Murger HanHan is a small Mayfair restaurant specialising in dishes from North-central China and is London’s first authentic Xi’an restaurant. Its name comes from “murger”, considered to be the world’s oldest sandwich or hamburger. The type of bread used can be tracked back to the the Qin dynasty (221 BC to 206 BC) with the meat coming from the Zhou Dynasty (1045 BC to 256 BC).
On our visit, the restaurant is busy with small groups enjoying a number of dishes and drinks. Our tables have little panda chopstick holders on them, which is something that all the guests seem to be delighted by. The cocktail menu is divided into classic options and house specials. My guest, Will, and I both decide to order a drink called Daisy from the East. We’re pleasantly surprised at how incredibly well-made and delicious it is! Made with coconut tequila, smoky mango puree, agave syrup, lime juice, and pepper rim, Daisy from the East was the perfect partner to our meal.
Despite being named after the age-old Chinese burger, patrons at Murger HanHan go crazy for their 12-foot-long noodles. We order the handmade biang biang noodles with braised pork, tomato, egg sauce, and chili oil. The noodles have a great bite, the pork is full of flavour, and the spices pack a punch. They ask you how spicy you want your noodles ahead of time and they warn you to expect higher levels of spice than you’d normally expect. We also decide to try the traditional clay pot with rice noodles, which is gorgeously warming and hearty. The extra braised pork that I order adds a nice depth of flavour and texture to the dish too.
If you’re not afraid of some heat and are looking for an affordable dinner in Mayfair with excellent cocktails, Murger HanHan will tick all your boxes.
