Lucky Tortoise owner Thom Lawson has invested much effort in bringing his pop-up concept to permanent life in a moodily dark dining room on Aungier Street. This young entrepreneur has developed a way of dining that combines good value with good fun, an intriguing combination that is bound to appeal to Dublin’s vibrant dining scene.
Based on the ancient Chinese cuisine of dim sum, the short menu offers traditional dim sum dishes, with a sprinkling of Japanese and original creations to add diversity. Dim sum is perfect for enjoying as part of a group, giving everyone the chance to partake. Lucky Tortoise offers the option to enjoy individual dishes from the deliberately short menu, or choose the excellent value “all-in”, which offers all dishes and sides for a fixed amount.
Plates of healthily steamed options such as pork and red cabbage siu mai or chicken & shiitake pillows jostle alongside fluffy bao buns filled with succulent pork or crispy pan-fried vegetable gyoza. Little pots of spicy chiu chow chilli oil or fragrant ginger & scallion sauce are available to adjust the flavour level to individual tastes.
Just like the food menu, the wine menu is short with a selection of four wines available on tap. Served casually in glass tumblers or from larger carafes, it’s perfectly in keeping with the casual dining style.
