With restaurants opening and closing every day due to the harsh economic climate, it is a testament to any place that survives the test of time. Café Oriental on Burleigh Street, however, has been serving up dumplings for as long as I can remember.

In fact, a big part of its longevity is that it is so much more than your average Chinese restaurant. Alongside their traditional dishes, they also serve up classic British café staples, from a full English breakfast to beans on toast.

A true Xiao Spot

I have included them in my Xiao Spot series because it is a small, unassuming place that seems to hide in plain sight. It has virtually no online presence and is as authentic as it comes. While it looks entirely ordinary from the outside, stepping inside rewards you with a lovely, traditional décor that hits you right away. It is set up purely for practicality, packed with tables and easily able to seat around 30 people.

Cash Only

One crucial thing to note: Café Oriental is cash only, so come prepared. I got caught out myself and ended up spending 10 minutes wandering around the Grafton area looking for a cash point. I eventually found one at the Tesco opposite Norfolk Street, but it was a right faff that I could have really done without!

Faff aside, the prices are incredibly competitive, with massive bowls of noodle soup and full plates of dumplings sitting around the ten-pound mark.

Since the sun was shining, I took advantage of their al fresco seating and ordered the kimchi dumplings alongside a braised beef brisket noodle soup. Burleigh Street might not be the most picturesque location in town, but sitting outside was pleasant enough – especially considering how few Chinese places in Cambridge actually offer outdoor dining. The lady serving me was an absolute delight and couldn’t do enough for me.

The dumplings here are humble but executed well. The skin was soft yet held together perfectly around a rather generous filling. Getting ten dumplings for around a tenner is fantastic value, and the spicy sauce served alongside really brought them to life and paired brilliantly with the kimchi. They might not win any awards, but I would highly recommend them, even compared to much more expensive options in town.

The braised beef noodle soup was also just £10 and came packed with some incredible chunks of crispy meat. You can tell just by looking at it that it tasted fantastic – I mean, look at it! The noodles were fairly standard thin noodles, but the portion size was generous. While the broth was a touch anaemic for my personal taste, overall it was a solid example of comforting Chinese home cooking that really hit the mark at a great price point.

I also decided to get my Dim Sum on and try some prawn siu mai – and I am so glad I did. These bad boys were big, meaty, and packed with flavour. You could really taste the prawns, and the skin had a lovely texture with a satisfying, juicy middle. It had everything you want from siu mai and more!

The gem of Burleigh Street

No wonder Café Oriental has lasted as long as it has. This simple, unfussy joint delivers great food for a very fair price, backed up by pleasant decor, warm service, and rare outdoor seating for a Chinese venue in town. It packs a huge amount of value into such a modest little cafe, and I can genuinely see myself coming back again soon.