Yauatcha

There’s Dim Sum, and then there’s dim sum from a world-renowned team with fingers in every major global culinary scene.

Yauatcha, from the team who created Hakkasan, specialises in dim sum, but is designed to do so at more accessible prices than its world-renowned big sister.

It has to be said, the restaurant group’s idea of accessible pricing probably differs considerably to that of the average diner, but we’ve absolutely no arguments to make over the quality of the food. So perhaps it’s a fair half-way to the complete democratisation of fine dining.

Set in the upper portions of Riyadh’s Mode Al Faisaliah shopping mall, predominantly home to an assortment of luxury brands, Yauatcha Riyadh fits right into the mix.

The outdoor terrace is a super spot for looking out over the city while you sip through a pot of jasmine tea and pick your way through an assortment of small bites.

While the menu extends to a few bigger dishes, the emphasis is firmly on that trademark dim sum and sharing-style plates.

Skip the platters and go your own way – top picks in our view are the scallop shui mai, har gao crammed with fat prawns, and a generously proportioned prawn and bean curd cheung fun with an unexpected (but not at all unwelcome) crunch.

From the rest of the menu, Szechuan duck, served with pancakes, the usual line-up of garnishes and shredded tableside, is a real winner. Nailing that often elusive balance of crisp skin to still-moist meat, it’s a dish you’ll struggle to stop picking at, long after the last mocktails have been sipped and the pot of tea has been polished off.

And it’s a meal you won’t forget quickly, either. These guys know their way around dim sum. Time for Riyadh to start working its way through the menu.