Restaurant Tasty Haus — Restaurant in Zurich

A Taste of Hong Kong in Zurich

The cold Zurich air bit at my face as I trudged through the dimly lit platz, my body betraying the exhaustion of time zones crossed and sleep lost. Jet lag had twisted my appetite into something insatiable—I needed a meal that wasn’t just food but an experience, something to shake me awake and remind me I was still human.

I followed a vague recommendation, some offhand comment about a hidden gem in the city, the kind of place that only those who truly knew knew. My stomach protested as I turned a corner, and there it was—a small, unassuming storefront, its golden glow spilling onto the platz. The sign bore Chinese characters, sharp and elegant, their meaning both familiar and distant.

Stepping inside, the warmth of roasting duck and sizzling woks wrapped around me like an embrace. The scent was unmistakable—the deep, caramelised perfume of properly crisped skin, the kind that crackled under the blade when carved just right. It smelled like the alleys of Mong Kok, like a memory I hadn't realised I was missing.

I sat down, barely glancing at the menu before ordering the roast duck and fried rice. The server nodded and smiled approvingly, vanishing into the kitchen as I let the hum of Cantonese chatter and the clatter of woks lull me into a strange, dreamlike anticipation.

Then, it arrived.

The duck glistened under the restaurant’s soft lighting, its lacquered skin stretched taut over succulent meat. I took a bite, and for a moment, Zurich disappeared. The crackling crunch gave way to a perfect balance of fat and tenderness, the seasoning seeping into every fibre. It was exactly how it should be—not just crispy, but shatteringly so, with that elusive depth of flavour only a master roaster could achieve.

I closed my eyes. I was back in Hong Kong, standing by a street-side stall, the air thick with soy, star anise, and the distant hum of neon signs.

The fried rice arrived, steam curling off every perfectly separated grain. No unnecessary embellishments, no overcomplicated fusion nonsense—just the wok hei-kissed simplicity of great rice, smoky and rich, each bite a reminder of why some things are best left to the experts.

I ate slowly, savoring every bite, as if afraid the magic would dissipate. Maybe it was the exhaustion, maybe it was the hunger, or maybe—just maybe—this place really did serve the best crispy duck in Europe.

Whatever it was, Zurich had gifted me a portal back to Hong Kong, and for that, I...

This Cantonese restaurant, like many Asian restaurants in Zurich, has a westernised menu of Chinese and various Asian dishes. Those we tried during our first visit were well prepared and tasty.

However to us the real attraction is the chinese language-only "secret menu", which contains real, very authentic Cantonese/Hong Kong specialties that are rarely to be found (in this quality) in Switzerland. Those need to be ordered 2 days in advance though, so let yourself be convinced by trying something from the standard menu once, and if you are happy ask about the specialities menu (surely the owner would help you guide through it) and plan your next visit!

The speciality dishes on the pictures that we ordered were (excuse the self translation) : 广东老火汤 traditional cantonese soup 贵妃鸡一只 whole boiled Cantonese "white" chicken 虾酱炒通菜 shrimp sauce stir fried water spinatch 枝竹牛筋煲 tofu skin beef tendons pot 烧肉 "lacquered" crispy pork (not on the menu) their excellent home made mango pudding for dessert

We will be back!

Bonus: here is the secret menu for you, believe us, get a Google translation and order a few dishes from there in advance, anyway if you are living in Zurich, you will book days and weeks in...

Not sure how this is rated so highly, given how bad the food tastes and how rude and obnoxious the waitress was. Every question we had and food choices we made were met with condescending remarks and questions. And judging by other reviews with low ratings our experience was not an isolated incident.

The food was easily some of the worst I’ve ever had in my life! Especially considering this ran us a bill of $79 for two. While we were inquiring about something the waitress jumped into a long rant about how they could not accommodate that request since they were making everything fresh etc etc. but when the food arrived, it was evident it was anything but fresh. The dumplings were especially rancid. Ordered an aperitif and it was just watery and tasted of nothing.

All in all if you’re looking for good authentic Thai food, look elsewhere. Having experienced Thai food and hospitality in Thailand itself, this place is an utter...