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HONG KONG RESTAURANTS
                                                   HIGH-END CHINESE



            SUMMER PALACE               T’ANG COURT                 TIN LUNG HEEN
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            5/F, Island Shangri-La Hong Kong,   1/F and 2/F, The Langham, Hong   102/F, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, International Commerce Centre, 1
            Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road,   Kong, 8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui,   Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong  Kong
            Admiralty, Hong  Kong       Hong  Kong                  TEL: +852 2263 2270
            TEL: +852 2820 8552         TEL: +852 2132 7898         www.ritzcarlton.com
            www.shangri-la.com/island   www.langhamhotels.com/
                                        hongkong                    Tin Lung Heen provides a textbook lesson in Cantonese cuisine—freshness,
            Dripping with opulent features in                       lightness and sometimes, barely-there flavour, which come together
            red and gold, there’s no mistaking   Occupying two storeys at the   beautifully in its repertoire of classic roasted and barbecued meats, soups,
            that Summer Palace, the Chinese   Langham Hong Kong, T’ang Court   stir fries and steamed dishes. Simmered Chinese vegetables retain a satisfying
            restaurant at the Island Shangri-la,   greets guests with its modest   crispness, char siu is lean yet tender and a simple off-menu wok-fried spotted
            is a fine dining establishment.   entrance, accessed via a staircase   garoupa fillet with soy let the quality ingredients shine. It’s what you would
            It doesn’t just go on looks   to reveal a spacious dining room.   expect from such a rarefied establishment, perched more than 450 metres
            though—the kitchen showcases   This is the kind of place where   above sea level, atop the Ritz-Carlton hotel. This means sky-high views through
            true mastery of classic Cantonese   privacy is highly valued, with   double-height windows of western and northern Hong Kong. The flashy décor
            cuisine. Expect the likes of tender,   tables evenly spaced to create   may not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s one to put on the list for date nights
            juicy char siu, still warm from the   enough room around each party.   and celebrations. Service is well-oiled, with staff able to guide novices and the
            oven, and crispy chicken that is just   The menu, designed and finely   knowledgeable alike through the menu. The extensive wine list leans heavily
            as advertised, with faultless skin   executed by executive chef   towards renowned Italian and French estates, and red more than white. A
            the colour of dark caramel. Dishes   Kwong Wai-keung, is typical of a   selection of premium Chinese teas is available for non-drinkers.
            such as deep-fried shrimp toast   traditional Cantonese restaurant—
            are a delicious throwback that   the difference being that the chef
            could do without the westernised   is au fait with both preserving                  YAN TOH HEEN
            touch of black truffle. The chilled   culinary traditions and staying up
            sago cream with mango juice and   to date with contemporary twists                      10       9       10       10
            pomelo is one of the creamiest   that are neither contrived nor ill-
            we’ve ever tasted. Surprisingly for   fitting. T’ang Court continues                Lower Level, InterContinental Hong
            a restaurant of this calibre, service   to impress with individual show             Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha
            can be patchy, especially when it   stoppers such as baked stuffed                  Tsui, Hong  Kong
            comes to wine, although the wine   crab, and iconic dishes including                TEL: +852 2313 2323
            list itself has a decent geographical   its barbecue pork. The latter is            www.hongkong-ic.
            range. For oenophiles with deep   leaner than most, but the sweet   Tin Lung Heen   intercontinental.com/en
            pockets, there is a special selection   glaze clings onto each morsel,
                                                                         provides a
            by Robert Parker of 98-100-point   forming just the right amount of                 For that postcard-perfect view
            wines, and diners can request the   crust on top. Meanwhile, sautéed   textbook lesson in   of Victoria Harbour, being on
              list from the hotel’s fine dining   prawns and crab roe with golden               Kowloon side is a must, and there
                                                                    Cantonese cuisine
                  French restaurant, Petrus.   fried pork and crabmeat puffs                    are few better places to be than
                   However, despite the   combines two Cantonese classics                       at the waterfront location where
                    excellent wines it would   into one. Several of T’ang Court’s               InterContinental Hong Kong stands.
                    have been nice to also   notable dishes can be served                       The hotel’s Chinese restaurant is on
                       see a premium    in individual portions. With fine,                      the lower level, giving you a front-
                         tea selection   personal service and excellent                         row, sea-level view of the harbour.
                          to go with    execution of Cantonese cuisine,                         The food at Yan Toh Heen is just
                          the refined   T’ang Court is recommended for                          as, if not more, exciting as the
                           dishes.      both visitors and locals alike.                         panorama. Their focus is refined
                                                                                                Cantonese cuisine, however it
                                                                                                does surprise us that some basics,
                                                                                                like char siu (barbecued pork),
                                                                                                are not always particularly well
                                                                                                executed. Instead—even though
                                                                                                it’s not Cantonese —be sure to pre-
                                                                                                order the Peking duck, served with a
                                                                                                number of innovative condiments
                                                                                                rarely found in other restaurants.
                                                                                                A deceptively simple off-menu
                                                                                                wok-fried spotted garoupa fillet
                                                                                                with soy and spring onion let the
                                                                                                quality of the ingredients speak for
                                                                                                themselves. Many dishes can be
                                                                                                ordered as half portions, making
                                                                                                it easier for a couple to sample
                                                                                                a greater variety of dishes To go
                                                                                                with the food, wine and tea menus
                                                                                                are both extensive, with novel tea
                                                                                                blends such as mandarin zest pu’er.
                                                                                                A popular restaurant with locals
                                                                       Tin Lung Heen’s opulent   and visitors alike, staff numbers
                                                                       interiors are matched    are adequate – it’s always easy to
                                                                       with sky-high views      get someone’s attention, and they
                                                                                                answer all queries with confidence.

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