Subtle Flavors and Cantonese Classics the Name of the Game on Horizon's Newly Revamped Menu

Kerry Hotel's signature Chinese dining destination Horizon Chinese Restaurant has long been a favorite of the Beijinger team and of our readers too if its frequent appearances in the Restaurant Awards results are anything to go by (Horizon took home an "outstanding" award for Best Beijing Duck (Upscale) in the 2016 Awards). 

If you've been meaning to revisit Horizon, now is a good time, as newly arrived executive Chinese chef Stanley Yuen has recently revamped the menu, tweaking some old favorites and adding a few new dishes, some of which we had the opportunity to try at a recent dinner.

No Cantonese restaurant menu is complete without a selection of barbecued meats and Horizon is no exception. The honey-glazed barbecue pork (RMB 100*) is pretty standard but those on the lookout for something slightly different might want to try the charcoal grilled pork ribs (RMB 90), one of Chef Yuen's specialties. That judicious treatment of pork is also apparent in the fried pork neck with kimchi (RMB 98), one of the new entrées, which features very tender pork in a sauce piquant with the juices of the kimchi.

Of course, this being Cantonese food, seafood is one of the main draws. We were intrigued by a dish of prawns in uni sauce (catch this dish on the set menus for special occasions), which had a very subtle seafood fragrance – good for people who primarily like to be able to taste the flavor of their prawns. A dish of steamed spotted grouper fish was similarly refined, served to us in delicate rolls stuffed with mushroom, rather than as a whole fish, although you can choose to have your fish whole in a range of preparations, from deep-fried with sweet and sour sauce to steamed with fresh chilies. Of course, the standard "show off the size of your wallet" treasures of the sea such as abalone and sea cucumber make numerous appearances, although your writer can't claim to be a fan.

Overall, the flavors of the new dishes are indeed subtle, as you might expect from high-end Cantonese cuisine. Those in search of bolder flavors might want to stick to heartier options such as the pan-fried beef tenderloin with black pepper (RMB 348) or the Sichuan-style chili chicken (RMB 78). 

Loyal fans of Horizon's signature Peking duck needn't worry about it going anywhere since the roast bird still takes pride of place on the menu (and is delicious as ever). A whole duck is priced at RMB 308 and they recommend ordering in advance since the duck takes 70 minutes to prepare. 

* All prices subject to service charge and VAT

More stories by this author here.

Instagram: @gongbaobeijing
Twitter: @gongbaobeijing
Weibo: @宫保北京

Photos courtesy of Kerry Hotel Beijing, Robynne Tindall