Since it opened in 1993, Crystal Jade Palace has consistently maintained its high standards. It has plenty going for it—from an elegant setting and attentive service staff, to an expansive menu studded with traditional favourites. As far as Chinese restaurants go, Crystal Jade Palace remains a happily dependable choice for a truly satisfying meal.

Top on the list of must-orders is the roasted crispy pork belly: succulent cubes of pork crowned with a tantalizing layer of crackling. Alternatively, savour the marinated salty chicken, which is plump and moist, and a fine example of the chefs’ skill. There are some lovely offerings from the live seafood selection too—bamboo clams steamed with XO sauce, baby lobsters baked with superior stock, and the braised seasonal vegetables with crab roe. If some celebration is in order, then check out the braised abalone selection available, which includes whole Australian green lip dried abalone, as well as other premium delicacies such as sea cucumber and fish maw.

Regulars know to check with the staff for off-menu items such as the highly recommended conpoy with egg white, a delicate marriage of flavours. Fried rice is often a sound gauge of standards at a Chinese restaurant, and the Crystal Jade Palace fried rice with its generous mound of prawns and scallops does not disappoint. Finish the meal with a refreshing double-boiled hashima with red date and lotus seed or a classic chilled mango pudding with pomelo and sago.