Ping’s Bia Hoi

Edamame and wasabi dimsum

My friend Anoothi Vishal who is one of India’s greatest food experts was the first person to tell me that Ping’s was well worth checking out. And over the last two or three years, the brand seems to have grown from strength to strength, expanding to Goa and now Mumbai. 

Sugarcane pork skewer 

I went to the Goa Ping’s with family to see what the buzz was about and came away a convert. There is clearly a gap in the market between the great quality but high prices of a Yauatcha and the energy but mediocre food of a Mamagoto. This place balances the best of both worlds. 

The insane fried chicken and pork char Sui baos 

The food is a great blend of crowd pleasers from across East and South East Asia, along with a some dishes that are more inventive and some that are more playful. The Philadelphia cream cheese dimsum for example sounds strange but is a guilty pleasure like no other, so wrong but so satisfyingly right that I’m amazed it’s not more widely imitated. Everything was cooked well and the flavour was ratcheted up to a level that even my non shellfish eating elder son ended up demolishing the prawn Sui Mai and the dynamite prawns.

Philadelphia cream cheese dimsum (on the left)

The place had great energy, great cocktails. The staff was warm and friendly and it’s hard to imagine going there and not have every person in the group, whatever their likes and dislikes, coming back satisfied and happy. Whether it’s a family or a work gang or a date, it works for everyone without diluting the experience for anyone and that is the holy Grail for restaurants, something exceedingly difficult to pull off. 

Butter garlic prawn dimsum

I can imagine this place opening in Bangalore and having the same impact that Fatty Bao did when it first opened. Someone should bring it there soon! 

Here’s what we ate..

Betel leaf wrapped prawn 

Dimsums: 

- Philidelphia cream cheese

- Edamame and wasabi

- Butter garlic prawn

- Spicy chicken Grill

- Betel leaf wrapped beef

- Sugarcane pork skewer

Hakka noodles 

Dynamite shrimp 

Others:

- Raw mango salad 

- Dynamite shrimp

- Hakka noodles

- Charsui/ korean fried chicken bao

Raw mango salad 

Dessert:

- Coffee creme caramel

- Dark chocolate marquise

Coffee Creme caramel