Fiery Bite: Xiang Huatian Hunan Restaurant

Beijing’s Hunan invasion continues. The powerful Huatian hospitality group has taken over the enormous space formerly occupied by Cantonese stalwart The Deluxe Restaurant on Gongti Beilu.

And though the high-priced Cantonese seafood and dim sum on the menu pay homage to the restaurant’s former incarnation, Huatian has added much fiery bite. Classic specialties like double chilli fish head (双椒鱼头, RMB 68) jacketed with a layer of two kinds of diced peppers, and dry-wok fried donkey (干锅驴肉, RMB 58) are faithful to Hunan cuisine’s singeing sensibility.

The lightly fried tofu (煎豆腐, RMB 26) will be a welcome standby for diners without Teflon stomachs, while the smoked bamboo with cured pork (熏笋炒腊肉, RMB 36) demonstrates that the chefs are as equally adept with smoke as with fire.

Also try: Karaiya, Qu Yuan Jiulou

Xiang Huatian Restaurant
Daily 10.30am-2.30pm, 5pm-9.30pm. 3/F, 6 Gongti Beilu (same building as Comfort Inn), Chaoyang District (8523 6888) 朝阳区工体北路6号凯富大厦3层

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