Hong Kong Cray !!! Dim Sum at Man Wah 文華廳: A Blast from the Past
The Lowdown
Restaurant Name: Man Wah
Cuisine: Cantonese
Average Price per Person: $400 to $800 HKD or $50 to $100 USD per person
Location: Central, Hong Kong (see map below for details)
Recommendations: Barbecued Iberian Pork, Beef Tenderloin Puff, Xiaolongbao, Iberian Pork Buns, Golden Taro Puff with Abalone, Glutinous Rice Dumplings with Abalone, Egg Tarts and Tofu PuddingRatings (out of 5)
Taste: 4.5
Creativity/Authenticity: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Bang for Buck: 3Crayscale !!!
DIM SUM is a must in Hong Kong. There are a ton of legit dim sum restaurants in the city, some cheap, some fancy, some old school, some new school. I’m all about the OG spots. There’s just something about the vibes that got me feelin’ some type of way. The Mandarin Oriental’s Man Wah is a perfect example, located on the 25th floor, this classic has been around since 1968. Man Wah replaced The Button Supper Club back in the 60’s and has since been the place to find classic high-end Cantonese cuisine.
We were invited to the Man Wah during our stay at The Mandarin Oriental. It was our welcome meal and the Man Wah left a great first impression. The interior of the restaurant is absolutely stunning, a blast from the past. I felt like I had walked through a time machine or onto a ’70s Hong Kong movie set. It was one of the prettiest and most nostalgic rooms room I’d ever seen, decked out in rosewood furniture, floating gold-plated lanterns that resemble birdcages, pink linens, fuschia carpet and fine China with a view of Hong Kong’s skyscrapers.
Amazing decor aside, Man Wah’s dim sum is on point. Awarded with one Michelin star, Chef de Cuisine Chi-Kwong Hung along with Man Wah’s culinary team has reinvented Cantonese favorites with a twist. Man Wah takes its dim sum to a whole ‘nother level, utilizing premium ingredients and Chinese delicacies such as abalone, lobster, crab, truffles, scallops and more. If you’re looking for some CRAY CRAY dim sum, cop a table at Man Wah.
Champagne or fresh juice? P.S. they have an optional free flow champagne weekend special if you’re looking to get turnt.
Barbecued Iberian Pork ($158 HKD or $20 USD). YASSS the char siu was unreal, packed with flavor and incredibly tender. Man Wah uses Iberian pork to make their char siu glazed with honey harvested from their own local beehives.
Man Wah’s version of Har Gao made with shrimp, scallop and asparagus, shaped like goldfish ($90 HKD or $11 USD for 4 pieces).
The shumai or pork dumplings with cod roe was pretty standard. However, there is a truffled option which I wish we ordered instead ($90 HKD or $11 USD for 4 pieces).
This dumpling was delicious, stuffed with a medley of mushrooms.
I loved the presentation and thoughtfulness behind the xiaolongbao or Shanghainese soup dumpling with minced pork ($88 HKD or $11.30 USD for 3 dumplings). Man Wah’s xiaolongbao are steamed in their own portable baskets! Transporting XLB’s from the bamboo basket to your bowl will never be an issue again. The Man Wah key to XLB success!
The Barbecued Iberian pork buns were bomb ($88 HKD or $11.30 USD). To be honest though, these were delicious and all, but they taste pretty similar to Tim Ho Wan’s notorious pork buns, but cost about 3 times as much.
Man Wah’s Beef Tenderloin Puff changed my life ($98 or $12.65 USD for 3 pieces)! Crispy and buttery AF pastry stuffed with bits of beef tenderloin in a black pepper sauce !!!
I can’t remember exactly what type of dumpling this was, but I’m pretty sure it was beef. Let’s be honest, if I can’t remember, then it wasn’t that memorable. Onto the next one…
I’m a sucker for Egg Tarts ($88 HKD or $11.30 USD for 3 tarts). The egg tarts had a smooth and silky custard wrapped in a flaky buttery crust. These bad boys are made to order and take 25 minutes to prep so order them right away!
Chinese style LOBSTER ROLLS ($298 HKD or $38 USD). Lobster cherng fun sounds pretty gangsta, but they were a little bland and not worth $38 USD IMO.
The Roast Goose Puffs look pretty cool and all, but one of my least favorite dumplings ($98 or $12.65 USD for 3 pieces).
Oh hello golden taro puff topped with an abalone ($108 or $13.90 USD for 2 pieces). Now this is what I’m talking about.
MORE ABALONE, but this time on top of glutinous rice dumplings ($98 or $12.65 USD for 2 pieces) !!!
And for dessert, one of my childhood favorites, tofu pudding!
5 Connaught Rd Central
w: mandarinoriental.com
p: +852 2825 4003
