Ping Pong: first upscale Chinese restaurant opens in São Paulo

Photos: Lea Dorf

At last, São Paulo has a chic Chinese to call its own: Ping Pong, which just opened near La Mar, in Itaim.

It's actually a branch of an upscale London-based chain, imported by entrepreneur Ricardo Rinkevicius.

They specialize in Dim sum such as the translucid Scallop and Shitake balls (R$ 9). Seafood dumpling (R$ 9,75) and Pork shu mai (pork and shrimp balls, R$10,50).

Some of the dim sum are wrapped in puff pastry and baked: Vegetable puff (R$ 9,50), Pork puff (with honey and caramelized onions, R$ 9,90).

They also serve deep-fried Vietnamese spring rolls ( R$ 8,90) and Crispy prawn balls (with sweet-and-sour sauce, R$ 10,50).

Initial reports from my friends have been quite positive, although Brazilians don't really know (or like) dim sum. I've heard the space is gorgeous and hopping.

Ping Pong: Rua Lopes Neto, 15, tel. (11) 3078-5808

More dining in São Paulo:

• Index of all the restaurants in Itaim, in alphabetical order
• Kinoshita, the best Japanese restaurant in São Paulo
  
• New restaurants, February 09: Dalva e Dito, Millesapori, Vito, Na Cozinha, Arturito
• A review of my first lunch at Vito, owned by chef André Mifano
  
• Maní, one of São Paulo's best restaurants
• Where to eat Brazilian food: Maní, Brasil a Gosto, Capim Santo, D.O.M., Dalva e Dito
  
• Quintal do Bráz: São Paulo's best pizza
• Dui, Bel Coelho's new restaurant, opens in May in the Jardins district
• First photos and full menu at Duí, Bel Coelho's new restaurant
  
• Second outpost of P.J.Clarke's set to open in the Jardins district
• Tappo Trattoria, one of São Paulo's top Italian restaurants
• Gaston Acurio is set to open a La Mar Cevicheria in São Paulo
• Forneria San Paolo in the Daslu megastore: a disappointment
• La Casserole, classic French Bistro in the Old Downtown (Centro)
• Aizomê, voted by Veja São Paulo's dining guide best Japanese in town
• Chef Paulo de Barros, owner of Due Cuochi, opens the French bistro Le Marais
• Celeb boulanger Olivier Anquier opens l'Entrecôte de ma Tante in Itaim
• Lanchonete da Cidade, in the Jardins district, serves the best burgers in town
• Boa Bistrô, a cute little bistro in the Jardins district
• False rumour: Joël Robuchon is NOT opening a L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon in São Paulo!
  

Alex Atala:

• Alex Atala serves Amazonian ingredients to Spanish chefs at D.O.M.
• Interview with chef Alex Atala
• Dalva e Dito, Alex Atala's new restaurants in the Jardins district
• Full report of my lunch at Dalva e Dito, with photos
• Alex Atala launches "Vegetable Kingdom" tasting menu at D.O.M. - a review with pics
  

Coffee Shops, Pastry Shops, snacks:

• Nespresso boutique, Jardins

Japanese restaurants:

• Kinoshita, my favourite Japanese restaurant in São Paulo
• A dish-by-dish report on Kinoshita's tasting menu, with photos
  
• The best traditional (old-style) Japanese restaurants in São Paulo
• Jun Sakamoto, the Masa of Brazil
• Aizomê, voted by Veja São Paulo's dining guide best Japanese in town