Zheng He's-new Chinese Rapsody

Zheng He's is a modern and experimental take on Chinese cuisine in an incredibly beautiful restaurant on Jumeirah's Madinat canal. If you like bright taste and bright presentation, then you should definitely look here in the new season.

Mina A'salam is a hotel that brings together everything Dubai is famous for. In its cozy and lush surroundings of five-star luxury, it's nice to do anything: drink aperitifs at Bahri bar, sail a boat on the canals or dine on Zheng He's terrace.

Zheng He's, a popular Chinese restaurant, reopened after a renovation this October, inviting a new chef and updating the menu and interior. This place is interesting because it introduces an unusual view of high Chinese gastronomy in a modern setting.

The stylish design is visible right at the entrance-a staircase decorated with red Chinese lanterns and hieroglyphs leads down into the restaurant space itself next to the Venetian madinata canals. The restaurant has not lost its popularity for several years, but the updated Zheng He's as if turned into the center of modern Chinese cuisine in Dubai.

The menu was developed by Malaysian chef Lai min Wei, who worked for nine years in Hakkasan restaurants in London, Dubai and Doha, so his new and innovative menu contains classic Chinese dishes from the best ingredients, but prepared with innovative technologies.

Jumeirah group culinary Director Michael Ellis was responsible for the renovation of the restaurant. According to him, Mina A'salam is the center of the city's restaurant scene, and Zheng He's takes a key role in it. "Everyone has long loved this restaurant – and guests will be surprised by the courage of chef Wei, as well as the fresh atmosphere, exceptional service and new design."

Here are a few dishes from the new menu: blue lobster dumplings with caviar and lemongrass sauce, Boston lobster in tomato and chili broth with crispy rice, signature Chilean sea bass baked in honey sauce. Vegetarians, too, will not be disappointed – in the new menu there are enough dishes for them: for example, a crispy salad with soy asparagus and Udon, fried on a wok, with the signature sauce XO from the chef.

The restaurant's permanent specialty is Peking duck. Tender meat, melting in the mouth, is set off by the sourness Of Hoisin sauce, young onions and a slice of cucumber and incomparable pancakes.

If you need to dine on a weekday, the new menu to choose from will allow you to try everything from dim sum and rich soups to noodles on wok and dishes from the chef, for example, spicy shrimp with lemongrass-chili sauce.

In addition, Zheng He's boasts a great view of Burj al Arab-the view is beautiful during the day, and especially in the evenings, when the whole complex of Madinat Jumeirah shimmers with evening lights.

The restaurant is named after the legendary 15th-century Chinese traveler Zheng he. He led seven naval expeditions to the countries of Indochina, Hindustan, East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, was a talented diplomat and Admiral, and the scope of his expeditions was not inferior to Christopher Columbus.

His passion for traveling and exploring new lands is reflected in some of the interior details and paintings of the restaurant. Our particular interest was aroused by a stylized boat with built-in hundreds of Chinese sticks. As we were explained, the guests of honor could leave here their branded plastic sticks with their engraved names and surnames. It was especially nice to find sticks with the name of the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.

It should be borne in mind that to visit the restaurant you need to pre-book a table, especially if you want to sit on the outdoor terrace of the restaurant.