FACT Review: Refined Chinese cuisine at Hakkasan Riyadh

Can the celebrity favourite restaurant succeed in Saudi Arabia?

There are few restaurants in Riyadh that have star power. If you say this one word, however, it gets people excited: Hakkasan. With branches around the world, it has attracted A-listers, from Naomi Campbell to Rihanna. So much so, we missed the footballing legend and Saudi Arabia’s tourism ambassador, Lionel Messi, by one night.  

Hakkasan Riyadh is located in Bujairi Terrace. The area is a sophisticated spot, which has combined tradition and modernity to create a one-of-a-kind dining destination. Overlooking the historical At-Turaif, the whole area celebrates Saudi culture – a carousel with the Kingdom’s animals, anyone? 

As we have visited Hakkasan restaurants across the world, we were excited to see how the destination inspired the décor. When we entered Hakkasan Riyadh, we spotted the signature features, which make it popular with people (note: celebrities) who want privacy. The elegant space included shoji wall dividers and a dark, dimly-lit dining room. Plus, it paid homage to the country’s heritage with a barasti roof, moon motifs and orange hues to reflect the terrace.

Hakkasan Riyadh’s menu is all about Cantonese cuisine and uses high-quality ingredients across classic as well as creative dishes. The menu spans à la carte, salad, small eats, supreme, fish, seafood, poultry, meat, tofu and vegetable, and noodle and rice. If you want to try the signature experience, make like us and order the signature menu.

The Lychee Lobster comes in bright balls – beetroot is used to give it a catchy colour. Each bite bursts into your mouth, oozing a sweet citrus taste. The Stir Fry Black Pepper Rib Eye Beef is a rich dish, which is seasoned to perfection.

The Crispy Duck Salad is, quite simply, one of the best salads we have eaten. Tossed at the table, it is a towering treat. Fresh and flavourful, we loved every ingredient from the grapefruit chunks to the crispiest duck.

We finished with the Vegan Exotic Pavlova, which didn’t suffer from the sweetness in so many Saudi desserts. Instead, it was a refreshing yet swanky end – it had sorbet and gold flakes, after all.   

The mocktails are Insta-ready – think pretty presentations and dramatic dry ice. The Sea of Clouds was everything we didn’t know we wanted. The cocktail combined unexpected flavours, from miso purée to popcorn syrup. The drinks menu also includes a Kowleen Cooler, Kumquat Mojito and Lychee Martini.

The service was amazingly attentive, and the staff explained each dish. Our only gripe, which is minor, was that it took too long for the final course. Overall, the whole experience was relaxed yet refined, and successfully combined Hakkasan and Riyadh to create Hakkasan Riyadh.

GO: Visit https://hakkasan.com for more information.