Review: Tao Restaurant at Intercontinental Hotel KL

This story is brought to you by Tao Restaurant at Intercontinental Hotel KL.

If you’re after modern and innovative Chinese cuisine, Tao is where it’s at. Housed within the swanky InterContinental Hotel in the heart of the city, the eatery oozes modern designs with its stylish interiors, chic décor, and warm lighting. Greeted by a steaming cup of Tao’s own signature fragrant rosehip oil-infused black tea, we took a look at their cute, illustrated menu – encompassing everything from traditional Chinese delights to fusion dishes made with the cosmopolitan KL dining crowd in mind.

Steamed Baby Abalone Phoenix Eye

What sets Tao apart from the rest is its contemporary take on traditional dim sum dishes. Dumplings are standard fare at any dim sum meal, but the Tao Steamed Baby Abalone Phoenix Eye is no ordinary dumpling – with yummy prawns and abalone in the middle of a perfectly steamed dumpling, this is a great twist to the usual one.

Deep-fried Black Pepper Smoked Duck

Leading the fusion favourites was the Deep-fried Black Pepper Smoked Duck. Housed in a crispy shell made from sweet potato and surrounded by warm, creamy cheese, this modern twist on a traditional dish was absolutely heavenly.

Steamed Five-Spice Smoked Duck Meat

Hot on its heels was the Steamed Five-Spice Smoked Duck Meat. Cooked to perfection, the meat itself was tender and juicy, complementing the rich pumpkin, and encased in a fluffy roll.

Pan-fried Shanghai Potstickers

My favourite was the Pan-fried Shanghai Potstickers. Packed with chives and shredded chicken, these crispy dumplings were further enhanced by the spicy bean sauce they were served with.

Cripsy Seafood Wontons with Mix Fruit Salsa

No dim sum meal is complete without some crispy wontons, and Tao serves up a flavoursome seafood version with a side of zesty mix fruit salsa. It was definitely something to tickle the taste buds.

Double-boiled Sea Cucumber and Dried Scallop Soup

To help ease the tum after some fried goodness, we sampled the double-boiled sea cucumber and dried scallop soup – a hearty, wonderful mix.

Chilled Mango Puree with Pomelo and Ice-cream

After a decadent meal, the chilled Chilled Mango Purée had the perfect amount of zesty mango in it to satisfy your sweet tooth without overdoing the sugar. The dish comes with cendol, adding a dash of Malaysian essence to this popular dessert.

Final Thoughts

For those after more familiar favourites, don’t fret as Tao serves up a host of classics such as siew mai, woo kok, bak kut teh (with chicken), and a scrumptious Peking duck, complete with foie gras – simply outstanding!

A mix of heartiness and heritage, dining at Tao manages to maintain with ease that fine equilibrium between traditional Chinese cooking and refined, classy modern fare.

Location and Contact Details

Tao at Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur

InterContinental Kuala Lumpur

165 Jalan Ampang, 50450, Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2161 1111

Price Range:

Lunch sets: RM48 – RM128 per person
Dinner sets: RM128 – RM298 per person
Appetizers: RM19 – RM38
Soups: RM24 – RM208
Seafood, Meat & Poultry: RM18 – RM188
Vegetables: RM22 – RM50
Rice and Noodles: RM4 – RM48
Desserts: RM13 – RM118

Business Hours:

Lunch: Monday to Friday
(11:45am to 2:30pm)
Saturday, Sundays, and Public Holidays
(11.00am to 2.30pm)
Dinner: 6:30pm to 10:30pm (daily)

View Tao’s directory page here.

What are your thoughts about Tao Chinese Cuisine? Post a thought in the comments below.