Chi Street Food: We visited Derbion's Insta-worthy street food restaurant and loved the loaded fries

Derby’s vibrant dining scene is one of the main reasons I venture into the city.

A visit to Derbion shopping centre where I can enjoy a few hours of retail therapy and a bite to eat is super convenient.

Everything is under one roof, making it great for bypassing the erratic weather, which is how I found myself at Chi Street Food, one of Derby’s newest openings. 

Unlike the majority of eateries in the open Food Terrace, Chi has a dedicated sit-down area.

Beige bamboo slats evoke minimalist Japanese décor.

But look up and you’ll be rewarded with a stunning sakura, cherry blossom installation that is so pretty, you’ll forget you’re in Derby. 

Chi says it offers a ‘fresh, creative and respectful interpretation of Pan Asian cuisine’ and this is key.

I agree with Chi in that its dishes are inspired by traditional Korean food, so if you’re looking for authentic banh mi (sandwiches) or bao (steamed buns), then you may need to reconfigure your expectations.

Other dishes on Chi’s menu are rice bowls, fries, wings, milkshakes, and dessert, so there is something for everyone. 

We’d just sought shelter from hailstone weather, so were seeking a nice hot dish to warm us up.

I had a Fried Chicken Bahn Mi meal of burger, a side of fries, and a Diet Coke.

I found the fillet to be well-seasoned and the addition of pickled cucumber was a nice touch. 

I loved the texture of the bread which was soft yet held its shape well. 

As I don’t eat mayonnaise, I ordered my banh mi without it and asked for some extra katsu curry instead to dunk the sandwich in, which I feel took the sandwich to the next level. 

My side of Katsu Dirty Fries were a big hit too, as I really enjoyed a twist on the classic of gravy and chips.

My dining partner had a Beef Short Rib Bahn Mi meal with Vietnamese Dirty Fries.

He said the beef was ‘good quality and succulent’ and that his Vietnamese Dirty Fries had punchy flavours of soy, sliced chillies, and spring onion.

There was a wait of around 20 minutes, and polite waitstaff were apologetic about the delay, which means a shorter wait time is the usual scenario.

Overall I loved the food at Chi Street Food which I think is a great meal deal for just a tenner. 

I have already earmarked a return visit to check out their dessert menu, and have my eye on Biscoff milkshake and Bubble Waffle. 

What we ate at Chi Street Food Derby

Fried Chicken Bahn Mi Meal £10 (£7 for sandwich | Katsu Dirty Fries, Diet Coke) 

Beef Short Rib Bahn Mi £10 (£7.50 for sandwich | Vietnamese Dirty Fries, Fanta)

Total: £20.50

Address: Chi Restaurant, Unit 201, Derbion, Derby DE1 2PQ

For more information about Chi visit their website by clicking here.