China XO: The Leela Palace, MRC Nagar, Chennai

Restaurant Name: China XO: The Leela Palace, MRC Nagar, Chennai
Phone: +914430958273, +914466651234
Address: The Leela Palace, Lower Lobby, Adyar Sea Face, MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalai Puram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600028 India
Time: 12:00 Noon –3:00 PM, 7:00 – 10:00 PM
Meals for two: Rs. 4,000
Cuisines: Chinese
Facilities: Home Delivery, Wheelchair Accessible, Full Bar Available, Valet Parking Available, Indoor Seating, Luxury Dining, Wifi, Romantic Dining, Table reservation required

China XO: The Leela Palace, MRC Nagar, Chennai: Decor

China XO has a somewhat majestic ambiance. Bright, it is large and a stunningly beautiful space, enough to make one want to soak in every experience.

China XO: The Leela Palace, MRC Nagar, Chennai: Food

Always on my wish list, the Truffle and Edamame Dim Sums do not disappoint. As expected, truffle flavours dominate — unabashed. I don’t know how the chefs here do it, but the skin literally melts away, allowing the truffle flavors to hold forth. A dot of the chilli oil adds some salty spice, along with slow-cooked chilli flakes and other exotic ingredients. The granulated crunch, though, comes from yellow beans.

The Lobster With Truffle Dim Sum could take your taste buds into a whole new realm. Experience it. Because, as you bite in, there’s a fresh crunch from asparagus. Then, the texture from the lobster and flavour from the truffle engrosses your palate. Do try it with a tiny bit of chilli paste or sweet chilli sauce, if you want some pungency.

Just ordering a variety of dim sum from the menu could fill one up. Delicate, the Asparagus Cheong Fun Dim Sum is long and rather complex to make. The end result, though, is a white, steamed-and-cut roll. It holds together crunch, texture and taste.

Each dim sum is different. Like the Pine Nut And Pumpkin Dim Sum. It has a little pumpkin paste in its casing, giving it a mild, milky, translucent yellow orange color. Slightly sweetish, because of the pumpkin paste inside, it has little bits of surprise in the pine nuts and lotus root bits.

By itself, the Vegetable Fried Rice works. I could eat it with some of that glorious chilli oil. But I see Stir Fry Long Beans With Chilli Black Bean Sauce and decide to go for it. It does make a good combination.

Flat, more like ribbons, the Ho Fun Noodles are accompanied by a lovely mix of large pieces of veggies like shiitake mushrooms, Bok Choy, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, baby corn and spring onions in a thickish, smooth, dark oyster sauce gravy.

Dessert has to be the Pandan Kaya Slice. Layered, green and delicious, it has almond sponge, and is sweetened just enough to let the kaya show off its distinct yet subtle flavors.

Plus & Minus:

China XO has definitely made a name for itself and the food lives up to expectations. The menu is vast and the vegetarian selection is also quite diverse.