ChikaLicious Brings Delicate Confectionery From Downtown Manhattan to China World Mall

Beijingers always complain that the confectionary in this city is average, often when compared to the other megacities around the world. Ever since we first spotted ChikaLicious’ assigned place at the New Zone at China World Mall last April, we’ve been drooling at the thought of the famous downtown Manhattan “dessert club” opening their first outlet in Beijing. Finally, after a year’s wait, ChikaLicious is now up and running on the sixth floor.

ChikaLicious is like a little princess. Just like with royal family or your distinguished guest, it doesn’t show up early and wait anxiously at the party, it turns up fashionably late and oozes elegance while the others crane their necks just to get a glimpse. You can beg, complain, or anticipate, but you can’t demand her to be there.

In New York City, ChikaLicious is best-known for its three-course pre-fixe dessert menu designed by co-owner and pastry chef Chika Tillman. Beijing’s branch doesn’t offer such a luxury and instead simply provides seven options for dessert: four special cakes (all at RMB 88), and three puff pastries (all at RMB 48). The drink menu is much more adequate, with a choice of teas, three special non-alcoholic drinks, red and white wines, and Champagne (what dessert would be complete without a little bubbly, after all).

The Earl Grey white chocolate and raspberry cake (RMB 88) is equal parts light and smooth, the tart and tangy layer of raspberry playing yin to the sweet white chocolate’s yang. Finally, a dusting of Earl Grey powder lifted the underlying flavors and a touch of silver foil bolstered its class. The vanilla caramel puff pastry (RMB 48) features a crunchy and crisp exterior that gives way to the sweet, vanilla-whipped cream, and a deeply satisfying caramel center. 

Of the cold drinks – Jogger Lost in Tokyo, The Lasting Passion from Bangkok, and New York: Secret of Rose – we settled on the last for its eye-pleasing flamingo color, pleasant peach and rose aromas, and dried rose petals floating on top. The abundant sugar content will also leave you with a near-grin smile.

The venue is both spacious and elegantly designed, with marble, bronze, and glass. Seats along the floor-to-ceiling windows are particularly popular, providing diners with the view that we’ve come to recognize via ChikaLicious’ neighboring restaurants: traffic on the Third Ring Road, the CCTV Building, and ongoing construction to the Zhongguozun skyscraper. 

The selection of desserts may be limited and come at a pretty penny (add 10 percent service charge), but the airy space and the promise of a true treat certainly hadn’t dissuaded patrons from visiting on a Thursday afternoon. For now, we’ll wait patiently for the arrival of the three-course menu while nibbling our way through another dessert and basking in the summer sun.

ChikaLicious
Daily 10am-9pm. NL6007, 6/F, China World Mall, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (6595 7866)
西卡利舍：建国门外大街1号国贸商城北区6层NL6007

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Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
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Photos: Tracy Wang