Jade Dynasty Introduces New Dishes

Located on the top floor of Ala Moana Center (just up the ramp from Mai Tai Bar), Jade Dynasty Seafood restaurant serves up authentic Hong Kong-style cuisine in a welcoming, elegant atmosphere. The restaurant has an extensive menu, which includes a wide selection of dim sum and entrees that reflects its ongoing efforts to reinvent its cuisine in creative ways.

“We have a lot of traditional Chinese food, and then we create on top of that,” explains general manager Gary Chan. “You have to have a good base, and then you can create more contemporary things.”

Customer favorites include Dynasty Tea-Smoked Jumbo Shrimps ($23.95), Pan Seared Seafood Stuffed Tofu ($3.50) and Baked Snow Mountain Char Siu Buns ($3.50).

In addition to those tasty classic dishes, Jade Dynasty is constantly creating new dishes. Recently, one of the chefs went on a trip to Hong Kong — and has returned to the Islands with a slew of new items.

“A lot of our customers like the restaurant because we keep on creating new dishes,” Chan says.

One of the new items is Crispy Roast Pork in Chinese Crepe ($17.95 for eight pieces), which consists of pork wrapped in a light, delicate crepe. Another new dish is Lobster with Mochi Rice (Market Price). Customers also can choose to have this dish made with crab instead. “We make the mochi rice first, and then we cook the crab or the lobster inside, so all of the good juices are there to flavor the rice,” Chan says. Both of these dishes require about a day of prep time, so each needs to be ordered at least one day in advance.

Other new dishes include Crispy Chicken with Roasted Garlic ($17.95) and Golden Signature Beef ($17.95), which is bathed in an aromatic white wine sauce. “The outside is crispy, and the inside is cooked very tenderly,” Chan explains.

In addition to these new creations, Chan says that Jade Dynasty also can create dishes based on specific requests. “If people call in and they say they want a new fish dish, for example, we can make something new.

“We want our customers to taste something different, something memorable,” Chan says.

Jade Dynasty also has a full bar, including quality red and white wine selections, to provide its customers with the perfect beverage to complement their food.

With its ever-changing menu and elegant decor, Jade Dynasty is the perfect place to celebrate any special occasion. Chan says that the restaurant often plays host to wedding, birthday or graduation parties. And one popular option for celebrations is to visit Jade Dynasty on Saturday mornings, when Perry and Price host their show at the restaurant from 8 to 11 a.m. The event takes place about twice a month and includes an “east meets west” themed breakfast buffet — all for just $25 for adults and $16.95 for children ages 3 to 10. “It is very funny, and very interactive for the audience,” Chan says.

On the Side

“When the restaurant started, we wanted to see how we could bring the Hong Kong-style dim sum to the Islands,” says general manager Gary Chan. Jade Dynasty has achieved those authentic flavors through working with partner restaurants in Hong Kong. Periodically, the restaurant will send its chefs to Hong Kong — and the exchange program has yielded creative and authentic treats.

Jade Dynasty sends its chefs to Hong Kong about once a year. “They enjoy it because they get to meet chefs from other parts of the world,” Chan says. “And then the chefs from Hong Kong learn from our chefs, too.

“It gives our chefs a lot of fresh ideas about different dishes and presentation,” he says. “And ever since our chef came back from his most recent trip, he has just kept on creating. He has all of his creative juices flowing right now.”

Jade Dynasty also adds a local flair to its food, as many of the ingredients are procured locally. “We try to use as much local food as we can,” Chan says, adding that much of its seafood is local, including Kahuku prawns and Big Island abalone. “A lot of people appreciate when we mention these local foods, especially those from out of town. It’s about providing our customers with an experience — they want to taste food that you can’t get anywhere else.”

Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant

Ala Moana Center
Hookipa Terrace
1450 Ala Moana Blvd. #4220, Honolulu
947.8818
Open daily, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; dim sum served from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.