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6/F Causeway Bay Plaza 2, 483 Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay

Tel: 2834 1666

Open: 10am-1am

Cuisine:  Beijing, Sichuan, Shanghainese and hotpot.

Ambience: It's hardly the season for hotpot, but the strong air-conditioning in Soong Dynasty  - not to mention the  delicious aroma of soup - will soon get you in the mood.  With its terracotta warriors and purple-cushioned seats, the restaurant has an east-meets-west feeling.  The tables are  close to each other.

Price: Less than $100 per person, without alcohol.

Pros: The menu is  extensive  and some of the specialities  are outstanding. It's not expensive and stays opens till late at night.

Cons: We were seated at the far end of the partitioned area, which gives more privacy, although it was difficult to catch the staff's attention. The steamed Shanghai minced pork buns with crab jelly ($36)  were dry.

Recommended dishes: The chicken in spicy sesame sauce ($48, above) was an excellent starter, with its mixture of sour, sweet and hot tastes. The meat was smooth and tender and the dish had a mild, spicy flavour - with  chilli, garlic and sesame  sprinkled on the top - whereas  the dark sesame sauce was both salty and sour. The Shanxi style sliced noodle ($22), a speciality of western China, was a delight. It's made with dumplings, sliced meat and preserved vegetables. Thick and cut into irregular shapes, the flat noodles are soft but chewy. The golden, big-headed prawns ($88)  were a good size. Deep-fried in a batter  of salted egg yolk, the shells  became  so crisp they could be eaten  along with the meat.

What else? There are regular  specials priced at only $1. For those who like it,  you can watch TV while you eat.



Soong Dynasty Restaurant