During our annual trip to visit family in Hong Kong, my fiancé had suggested we switch our normal…read moreroutine of having dim sum at our beloved Foo Lum Palace and try another location. My aunt recommended the high-end dim sum scene, China Tang. With two locations in Hong Kong, my aunt made reservations at the Harbour City, Kowloon location in the main dining room overlooking the breathtaking Tsim Sha Tsui shoreline. I heard from my grandparents that the shoreline use to look even more beautiful 30 years ago without the surrounding high-rises.
Within an incredibly busy mall, we briefly escaped the chaos upon taking the escalator up to the restaurant. Inside was an immediate aura of calmness, elegance and class. Well-known in London, Las Vegas and Hong Kong, China Tang serves "some of the finest cuisine from Canton, with a touch of Sichuan, a dash of Beijing and a unique repertoire of dim sum." Our traditional dim sum experience was phenomenal, one of the best dim sums I have had in my life. China Max does not re-invent the wheel with dim sum, instead, they take time-tested dishes, like the Roast Pork Buns, Siu Mai Dumplings, Har Kar, Prawn Cannelloni, and use fresh, high-quality ingredients and take no-short cuts in hand-making these fine dishes. Each dim sum was delicately made, like a piece of fine artwork, not overly salty, oily, over-fried or over-steamed. Several of the dishes were so outstanding, such as the Prawn Cannelloni and Suckling Pig, we ordered each twice during our visit.
While dim sum was originally meant as a snack, in modern days it has become a Cantonese main meal. China Max serves Dim Sum and A La Carte dishes all day and throughout the evening. We tried the Classic Cantonese Fried Rice and Black Bean Beef in Rice Noodles, both fantastically stir-fried, loaded with generous portions of meat, diced onions and vegetables.
The Shanghainese-inspired lamps, wall paper, artwork and décor set the perfect ambiance for an authentic Cantonese and Chinese fine dining. Servers are clean-cut, swift and diligent. I cannot say they are personable, as that would betray my loyalty to the "aunties" at our neighborhood Foo Lum Palace. My family and I look forward to treating ourselves here again at China Tang. Until then, keep up the great work, and I will be dreaming of the Suckling Pig and Hunan-Style Braised Fried Tofu....