Get Buzzed on Milk Tea (Not Mediocre Dim Sum) at the New Lou Jau Cha Don in Sanlitun Soho
We always feel like Sanlitun doesn't have enough high-quality Chinese options, and unfortunately, Lou Jau Cha Don, which recently opened in Sanlitun Soho, won't be changing that sentiment any time soon. It did slightly redeem itself though thanks to a strong dose of milk tea.
Floor-to-ceiling windows mean that the restaurant is certainly eye-catching, the green walls, retro red lamps, and walls adorned with developed old photos definitely offering a cozy, bright, and inviting environment to gorge on a bowl of noodles. The restaurant is also cozy in size, home to only eight tables, all empty upon our visit.
The authentic feel of the space was only amplified by the quintessentially laidback boss sat at the low, white counter, lulled by the 90s Cantopop that fills the speakers.
However, none of that could help the Chinese-only, no-frills menu, made up of eight set meals with rice (RMB 22-32), six noodles (RMB 26-28), five steamed rice rolls (RMB 9-16), french toast, and curry fish balls. While offering enough choice to feed nearby office workers and saving them from another miserable trip to 7-Eleven, the quality perhaps wouldn't be enough to tempt them outside into the cold.
We ordered some of our Cantonese favorites: curry fish balls (RMB 12), which had a spicy kick and were better than those found at the popular Tiger Mama; and satay noodles (RMB 28), which were nothing special but did manage a decent balance between the savory peanuts and sweetness from the sauce.
Unfortunately, that's where the positive comments on the food stop. We only ordered the beef steamed rice rolls (RMB 16) because they'd run out of barbecue pork. The alternative proved flavorless and suspiciously old-looking (the wrinkles don't lie), and came floating in a puddle of sweet sauce, tasting as bad as they looked.
In fact, the whole dining experience was a little torturous, given that we were the only customers there but could still hear the chef cooking the first dish, washing the pot, then cooking the second dish, washing the pot, and so on. A true test of patience, especially when the food isn't particularly good.
As for drinks, we couldn’t resist ordering some Hong Kong-style milk tea and xián níng qī i.e. salted lemon in Sprite, both RMB 13. Be careful with the Hong Kong-style milk tea, which is made using black tea and evaporated milk, because it was so caffeine-heavy and intense so as to keep me awake the whole night long. The salted lemon in Sprite was refreshing, but how can you get that wrong?
All in all, we may come back, not for the food, but for the strong-as-hell shot of milk tea, maybe in the morning next time.
Lou Jau Cha Don
Daily 10am-11pm. 2-223, 2/F, Bldg 2, Sanlitun Soho, Chaoyang District (185 1158 2536)
老友茶档：朝阳区三里屯SOHO2号商场2层2-223
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Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
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Photos: Tracy Wang
