Dim Sum Newbie Jia Teams Tradition with Innovation

Dim sum dreams come true at Jia, a recently opened Cantonese eatery in Lido’s NUO hotel that is a strong contender for the Best New Chinese Restaurant in the Beijinger's 2016 Reader Restaurant Awards.
 

The venue has plenty of classic Hong Kong dishes like fluffy xia jiao shrimp dumplings (which are bite sized, come in portions of four and are priced at RMB 28); cushy siu mai minced pork, shrimp and shiitake mushroom dumplings (also portioned in four, priced at RMB 25 and – best of all – lightly sprinkled with taste bud popping bits of caviar-esque Japanese roe); and steamed dessert buns (which are served in portions of three, each nearly twice as big as one of the aforementioned dumplings, and loaded with gooey golden custard, and cost RMB 23).
 

Customers can also opt for range of appetizers that rival of any of Jia’s main courses. Among those apps are perfectly cut cubes of Macanese style roasted pork belly (boasting a satisfyingly crunchy upper layer, priced at RMB 88 per portion). Tastier still are the morsels of poached spring chicken in black bean chili sauce (which feature a subtly smoldering aftertaste, and cost RMB 68). Patrons should round their appetizers courses out with leafy garden salad (RMB 48) or plateful of sliced poached pumpkin (RMB 48), both of which serve as perfect palate coolers after the spicier portions of chicken.
 

And while dim sum purists are sure to be satisfied at Jia, the restaurant’s true strength lies in its more creative takes on Hong Kong fare. The best example: the RMB 298 wok-fried wagyu beef ribs with black pepper sauce, leeks, porcini mushrooms and other assorted veggies. This dish’s red meat is positively drool-worthy, and rivals the offerings of Beijing’s best steak outlets. It’s essentially a fusion of stir fry and fillet that is hugely hearty, and wholly unique. 
 

By offering both reverential and experimental takes on dim sum, Jia is sure to not only earn many Best New Chinese Restaurant votes in 2016, but also perform strongly in the Restaurant of the Year Category in 2017 and beyond.

To vote in TBJ's 2016 Reader Restaurant Awards, click here, or to read more about the awards, click here.

Photos: Kyle Mullin