Call the ayi because it’s time to have another night out on the town with your honey.
Place and Vibe
Opened in 2014 at Three on the Bund, Chi-Q provides an upscale Korean-style dining experience. While you might not immediately think of Korean food as a romantic date night option, the interior design of the restaurant brings a sophisticated modern spin to a traditional meal.
With dark brown accents, sleek black tabletops and amber under-table lighting, the mood is set for your romantic evening. Tables are perched low to the ground with comfortable benches to sit on, each with its own grill in the center.
The Food
Chefs Marja and Jean-Georges Vongerichten have done themselves well with Chi-Q’s Korean-inspired menu. While the restaurant was originally intended to fully concentrate on a Korean culinary experience, they are in a period of transition to include more Asian-fusion elements while keeping strong Korean roots in their dishes.
Constantly updating the menu, regular patrons won’t get bored of their offerings. We opted to try their signature tasting menu (perfect for two, RMB498 per person), a balanced combination of starters and grilled items (giving us a chance to take a whack at the BBQ ourselves).
Three starters are included in the tasting menu, and the kingfish sashimi is our favorite. Dressed with homemade soy sauce and topped with avocado and sunflower seeds, this dish is light and has plenty of textures. We also enjoyed the foie gras kimchi mandoo, small square fried dumplings, filled with foie gras and loads of flavor.
Shortly after, the raw Australian Wagyu flank strips, shrimp and vegetables arrived on a platter, ready to be cooked. If you aren’t confident in your barbecuing abilities, don’t hesitate to ask for help. The servers can either demonstrate a few pieces for you and have you take over for the rest, or they can cook everything for you upon request. Make sure to use the dipping sauces and pickled miniature side dishes to spice up your grilled items.
The menu ends with a dessert that plays with the different textures of chocolate – layered with crumbled cookie at the bottom, followed by scoops of chocolate mousse and mint ice cream and thin slabs of chocolate on top. It was a nice finish to a very well portioned meal and just enough for two to share.
Date Night Approved?
The ambiance combined with the tasting menus make this a great option for a night out with your significant other free from the kids. The floor-to-ceiling grated partitions in between tables give room for privacy and the staff is attentive and accommodating. Being on the Bund, the location gives plenty of options for post-meal cocktails to cap off the night.
Price: RMB300-500 per person excluding drinks
Who's going: Couples, small groups
Good for: Dinner and drinks with dates or business associates
