Getting straight down to business, let's begin with the overall layout, for that had an overall effect. For starters, it was clean, classy and organised; just sufficiently inviting yet not intimidatingly posh. They invested a little more on creating a comfortable and spacious setting outside. All of which, again, makes you feel closer to home. The service deserves a thumbs up at the very least, for it all added to the warm, welcoming ambience of this humble joint. This leads us to the question, what's all the fuss about?
Looking at their menu, the Ramadan deal offers two different platters, a regular platter (Tk1,300 and Tk2,500) and the MEGA platter (Tk2,000 and Tk4,000), served for either two or four people respectively. On any other day of the year, it’s just a regular platter with two alternate combinations to choose from, all at the same price. Not much freedom involved in this sector but it does make things relatively simple and fast, if you're hungry and impatient. So far so good. Then, comes the food.
Chicken dumplings
Not much of a looker, but the first bite gives you an entirely flipped second impression. The moist chicken inside was surprisingly juicy and makes you crave for another bite with or without the sauce, which made little difference.
Hakka chicken wings
An unbelievable find, these wings are what you may say the perfect blend of sweet and sour, and a nuke going off inside your mouth. The surprising part was that it tasted different than the usual wings presented at other restaurants, yet under the same banner of spicy, sweet and sour. That part was quite distinctive. However, the smoky flavor may leave some of you a tad overwhelmed. As for the punch-lovers, these wings are a heart-felt recommendation.
Wrapped prawns
A unique discovery of the most regular nature, the noodle wrapped prawns are like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson on father’s day, hard on the outside but soft on the inside. The crunch of the fried noodles were perfect. The mushy prawn inside seemed lonely of flavour though, but that was quickly remedied by a dip of mayo sauce.
Chicken cheese wonton
This, got to us. A new kid on the Hakka block, this crunchy little bag of chicken and cheese goodness made a heavenly entrance from the very first bite. And there weren’t many of those bites either, as we stuffed our mouths with it. The green sauce served with it made a complimentary addition to the dish as well. With cheese being an uncommon ingredient for the Chinese-themed cuisines served in Dhaka, this was nicely blended without abashing the original flavours.
Egg fried rice
Really? Yes, and we ask you to hear us out before you make your assumptions. Basically, it had enough of a kick to it to have eaten separately, but did not overpower the additional dishes that ride along with it. It is simply balanced, which is truly commendable. Their free refill of the rice doesn’t harm either, not that you would need it after the first serving.
Hakka noodles
The rice’s best friend has similar characteristics; fine on its own and a delight for spice lovers. Apart from that, it’s more or less the regular version made very well.
Hunan chicken
After all that, the Hunan chicken made no improvement in the impression but just missed denting it. For one, it was oily and thick, which showed. Secondly, the initial tickle of sweetness could not stop the nuclear of hotness resonating in your mouth. That sort of left the flavour of the chicken stranded helplessly. However, you remember it to be soft and tender after you recover.
Mongolian beef
If there is one dish you should visit Hakka repeatedly for, it’s this. Call it the Chinese cousin of the infamous “kala bhuna,” and even Manny Pacquiao would commend on the punch it packs. The treacly hug in the first few seconds are quickly drowned in a spicy hangover of bliss, while the slightly chewy beef gives you a proper bite and makes you work for it. It serves as a wonderful addition to the rice.
Chili garlic prawns
The flavours tick all the right boxes for this dish, but you may have an issue with the shortfall of tenderness of the prawns itself. It’s essentially chewy and has a superb balance of all sweet, sour and spicy, yet calls for a bit of effort to cut and munch.
Chicken with mushrooms
This delightful find was an outlier when it came to the rest of the pack. It uses your expectations of spiciness and whirls it around with a subtle hello of sweet, yet not too much at all. The aftertaste of the well-blended spices leave a blissful grin.
Address:
House 34, road 10, block D, Banani
Auckland Center (3rd Floor), house 11, Road 6, Sector 4, Uttara
