Being a globally-successful high-end chain comes at a price – diners’ expectations are always going to be high. And when you’re also a previous winner at the Time Out Abu Dhabi Restaurant Awards, that bar of expectation is set doubly high. Luckily, Hakkasan is always an excellent bet when it comes to eating out in the capital, standards of service and food are top notch and the stylish restaurant remains a firm favourite.
A recent addition to the menu is a new fried dim sum platter. The Cantonese dumplings are a must for the menu of every Chinese restaurant now, and are intrinsically linked with Yum Cha (which is the act of drinking tea). The story behind Yum Cha is that in the times when people were travelling along the old Silk Road tea houses popped up to get keep them refreshed. Before long the tea houses started offering bite-sized snacks along with the tea. Over the centuries it has evolved to be food that can be enjoyed at any time.
Hakkasan’s latest platter includes two chicken taro croquettes – a twist on the usual crispy nests, the taro encasing the succulent meat inside – roast duck and pumpkin puffs, venison puffs and crispy vegetable spring rolls. They’re served with sour-chilli sauce on the side, to add a kick.
With this great addition to the menu, Hakkasan’s lofty reputation is as deserved as it ever was. It looks like they’re also gunning for that Best Chinese gong at our awards at the end of the year as well…
Only time will tell.
Dhs105. Open daily 6pm-midnight. Emirates Palace, Ras Al Akhdar (02 621 0708).
