It’s Time to Revisit Crystal Dragon

If you haven’t been to Crystal Dragon in a while, it’s a good time to schedule a visit. The Chinese fine-dining restaurant at City of Dreams Manila has introduced a new à la carte menu featuring Cantonese dishes, premium seafood, dim sum, and meat specialties. Curated by Chef de Cuisine Chan Choo Kean and his team, the menu combines new offerings with established dishes from the restaurant’s existing selection. The restaurant has also updated its interiors with new carpeting and tableware.

Among the new dishes are baked crab shell stuffed with mushroom and black truffle, braised fish maw with grouper in superior broth, and tea-smoked Australian beef short ribs served with homemade buns. The menu also includes premium dried seafood dishes such as braised sea cucumber with assorted dried seafood in a claypot, braised whole two-head abalone with Hokkaido sea cucumber and supreme abalone sauce, and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall in golden broth.

The selection reflects Chan’s approach to Chinese cooking, which emphasizes quality ingredients and established techniques such as steaming, braising, roasting, and wok-frying.

“Our goal is to bring joy to diners through flavors that feel balanced, satisfying, and memorable,” Chan said.

ALSO READ

Sebastian’s Just Might Be Your New Regular in Rockwell

This Private Dining Spot in Silang, Cavite Makes a Strong Case for Chicharonillo

The restaurant has also expanded its dim sum selection, available exclusively at lunch. New items include goldfish dumplings filled with shrimp and diced pumpkin, ham sui kok with Iberico pork and black garlic, deep-fried black swan taro puff, and Chaozhou-style deep-fried prawn balls.

For diners who prefer familiar Chinese barbecue dishes, Crystal Dragon continues to serve its whole roasted duck, carved tableside, alongside crispy roasted chicken and roasted crispy pork belly. Other meat options include flaming A5 Wagyu beef with king oyster mushroom, pan-seared New Zealand lamb rack with cumin and spiced salt, braised pork belly with preserved vegetables, and sweet-and-sour Iberico pork with pineapple.

Seafood remains a major part of the menu. Diners can choose from grouper or spotted grouper, green lobster, mud crab, and live shrimp, prepared according to their preferred cooking method and sauce. Other options include wok-fried prawns with XO sauce, pan-seared cod with yellow pepper sauce, braised sliced grouper with roasted pork and homemade tofu in a claypot, poached Hokkaido scallop in golden sour broth, and pan-fried tiger prawn with supreme soya sauce.

The menu also features several dessert options, including deep-fried black pearl with homemade salted egg lava, Crystal Dragon cranberry red wine snow skin, and chilled mango pomelo sago with milk custard.

Chef Chan brings nearly 30 years of experience in Chinese cuisine, having worked in fine-dining restaurants and five-star hotels across Southeast Asia. He leads Crystal Dragon’s kitchen operations, working with City of Dreams Manila Executive Chef-Chinese Khoo Teng Jin, also known as Chef Danny, and Dim Sum Chef de Cuisine She Chong Ngooi.

A lunch set menu is also available for a minimum of two people, priced at P3,800 net per person for six courses.

The restaurant’s menu also reflects City of Dreams Manila’s sustainability efforts. These include using locally sourced produce, cage-free eggs, and responsibly sourced seafood, as well as reducing single-use plastics and food waste. There are vegetarian options, plant-based alternatives, sustainable seafood, and chef’s recommendations as well.

Located on the upper ground level of Nüwa Manila, Crystal Dragon is open daily for lunch from noon to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 11 p.m. For inquirires, call +632 8800-8080.