The Ari food scene has plenty of trendy eateries and bars where the food that’s served up is barely worth remembering. But this isn’t the case with Chinese House, a safe haven for serious food lovers after some dim sum and fine Chinese cuisine. The atmosphere largely matches the name, though unlike other cramped Chinese kitchens, there’s a lofty eating room sporting modern details. The white lanterns hanging from the high ceiling lend a warmth to the place, accentuated by the long sofas paired with modern table sets. The traditional Chinese round tables get the prime views, however, as they sit by the floor-to-ceiling windows. Dishes here generally start from B200-B300 but can run up into the thousands, depending on the ingredients. The au suan (oysters with flour on a hot platter, B200) really hits the mark, thanks to the fresh oysters and tasty flour that isn’t too mushy and is still enjoyable once it cools down. The ostrich fillet with black peppers (B300) is similarly impressive, a salty and spicy delight featuring aromatic ostrich meat. However, the pad mee Hokkian (fried egg noodles with crabmeat, ham and shitake mushroom, B200), usually one of our favorite dishes here, was a bit disappointing on our last visit as the noodles were overcooked. The pleasantly burnt aroma and well-balanced salty taste made us forgive that mishap, though. The real letdown is the fried fish maw with eggs (B300), which is quite underdone and way too chewy. Thankfully, the sautéed crab in curry sauce (B200 per kilogram) more than makes up for it. Served with a slightly different version of the curry sauce we have had elsewhere, it lacks the strong aroma of curry powder, but we still love it. Again, on our last visit, it was annoying to be told that the crab is B150 per kilogram, only for it to be pushing B200 when the bill came. Such quibbles aside, Chinese House is a good place for a Chinese meal in a cozy atmosphere, especially as it’s located right by the BTS. No corkage charge.
