Occupying a beautiful spot in the Jumeirah Mina A’Salam resort and with head chef Lai Min Wei at the helm it’s unsurprising that people travel far to visit this fine-dining Chinese restaurant. Stepping inside Zheng He guests will immediately be hit by the venue’s peaceful tranquillity with its calming interiors and relaxed ambience. High ceilings give the space a bright and airy feel whilst contemporary furnishings and subtle oriental flourishes allude to the restaurant’s menu. Outside a stunning waterside terrace lined with palm trees permits guests to enjoy their meal al fresco as they watch the hotel’s quaint little boats meander down the private waterways.
Bringing a wealth of experience from his time spent at Hakkasan’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Hanway Place in London, chef Lai Min Wei has reimagined a menu of traditional Chinese cuisine with modern flair working alongside the hotel’s admired executive chef Reiner Lupfer. The a la carte menu offers familiar dishes to those well versed in the cuisine of China but for a full experience of Zheng He’s prowess the Voyager’s Menu (898 AED) is an enticing, albeit pricy proposition. This seven course tasting menu begins with an xiao long bao filled Jasmine tea smoked wagyu beef rib followed by an extravagant prawn toast topped with golden ossetra caviar. Next, French lobster – fresh from the tank- comes served with a black pepper sauce. For their fourth course guests can look forward to the signature peking duck with its perfectly crisp skin, a prelude to the blow torched Japanese Wagyu beef that comes next with a creamy peanut sesame sauce. Finally, before selecting a dessert of their choice, diners will be treated to a lotus leaf with abalone premium seafood and mushroom rice.
The best value option is undoubtedly the Emperor’s Express Menu served exclusively at lunch for 148AED per person and comprising a starter, soup, main and dessert.