West Lake Spring is an authentic Chinese eatery which is more canteen/cafeteria on the ground floor and proper restaurant on the first floor. It caters to the Chinese community who visit and work in and around the Baniyas area. Located in the China Building (surprise, surprise) beside the Riveria Hotel on the Baniyas creek side and the Jesco supermarket on the Nasser square side, this modest eatery is well appointed and clean…and very, very busy at peak times. I visited just after the lunch rush and got a ground floor table by the window overlooking the creek. The window tables upstairs are the ones with truly amazing views.
This is what the restaurant looks like off peak 
The canteen 
Interior 
Canteen 
Upstairs 
Upstairs 
Table with a view to die for
I did not have my Chinese food buddies with me on this visit, so I first sought someone who speaks English (a challenge). Funnily enough my linguistic saviour turned out to be a chirpy young Nepalese boy. I really fancied a bowl of chicken noodle soup and asked if they have anything similar. He showed me to my table and, a couple of minutes later, brought me a giant bowl of what I can best describe as…Chinese ramen. The stock was hearty, the handmade noodles were perfectly al dente and there was plenty of chopped up chicken – delicious.
Chicken noodle soup 
Chopped chicken 
Fresh, hand-made noodles
West Lake Spring offers a lot more than noodle soup. If you like your Chinese food (and ambiance) authentic and you are in the Baniyas area, I recommend you try this canteen-cafeteria-restaurant. Note, this is not a new restaurant. It’s simply been completely revamped.
Hey! Now read this –
Xerxes physically dines at, or orders from, each and every venue he reviews. He pays in full for whatever he and his companions eat, drink, take away or occasionally throw at each other. Xerxes accepts no money, gifts, discounts or free meals in return for reviews or favouritism. What you have read was NOT influenced in any way by the venue. Join me on Instagram @ravenousxerxes or email me on xerxes@dellara.com.