Award-Winning Cuisine Resides at Jade Dynasty

While local awards serve as attractive feathers in the caps of eateries, the honors bestowed by international organizations carry much more weight and prestige.

Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant, located at Hookipa Terrace on Ala Moana Center’s fourth floor, recently experienced the pride and acclaim that comes with earning such an award as the Escoffier Society’s Asia Pacific Region named the restaurant as “Best Chinese Restaurant in Hawaii.”

The Five-Star Diamond Award of Excellence was presented to Jade Dynasty in August, and comes from the prestigious culinary group that boasts a history dating back to 1936.

“It’s a great honor for us,” says general manager Gary Chan. “One of the gentlemen from the Escoffier Society flew here all the way from the Asia Pacific headquarters to test out our food.”

Jade Dynasty is constantly adding new menu items, many of which are influenced by the cuisine in both China and Hong Kong, including Braised Shanghai Pak Choy with Carrot and Crab Meat Sauce ($17.95, advance order required). The dish features fresh, flavorful vegetables in a savory sauce, and for those who do not prefer meat, Chan explains that the crab meat can be excluded to create a vegetarian option.

“This is a very healthy option, as the sauce contains a little egg white and carrots, and crab meat that goes on top of the pak choy, which is arranged turned up-style on the plate,” Chan says. “The presentation is beautiful, and the taste is very good as well.”

Yin & Yang Seafood Soup ($22.95, serves five people, advance order is required) pleases both the taste buds and the eyes, as the dish is presented beautifully with the broth crafted to feature elements of spinach and pumpkin.

“The top of the dish contains two layers, as the spinach and pumpkin are on top, and the seafood is below,” Chan says. “It’s a brand-new item, and it’s very hard to prepare this dish with the different layers.”

Another popular seafood selection served up at Jade Dynasty is Steamed Crab and Mochi Rice in a Lotus Wrap (market price, advance order required). Chan explains that the mochi rice is steamed in the lotus leaf with the Dungeness crab and stir-fried with a Chinese white wine sauce to allow the starch to soak up all the flavors.

Chan also is proud of another new dish to grace the Jade Dynasty menu in the Deep-Fried Golden Rolls ($4.50 for two). The pupu-style dish features taro, Chinese bacon and sausage wrapped in special spring roll wrappers that are shipped to the restaurant from China. The tasty starter features a light and flaky outer layer that won’t weigh down diners.

Another scintillating starter drawing rave reviews is Snow Mountain Char Siu Bun ($3.50 for three), which features three meat-filled buns that are light and fluffy, not doughy. The buns, which resemble little snow-capped mountains, are cooked in a special oven from China.

“We try to add new items every couple of weeks, so you will constantly see something new on the menu,” Chan says of the eatery that is capable of hosting up to 300 people, and encourages customers to celebrate birthdays and special events in either the main dining room or one of the private dining areas.

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.