The Pink Giraffe
Chinese and East Asian
0.5 miles
43b St Clements Street, Oxford, OX4 1AG
Oxford is a city of hidden gems - just beyond the beaten track lies a wealth of unexpected delights. A five-minute gentle eastward stroll from Magdalen Bridge brings you to a world away from the quiet, majestic spires of the centre, and into the bustling vibrancy of St Clements. Amongst the street's lively bars and shops nestles one of these hidden gems - The Pink Giraffe, widely hailed by locals as the one of the best Chinese restaurants in Oxford.
Standing out, even among the bright shop-fronts of St Clements, The Pink Giraffe opened its doors in 1998 as a solely vegetarian restaurant, offering an extensive and innovative range of vegetable and soy dishes. Over recent years, The Pink Giraffe has seen the introduction of meat to the menu, but has not compromised its dedication to providing quality vegetarian cuisine.
A family-run business, The Pink Giraffe greets its customers with a warm and friendly atmosphere from the first. From the smiling staff to the newly redecorated interior, formal Western dining and traditional Eastern detail come together to create an intimate and inviting setting. Although perfect for large parties and special occasions, even a normal evening finds the restaurant humming with life and thronged with people enjoying the good food and convivial ambience. Both vegetarian and meat menus offer imaginatively constructed set dinners as well as an all-you-caneat deal for £15.50 per head. My companion and I chose to browse the à la carte menu however, as we happily set about emptying the complimentary basket of prawn crackers.
We found an exciting array of options. Whilst including familiar favourites such as beef in oyster sauce and sweet-and-sour chicken, the menu also contains a diverse selection of intriguing and creative dishes of the chef's own invention. Opting for soup starters, my companion (a Hong Kong native) declared the chicken and sweetcorn to be on a par with the soups of her childhood, whilst I found my wonton satisfyingly meaty without being heavy. Our shared plate of salt and pepper squid was also thoroughly enjoyed - despite the generous portion, it disappeared within minutes. Eager to try an in-house special, I chose sizzling beef 'Pink Giraffe style' as a main. After its enjoyably theatrical arrival at the table, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the chef didn't shy away from choosing a spicy signature dish. Comprising of red and green peppers, bamboo shoots, French beans and plenty of Thai basil and chilli, the sauce was aromatic, rich and complemented the smoky beef perfectly.
As well as a carefully chosen wine list, The Pink Giraffe also boasts an impressively extensive selection of liqueurs, cocktails and spirits. This in mind, we opted for two delicious Irish coffees to end a hearty and delightful meal. Between the superb food, reasonable prices and infectiously friendly atmosphere, The Pink Giraffe seems set to remain a firm Oxford favourite for years to come
Standing out, even among the bright shop-fronts of St Clements, The Pink Giraffe opened its doors in 1998 as a solely vegetarian restaurant, offering an extensive and innovative range of vegetable and soy dishes. Over recent years, The Pink Giraffe has seen the introduction of meat to the menu, but has not compromised its dedication to providing quality vegetarian cuisine.
A family-run business, The Pink Giraffe greets its customers with a warm and friendly atmosphere from the first. From the smiling staff to the newly redecorated interior, formal Western dining and traditional Eastern detail come together to create an intimate and inviting setting. Although perfect for large parties and special occasions, even a normal evening finds the restaurant humming with life and thronged with people enjoying the good food and convivial ambience. Both vegetarian and meat menus offer imaginatively constructed set dinners as well as an all-you-caneat deal for £15.50 per head. My companion and I chose to browse the à la carte menu however, as we happily set about emptying the complimentary basket of prawn crackers.
We found an exciting array of options. Whilst including familiar favourites such as beef in oyster sauce and sweet-and-sour chicken, the menu also contains a diverse selection of intriguing and creative dishes of the chef's own invention. Opting for soup starters, my companion (a Hong Kong native) declared the chicken and sweetcorn to be on a par with the soups of her childhood, whilst I found my wonton satisfyingly meaty without being heavy. Our shared plate of salt and pepper squid was also thoroughly enjoyed - despite the generous portion, it disappeared within minutes. Eager to try an in-house special, I chose sizzling beef 'Pink Giraffe style' as a main. After its enjoyably theatrical arrival at the table, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the chef didn't shy away from choosing a spicy signature dish. Comprising of red and green peppers, bamboo shoots, French beans and plenty of Thai basil and chilli, the sauce was aromatic, rich and complemented the smoky beef perfectly.
As well as a carefully chosen wine list, The Pink Giraffe also boasts an impressively extensive selection of liqueurs, cocktails and spirits. This in mind, we opted for two delicious Irish coffees to end a hearty and delightful meal. Between the superb food, reasonable prices and infectiously friendly atmosphere, The Pink Giraffe seems set to remain a firm Oxford favourite for years to come
| Mon: | 12pm-2pm, 6pm-11.30pm |
| Tues: | 12pm-2pm, 6pm-11.30pm |
| Weds: | 12pm-2pm, 6pm-11.30pm |
| Thurs: | 12pm-2pm, 6pm-11.30pm |
| Fri: | 12pm-2pm, 6pm-11.30pm |
| Sat: | 12pm-2pm, 6pm-11.30pm |
| Sun: | 12pm-2pm, 6pm-11.30pm |
