Paradise Group, originally started in Singapore, has been making inroads to the local Chinese restaurant scene as a worthy competitor to the likes of Dragon-i and Din Tai Fung. Definitely a good thing if you ask me.

Last week, I had the chance to sample their Hakka Poon Choi (盆菜), a limited-time CNY special at Paradise Dynasty, Bangsar Village II. The session was organized by HungryGoWhere Malaysia.

Paradise Dynasty at Bangsar Village 2
Paradise Dynasty at Bangsar Village 2

My previous experience with Paradise group was at Paradise Inn, Sunway Pyramid. While Paradise Inn serves some of the best double boiled soup, classic tea, and desserts along side Chinese dishes, Paradise Dynasty concentrates on northern and southern Chinese cuisine with an innovative touch. There are dishes you find in one but not the other, though there are certainly many that overlaps.

The kitchen is only separated by a few pane of glasses from the public, where you can observe the crafty chefs preparing xiao long bao (小龙包).

modern interpretation of xiao long bao, hot and sour soup
modern interpretation of xiao long bao, hot and sour soup

We started the night with their signature 8-flavor xiao long bao (RM 24++). They come in multitude of colors with each consisting different ingredients in them.

  • original (translucent white)
  • foie gras (orange)
  • black truffle (black)
  • crab roe (light orange)
  • cheese (yellow)
  • ginseng (green)
  • minced garlic (grey)
  • Szechuan (pink)

I tried the black truffle, foie gras, and ginseng variety and found them to be pretty unique and rather well made. While the foie gras/truffle tastes weren’t particularly strong, you can still tell what they are even if eating with your eyes closed. A little gimmicky, yes, but one that works for me.

The hot and soup soup was thick and quite flavorful, though I’d prefer it to be slightly more spicy. I’m glad that this soup that was impossible to find just a few years ago is now quite common in Malaysia, it was one of the dishes I missed from US.

Hakka poon choi, this is what we're here for
Hakka poon choi, this is what we’re here for

Then came the poon choi, (RM 388++ for 4-6 pax, RM 688++ for 8-10 pax) and what a handsome dish it was. The dish is served in a clay pot to retain heat, and we were explained that since the dish comes with thick abalone broth, having a heat source underneath the pot would burn the dish, which isn’t going to be a good thing.

how many ingredients can you spot here? there are 16 in total
how many ingredients can you spot here? there are 16 in total

There were 16 different ingredients in all, including abalone, goose feet, fish maw, sea cucumber, fresh scallop, prawns, dried oysters, mushroom, brocolli, and more.

We really enjoyed the dish, and my only minor complain was that the goose feet could perhaps be made just a bit softer, but I finished it nonetheless, it was positively wholesome.

By the way, they are also available for take-away.

crab meat with egg white, crystal prawn with salted egg, spicy chicken with dried chili
crab meat with egg white, crystal prawn with salted egg, spicy chicken with dried chili

We also tried their crab meat with egg white and yolk, a pretty unique dish that is made from egg white, yolk, and some seafood but without any crab. However, it ends up tasting a bit like crab meat, which is rather interesting. As explained by the PR person, this dish was invented because the empress wanted to have crab but it was not in season, hence the chefs came up with this to avoid a head/neck separation incident. I don’t know how true is this but it does make a good story.

The other two dishes we sampled were crystal prawn with salted egg that was good enough to eat with shells and all, and a spicy chicken with dried chili dish (辣子鸡) that I can’t seem to stop putting in my mouth (only I wish there was beer).

KY & May Ying, with HungryGoWhere users and more
KY & May Ying, with HungryGoWhere users and more

map to Bangsar Village 2

Address:
Paradise Dynasty
Lot 2F-17, Level 2
Bangsar Village 2
Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur
GPS: 3.13071, 101.67146
Tel: 03-2201 7022

KY eats – Poon Choi at Paradise Dynasty, Bangsar Village II
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14 thoughts on “KY eats – Poon Choi at Paradise Dynasty, Bangsar Village II

  • January 14, 2014 at 6:58 pm
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    KY, poon choi not yet popular in restaurants in states but sold in takeout at Asian supermarket deli. Most Chinese find it like clay pot cooking.

    Reply
    • January 14, 2014 at 11:58 pm
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      Vickie: they weren’t as popular even just a few years ago, seems to be gaining popularity lately.

      Reply
  • January 15, 2014 at 12:06 am
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    Oh i’ve always wanted to try those colorful Xiao Long Baos! Shall mark this place down 😀

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  • January 15, 2014 at 10:46 am
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    Not a fan of xiao lung pao, not into the gingery soup inside…and just ok with poon choi, not something I would be carving for….but what are those inside? Chicken feet? Duck feet? Eyewwwwww!!!!! LOL!!! I’ll have the salted egg prawns, if you don’t mind. The rest, you go ahead. 😀

    Reply
    • January 15, 2014 at 12:59 pm
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      suituapui: goose feet is awesome!!!!

      Reply
  • January 15, 2014 at 3:36 pm
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    Kinda sad to know that Reunion has closed down…one of the better Chinese restaurant around the Klang Valley. 🙁 However, it’s good to know that it’s replacement is alright.

    Reply
    • January 15, 2014 at 4:25 pm
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      JD: oh well, it’s a pretty competitive landscape out there.

      Reply
  • January 16, 2014 at 6:18 am
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    looked so yummy… why no poon choi in belgium?!! I’ll be back this weekend!!!

    Reply
  • January 17, 2014 at 8:19 pm
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    So when is OUR annual CNY poon choi? 😀 😀 😀

    Reply
    • January 19, 2014 at 11:09 pm
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      eyeris: we should make it happen, soon!

      Reply
  • January 22, 2014 at 5:49 pm
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    Love Poon Choy! it’s like a whole huge pot of yum!!

    Reply
    • January 22, 2014 at 9:37 pm
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      ciki: haha yah, all in one! poon choi is the new yee sang for CNY!

      Reply

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