Bringing you a taste of authentic Chinese cuisine, the Emperor’s Wok at Hilton, Colombo offers diners a gourmet journey with irresistible Cantonese and Szechuan flavours.
The vibrant setting of the restaurant, inspired by the ancient Han civilisation, features seating for 98 guests, an open wok show-kitchen concept, noodle station, and an interactive bar. In addition, Emperor’s Wok offers four intimate private dining rooms for business or social gatherings.
The elegant interior and warm atmosphere is imbued with the strong and effective use of natural lights and colours which add vibrancy to the extended space. A variety of Chinese pottery and antique ceramics adorn the restaurant whilst the contemporary artwork, impressive hand carvings, and Chinese calligraphy displayed on the walls complement the noodle station and tea bar and provide the impression of a night-time Asian street market.
At the restaurant, one can find an array of innovative interpretations of classic Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine with a contemporary twist that is rich and diversified in colour, aromatic flavour and tastes that vary from mild to spicy, creating a harmonious meal prepared by an experienced team of chefs. Emperor’s Wok is sure to spread a feast of the finest Cantonese delicacies and intricate dim sums crafted by a team of master chefs right in front of your eyes – literally. The open kitchen allows you to watch the chefs at work and marvel at their quick wrists and interesting cooking styles.
Brunch had the pleasure of popping over to The Emperor’s Wok for lunch and experiencing a taste of authentic Chinese cuisine. The carefully curated menu comprises a selection of appetisers, soups, dim sums, BBQ combinations, and platters along with seafood offering a variety of choices of cooking styles, Cantonese and Szechuan delicacies amidst poultry and meats, rice, noodles, and desserts. We opted for three varieties of dim sum – chicken char siu bao, crystal prawn dumplings with water chestnut, and pork dumplings with black vinegar and ginger. The char siu bao was incredibly soft and sweet, complementing the BBQ flavour of the sauce that coated a generous amount of chicken. The other two dumplings too were cooked to perfection and were an explosion of flavour in our mouth.
For mains, the chef recommended we have their signature Yang Zhou fried rice with chicken char siu and shrimp, accompanied by chicken in a sweet and sour honey glaze, braised pork belly, modha fish in ginger and spring onion, tiger prawns cooked in buttermilk, as well as some buttered broccoli. While the fried rice had enough protein to be eaten on its own, the combination of the recommended dishes were amazing. We cannot stop raving about the prawns in buttermilk – three huge prawns coated in a crispy topping, with the flavour of the buttermilk in combination with the prawns being indescribable. We can only urge you to try it out for yourself and promise you will not be disappointed.
The pork belly too, was an absolute hit – the pork is so soft that it practically melts in your mouth, leaving behind all the flavours of the sauce. It’s the perfect pairing with the fried rice and all the umami flavours that come with it. The fish too is worth a mention, purely because of the sauce it was so generously coated in. All in all, the meat came together nicely to highlight every ingredient on the plate and complemented each other beautifully.
Moving on to dessert, we had the five-spice chocolate pudding with coconut ice cream. The first time we had this dish was during Christmas, so now every time we bite into it, it brings back fond memories of the most wonderful time of the year. Its warm gooey exterior, combined with the cold ice cream and coconut flakes as well is a party in your mouth. If you like chocolate, you’re bound to enjoy this dish.
Open daily for lunch and dinner, Emperor’s Wok not only boasts exquisite taste in cuisine but creates a unique dining experience with a “Kung-Fu” Tea Master who welcomes diners with his special skills, pouring out a welcome drink to all his guests made with a combination of eight exotic teas believed to enhance one’s complexion and rejuvenate their “chi” (energy). Furthermore, a selection of unique healthy teas is available to be enjoyed with the meal and the interactive bar showcases talented mixologists concocting innovative cocktails and mocktails for discerning diners.
