Published soon after the opening of Master Wei, this review in The Independent captured Guirong Wei at an important stage in her career, as she established her first solo restaurant in Bloomsbury and brought the food of Xi’an to a broader central London audience.
The review connects Master Wei with the success of Xi’an Impression, while recognising the new restaurant as a larger platform for Guirong to explore the flavours and traditions she wanted to share more fully. Particular attention is given to the handmade noodles that had already become closely associated with her cooking, including liangpi and wide, hand-pulled biang biang noodles.
Although the critic explored a wider range of dishes, it was Guirong’s noodle cooking that remained the strongest impression. The review helped reinforce Master Wei’s position as a destination for regional Chinese food in London and further established Guirong’s reputation for introducing diners to the distinctive food culture of Xi’an.