Zuan Yuan Chinese Restaurant is typical of most hotel Chinese restaurants in suburban Selangor—spacious, well-staffed, efficient, and possessing an extensive selection of Old World wines and staple dishes. The pork-free Chinese cuisine here is largely skewed towards Teo Chew specialities. Barbecued duck and chicken dishes take up a whole page in the menu—such is the breadth of the poultry options. If you have trouble choosing a seafood dish, opt for the chef’s speciality, the sautéed prawns with fragrant sesame oil and pickled nutmeg. Little can be said about each dish’s presentation; the food is plated simply with a sprig of parsley here and there to allow the ingredients to do all the talking. While not all the servers are fully conversant in English, they make the effort to report back to your questions about certain dishes, and carry out small but thoughtful gestures such as pulling up an extra chair to the table for the ladies’ handbags.

TATLER TIP:

With ten types of Chinese tea ranging from chrysanthemum to pu erh, Zuan Yuan has something for every palate. Simply let your server know if you would prefer something floral, tannic or astringent.