Navigating Edinburgh Fringe is no mean feat. Squeezing in a quick lunch between shows, elbowing your way through crowds in Underbelly, Assembly, and Pleasance for a decent drink, and knowing which shows are actually worth your while is easier said than done. Many comedians have their secret tricks and hacks, but fewer have greater insights than Phil Wang. The stand-up comedian and writer has been coming to the Fringe for more than a decade, and in doing so, racked up a trusty list of top restaurants, bars and venues to visit—the places he visits every year without fail.
“I must’ve been to the Fringe about 14 times in total. There’s nothing like it; it’s so special,” Wang says. “It’s so beautiful. I love how the old town is separated into two levels, with Cowgate beneath you. It feels medieval—like a big Hogwarts city. I love how many nooks and crannies it has.” Here, find Phil Wang’s tried-and-tested favorites to visit during the Edinburgh Fringe.
The best restaurants to visit during Edinburgh Fringe
Noodles and Dumplings
Address: 23 S Clerk Street, Edinburgh EH8 9JD
Edinburgh’s amazing for food, especially Chinese food. It’s one of the best Chinese food cities in the UK. Every year I visit and there’s a new Chinese place and more East Asian places. In 2017, I went to one of these new openings called Noodles and Dumplings, on South Clerk Street. I had one of the best wonton noodle soups I’ve ever had in my life.
All the noodles are handmade, hand pulled, hand cut, and all the wontons are made there in the shop. You can buy these little cold platters of nuts and pickles for around £1 before you order.
I posted about it on social media and then decided to start reviewing East Asian restaurants in Edinburgh that year. I gave everything marks out of five and then awarded one as the winner for the year. People saw my posts and started going to Noodles and Dumplings, and now it’s one of the comedians’ must-see places.
Mosque Kitchen
Address: 31-33 Nicolson Square, Edinburgh EH8 9BX
Closer to the city centre is Mosque Kitchen. It’s an institution, and always so busy during the Fringe. It feels more like a cafeteria or a canteen than a restaurant, because so many comedians go, so you’ll always bump into people. You pick up a disposable plate, spoon some rice and tasty curry onto it. They’ll slop whatever you want on there; it’s big portions, and it’s pretty cheap. And you can get spinach and nans and pakoras.