Hakkasan Abu Dhabi Review
If you ask anyone what my favourite restaurant is, they will probably tell you its Hakkasan. For seven years, Hakkasan Mayfair was my dedicated haunt for special occasions and birthday celebrations in London, so when I learnt that Hakkasan had a branch in Abu Dhabi, I was thrilled. If you’re interested in knowing a little bit about the history of Hakkasan, it originally opened 19 years ago in London. After many years of success and a michelin star each (respectively for each London location) they were bought by an Abu Dhabi based investment company; thus it only makes sense that Hakkasan would inevitably open in Abu Dhabi, and in no place else but the Emirates Palace.
One of my favourite things about Hakkasan, is their unique and contemporary approach to Chinese food. They are renowned to combine traditional Chinese cooking techniques with a western flair and there is a huge emphasis on the ingredients used. Never has this rung so true until I visited Hakkasan Abu Dhabi. For example, the honey used in a lot of their signature dishes comes from the bee garden at the Emirates Palace. In addition to this, much of their seafood is caught just a stone throws away in the rich waters of the Arabian Gulf. There is a clear emphasis on good, fresh, and sustainable ingredients and it makes eating their food that much more enjoyable.
The biggest highlight when I visit a Hakkasan anywhere in the world is the dim sum. On a recent visit to Hakkasan Abu Dhabi I was extremely fortunate to watch the dim sum being made in front of me. What surprised and impressed me is that the talented team of dim sum chefs arrive early every day to make them from scratch; so, when you indulge in those beautiful dim sum, keep in mind they’ve been made that very day. I recommend trying the supreme dim sum which include the har gau, Chilean seabass, abalone chicken shui mai, and wagyu beef black garlic. Each one is filled with such beautiful, delicate and unique flavours - when I brought my family along one of my visits, we loved the dim sum so much, that to the waiters shock, we ended up ordering a basket each! If you haven’t filled yourself up with dim sum, I also recommend ordering the crispy duck salad and the Jasmine tea smoked Wagyu beef ribs. The crispy duck salad is a must-have and signature to Hakkasan almost everywhere you go, while the beef ribs are unique to Abu Dhabi and are presented in a glass dome encased in smoke; and trust me they taste as good as they look. If you’re looking for something to quench your thirst between courses I highly recommend the Hakka cocktail - it is without a doubt my favourite cocktail in the entire world, and is extremely drinkable with its combination of litchi, lime, coconut and passion fruit!
For main course I recommend the spicy curry prawn, roasted chicken in satay sauce and stir-fry black pepper rib eye beef. These dishes all go fabulously with some of their signature pulled Hakka noodles as well as the vegetable claypot. These were unanimous favourites among myself and family members, and the variety of meats, flavours and accompaniments is exactly what you look forward to for a main-course.
Generally by the time it comes to dessert I am too full, but at Hakkasan I always manage to find a little room. If you’re a big group I highly recommend requesting a platter of desserts as there’s so many beautiful desserts to try. However, if you have to choose but one I would go for the spikey lemon, which is a creamy fusion of a lemon meringue pie and white chocolate mousse - its almost too beautiful to eat but trust me, its worth it.
Besides the fabulous food offerings at Hakkasan Abu Dhabi, the setting is probably one of my favourites amongst all the Hakkasan’s worldwide. In the cooler months you can look forward to dining on their sprawling terrace with views of the famous Etihad Towers. Alternatively you can choose to sit inside, either in the smoking/none smoking area which are both tastefully decorated in Hakkasan’s signature dramatic dim-lit decor. If you’re someone that fancies a drink before or after dinner you can sit at their grand and glamorous blue glass bar, which spans across the back of the restaurant. You’re bound to find a cocktail you like, but if you’re looking for the Instagram Factor then try the Hong Fuen cocktail which comes encased in a smoke bubble or the Smokey Negroni, a smoke infused creation.
Quite frankly there isn’t anything comparable to Hakkasan, and restaurants which try to replicate what they do inevitably fall short. Wherever you go, whether thats Hakkasan in New York, Shanghai, or Abu Dhabi, the food, the standard and the service will always be the same. Undoubtedly though, Hakkasan Abu Dhabi has a definite it-factor, while you can still enjoy the creature comforts of the Hakkasan brand, their is an intimacy and personal element that you can’t get at just any other Hakkasan.