Restaurant Review: Hakkasan, Hanway Place

Style Points: 5/5
Price: £££
Overall: 4/5

Hakkasan has often been described as the sexiest restaurant in London. Tucked away on an otherwise unnoticeable side street, this high end Chinese restaurant on Hanway Place has some of the most dramatic interiors I’ve witnessed in a London restaurant. 

Diners descend into a dark, midnight blue entrance of Hakkasan, where the walls are lined with charcoal-grey slate and the large dining room is divided into sections by oriental geometric screens. This classy interior and the sleek low level lighting create a suave atmosphere in the restaurant.

What's on the menu? 

Hakkasan Hanway Place is another of famous restaurateur Alan Yau’s creation, serving high end Chinese food to Londoners.

The long a la carte menu at Hakkasan can be quite pricey and difficult to order from on a restrained budget. However there is an alternative, the Taste of Hakkasan menu, which offers three courses from a set menu, as well as a signature cocktail for under £40 and this is what we decided to try. 

The starters on the taste of Hakkasan menu started with a delectable dim sum platter and a bowl of crispy squid with delicious avocado mustard dressing and caramelised walnut.

For my main course I chose the soft and succulent stir-fry wild seabass with lily bulb and soya crumble and my dining companion ordered the wok-fried lamb in spicy mint sauce. The main course was served with large portions of jasmine rice and seasonal vegetables both of which supplemented the meal well. 

For dessert I had heard a lot of good things about the Jivara bomb at Hakkasan so chose to give it a try. The Jivara bomb was a tempting looking dish consisting of milk chocolate, hazelnut praline and rice krispies formed into a spherical globe shape that had to be broken and eaten up. This dessert was a delight and the perfect decadent end to the meal. 

Could I afford to dine here again?

As a high end restaurant, Hakkasan is not a cheap place to dine out in London. However the Taste of Hakkasan menu changes this and makes it much more affordable. Costing £38 per person for three courses with a signature cocktail, this set menu makes Hakkasan much more accessible.

Overall?

Dining at Hakkasan is an almost immersive experience, mainly due to the atmospherically dark lighting. In fact the only darker venue I’ve visited in London is Milk & Honey. 
However this adds to the Hakkasan experience, and I had a great time sampling the flavours Hakkasan has to offer. 

Visit Hakkasan’s website 
Address: 8 Hanway Place, London W1T 1HD
Tube Station: Tottenham Court Road