HKG: Dragon Court @ Jumbo Kingdom (龍軒@珍寶王國)
Delectable garoupa fillet in spicy soup in such a majestic restaurant!
I've always had the intention to dine at one of the floating restaurants in Jumbo Kingdom. While I've seen reviews about their decent, but overpriced food with no Michelin stars at all, I thought it'd be a waste not to pay a visit, especially since the hotel I was staying in is located just opposite the Aberdeen Promenade where you can take a free shuttle to Jumbo Kingdom. Dragon Court on the second floor was the choice for the night.
Premium Narcissus Tea (per pax) HK$45.00 (~S$7.25)
Taste: 5/10
That was indeed the most expensive tea I've ever had while dining outside. Known as Oolong tea from Fujian Province in China, it was somewhat pathetic that it didn't have the honey fragrance I was expecting. Basically, there wasn't much taste to it. The cup is nice, right? :P
Deep-Fried Squid with Chili and Salt HK$185.00 (~S$29.80)
Taste: 6.5/10
One of my most favourite Chinese dishes wasn't executed that well. While I admired the thin flour coating on the squid, the latter wasn't that fresh with some pieces bordering on being rubbery in terms of texture. The salty crumbs weren't spicy at all.
Sweet and Sour Pork with Red Date, Lily Bulb and Assorted Fruit HK$185.00 (~S$29.80)
Taste: 6/10
Another dish that fell beyond expectation was the sweet and sour pork with promising longans and mango slices. While the tenderness of the meat was pretty much acceptable, there was hardly any kick given by the sauce. The same dish from Chuen Kee Seafood Restaurant (全記海鮮菜館) could simply beat that of Dragon Court any day.
Boiled Fresh Potato Garoupa Fillet with Sichuan Hot Sauce in Stone Casserole HK$320.00 (~S$51.55)
Taste: 9.5/10
Hope was restored as the most expensive dish of the day arrived at the table. With such bright colours, it exuded a strong aroma of freshly ground peppercorns. The soup was amazingly tasty and fiery, hosting a swimming party for the fresh and thick garoupa fillets. Not only that, the skin of the fish was delightfully gelatinous.
Sautéed Yellow Fungus with Fresh Black Mushroom and Sweet Pea HK$185.00 (~S$27.40)
Taste: 8/10
Prior to the dinner, I'd never eaten yellow fungi. I found its texture to be somewhat akin to that of fish maw, or perhaps slightly more solid. However, I'd still prefer the black mushrooms with their distinctive taste. The peas were indeed pretty sweet, and so were the very few carrot slices.
Chinese Herb Pudding with Bird's Nest HK$110.00 (~S$17.70)
Taste: 9/10
The restaurant only offers six dessert dishes. Since I hadn't eaten guilinggao for some time, I decided to order it. Accompanied by a small jar of honey, the beautifully-shaped jelly had a nice texture without being prohibitively bitter. Sitting on top of it were bits of nutritious, sweet bird's nest. Pika's advice: Feel like splurging? You may want to try their Boiled Imperial Bird's Nest in Almond Cream, priced at HK$620.00 (~S$99.90)!
Melon's Rating
Taste: 7.5/10
Ambience: 9.5/10
Service: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.5/10
The ambience was superb, partly due to the fact that I arrived at around 8.30pm for dinner when the restaurant was no longer crowded. The marriage between the relaxing atmosphere and the ornate decor really made me want to stay there forever.
Jumbo Kingdom also has a seafood exhibition gallery. Can you spot a huge fish in the picture?
What a majestic entrance!
Thank you so much for the evening! That was probably the most expensive Chinese dinner for two that I've ever had, but I really have no regrets!
Dragon Court @ Jumbo Kingdom
(龍軒@珍寶王國)
Shum Wan Pier Drive
Aberdeen
Hong Kong
(Mon-Fri: 11.30am - 3.00pm, 5.30pm - 11.30pm; Sat-Sun: 11.30am - 4.30pm, 5.30pm - 11.30pm)
*Prices quoted are subject to 10% service charge.
Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)
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