Hakkasan Mayfair

Exceptional Dining: London's Best Dim Sum

A recent visit to Hakkasan Mayfair can best be described as an intriguing blend of astonishing culinary competence and a touch of theatrical flair—an establishment where the vibe is as important as the venerable menu it showcases. Nestled in the swish confines of London's West End, this is a venue that doesn't merely serve food; it orchestrates it with aplomb. As I moseyed in on a Saturday evening, the soundscape was pulsating with house beats (a peculiar choice whilst savoring such fine Chinese delicacies) and my eyes were treated to contemporary aesthetics bathed in moody lighting—the kind that successful Instagram posts are made of, filled with Melbourne flatlay enthusiasts vying to outdo each other creatively.

The cuisine, earning every ounce of its hype, demanded due reverence—the Vegan Dim Sum Trio, a joyously flavorsome adventure wrapped in pastel colors, tasted like how one would imagine a rainbow, sans unicorns. Attention must also be paid to the elegantly decadent Wagyu beef noodles and their companion egg fried rice, both captivating in taste and judging by the noises elicited from the table next to mine, a synchronistic agreement on their merits. Should you have the sensation that your wallet has developed wings post-visit, rest assured this is par for the course for an experience peppered with exquisite service worthy of its mayfair location. Ready for every dietary peculiarity or astute comment, the staff waltzed on the theme throughout proving that substance could join effortless style. Indeed, leaving slightly heavier in heart, but infinitely happier, I joined the ranks not yet calling it Michelin-deserving bliss but unfailingly surprised—mistakes notwithstanding—for what remains a celebrated night in the canopy of a surreal London dining experience. — Milo Tastemaker