The Chinese Library — Restaurant in Hong Kong Island

Title: A Culinary Gem Let Down by Service and Ambiance: An Unconventional Chinese Dining Experience

Tucked away in an unexpected location, this Chinese restaurant offers a bold, innovative take on traditional flavors, making it a standout for adventurous foodies. The set menu is a meticulously balanced journey through modern and classic dishes, with each course showcasing technical precision and creative flair.

Highlights of the meal: The jalapeño-marinated squid was a revelation—tender, fiery, and bright, with a smoky depth that lingered beautifully. Equally memorable were the truffle-laced beef and chicken dishes, which elevated earthy umami with luxurious truffle shavings, striking a perfect harmony between indulgence and subtlety. The menu’s pacing and variety hinted at a chef deeply attuned to both tradition and experimentation.

Service shortcomings: Sadly, the dining experience was marred by shockingly clumsy service. Waitstaff repeatedly spilled wine and water—once nearly drenching a guest’s phone, another time splashing a plate mid-meal. Dishes were introduced only during theatrical moments, like the ignition of a pigeon dish (a spectacle in itself), leaving diners in the dark about ingredients or inspiration otherwise. Utensils were replaced only upon request, and the overall lack of attentiveness felt jarring against the food’s sophistication.

Ambiance woes: The main dining room, while sleek, was disappointingly dim and chilly—more akin to a cavern than a cozy eatery. The cold air and shadowy lighting distracted from the warmth of the cuisine, making the space feel unwelcoming despite its aesthetic ambitions.

Verdict: This restaurant is a paradox—a kitchen crafting extraordinary, boundary-pushing Chinese fare paired with service that fumbles at every turn. Visit for the daring flavors and artful plates, but brace for inept hospitality and bundle up for the Arctic-chic ambiance. With polished service and a tweak to the thermostat, this spot could be legendary. For now, it’s a must-try for the food alone… if you can endure the missteps.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 – Food dazzles; everything...

I almost didn't try Chinese Library out because of some of the reviews here that talk about some operational hiccups. I'm so glad I brought my family here to enjoy the creative cuisine and excellent service of the front-of-house staff!

Dim sum is an exceptionally hard cuisine to mess with because if a chef doesn't ground their spins on what's known, it's too far removed from dim sum, but if you ground it too closely to the origin dishes you haven't done enough beyond just "fancifying" the dishes with premium ingredients.

Junno Li and his team nails taking familiar dishes and adding distinct creative twists that aren't just novel, but also delight in both taste and visual presentation with ingredients that are still very much grounded in dim sum's Guangdong origins. That is an exceptionally hard, and rare balance to hit—visual AND taste!

As for FOH service, the team was spot on during our visit, always making sure we had what we need, that our teapots are filled, and everyone's needs were taken care of.

I think some of the less than stellar reviews might be during the time that many restaurants in HK were still struggling to staff up post re-emergence from the pandemic restrictions. It certainly has taken the F&B sector some time to get back on their operational feet again. If the service we experienced during our visit is any indication, they're back running at full pace, and I wouldn't have any concerns for lapse of service.

It's definitely an easy spot to recommend for brunch dim sum service. We'll definitely have to return to try out...

Chinese Library is a fine-dining restaurant in the old Police HQ Block 1 at Tai Kwun. You will find an elegant indoor seating area along with terrace seating with views down into the old parade grounds. Reservations are highly recommended if seeking a table during peak meal times, weekends or public holidays.

Menu features traditional Chinese dishes. Note that a couple of signature dishes require advance order with your reservations. These include the very 45-day Peking Duck (one or two courses) which is as good as advertised. There is a separate dim sum brunch menu, multi-course tasting menu, wine list and you can order cocktails from the Dispensary Bar adjacent to the restaurant.

During our recent meal, we found the 45-day Peking Duck (first course only) to be excellent. The skin was very crispy, meat succulent. The pancakes were razor thin, 5 different sauces provided for preparing wraps. This was a great Peking Duck order, about as good as we can recall being served in recent years.

The Sweet & Sour Iberian Pork was also quite good, something familiar and easy enjoy for those with less adventurous pallets when it comes to Chinese dining. We also very much liked the braised noodles with mushroom and truffle and found the pumpkin crusted cake from the sweet dim sum/dessert menu, a fine way to conclude a very good meal at Chinese Library.

Allow 90-120 minutes for your meal, HKD $1K+ per person. There are some dress code requirements but as long as you are not dressed inappropriately, they are not overly strict, especially on hot...