RESTAURANT REVIEW: Hakkasan

233 N. Beverly Drive | Beverly Hills, CA 90201 | 310-888-8661 | hakkasan.com/beverlyhills | $$$$

By JACQUELINE PRIMO | Reporter

Hakkasan Beverly Hills offers a dining experience of unparalleled celebrity—not only is it a nightlife hot-spot frequented by Hollywood elite, but the modern Cantonese cuisine and drinks deserve a red carpet of their own.

Located in the heart of Beverly Hills just a few blocks away from iconic Rodeo Drive, this posh restaurant has its finger on the pulse of all things high-end and luxurious while maintaining an approachable and friendly dining atmosphere.

With accommodating valet and hosts who greeted me like an old friend (without being uncomfortably forward) and a very knowledgeable wait staff who knew the ins and outs of the menu, from start to finish my entire dining experience was a treat.

Upon entering the restaurant, my dining companion and I walked into the expansive bar with adjacent wine room and were led through Hakkasan’s richly-lit dining room before being seated at a marble table with pillow-topped booths. Walking through the establishment, the overall atmosphere felt both swanky and mellow.

Despite the restaurant’s large size, Hakkasan offers each table an intimate feel – we felt like the only guest in the room.

We started off our evening with a cocktail, selecting from an array of concoctions all made with fresh pressed fruit and vegetable juices. The Green Destiny, made with Zubrowka Bison Grass vodka, cucumber, kiwi and Granny Smith apple juice, was light and refreshing. The delicate cucumber flavor mixed pleasantly with the notes of kiwi and Granny Smith. The Hakka, composed of Belvedere vodka, Tozai junmai sake, coconut, passion fruit and lychee juice, tasted tropical and sweet. Neither drink had a strong taste of alcohol and the fresh juices left the cocktails a little foamy with a crisp taste.

The Hakkasan experience centers around a family-style meal composed of small plates made to share. We started off with the Jasmine Tea Smoked Pork Short Rib—a succulent dish with meat so tender it seemed to fall off the bone with just the thought of taking a bite, and the notes of Jasmine added a unique and subtle flavor to the already delicious dish.

The Crispy Duck Salad with pomegranate, pine nut and shallot was by far our favorite selection and we decided immediately to return for that dish alone on our next visit. The blend of textures from the crispy duck and bursting pomegranate seeds, light greens and crunchy pine nuts was unbeatable.

We also tried the Crispy Chicken with Kumquat Lemon Sauce, which was the heaviest selection we made during our visit. In contrast, the grilled seabass with Chinese honey was easily our favorite dish next to the duck salad. Light and mildly flavored fish, the honey added just a hint of sweetness, making for an all-around satisfying and healthy plate.

The Hakka Noodle with mushroom and Chinese chive—akin to lo mein noodles—was a nice supplement to go along with the rest of the dishes. The noodles were quite tasty even on their own.

The Stir-Fry French Bean with bak hoo, preserved mustard and olive provided a welcome addition to an already delectable dinner.

There was neither a crumb amiss nor a sliver not sliced before the server left us to sink our teeth into my personal favorite part of any meal—dessert. We enjoyed melt-in-your-mouth macaroons that would pair delightfully with tea or coffee and were both delicate and aromatic. We left truly satisfied and eager to return.

Having won awards for its environment, design, interior, dishes and wine list and placing five times on Restaurant Magazine’s list of the Top 50 Restaurants in the World since its launch in 2001, Hakkasan is truly a force of culinary prowess that has a worldwide buzz at its 12 locations.

At Hakkasan Beverly Hills, with its exquisite food and drinks alongside its proximity to all things LA, it seems truly impossible to go wrong.