CHUAN Restaurant - Intimate & Exquisite Innovative Fine Chinese Cuisine

CHUAN restaurant at the Palm Jumeirah Dubai will have your impression changed completely from your previous Chinese dining experiences with more sophistication in its classy and abundant flavours of Chinese gastronomy in a stunning design and décor ambience. mylifestylenews writes.

When the word CHUAN appears in any Chinese menu, it often occurs to us that hot and spicy food can’t be exempted and it automatically relates to Sichuan region’s dishes and delicacies. CHUAN also means creek or stream in Chinese and symbolizes wealth, calm, peaceful and harmony.

Tucked away on the tip of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, the new dining precinct of The Pointe is surrounded by the sea and has very easy access if you are driving to this recently most sought after dining destination in Dubai.

On arrival you are instantly taken aback by the jaw-dropping view of the famous landmark Atlantis Resort and the largest dancing fountain light show in the UAE (if that is your thing) especially when you choose the al-fresco dining.

 What is more important is that you are even wowed by the incredibly spacious and classy interiors that set the scene for sophistication on all counts.

You will also marvel at the stunning wall decorations and designer lighting features that punctuate each private dining room and set an individual mood for each one, with the overall furniture design akin to Armani Casa, creating a very chic and elegant look.

Ensure to check out the wine cellar with a glass floor featuring over 3000 selection of wines from carefully picked regions globally – this is situated in the stair well leading to the upper level where the main bar and lounge is located, also beautifully interior designed with a darker tone and mood that is set for relaxation along with its in-house DJ spinning the groovy lounge tracks one after another.

Defining elegance in restaurant interiors seems hard to come by these days, as many eschew formality and go for that bistro/café feel.

CHUAN glass floor wine cellar

CHUAN most definitely wants their clientele to feel special as every design element has been thought through to the highest degree and attention to detail: think stunning hand-painted wall paper with peony flower and peacock motifs that you can’t stop looking at, ‘lilly pad’ wall bracket lighting that adds a gold metallic element juxtaposed against so much greys and browns, hand painted ceilings and walls by a master craftsman in tones of off-whites, blacks and greys depicting Chinese mountain gorge scenery that are very chic, imported marble that is specially cut and fitted and a selected small number of varying furniture styles and fabrics, all of which are striking in their simplicity yet majestically brighten and impose a grand atmosphere in the spacious dining areas.

CHUAN restaurant exudes elegance and charm in all aspects, with the elegant tabletops and fine dining setting giving you a feeling you already want to return before you have sampled a full evening of exquisite Chinese food. CHUAN serves elevated Chinese cuisines ranging from Sichuan province to Cantonese traditional flavour with a genuinely wide range of menu selections with every dish execution excelling in presentation to whet your appetite.

<CHUAN Negroni>

Combination of sweet vermouth and Campari stirred together with Japanese Nika from the barrel.

<Oriental Dream>

Spice rum, peach snap shaken together with kaffir lime and lychee juice and garnished with fresh lychee & lime leaves.

The specially designed Peking Roast Duck oven is worth a visit, through the glass window, where you will be able to see that your order is in good hands by their in-house master Peking Duck chef who looks after this infamous dish from preparation to table serving where the duck is skillfully sliced in front of you on a guéridon service trolley.

<北京烤鴨 Peking Roast Duck>
Half the duck is ideal if you come in a small party to leave room to savor other delectable dishes in CHUAN restaurant and needs no further introduction for this dish that was created since the imperial era. CHUAN restaurant’s Peking Roast Duck is superbly roasted and expertly thinly sliced with its glowing golden dark crisp skin and to be enjoyed by gently dipping into the refined caster sugar to sample the palate of 化 (Hua) that describes slipperiness and melt in the mouth effect with this delectable delight.

It comes with all the usual accoutrements, but the julienne spring onions, cucumbers and carrots were most perfectly cut. There are additional sauces – sweet chili and chili soy bean (they are usually catered for those non Peking Roast Duck enthusiasts who think they must have such accompaniments to complete their way of craving and enjoyment), authentic NOT! But the dark sweet plum sauce is the most traditional and the perfect accompaniment. Just so you know that small amount of meat is served and eaten with the provided condiments and wrapped in a freshly steamed thin pancake. The pancake arrived folded which proved rather difficult to open up for placing the meat and vegetable, slices of cooking papers place in between each pancake may well be a better solution for not ruining your manicure, just in case. The meat was quite flavoursome and enjoyable, being CHUAN restaurant’s signature dish.

<象形海鮮餃 Steamed Scallop and Shrimp Dumplings>
These are textbook copy dumplings that are so delicious and a must try despite dim sum is not regular to be ordered over dinner yet still a good snacker!

<脆皮牛肉薄餅 Crispy Beef Pancake>
Pancakes wouldn’t normally featured on a menu in fine dining, but this is a stunning dish –糯(Nuo) texture on the palate expresses the soft hugginess yet crispy and great comfort food elevated with a brilliant execution and you will put this one on your bucket list to come back to!

<三文魚沙拉土豆仔 Salmon Avacado Cup Salad>
This is a stunning presentation with the casing made out of wheat flour which hides the delights within: tasty salmon, mayonnaise and wasabi sauce, all home-made. For Chinese cuisine this is very unique and expertly executed in composition - reminiscent of the Indian savory snacks - Chaat, but more exclusively done and so moreish!

<揚州燙干絲 Shredded Dried Beancurd with Soy Sauce – Yangzhou Style>
While the sauce is the soul of this dish with a homemade secret recipe of soy sauce – Yangzhou style, the evenly refined julienne beancurd is always being forgotten from the master skill of the chef to present in “snow mountain” peak motifs and garnished with tomato and ginger. This is a classic dish done well and a harmony of flavours that is to be savoured!

<松茸湯 Matsutake Soup>
The soup is composed of Matsutake mushrooms and cordyceps flowers in chicken stock, which comes as a beautiful clear broth that is so heavenly in flavour and must be enjoyed before any heavier dish that could possibly ruin your palate. Yet more comfort food executed to perfection and simplicity at its best!

<珍菌佛跳墻 Mushroom Fou Tiao Qiang>
Another memorable dish, but it is important to know that this classic “Buddha Jumps Over The Wall” is bookmarked in the annals of Chinese cooking as a quintessential soup and they nail this perfectly in flavour and texture and delight your palate.

<蠔皇20頭南非吉品鮑 South Africa U20 Braised Abalone>
The U20 abalone is more than just a mouth-full size, well-braised for hours with the reduction sauce that is utterly delicious and the abalone plays second fiddle, having given its life to the sauce. This dish may not resonate with everyone, depending on your predilection to abalone cooked in the right way, but for aficionados of this particular dish, it is spot on!

<原隻龍蝦麻婆豆腐 MaPo Tofu with Whole Boston Lobster>
Superb presentation with the lobster flesh de-boned and lightly stewed with the silken tofu which is best accompanied with a bowl of fragrant jasmine rice that is a total no brainer. Despite the sauce was a little watery and the flavour was not as dominating which MaPo tofu should  be for its salivating desire on the palate by wanting more, the lobster meat is quite tasty and the rice aids in soaking up the delicious flavours – a dish that has to be enjoyed!

<蒜茸粉絲蒸扇貝 Steamed Scallop with Minced Garlic and Vermicelli>
It is an all time favorite and winning dish especially for scallop lovers that is done by steaming with minced garlic and a light soy sauce. The vermicelli soaks up all the freshest natural flavours from the giant size halved scallops, so tender and pleasantly enjoyable.

<清蒸石斑 Steamed Hammour with Light Soy Sauce>
A whole fish that is perfectly steamed, with firm, but tender meat and it is utterly moreish! There is no better way to enjoy a most palatable fish by being simply steamed, drenched with light soy sauce, ginger garnished with fine julienned scallion, a total homage to Haute Cantonese cuisine.

<蘆筍百合 Stir-fried Asparagus and Lilly Bulb>
You must order a vegetable dish to cleanse the palate and the combination of the seasonal white and green asparagus together with lily blub lightly stir-fried in garlic and seasoned to flavour simply makes your day and adds value to your order. With a firm springy bite and simple flavours that is truthful to its taste of origin. It wasn’t on the menu per se, but as each vegetable existed in other dishes we tried our luck to have only these two combined and it was just what we had hoped for.

<黑胡椒爆炒頂級牛菲力 Wok-fried Supreme Beef Fillet>
A good portion for one person that was served in three separate pieces, the meat seemed a little bit tough to cut, but fully absorbed the piquant peppery sauce served with tomato and mushroom. Worth trying!

Now while we had ordered more than we should, that is a very typical approach in a Chinese restaurant, as you want to get an overview of more than one or two dishes to see how the kitchen can create authentic flavours and consistency. Our expectations were exceeded and we were overjoyed to find a truly authentic Chinese restaurant that has a chic and elegant dining atmosphere and a great dedicated menu that is honest and unpretentious which you can absolutely trust. The service is discreet and helpful and they make you feel very relaxed and comfortable, which is what you need for any dining out occasion. We were particularly well looked after by Joraisalyn – our server- and Vinu – the bartender/sommelier for his signature cocktails tastefully presented. A special evening out is always memorable when the service meets or exceeds expectations so that you don’t have anxious moments about the menu or drinks selections and this team is about as good as it gets. As the water fuses everything, so is CHUAN restaurant. Sit back and go with the flow. Nothing was too much to ask by enjoying an evening with heavenly culinary creations that represented elevated Chinese cuisine. It is a bonus when this happens outside of China or Asia but in Dubai for more than just a bite of innovative Chinese cuisine.

Tried & Tested:
Location: 4.5/5
Design & Decor: 5/5
Food & Beverage: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Value For Money: 5/5
Experience: 5/5

CHUAN Restaurant

The Pointe (West)

The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Tel: +971 04 564 3888

Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated.