Welcome to the land of Dim Sum
Having dim sum is a must when you are in Hong Kong. This is a typical Cantonese cuisine where small servings of food are served in small steamer baskets or plates. It has been a tradition to pair Dim Sum with an endless flow of Chinese tea. Hence, the term ‘yum cha’ (飲茶) or drink tea is also commonly used in place of Dim Sum.
We had our very first Dim Sum experience at The Golden Leaf in Conrad Hong Kong when we visited Hong Kong a couple of weeks ago. This restaurant was awarded one Michelin star in the Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau 2015. They are also renowned for their exquisite selection of innovative Cantonese dishes.
The food here did not disappoint us and we were glad to have included this restaurant under our list of must-visit restaurants in Hong Kong.
Our One-Michelin Star Dim Sum Experience
The Golden Leaf is located at the lower basement of Conrad Singapore. We took the flight of stairs down to the basement which eventually led us to the restaurant.
The restaurant has a small and cosy dining interior which is decorated with traditional Chinese-style carved teakwood and elegant rosewood furniture. It also houses three private dining rooms.
The dining ware and decorations used, have touches of gold that exude luxury. Their toothpick container, for example, is shaped like a gold bar with the name of the restaurant embossed on it.
The Dim Sum Affair
Unfortunately, we did not get to try their Dim Sums from their premium Dim Sum menu which featured some of their signature dishes made with exquisite ingredients like crabmeat and truffle paste.
But we did try the other dishes in their regular Dim Sum menu which were superb. Since it was our first time here, we asked the waiter to recommend us some of their popular Dim Sum dishes. Their menu also includes the typical Dim Sum dishes like Shanghainese Dumplings with Minced Pork (Xiao Long Bao), Steamed pork buns and Siew Mai.
Steamed Pork Dumplings with Abalone
The Golden Leaf’s version of Siew Mai or steam pork dumplings includes a slice of abalone. Exquisite!
Deep-fried Seafood Rolls with Mayonnaise
Deep-fried Glutinous Rice Dumplings with Diced Pork and Dried Shrimps
This is the
Steamed Barbecued Pork Buns with Preserved Vegetables
Deep-fried Mashed Taro Dumpling with Pork
Steam Bean Curd Skin Rolls with Minced Shrimp in Abalone Sauce
Golden Leaf Signature Fried Rice
I’m not too sure if this is a Chinese custom or not but we usually end our meal with a bowl of rice or noodles to fill us up.
Desserts
For desserts, we had chilled fresh mango pudding and sweetened fresh almond delight. I did not know that mango pudding could taste so delicious with whipped cream. You can tell that the pudding was made from scratch with good quality mangoes.
This is one of the best Cantonese meals I had in my entire life. Dim sum in Hong Kong is indeed unbeatable.
Recommended dishes
Deep-fried Seafood Rolls with Mayonnaise, Chilled Fresh Mango Pudding, Steam Bean Curd Skin Rolls with Minced Shrimp in Abalone Sauce
The Golden Leaf Restaurant
The Golden Leaf is located at the lower lobby level of Conrad Hong Kong.
For more information or reservation at The Golden Leaf, you can call +852 2822 8870 or email hkghc_GoldenLeaf@conradhotels.com.
Read more about my travelogues in Hong Kong.
