Hai Yan — Restaurant in Langkawi Island

Hai Yan is the Chinese restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Langkawi.

The restaurant has reopened after some renovations during the pandemic.

Hai Yan was already a great place to eat last time I came to the Ritz-Carlton (December 2019) but it has clearly levelled up further - the food was amazing, the location stunning, and the decor superb. While Langkawi is known for great food, I don't think there is anything else quite like Hai Yan on Langkawi Island.

In particular, the lobster special they had on Valentine's Day was the nicest lobster I have had in my life.

The staff also pay great attention to the preferences of guests. My family visited three times during our stay. Unusually for white people in Malaysia, we do not drink alcohol. We did not mention this to the staff - we just abstained from ordering alcohol. On our last night, we ordered the duck (another fantastic dish I highly recommend). We decided to order the duck with black bean sauce. The waitress proactively alerted us that this was cooked using wine, although we had never told her before that we did not drink alcohol, and the restaurant had served many customers since our last visit. We were still happy to order this dish (which was delicious) as we were satisfied the alcohol would have been substantially cooked off during the cooking process. However, it was touching that she was so attentive to our preferences.

Another wonderful part of the experience were the chefs, who introduced themselves to us and asked about our meals. They were clearly enthusiastic about the food they prepared and excited about sharing their dishes with us. That positive energy and commitment to the ingredients and the dishes is lovely to see. It reminds me of Pilot restaurant in Canberra. While very different fine dining experiences, I feel excited about going to both restaurants because of the clear passion of the chefs and waiting staff for creating a memorable experience with delicious food - like a passionate artist sharing their art with you.

I would highly recommend Hai Yan - a must visit restaurant on...

Perched on the coast of Langkawi with breathtaking sunset views, this fine dining Chinese restaurant offers an exquisite culinary journey that transcends ordinary dining. The evening began with an exceptional dish of fried small fish encrusted in salted egg yolk, a classic delicacy from Fujian cuisine that dates back to the Ming Dynasty. The delicate, crispy exterior combined with the umami-rich salted egg yolk created an unforgettable explosion of flavors and textures, truly a life-changing experience for the palate.

The Beijing kao ya, or Peking duck, was a masterclass in authenticity. This iconic dish, which has its roots in the imperial kitchens of the Yuan Dynasty, was perfectly executed. The skin was delightfully crisp, and when dipped in a small dish of sugar—a traditional Beijing practice—it provided a unique, nostalgic sweetness. We also indulged in imported lobster with a butter cream sauce, a luxurious twist on the Cantonese tradition of pairing fresh seafood with rich, velvety sauces. Despite its cost, the lobster’s succulent, tender meat and the decadent sauce made it worth every cent. The restaurant’s expert wine pairings elevated each course, enhancing the intricate flavors and adding a sophisticated dimension to the meal. The combination of exceptional cuisine, impeccable service, and stunning coastal views made this dining experience truly memorable and worthy of the...

We went to Hai Yan for dinner on the last night of our stay at Ritz-Carlton. It was a special dinner for our anniversary trip so we saved it for the last night!

We were greeted by Jerry when we entered who was super friendly and our server was Qayyum. He showed us such incredible hospitality and made sure we were having an enjoyable experience. Shoutout to Qayyum for the hospitality and kindness!

The ambience and interior of the restaurant was spectacular! The restaurant has a 360° view of the ocean which was breathtaking. Best to come when the sun is setting which we sadly missed by a couple of minutes. Make sure you come at the right time.

The food was also really delicious and felt authentic. Everything was also well prepared and fresh! The highlight for us were the Scallops, Roasted Duck and the Egg White Crab Fried Rice! Overall, the dishes were all scrumptious, even the desserts! The chef came out to gave us insight into the delicacies which was delightful.

Qayyum gave us a pleasant surprise with white wine and a Chocolate Cake as it was our anniversary. He also gave us a little tour of the restaurant which was a pleasure! He was very insightful as well.

Do try and dine in with Hai Yan if you’re here. (Look for Qayyum too, he’ll make you feel special!) The views, ambience, and food are...