Northern Chinese Cuisine at Chao Yang Restaurant Hong Kong

Northern Chinese Cuisine at Chao Yang Restaurant in Hong Kong

Best place to get Northern Chinese cuisine, featuring Northeastern, Beijing and Shanghainese cuisine in Hong Kong.

It wasn't planned.  My husband and I thought we would check out some of the Chinese restaurants located at iSquare Sunday night.  The first one we decided on was hosting a wedding, so no room for us.  That was fine.  We returned to the lobby and walked across to the opposite row of elevators.  (They don't all stop on the same floors, you see.)  So off we went again, this time to the first Chinese Restaurant on the way up, and as were about to get off the elevator we realized they were also hosting a wedding and no room for us!  (Must have been an auspicious day on the Chinese calendar...so many weddings!)

So we dived back in the elevator and continued upwards and that's how we found ourselves at Chao Yang Restaurant.  We were greeted by friendly staff who led us to a table for two right beside a window that offered a view of the Chef in charge of the roast duck orders.  He was only too happy to let me take his photograph.  

Our very friendly Northern Duck Chef

We were immediately impressed by the soft lighting and the overall layout of the restaurant.  Tables weren't crowded together on top of one another.  As soon as we sat down, a dish of roasted herbed peanuts, a dish of pickled vegatables, a small dish of hot sauce and a pot of jasmine tea appeared on the table in front of us.

Here are the pickled veg, herbed peanuts and hot sauce!

AND the view!  Wow!  We weren't lucky enough to sit by the window, but I did take a peek before all the other diners arrived.  The view is of Tsim Tsa Tsui and part of Victoria Harbour. I was consoled because I felt I had a pretty good view where I was sitting which helped give me some extra lighting for my photographs.  And I got to provide the Duck Chef with some free entertainment as I took pictures of everything that arrived on the table!  He was delighted, I'm sure.   

An interesting view of both the restaurant and the harbour at once!

The Menu had a large variety of things to choose from.  We choose the Sweet and Sour Mandarin Fish (Guiyu), which is cut in half and opened and then cross cut before it is deep fried.  To serve, they cover it in sticky, sweet and sour sauce and sprinkle it with pine nuts.  At the table, the server cuts it up even more for ease of eating.  It is really wonderful.  I'm a little embarrassed to say that we ordered a whole fish... and ate it all!  (Actually, we didn't intend to buy the whole fish.  Be sure to tell the waiter that you want HALF a fish, not a fish!)

Sweet and Sour Mandarin Fish (Guiyu)

That's not all we ordered...we also thought we needed to try the boneless Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs.  Well, I'm glad we got those too ,even though we couldn't finish them.  It's a value for money dish.  We also ordered Shredded Potato and Green Pepper, but as you will see in the picture, without the spice.  It was good, but I'm sure it would be better with the chili peppers too.  

Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs (no bones)

Shredded Potato and Green Pepper (without the spice).

And purely for nostalgia, I requested Jaozi, which is a true Northeastern dish.  I ate loads of them when I lived in Harbin.  The sauce is what makes them truly wonderful, without which they would be totally boring.  The sauce is actually dark rice vinegar.  We got the Vegetable Steamed Jaozi.  The vegetable inside is a green grassy type herb which they favour in the North for jaozi and stir-frys.

I told you they weren't very exciting, but they taste wonderful with the rice vinegar!

For more exciting offerings on the menu check out this site. 


And to wash the meal down, we were served Jasmine Tea.  Room for dessert??  Ummmmm.....not this time, thanks!  The mango pudding looked good, but after eating a fish meant for 6 people and most of a dish of pork, plus potato and jaozi......!!

It's definitely on top of our list to take friends, especially anyone who would appreciate the Northeastern style Chinese cuisine.  The staff were friendly, helpful and very patient.