When it comes to meals that make you feel like you’re being transported across the globe, nothing beats Chinese food. A good Chinese restaurant is an aromatic journey to a distant land, filled with classic dishes that will make your taste buds sing. Whether you choose a steamy bowl of hot and sour soup, dim sum filled with meat or vegetables, or the delicate flavors of a succulent, crispy Peking duck, Chinese food never disappoints. Fortunately, if you are looking for a Chinese restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, you are not short on options.
Chinese Restaurants in Puerto Vallarta
If you are looking for a Chinese restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, there are many which vary in size, price and the range of their delicacies available. You might decide to try Panda Comida China, renowned for their lunch menu and lo mein, or you could try Dragon Chino, known for its sweet and sour chicken, soup with crispy noodles, and mixed fried rice. You might even try the Cantonese Garden renowned for its sumptuous buffet. These are all certainly acceptable options, but if you’re looking for high-end Chinese cuisine delivered in an architecturally mesmerizing setting, then DAO Contemporary Chinese Cuisine located at Hotel Mousai is for you.
DAO in Puerto Vallarta
Before you even take your seat, it is clear that DAO is not just any ordinary Chinese restaurant in Puerto Vallarta. As you enter the restaurant, the ornate parallel window frames with their irregular but perpendicular shapes cast an otherworldly shade on the tropical rainforest poking through. The striking red, black, and white decor creates an oriental ambience under the scarlet leaves of red woods. DAO invites you on a journey far from home, seeking to pull you into a Chinese landscape that immediately evokes the heritage of its origins whilst also keeping your feet firmly planted in contemporary gastronomy.
DAO’s Hong Kong-born Chef has clearly crafted his art through the years of his career, as the menu affords a vast array of traditional and contemporary Chinese dishes, as well as dishes infused with other Asian cuisines and even some modern American-fusion delights. If you are a fan of dim sum, then you will love the Pan Fried Pork Buns. The steamed BBQ pork bun is a bread-like dumpling filled with Char Siu pork and sweet barbecue sauce. This truly artful dish melts in your mouth and you will savor every delicious bite. If you are a spice lover, then the Spicy Beef Gyoza, filled with Angus beef and Chinese green chives before being pan-fried to crisp perfection, should be your choice. Exquisitely plated, these palate-pleasing pieces are as much a joy to look at as they are to eat.
If you’re feeling adventurous, but are also seeking something familiar, you may want to try the all-time favorite General Tso’s Chicken. A classic staple of American-Chinese fusion, this deep-fried dish is a is a masterful mix of sweet and spicy. The heat of dried chili peppers dances with the balsamic honey sauce resulting in a rich and aromatic dish. You should definitely try the Crab Wonton Rangoons to side with this. These deep-fried delights consist of stone crab meat, mascarpone cheese, and cream cheese inside of a Cantonese wonton wrapper. They are crispy bombs of flavor that explode in your mouth with every bite. These modern dishes are made with the same level of dedication to flavor and presentation as many of the more traditional dishes.
DAO offers a huge range of traditional dishes. Delicious and saucy Chow Mein, generous mountains of Fried Rice and, of course, the main event, the Imperial Peking Duck. This masterpiece of Chinese cuisine originated from Beijing and was first prepared for the Emperor in the Yuan Dynasty. It quickly became one of the main dishes on Imperial Court menus in the 13th century and by the time of the Qing Dynasty in the 18th century, the popularity of Peking Duck had spread to the masses. Today, Peking Duck has become a national symbol of China. It is a dish that deserves respect in both preparation and presentation. DAO does it like no other. The delicious duck is delivered on a full carving platter and its ceremonial carving is the central ritual of the meal. The simple but effective recipe of cucumber, scallions and sweet bean sauce rolled up in a paper-thin crepe leave plenty of space for the duck to sell itself. This is a labor-intensive dish and the duck is left to air dry for 8 hours, allowing the skin to become a crackling festival in your mouth.
The range of mains and entrees available is staggering. The descriptions so far have barely touched the surface, but equally as impressive are the drinks and desserts available. Ice creams and sorbets, made with exotic fruits, are the perfect way to cleanse your palate after the vivid and invigorating assortment of spice in the main dishes. Or perhaps you’d prefer one of the many cocktails available, all themed-on fantasies of the East. The Ceremony is a blend of elderflower liqueur, apples, basil, and yuzu. The peppery notes of the basil mingle with fruity citrus and sweet floral liqueur and this cocktail reminds you that even if your food has taken your taste buds on a roller coaster, you still have a few left to be stimulated. The Dragon Fly, is another must-try drink with a stellar combo of Irish Whiskey, Peppermint, and Ginger ale, the spicy liquor with oaky notes pairs well with the sweet bubbly ale and bold peppermint. A much more mellow close to a fantastic meal. If you feel like a non-alcoholic beverage then Bubble Tea, with its mix of milk, black tea, syrup, and chocolate tapioca is certainly unique!
Best Chinese Restaurant
Ultimately, you are spoiled for choice if you are looking for a Chinese restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, but you would be hard-pressed to find one better than DAO. This upscale Chinese restaurant strives to set itself apart. Everything from your first step into the restaurant to the last bite of your food is a masterclass in excellence. The experience is made all the sweeter if you are part of the Hotel Mousai Gourmet Culinary All-Inclusive Plan and you realize at the end of your delicious meal that the bill is already taken care of. The experience of eating at DAO is priceless. Encapsulating ambience, delectable cuisine, and stellar service culminates in an excellent dining experience. There is no better Chinese restaurant in Puerto Vallarta.
