this is a new Chinese restaurant which opened on Mile end road about 3 weeks ago. It replaces an eatery called the spice rack which generally sold rather poor quality fried chicken and curries in my opinion and it used to be called the spice cottage.
The new owners sell both pork products and alcohol so it's not halal. I have nothing against halal food but it's nice to have a food outlet where the range of products sold is not limited by the wish to only sell hall food.
This restaurant is quite new, so it's not on places such as 4Square or Trip Advisor at the time of writing. It is one of a reasonably new Chinese restaurant which has become popular in London, selling more spicy dishes which I am told are associated with northern china. they also sell more unusual parts of animals such as pig intestine or sliced tripe as well as dishes more familiar to those visiting Chinese takeaways and restaurants in the UK.
The menu is not online yet so as I have no sight, I needed to ask staff to help by reading the menu to me. In general, the staff were helpful though some limitations to English made deciding what I wanted to eat a little tricky.
On my first visit I had cold beef which came with preserved Chinese vegetables and a hot chilli pork dish with rice. I had been told that the cold beef dish was a starter but it was as big as a main meal. I also therefore ordered lamb barbecued on a skewer. The 2 dishes with rice cost me about £15 but they were enough for 2 meals. and I also had a cold Chinese green tea which came in a can as well as a tiger beer. The total came to just under £21.
In general, I thought the meat was a little processed but the vegetables that came with the pork dish were good and fresh. both dishes were also spicy and I quite enjoyed the preserved vegetables that came with the cold dish which were pickled and spicy. In general, both dishes had plenty of spice and flavour. The barbecued lamb was tasty but rather fatty though at the price I can't really complain.
On my second visit I had a portion of vegetable spring rolls. they were a little bland, but they came with a sweet chilli sauce. for main I had beef in chilli sauce with mixed vegetables which included broccoli, carrots, cabbage and peppers. the vegetables were lovely and crunchy and the beef, while being a little spongy, was still very enjoyable. the food was not too greasy and it was well spiced. I also had a tiger beer and this meal came to £16. I ate it in one meal, but I was very full.
Not having access to the full menu, it's hard to rate TianTian with any accuracy but the 2 meals I had were promising and they suggest that this is easily the best Chinese restaurant within easy walking distance of me. Ingredients were of acceptable to good quality, with vegetables standing out and it was pleasing that the food was not greasy.
