By Alyaa Malik
A restaurant with refined Chinese flair and flavors resides in Centria Mall. Inspired by a basket of flowers, Hualan is blooming with artful recipes from Asian cuisine that is executed with style and elegance.
In a landscape of average Chinese restaurants in Riyadh, Hualan is not your typical all-red, Chinese restaurant. One may notice the feng shui put into place by means of their aligned wooden panels and glass walls, exhibiting a sense of light and balance in their décor. An open kitchen in the background allows guests to view the cooks in action as their food is prepared. An outdoor seating on the terrace is a coveted spot for diners who would like to have a view of the city skyline amidst some fresh air.
The food of course, is the highlight of the experience. Start by choosing from their list of creative cocktails made from fresh ingredients like the Passion Caipirinha as a rich, summer cooler or the Blushing Dragon for a fruity sip of blueberries, raspberries and goji berries. For starters, they have a selection of over 15 dim sum, whether you prefer it steamed, baked or fried; including vegetarian options. Opt for the Chilean Seabass Dumpling or the Truffle Edamame Dumpling for something new. To taste a little bit of everything classic, choose from the Shanghai Dim Sum Platter or the Cantonese Dim Sum Platter. As you open the bamboo box, it is evident that each dim sum was thoughtfully made. From each small bite comes a bold flavor with succulent textures. I can eat these all day, every day.
While their dim sums are exquisite, much attention can also be granted to the rest of their well-designed dishes on the menu. The Crispy Aromatic Duck Salad is a balanced choice, with layers of crunch and zest from the pine nuts and pomegranates in between the savory duck meat. On the other hand, the Stir-Fried Prawn in Pumpkin Sauce was an elevated take on a popular shrimp appetizer, using the pumpkin sauce to envelope every bit with flavor and finesse.
For the main course, the Charcoal-Grilled Chilean Seabass in Sesame Honey Sauce is cooked so tender it can melt in your mouth. Satisfy the carnivore in you by ordering the savory Canadian Beef Stir-fried with Mongolian Sauce or the Grilled Teriyaki Wagyu Beef with Enoki Mushrooms. The Lobster with Asparagus in XO sauce is lated picture-perfect and definitely perfect for sharing.
Delight in Hualan’s dessert menu with their famous Nitrogen Ice Cream and Caramel Popcorn that will have you oooh-ing and aaah-ing to the fusion of science and taste. It is served looking like a big ball of white chocolate until a kettle full of liquid nitrogen is poured over it for a few seconds. With a spoon, they crack the top to break across your plate and reveal the ice cream and popcorn from within. As the nitrogen seeps into the ingredients, each bite becomes a party trick of sorts, making you puff vapor out of your mouth at every spoonful. While that was entertaining, what captured me the most was their Chocolate Date Cake with Honeycomb Ice Cream. Simple, moist and comforting — the addition of the chocolate toffee sauce made it all the more captivating and a wonderful way to end a full dining experience. An empty plate being returned to the kitchen can only mean that the dish was enjoyed to the last bite.
Hualan rises to the occasion to deliver an aesthetic take on dim sum, seafood and dessert that is uncommon to its peers in town. It depicts the future of contemporary Chinese cuisine by translating the respected traditions of the past and incorporating ingenuity in its cooking. It is defining fine dining as it should be.
The men in charge of bringing the taste of China to our plates are Chef Tham and Chef Loong. Together, they’ve combined their years of expertise in both dim sum and hot wok cooking to create over 70 menu items for Hualan. Along with them is Pastry Chef Rahaman, who uniquely crafts the last course of every meal. The service team equally contributes to the kitchen’s success by providing top-notch service and attention to the guests.
Hualan
2nd Floor, Centria Mall
210 Olaya Street,
Riyadh 11672
Families and Single Sections
Opening Hours: 1:00 PM to 11:30PM Daily
Email: reservations@hualan.sa
Website: http:// www.hualan.sa
