Part of the renowned O Beach group, Chi Kee Wun is an ultra-stylish, outdoor restaurant serving innovative Oriental fusion food made with the best local and imported ingredients. Hugely popular with the resort´s young holidaymakers, it has been making a name for itself in recent years.
The first thing that caught the team's eye on arrival was the setting: a winding path beneath the pine trees leads you to its entrance, with its bamboo reception and a comfortable seating area featuring comfy armchairs that are ideal for having a pre-meal drink, a shisha pipe or an after-dinner chat with friends.
Anyone who has approached the roundabout at the corner of S'Arenal Beach and the Bay road will have noticed the alluring red glow the venue casts. Inside, the decor - shades of deep green and Chinese red - is enhanced by the warm crimson glow given off by the ambient lighting overhead.
Once inside, the expansive terrace has dining booths that are perfect for groups, a long, open bar and a new VIP dining zone - the Dragon's Den - for groups who want to dine separately or celebrate a special event, away from onlookers. Dining here is both intimate and sociable, as evidenced by the couples and groups of friends we saw around us.
Expertly furnished by local DJs, the soundtrack is an upbeat mix of deep and progressive club tunes.
The staff are friendly and brisk, quickly bringing refreshments, aperitifs and typical snacks such as prawn crackers and dips to commence the feast.
With some additions from other areas of the East, such as Indonesia, the fare at Chi Kee Wun is a culinary journey.
We decided to opt for the Premium Tasting Menu in order to experience the restaurant's finest offerings. It began with three of the venue´s highly reputed signature cocktails, all created to match the gastronomy.
We chose two alcoholic ones and a mocktail - it was nice that they adapted them to our individual tastes. Each one hit the spot, well balanced, delicious and with just the right degree of sweetness.
Our starters included vegetarian spring rolls, satay chicken, honey-glazed pork spare ribs and tiger prawn tempura with kimchi mayonnaise. The dishes are presented with Chi Kee Wun's characteristic flair.
The middle course consisted of a quarter crispy duck. Unlike standard Peking Duck, it had already been cut up into mouth-size morsels. Rich and tasty, the meat´s distinctive flavour was offset by the dark, salty hoisin sauce.
Having gorged ourselves on the generous portions so far, we have to admit that the arrival of the main course - a panoply of glistening wonders - caught us off guard!
Thanks to the large yellow rotating plate at the centre of the table, we were able to indulge ourselves liberally. We did our best to consume the sweet and sour prawns, crispy chilli beef, Chi Kee Wun's special fried rice, Singapore noodles and crispy lemon chicken. But, truth be told, the ample servings exceeded our appetites.
Chi Kee Wun's desserts were a revelation. First up was a Banana Wun, a sumptuous homemade concoction made with a ginger crumble base, banana cream, cinnamon, honey nibs and a crispy wafer, served with vanilla ice cream. Next came a creamy cheesecake made with Mahón cheese from Menorca along with a scoop of pistachio ice cream. In both cases the texture, appearance and balance of flavours were irresistible.
If you haven't already sampled the oriental delights of Chi Kee Wun then make sure you book your table here and add it to your holiday list. You will be guaranteed an enjoyable evening out.
