The spirit of local teahouses in China is alive and well within the corners of Yauatcha Riyadh — a space where the authentic taste of dim sum and other Cantonese dishes are complemented by their own take on revered European desserts — enjoyed over a cup of tea, of course.
Built on the second floor of Mode Al Faisaliah, Yauatcha Riyadh is overlooking the progress of Olaya Street with a powerful gaze. Their rooftop seating is a coveted spot with their almost al fresco ambiance accented by faux cherry blossom trees and the rest of the cityscape as its backdrop. The lights are lit low and the music is humming around us, along with the sounds of iced drinks being shaken and poured at the bar. The ambiance easily evokes a luxe, cosmopolitan vibe for those seeking an elegant night out or a place to bring business colleagues to.
It is still, however, a restaurant very well-rooted in Cantonese cuisine and culture. In the days where teahouses were considered as a social space, Yauatcha proves to be a modern manifestation of where people can partake in a dining activity and form connections over drinking tea and eating dim sum. With over 20 variations of dim sum and 24 flavors of tea to choose from, there’s never a wrong choice. Their dim sum is designed after the traditional offerings of the shu mai, har gau, cheung fun, venison puff, sticky rice in lotus leaf, and more – all made with the right ingredients that carries on the heritage – one bamboo steam basket at a time.
We started with a refreshing herbal beverage made with basil, green apple and lemon. Their distinctly curated beverage menu called The Orchard List reflects their creative concoctions inspired by the techniques of American and European cocktails and their nod to the grand tradition of tea drinking in Asia. It is a must to try at least one of them.
Our appetizer plate of Crispy Duck Salad arrived adorned with a stack of frisee, pomegranate, and microgreens. But the star of the dish lay beneath it, awaiting to be unearthed. The duck has been braised for three hours, deep fried, and perfectly sliced – adding robust flavor and texture to the dish. It was then followed by the serving of the dim sum where we found ourselves transported to the streets of Hong Kong in an instant. The Scallop and Prawn Shu Mai was refined and luscious, topped with tobiko for a touch of opulence, while the Har Gau sat proud for its humble yet flavorful shrimp and bamboo shoot combination, and the Wild Mushroom Dumpling was a melody of shiitake, shimeji, and oyster mushrooms wrapped in one song. We also tried the Prawn and Bean Curd Cheung Fun, which was a shrimp tempura and tofu carefully wrapped in a translucent rice roll. The crispiness of the tempura paired well with the softness of the tofu and rice roll and its quick dip in soy sauce completed the flavor. There’s also their Winter Bao selection: steamed buns with either smoked wagyu beef, spicy soft shell crab, or crispy duck or chicken as fillings — which some would call a Chinese version of a “burger” if you will.
For the main courses, the recipes were as classic as you can expect. The Beef in Black Pepper Sauce was tender, the Sweet and Sour Chicken had crispy slices of chicken, and the Wok-Tossed Tiger Prawn was plump and juicy. All those well-cooked dishes could stand in their own righteous pillars in Chinese cuisine, with the pak choy and jasmine rice supporting them in every bite.
For dessert, the patisserie selection is broad and mostly French-inspired with a number of macaron flavors infused with Asian ingredients such as the Yuzu and Earl Gray Mandarin. Their most famous petits gateaux (little cake) is the Raspberry Delice, which is originally served in a velvety red coating but is currently pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Inside is a dark chocolate flavor with a hint of zest from the raspberry and a dollop of lychee panna cotta on the side – a complex yet light dessert to end the evening.
A short tour of the other features of the restaurant ensued after our meal with Yauatcha’s General Manager, Mr, Mehmet Sihlaroglu. He showed us the private dining areas that are suitable for small groups who would prefer a more tailored and intimate gathering. They had their own lights and sound system, a flat-screen TV, and a dedicated service team. Another space on the other end of the rooftop deck could also host a reception or event for companies or organizations with all the conveniences covered and assured. For other restaurant offerings, they have the Lily and Pearl Set Menus for a business lunch, Afternoon High Tea available daily, and the Yum Cha Brunch during the weekends.
Yauatcha Riyadh aims to please with what they promise: a place where we can find distinctly Cantonese dim sum and dishes, unique drinks that are both innovative and traditional, signature desserts, and a dining experience that ensures guests will leave with a reason to come back again.
Yauatcha Riyadh
Mode Al Faisaliah
Olaya District-Prince Sultan Street, Riyadh
Opening Hours:
12:00 PM – 11:30 PM (daily)
Contact No.: 920006555 / 011 836 7999
Website: https://yauatcha.com/riyadh/
Instagram: @yauatchariyadh
