I usually make it a point to not review the same restaurant more than once, but when Kong called me up and told me about the hairy crab menu at Dragon-i, temptations got the better of my crab/crap policy.
The first time I had hairy crab (Chinese mitten crab 大閘蟹) was at Restaurant King Crab almost 2 years ago. It gave me a impression not entirely unlike the first taste of foie gras, the roe/juice from hairy crab has a very unique richness and taste.
The hairy crab set menu goes for RM128 nett, not for the faint hearted
Hairy crab served at Dragon-i is harvested and air flown weekly from Tai Lake, China. The season starts at around September and runs through December every year.
The set menu is priced at RM 128 nett per person (min 3 pax) with six dishes – steamed Shanghainese hairy crab, steamed Shanghainese crab roe dumpling (xiao long pao), double-boiled superior chicken soup with fish maw & bamboo pith, sauteed fresh vegetable with crab roe, yong chow fried rice, and sesame dumpling with ginger soup.
the crab is steamed and then masterfully prepared for your consumption
As with most classic Chinese dinners, we started out with the double boiled superior chicken soup with fish maw and bamboo pith. The soup was subtle yet sophisticated, I really love the big slab of fish maw and different texture given by the bamboo pith. Adding a little bit of soya sauce makes it rather tasty.
double boiled soup, vegetable with crab roe, yong chow fried rice
Next up was the sauteed vegetable with crab roe, a simple and unassuming looking dish that turned out to be very good. The richness and crab roe balanced by fresh green vegetable that is sauteed ever just slightly. A very good combination.
Dragon-i’s famous xiao long pao was served next. Only this time they’re topped with crab roe much like the style more associated with Japanese food. I particularly like the tiny tray with a handle they used to hold the xiao long pao, even the ginger in vinegar is meticulously chopped. Every strand is equal in length and width.
cheesie showing the xiao long pao topped with crab roe
Yong Chow fried rice was served just before the hairy crab itself. Although a relatively common fried rice dish you can find basically in any Chinese restaurant in Malaysia, the fried rice at Dragon-i was something else. Prepared by chef Kung Yu Hung who is actually from Yangzhou (that’s Yong Chow in Mandarin) itself, the rice is fried with bits of char siu, egg, green onion, prawn, and of course, hairy crab meat. It is on par with the excellent fried rice I had at Elegant Inn.
chef Kung Yu Hung, KY, glutinous rice dumpling with sesame
The main dish of the day, hairy crab, was up next. Simply steamed with no extra ingredients added, the crab is then prepared by our very professional server. The shell is opened, each leg is then cut and the crab meat pushed slightly outwards, the pincers too were cracked for easier consumption.
We had a male crab of about 200+ gram (female for the roe, male has more meat) each. The “kou”, technically not roe since these were male crabs, was supremely rich and savory. They are similar to “kou” found in the mud crab we are more familiar with but several order tastier, for the lack of a better description. The meat too was sweet and very delicious.
Kong (left) and fellow comrades who enjoyed the lunch session
We capped the day by having sesame dumpling with ginger soup as dessert, the ginger soup was something good to wash the tongue off any lingering seafood taste, and the sesame dumpling was rather good too.
Overall it was a very satisfying food review session that was only made better by the company we were with. Meena (who was shortlisted on Nuffnang Awards for best food blog), KampungboyCitygirl, fatboybakes, Cumi&Ciki, and more were there and everyone had a great time.
Address:
Dragon-i
6 Jalan PJU 7/3
Lot 136 & 137, 1F
Mutiara Damansara, PJ, Selangor
GPS: 3.157699, 101.611540
Tel: 03-7728 6888
The hairy crab menu ca n also be found at Dragon-i outlets located at Pavilion, Mid Valley, 1 Utama, Sunway Pyramid, and Queensbay Mall in Penang.
Related Posts:
- KY eats – Shanghai Hairy Crab (大閘蟹) at Restaurant King Crab
- KY eats – Mid Autumn Set Menu at Dragon-i, KL Pavilion
- KY eats – Dragon-i Restaurant at 1 Utama
- Kerol’s Crab Eating Steps
- KY eats – Thai Express at The Curve
By JD on Nov 1, 2009 | Reply
The Hairy Crab and the Siu Long Bao sure looks good! It’s great that we can eat all this here in KL too.
By KY on Nov 1, 2009 | Reply
JD,
Yah, awesome stuff!
By Huai Bin on Nov 1, 2009 | Reply
Nice! Hairy crab…had that in Korea as well as Alaskan King Crab. I can’t find the latter here though and I suspect I don’t want to. The prices are insane!
By pinky on Nov 1, 2009 | Reply
i was expecting the crab to be hairier hehe
By KY on Nov 1, 2009 | Reply
Huai Bin,
Ooo Alaskan King Crab would indeed be very pricey!
pinky,
Hahha, the leg’s hairy
By Nigel Skelchy on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
Hey KY, nice to meet you. Just reviewed it too.
Good to put a face to the name 
By God on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
hmmm….dammit makes me wanna change plan this friday to whack this kinda crab instead. RM 128 dapat berapa Ketam ?
By KY on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
Nigel Skelchy,
Likewise!
God,
Of course, one crab. hehee
By Chef Mel on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
The food’s presented so well! Hungry T.T
By KY on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
Chef Mel,
Yesss, I want some now too!
By Tey Cindy on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
Ring’s bag looks like Doraemon’s bag! hehehe
By cumidanciki on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
fwarr.. u very da fast hor.. love the closeup shot of the half eaten balls!
By eiling on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
yeah Hairy crab ze best! Just had one yesterday too! yumms
By Lyrical Lemongrass on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for sending over that extra hairy crabby.
Mmmuakkkkssss.
By KY on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
Tey Cindy,
Hahhaha true
cumidanciki,
Heheh thanks thanks. Fast isn’t always a good description for a guy. :X
eiling,
Wooo yums!
Lyrical Lemongrass,
Hahaha only for you, Meena!
By kampungboycitygal on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
yo nice meeting u again! there’s a lot of dirty jokes going around our table over the lunch lol
By KY on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
kampungboycitygal,
Ooo, that’s due to Meena right? LOL
By Kong on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
Roast pigeon at Canton-i next!
By taufulou on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
1st time hear got hairy crab..but the set meal is reasonable lei~
By KY on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
Kong,
oOo tempting @.@
taufulou,
Ahh, learn something new everyday
By Leo on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
it’s time of the season again!!! Last year I had it at King Crab… let’s see where can I eat it this year…
By Mizz Sharon on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
Wow, yum, crab! It has been awhile since I’ve last eaten crab, I shud too, soon =)
By KY on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
Leo,
Make it happen!
Mizz Sharon,
Do it
By Jac on Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
it looks wonderfull.. but so is the price..
By Cheesie on Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
cindy: u mean like his pocket ah. wtf.
By Cheesie on Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
EVERYBODY MUST GO EAT THIS SHIT IS OMFG GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Cheesie on Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
ky: HAHAHAH KYSPEAKS IS FAST HAHAHAH.
“love the closeup shot of the half eaten balls!”
WHO HOLD THAT FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!
By Cheesie on Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
Ok i should stop typing liddat. Ppl think im on drugs later.
By KY on Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
Jac,
Yaaa, that’s how much hairy crab costs this season
Cheesie,
LoL why are u so hyper!
By J2Kfm on Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
and i had no idea male crabs have roes, for i thought they are supposed to be eggs.
only after reading FBB’s post ….
now i’d rather choose the female crabs though. *_*
By KY on Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
J2Kfm,
Hahaha just embrace it only!
By michelle on Nov 5, 2009 | Reply
Hi KY & cheesie , really nice to meet up with ur guys last weekend~
By squall on Nov 5, 2009 | Reply
nice to meet up with u and others…
By Lyrical Lemongrass on Nov 5, 2009 | Reply
Wei, where I tell dirty jokes wan?
By KY on Nov 5, 2009 | Reply
michelle,
Nice to meet you too!
squall,
The feeling is mutual
Lyrical Lemongrass,
ahh your reputation precedes you.
By dragoncity on Nov 6, 2009 | Reply
crap!! I miss the crab.
By KY on Nov 6, 2009 | Reply
dragoncity,
still available!
By Harris on Nov 7, 2009 | Reply
KY when you going to bone Cheesie. I know you want to
By jamey on Nov 7, 2009 | Reply
Have you ever come across FoodKingdom? A social network for Food lovers like you. http://foodkingdom.com.my/world/
By KY on Nov 7, 2009 | Reply
Harris,
Wah you can read minds? lol
jamey,
Er.. no.
By xilopita5 on Feb 24, 2010 | Reply
omg the siu long pau tray is so cute!!! can i have the picture of it? wanna upload it on fb