The Chinese and Japanese concept comes from South Africa to Dubai.
The Tang Dynasty is considered to be the golden age of Chinese civilisation. Now, TANG restaurant is hoping to bring a touch of that grandeur to Dubai. Located inside Palace Downtown, it puts Asian cuisine in the spotlight, with a backdrop of the Burj Khalifa.
In 2021, TANG first opened in Johannesburg, and in 2022, TANG at the V&A Waterfront opened in Cape Town, South Africa. Entrepreneur Nicky van der Walt, who is behind the brand, explained: “Dubai was the most logical next step in the evolution that is TANG. After successfully opening in Johannesburg and the V&A, Dubai came knocking on our door. Dubai positions itself as the best in the world for hospitality and food, and it’s a good fit for us”.
TANG entered Dubai’s competitive dining scene in style. When it opened, it welcomed big name acts including Black Coffee and Gipsy Kings. It’s no surprise, as the venue feels more like a nightclub than a restaurant. The award-winning architect, Tristan Du Plessis, is behind the debonair design.
The space includes gold posts with a black rope, which are fit for a nightclub queue, and a chilled Ibiza soundtrack. The gold accents continue across the all-black space, from the floor to furniture and even the toilet seats. On the shelves are bottles of wine alongside Assouline books. Plus, the open kitchen allows you to watch the chefs at work.
The TANG Dubai menu – leather bound and black, of course – spans dim sum, gyoza, izakaya, salads, tacos, robata grill, robata vegetable, signature dishes, sushi, woks and dessert. The menu draws inspiration from contemporary Japanese izakayas, and Cantonese eateries in Hong Kong. Plus, the staff are smart, smiley, and knowledgeable about the menu.
The starters include Tuna Tataki, which soaks up the citrus flavours and ponzu sauce. The Waygu Gyoza is tender and toasted – it comes in four pieces, but it’s so good, we can easily eat more. If you’re after dramatic dining, the team deliver a sushi platter with a range of bites and an Instagram-worthy helping of dry ice.
The mains include Spicy Beef Tenderloin – despite coming with a spicy sesame sauce, it is on the chewy and drier side. The Salted Caramel Fondant is a dessert lover’s dream, and arrives at the table with a gloriously gooey filling. The warmth of the cake is offset by a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
The drinks span wines, cocktails, mocktails and more. The signature cocktails span classic creations to party tricks. The Kyoto combines Aperol, passionfruit, prosecco and candyfloss that transforms in the glass. If you’re not drinking, the signature mocktails have been carefully curated. The Fursato offers a beguilling blend of citrus, coconut, matcha and kafir lime, and feels like a sweet end to a stylish meal.
As the Dubai Fountain is turned off and the heat is on, the footfall around the Burj Khalifa is slower. On our Sunday lunchtime visit, we were the only diners in the restaurant and were outnumbered by the staff. While you might not be transported back in time to the opulence of the Tang Dynasty, the photo-ready food with a view will have you feeling like influencer royalty.
GO: Visit https://cpt.tanghospitality.com for more information.