The Yuan

The Yuan
141 Wanchai Road
Hong Kong
Tel 2891 2018

Grub: Home-style Chinese, mostly Cantonese but with a few spicy Sichuan dishes for good measure.

Vibe: This is an attractive restaurant located in an old Wanchai tong lau (shophouse). The dining area, which covers two floors, is decorated in 1960s style with heavy, varnished wooden furniture and a ceramic-tiled floor.

Light fittings are made from traditional style birdcages and there are a few black-and-white photographs of old Hong Kong dotted around the walls. The menu is bilingual and so are several of the staff, who are all friendly and helpful. Who to take: A great place for all the family. It is also a cool place to take friends who are visiting from overseas to give them a flavour of old Hong Kong.

What's hot: The dinner menu is divided into three main sections, each of which offers about 20 dishes. The meat section boasts dishes such as steamed chicken with dates and black fungus, Sichuan beef and peppers in a spicy broth and braised pork rib in dark vinegar.

The Sichuan-style chicken is well worth investigating. This would be a good dish for people who are new to Sichuan cuisine or prefer their chillies on the milder side. The kick is still there but not so overpowering, and the fagara peppercorns don't produce the numbness that can be disconcerting for those not familiar with it.