the cooking, just a flavour choice or combination of flavours that were not to our taste. We also had the deep fried stone bass steak, very nice but not incredible; the special of pork belly in a broth which was deep, rich, tasty, spicy, sofisticatedly simple, was fantastic. The Lor Bak were good too, as was the dessert, a coffee ice cream that was much more complex than the description I am giving. Other names of the good we are now escape me, but in the pics you will see the list of what was available. Do not get me wrong, I am very happy to have discovered this place, it is cool, has a nice vibe, the atmosphere is vibey, relaxed and cool. The food is very good, but i seriously believe that the top spot in time out can be damaging, as it lets people have unreasonable expectations of excellence, and, yes, this place is very good, but I am not sure it is worth of crossing the whole of London for. Again, the food is good, the best in London…. Not so sure, but do go as they...