Hang Dai Chinese – Serving Up Some of the Best Chinese Food in Dublin

When asking Dublin locals about a good Chinese restaurant, many will steer you to Hang Dai Chinese in Dublin 2. I was not disappointed.

Located on the trendy and thriving Camden Street Lower in Dublin 2, Hang Dai Chinese is one of the best reviewed restaurants in Dublin. It has received rave reviews for its for its Asian fusion Chinese cuisine.

When first stepping into the establishment, it becomes obvious that this is not your run-of-the-mill Chinese restaurant. The décor is bright, vibrant, and stylised, fitted with coloured lights, metro styled booths, disco balls, and Asian décor. After reading the ‘About’ section of their website, the décor is inspired by the cult classic film, Bladerunner.

As soon as you walk into the restaurant section you pass right by the fully equipped kitchen and the chefs cooking. The kitchen is clean, fully visible, and adds to the ambience of the restaurant.

After browsing the menu, it becomes apparent that this isn’t anything like a Chinese takeaway on the corner. The food is pricey, with mains averaging at about €20-25. After ordering, I strolled over to the bar and spotted the cocktail menu which is apparently another draw of the restaurant. I decided to be adventurous and got a ‘Zombie’ which turned out to be a fruity cocktail with more alcohol than I bargained for.

After chatting to the barman for a bit, he revealed that Hang Dai Chinese is not just a restaurant. After the kitchen closes, the establishment hosts music nights with guest Djs which play till the early hours of the morning.

The food is accompanied by complimentary prawn crackers, which were delicious. The food I received was exceptionally well cooked. I ordered a fried chicken dish with a side of their ‘special fried rice’. The chicken was soft, moist, seasoned to perfection, and covered in a sweet and sour sauce.

The staff themselves were friendly and helpful. After speaking to the manager, he informed me that the recipes were brought back from China by the head chef who trained the staff in its preparation and cooking. Most of the ingredients are locally sourced and are fresh. A great deal of effort is placed in the running of the kitchen, and the excellent food reflected this.

The dishes are not strictly Chinese but more of an Asian fusion of cooking. For example, the prawn curry with lime and coconut is more Thai inspired cooking. Another item I tried were the cheeseburger spring rolls which one could describe as an American take on the traditional Chinese spring roll.

The restaurant is usually fully booked well in advance serving as a testament to its popularity among locals. Thursdays till the weekend seem to be the busiest hours for the restaurant. The décor and atmosphere seems to be geared for clientele base of younger working adults (25+).

They also offer more of a delivery service (order and fetch) which operates under the name HAWKER. It has a few select items off the menu, but doesn’t offer some of the items served inside, such as the roast duck and pancakes which one must pre order when you make your booking.

Taking a walk upstairs will take you to Hang Dai’s Gold Bar which serves cocktails and other drinks. It offers up a balcony upstairs that allows patrons to soak up the sun while enjoying their drinks. The décor of the Gold Bar is a little more traditional but has been modernised with wood panelling benches, brass fittings, and a golden ceiling.

The Verdict:

4.5/5

The food and service was exceptional. There wasn’t one item I tried which was not absolutely delicious and the waiters are friendly and could eagerly steer you to order some of their most popular dishes. The price was a little steep, but the quality of the food more than made up for this. I would definitely recommend  this restaurant to anyone who is in the mood for some Asian cuisine.