You can't help but to be blown away by the sheer opulence of Grand Millennium Hotel as you step into their lobby.

With the cascading chandelier, gigantic display of fresh flowers, the dark marble flooring and the gold water feature, you will be wowed.

The food at its Chinese restaurant Lai Ching Yuen is no exception to its whole grandeur. The restaurant is decorated in a glamorous black and red oriental theme, and is one of the nicest Chinese restaurants I had the honour of patronising.

I had the pleasure of tasting Lai Ching Yuen's new dishes. The standout of the evening was the Stuffed White Mushroom with Pork and Shrimp in Marmite Sauce.

The combination of the pork, shrimp and mushroom was well balanced. It had just enough bite and springiness, and the richness of the marmite just took the flavours to the next level. I never had a dish like this before, it was unique and innovative. I would highly recommend this tasty dish.

Next, I had the Smoked Duck Breast with Chef's Special Dressing. I was told that the duck breast is smoked in-house, so that they can control the intensity of the smokiness. I must say, the smokiness was just right.

The duck breast was succulent and cooked perfectly, and I loved how it was thinly sliced. The julienne cucumbers added a beautiful crunch and freshness, and the sauce added a slight sweetness and spice to the dish.

The Crispy-fried Cuttlefish with Salt and Pepper was a popular dish. The batter was light but crunchy and the seasoning was spot on! The nautical presentation of the dish was interesting, the shells and deep fried rice vermicelli made me feel like the cuttlefish was caught fresh from the sea!

The Stewed Stuffed Sea Cucumber with Shimeji Mushrooms and Bean Curd was another favourite of mine. The bean curd was cooked to perfection and melted in your mouth. The sea cucumber was cooked perfectly, and the shimeji mushrooms complimented all the other ingredients.

The Crispy German Pork Trotter was an impressive dish. I loved the crispy skin which wasn't too salty, and the meat was also tender and not too dry. The dish is served with a side of sweet chilli sauce.

The Baked Pork Ribs with Lemongrass is reminiscent of Thailand's lemongrass pork and just as tasty too! It was a flavourful meat dish that would be perfect with a side of white rice.

If you want something other than white rice, I highly recommend the Fried Rice with Goose Liver Paste and Pine Nuts. It is unlike any fried rice dish I've had, I loved the bite of the pine nuts that also adds an earthy flavour to the rice. The small bits of goose liver adds a richness to the dish. But don't worry, the liver is not too overwhelming. I'm a fan of this unique fried rice dish!

Lai Ching Yuen's Signature Ombak Style Tiger Grouper Sauteed with Soy was another standout. It is not hard to tell why this is a signature dish, the grouper was so soft, smooth and flavourful. It didn't have a very fishy taste, instead the richness of the soy sauce shines through. The soy sauce was one of the best I've tasted, it was sweet and salty and so full of flavour.

The Wok-fried Bei Fong Tong Style Prawns was lovely! The prawns were fresh and cooked well. I loved the chilli and garlic seasoning and the crunch from the crackers.

The Braised Crab Meat and Fresh Fish May Soup was a good alternative to sharks fin soup. In fact, I think it tastes better than sharks fin soup!

Now the desserts! If you love durian, you will love the Deep Fried Durian Yam Puffs. This dish is actually from Lai Ching Yuen's dim sum menu, but I would highly recommend this dish to any durian lover! With the crunchy exterior and creamy D24 durian filling, this dish is a winner!

We also had the pleasure of trying the White Rabbit Sherbet, which is really a blast from the past for me! Do you remember the white rabbit candy? It was that milky candy wrapped in edible rice paper. So it was pretty cool having that candy again after several years! The sherbet was smooth, creamy and tasted slightly tangy. It was certainly the perfect way to end our tasting!

The food at Lai Ching Yuen certainly doesn't disappoint. I was impressed with their new a la carte menu. It is inventive and exciting, and certainly worth a try. The ambience and great service is also another plus! Prices are seasonal here so you'll have to ask the staff upon arrival.

Lai Ching Yuen Restaurant @ Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur

Address: 160, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100, Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours: 12PM–2:30PM, 6:30PM–10PM

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