Zen Chinese
Both its name and its appearance leave no doubt that this is no ordinary Cantonese restaurant. Indeed, it became an instant trendsetter when it opened in 1989, eschewing the traditional flashy decor favored by most Chinese restaurants in favor of an austere Zen Buddhist style, with an open dining hall that allowed customers to see and be seen. To offset the simplicity and starkness of the room, a succession of large glass bowls running the length of the restaurant are suspended from the ceiling, creating a never-ending cascade as water trickles from one red bowl to the next; some think the arrangement looks like a dragon.
As for the food, there is a wide variety of Cantonese specialties that border on the nouvelle. Try the shark's-fin soup with minced chicken, sautéed prawns with dried chile and walnuts, or sautéed crab in an earthen pot. Unlike those of most Chinese restaurants, the wine list is rather extensive, though alcohol will greatly add to your bill. With most dishes averaging HK$90 to HK$130 (US$12-US$17/£6.40-£9.30), you can easily dine here for less than HK$400 (US$52/£29) if you abstain. For lunch, you can eat even more cheaply, with dim sum available for HK$30 to HK$48 (US$3.90-US$6.25/£2.15-£3.40) a plate.
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| Cuisine | Cantonese | |
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| Hours | Mon-Fri 11:30am-3pm; Sat 11:30am-5pm; Sun 10:30am-5pm; daily 5:30-11pm | |
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| Address | Shop 001, 88 Queensway | |
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| Location | Pacific Place, Central, Central District | |
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| Transportation | MTR: Admiralty | |
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| Reservations | Reservations recommended | |
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| Phone | 852/2845 4555 | |
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| Prices | Main dishes HK$90-HK$180 (US$10-US$23/£6.40-£13) | |
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| Credit Cards | AE, DC, MC, V | |