East Meets West Chinese Restaurant Bath Review: Dry-Fried Ribs and a Vegetable Dish for Sharing

For this visit to East Meets West Chinese Restaurant in Bath, we decided to do something slightly different. Instead of ordering the usual rice or noodles that would normally accompany a Chinese meal, we skipped the carbs and concentrated on the dishes themselves.

There were two of us, and we ordered two different rib dishes, one pork and one lamb together with a vegetable dish. It turned out to be a very satisfying combination, although by the end we realised that three main dishes between two people was probably more food than we needed.

East Meets West is a popular Chinese restaurant in Bath, particularly with the student community. Some students say they have been coming here throughout their entire university course, with the food remaining consistently good and the owner always providing a warm welcome. Our own experience certainly matched the praise: the staff were exceptionally kind, service was prompt, and the restaurant was impressively clean.

Pork Spare Ribs Stir Fry

Our first meat dish was the Pork Spare Ribs Stir Fry, priced at £16.90. This was a dry-style dish rather than one covered in sauce. The spare ribs were stir-fried with chopped green chillies, garlic and spring onions, along with a small amount of dried chilli.

The ribs appeared to have been deep-fried first, giving the outside a slightly crisp texture before being tossed with the aromatics and chilli. There was enough heat from the fresh and dried chillies to make things interesting without overpowering the flavour of the pork.

The garlic and spring onion worked particularly well with the ribs, while the small amount of dried Sichuan chilli added fragrance and a gentle numbing heat. It was a dish that worked particularly well when eaten with the vegetable broth we had ordered alongside it.

Cumin Lamb Spare Ribs Stir Fry

The Cumin Lamb Spare Ribs Stir Fry was the more expensive of the two at £19.90, and it came with considerably more vegetables. Again, the ribs appeared to have been deep-fried before being stir-fried with the other ingredients. This time the combination included sliced onions, red and yellow bell peppers, coriander, dried chilli and cumin spice.

The vegetables gave this dish a little more variety and sweetness than the pork version, while the lamb itself had a richer flavour. We enjoyed both rib dishes, although if ordering for two again, we would probably choose just one. Having two dry rib dishes on the table meant that the vegetable dish became particularly important for adding moisture and balance to the meal.

Spinach with Prawns and Century Egg

Our vegetable dish was a much gentler contrast to the two rib dishes. It was prepared with spinach, prawns, century egg, shredded spring onion and carrot in a light white broth. It is a generous portion, and again would be enough to go with rice on its own.

This was arguably the most important dish on the table, not because it was our favourite individually, but because it brought balance to the meal. The ribs were both relatively dry and savoury, with fried textures, garlic, chilli and spices. The spinach dish offered something completely different: soft vegetables, seafood, century egg and a mild, comforting broth.

The prawns added a little sweetness, while the century egg brought its distinctive character. The white broth was mild enough to drink alongside the ribs and worked surprisingly well as a counterpoint to the chilli and fried meat.

Together, the three dishes made more sense than they might have done individually.

These Aren’t Your Typical Takeaway Dishes

One thing we noticed during our visit was that none of the three dishes we ordered appeared on the takeaway menu or on the menu displayed at the restaurant’s front. We took this to mean that these are dishes primarily available for dine-in customers, perhaps reflecting a broader restaurant menu beyond the more familiar takeaway offerings.

That made the meal feel a little more interesting. Instead of choosing the standard dishes that are commonly available for takeaway, we were able to try food that seemed more suited to eating at the restaurant. It is worth asking about the full dine-in menu if you visit, particularly if you are looking for something beyond the usual Chinese takeaway favourites.

How Much Did It Cost?

Our bill came to £54.70, including one soft drink. For two people ordering two meat dishes and a vegetable dish, we thought that was pretty reasonable, particularly considering the portion sizes and quality.

The usual service charge is around 10%, although it appears this may have been waived as part of the lunch offer available at the time of our visit. In hindsight, we probably ordered more than we needed. Each of the ribs dishes is effectively a main course in its own right, and together with the vegetable dish, three mains were quite a lot for two people.

If we were ordering again, we would choose one rib dish, one vegetable dish and either rice or noodles. That would provide a more balanced meal and bring the overall cost down considerably.

Student-Friendly Lunch Deals

On our way out, we noticed the lunchtime deals advertised by the restaurant. There was an offer aimed particularly at students, with one noodle or rice dish and a soft drink for £10. For students living or studying in Bath, that represents excellent value and helps explain why East Meets West has such a loyal student following.

We heard from other customers that some students have been regulars throughout all four years of university, which is probably one of the strongest endorsements a local restaurant can receive.

Clean, Friendly and Welcoming

The cleanliness of the restaurant really stood out to us. Everything looked well maintained, and the dining area had a comfortable, straightforward Chinese restaurant atmosphere.

Even more impressive was the staff hospitality. Everyone we encountered was incredibly friendly and helpful, and the service was prompt without feeling rushed.

The owner also has a reputation among regular customers for being warm and welcoming, and we certainly experienced that friendly approach ourselves.

Final Words

We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at East Meets West Chinese Restaurant in Bath. The pork and lamb spare ribs were both excellent, with the deep-fried ribs providing a satisfying texture before being tossed with chilli, garlic and vegetables. The spinach, prawn and century egg dish provided exactly the mild, soupy contrast needed to balance the two dry rib dishes.

For two people, three main dishes was probably excessive, so our advice would be to order a little more strategically. One rib dish, one vegetable dish and some rice or noodles would make a more balanced and economical meal. The food was excellent, the restaurant was exceptionally clean and the staff were among the friendliest we have encountered.

Given the combination of good food, reasonable pricing, student-friendly deals and genuinely warm hospitality, we can understand why East Meets West has built up such a loyal following among Bath’s students and local diners.

We would happily return — and next time, we will probably order the ribs with rice or noodles and leave room to try something else from the menu.