Hang Dai is a lively spot in Dublin’s nightlife district for Chinese specialities and intoxicating cocktails. Don’t be deceived by its inconspicuous exteriors. Inside you’ll find a futuristic tube carriage, complete with moody blue and red lighting, metal-panelled walls, booth-style seating and faux windows. Like any carriage, it’s a tight squeeze, but this ramps up the atmosphere. The dining room is a disco wonderland, with neon lights and a groovy dance-floor ceiling.
Hang Dai specialises in roast duck and dumplings, but there’s plenty aside from this – expect appetisers of fried peanuts with crispy cabbage or sesame prawn toast, followed by mains of drunken chicken or Sichuan-style pork cheeks. The whole Skeaghanore duck is the masterpiece, however, cooked in an applewood fired oven and served as two dishes – you’ll be presented with a duck broth before a Beijing-style crispy duck with pancakes. A separate menu caters for vegetarians, with dishes like celeriac and shiitake dumplings topping the list.
Hang Dai’s fittingly named gold bar lies upstairs - a glitzy hideaway blaring tunes from last service to early hours of the morning. The bar is overtly extravagant – expect red leather accents, a gold reflecting ceiling, brass fittings and an exotic plant corner. Snack on pigs ears with salted egg sauce alongside the restaurant’s imaginative cocktail list – a whiskey-based Strictly Business should get you straight on the dancefloor. Music is central to Hang Dai’s character, with bespoke sound systems showcasing up-and-coming artists, getting guests on their feet. In need of some fresh air? The heated brick balcony, overlooking the busy street below, offers respite from the bar area.
Hang Dai is buzzing with Chinese plates, a joie-de-vivre atmosphere and late-night tunes, perfect for a night on the town.