One of London’s finest, Hakkasan prides itself on capturing the flavours of the Far East. Suffice to say that a meal here comes with a price tag as luxurious as the offerings. So when the Michelin-star restaurant invites you to savour an unlimited menu of dimsums at Rs.1500, you simply put on your best pair of shoes and comply.
We started our meal here with Har Gau and Edamame Dumplings. The Har Gau is all about the meat – generous amounts of shrimp tucked carefully inside a translucent wrap. The soybean rendition basks in truffle oil, making it one of the most sought after dishes here. As such, the menu consists of ten options divided equally into meat and vegetarian offerings.
The Grilled Vegetable Shanghai Dumplings and the Crystal Dumplings that followed seem like variations of each other. However, the rich sauce served alongside the former adds a great amount of punch. Give the Pak Choi a skip and call for the Pumpkin Puff instead. The semi-sweet puree perfectly complements the crisp exteriors that borrow their shape from the vegetable itself. Happy Halloween, everyone!
Carnivores can choose between Chicken Shu Mai, Corn and Prawn Dumpling and Chicken Wanton in Beijing Sauce. While the first is a perfect option for the less experimental souls, the slightly sweet prawn rendition thrives on an unconventional combination of flavours. The rich garlic sauce served along the wantons make them just as covetable.
The Crispy Dull Roll, much like a spring roll on the outside, boasts of minced meat rich in both flavour and texture. It is no surprise that this dish made one-too-many appearances on our table that night!
Our mains found perfect company in Jasmine and Lemongrass Ice Tea – an understated blend of flavours. We also tasted The Hakka that combined our love for lychee, lime and coconut with passion fruit.
Our final tasting notes consisted of chocolate – or shall we say subtle, very subtle, almost mousse-like chocolate served to us in the form of an ice cream. Subtle is in fact a word that sums up the entire Hakkasan experience. While the menu here offers vegetarian options, the signature touch hasn’t been altered to favour the Indian palette.
Come here for something real, authentic and absolutely delectable. You will have the Oriental Gods smiling down at you.
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