[Shanghai] Hakkasan Dim Sum Brunch

Hakkasan | hakkasan.com | Dianping
Address: 中山东一路18号外滩18号5层(近南京东路) Level 5, Bund 18, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu near Nanjing Dong Lu – (黄浦区 Huangpu District)
Date visited: 2014.09 for brunch
Price: Set menus start at RMB¥278 + 10% service charge / a la carte available
Will return: Yes
What to get:
– Har gau 笋尖鲜虾饺
– XO scallop dumpling XO酱带子球
– Chive dumpling with prawn and crabmeat 玉液韭菜花饺
– Crispy beancurd prawn cheung fun 脆皮虾肠粉
– Baked venison puff 黑椒鹿肉酥
– Fried ho fun with beef and yellow chives 干炒牛肉河
– Salt and pepper squid 椒盐鲜鱿
– Crispy duck roll 香酥鸭春卷
– Steamed custard bun 流沙包
Also see: Dinner [1][2]

My M.O. is pretty much go to a restaurant and eat the entire menu. That usually involves dragging large parties of friends to accomplish. But I think I managed to top myself this time by eating a large portion of the Hakkasan dim sum brunch menu with just one other person.

Hakka Bund weekend brunch is on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00am to 3:00pm. Set menu (where you can select dishes from categories) and a la carte options are available.

Set menu prices:
– RMB¥278 with tea and mocktail
– RMB¥398 with tea, cocktail, glass of champagne
– RMB¥798 with tea, cocktail, unlimited champagne or wine

I personally like to do a la carte to share at most restaurants if it is an option. But that could potentially open the flood gates to gluttony of no return, which is exactly what happened here. Two Asian girls, one of whom probably weighs 90 lbs (and is not me) ate this meal. But keep in mind this is beyond the amount of food normal people eat.

This month’s rose-themed cocktail (last month was jasmine) with signature vapor action at the table.

Har gau 笋尖鲜虾饺 (RMB¥38)
Recommend: yes
HK approved by brunch companion sitting across the table.

XO scallop dumpling XO酱带子球 (RM¥B32)
Recommend: yes
Chopped scallops and vegetables in a delicate pouch. Small details such as the precisely cut radish rings under the dumplings give away the care Hakkasan puts into its craft.

Chive dumpling with prawn and crabmeat 玉液韭菜花饺 (RMB¥32)
Recommend: yes
Another beautifully crafted dim sum.

Crispy beancurd prawn cheung fun 脆皮虾肠粉 (RMB¥38)
Recommend: yes (favorite)
My favorite dish from this brunch. Prawn wrapped in crispy fried youtiao under a layer of delicate rice noodle roll. Pour that sauce.

Baked venison puff 黑椒鹿肉酥 (RMB¥38)
Recommend: yes
A heavier dim sum of flakey pastry filled with tasty bits of venison.

Ham and mooli puff 金腿萝卜酥 (RMB¥32)
Recommend: no
Mooli is radish/daikon and while I love radish, something about this ham and radish combination just didn’t work.

Guangdong gai lan 广东芥兰 (RMB¥88)
Recommend: maybe
Nothing out of the ordinary. We actually wanted the Taiwan snow pea shoot 台湾豆苗 (RMB¥88) but they were out.

Fried ho fun with beef and yellow chives 干炒牛肉河 (RMB¥98)
Recommend: yes
A must-have when eating Cantonese food. Tender pieces of beef stir fried with slippery rice noodles in the perfect amount of oil.

Salt and pepper squid 椒盐鲜鱿 (RMB¥98)
Recommend: yes
Deep fried and seasoned squid without being overly greasy.

Crispy duck roll 香酥鸭春卷 (RMB¥88)
Recommend: yes
Super crispy fried wrapping overstuffed with duck. A sweet sauce comes with the dish for dipping.

Steamed custard bun 流沙包 (RMB¥33)
Recommend: yes
True steamed custard bun with bits of savory yolk inside! Dessert dim sum best saved for last. I recommend asking Hakkasan to make and serve this at the end (and they are happy to) so that the custard isn’t sitting there coagulating during the meal.

For dessert after dessert, there are macarons waiting on a shelf in the middle of the restaurant. Essentially a buffet of macarons if you will, but one can only have so many before getting diabetes.

Today’s flavors were lemon, matcha, jasmine, rose, and vanilla. Took a bite out of each and matcha was the best.

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