Hakkasan Hanway Place

The benchmark of Chinese fine dining in London

Classic 8 selection

The name Hakkasan shouldn't be a stranger to any foodies or even any Londoners. When Hakkasan was first launched in 2001 by Alan Yau, it was the talk of the town and created a serious buzz. It has uplifted Chinese cuisine at a high-end level for the first time, and totally modernized it. These days, the restaurant has expanded into a multinational restaurant empire, with restaurants across USA, Europe, Middle East, and Asia. The very first Hakkasan in Hanway Place is where it all started, with a Michelin star to its name for more than 10 years. Headed up by the group executive chef Tong Chee Hwee, the restaurant is all about using top quality ingredients and cooked in traditional Chinese methods with a touch of European elegance.

Hakka noodle with shimeji mushroom, beansprout

Grilled seabass with honey

I kicked off my meal with the new dim sum platter, the classic 8 selection which contained plenty of luxury ingredients such as lobster, king crab, wagyu and abalone. The lobster dumpling was the best of the lot, but at almost £40 for 8 pieces of dim sum, it was simply a touch too expensive. For fish, I opted for the grilled seabass, the fish was flaky and finely seasoned, the honey profile worked like magic with the subtle natural sweetness of the bass, it was beautiful. The main course is a Chinese classic with a western touch, roasted duck with black truffle. The skin was so crispy with a blend of earthy and sweet taste which was heavenly. The tea plant mushroom sauce add an even richer depth of umami taste, I had nothing but love for the dish.

Black truffle roasted duck with tea plant mushroom

Jivara bomb hazelnut praline, milk chocolate

My meal at Hakkasan was very enjoyable, without a doubt it was top quality Chinese cooking at a stylish venue. The ingredients were fresh and visually very appealing, I would rate the cooking at Hakkasan as one of the tops in London for Chinese cuisine. Personally, I found Park Chinois is still the best in town but Hakkasan is not far from that level. To sum it up, a fantastic fine dining Chinese restaurant with a beautiful concept, it is truly well worth a visit. It is fair to say, without Hakkasan, many great Chinese restaurants in the UK wouldn't exist today. 17 years on, it is still going strong.


Food 3.5/5

Average cost without drinks and services:
£60

8 Hanway Pl, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1HD

https://hakkasan.com/locations/hakkasan-hanway-place/