Yen found himself enchanted by the cuisine’s unique combination of spices, and the innovative spirit of its chefs. However, he could not find any restaurants in Malaysia that offered authentic Beijing dishes that were up to his standards.
This inspired him to create Jing Cheng, a grand restaurant dedicated to the rich culinary splendour and cultural heritage of China’s capital city. The place is staffed by a team of chefs specially flown down from Beijing.
“Beijing cuisine is truly unique. It constantly innovates and reinvents itself. Our aim is for customers to undergo the full Beijing experience. Everything here, from architecture and design, right down to our name of ‘Jing Cheng’ itself, harks back to the imperial city at Beijing and to Chinese tradition,” Yen told FMT Lifestyle.
Jing Cheng is part of New Ocean World Fine Food City, which bills itself as Malaysia’s first and only lifestyle gourmet mall. This recently opened eight-floor building is devoted to gastronomic experiences, and houses 22 handpicked specialty restaurants offering a variety of cuisines, including Chinese, Greek, Mongolian and Japanese.
The restaurant is lavishly decorated, its interior featuring various motifs and trappings inspired by the hallmarks of Oriental culture. Gold seems to be the prevailing colour here, with elaborate light fixtures casting a glow over the venue’s furnishings.
Its spacious 15,000-plus sq foot space also features a lobby, an opulent bar area, and cosy private rooms decorated with displays of serene mountain landscapes.
Jing Cheng’s signature dish is its succulent Beijing Roast Duck. Only served to imperial families in the past, now everyone can sample this piquant poultry dish for themselves.
The restaurant devotes itself to creating the authentic “subunit”, Chinese for “crispy, not greasy” taste of this beloved specialty dish.
“We carefully select ducks that are of a certain age to ensure consistency in the crispiness of the skin, which results in a melt-in-your-mouth meat texture when cooked. We have also imported ovens that are purposefully built just to roast duck. This makes our dishes stand out from the other roast duck restaurants in Malaysia,” Yen explained.
Part of the Roast Duck experience is watching the restaurant staff prepare the bird by your table, carving its meat with precise and dexterous strokes. Its flavourful skin goes well with sugar, while the duck’s tender meat is best enjoyed wrapped up dumpling-style with cucumber, spring onion and sweet sauce.
The “Lao Gan Ma” fried rice, made with a popular Chinese hot sauce, is a delicious challenge for spicy food enthusiasts. The savoury mustard-glazed duck webs, made from duck feet, are a bit of an acquired taste, but some will definitely enjoy its springy taste and textures.
And don’t be fooled: the Sweet and Sour Squirrel Fish (or sōngshǔ yú) has nothing to do with actual squirrels. Its name comes from the way the fish is curled up like a squirrel when served. This fish is filleted, fried and then smothered in a succulent sauce.
Make sure you don’t leave without trying its desserts, such as the Yun Dou Juan and the Lv Da Gun. These delectable sweet treats simply melt in your mouth, are a great accompaniment to the savoury dishes.
Yen added that Jing Cheng’s menu would consist of over 60 dishes in future, with a wide selection of meat, vegetables and seafood choices. His vision is to provide diners with a seamless representation of the culinary delights of Beijing, enhanced with modern twists.
“Our range of dishes is what makes Jing Cheng stand out from the others. We feature many authentic dishes which you will not be able to find in other Chinese restaurants here,” Yen concluded.
“Through this restaurant, it is my hope that more Malaysians will have the opportunity to explore and taste the exquisite range of dishes Beijing cuisine has to offer, without actually having to travel there!”
Jing Cheng
L4, Level 4
New Ocean World Fine Food City
15, Jalan 19/1
Seksyen 19
46300 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Business Hours: 11am-10pm daily
For more information on Jing Cheng, visit their website. Follow New Ocean World Fine Food City on Facebook and Instagram.