The House of Dawn a Unique Dining Destination opens in Richmond

House of Dawn is a unique dining destination and social sanctuary located in the heart of Richmond. This upscale-casual restaurant offers modern Asian-fusion dishes and creative cocktails in a plush, sprawling space reminiscent of Old Shanghai: jade and gold set against black leather and white-upholstered seating. With five distinct dining spaces: a chic cocktail bar and lounge, a modern dining room, a versatile back area for semi-private events, and two intimate private-dining rooms, House of Dawn provides the perfect atmosphere for any occasion. (Keep a lookout for an additional new concept dining space that is still in the works!)

Head Chef Danny Deng’s global experience, drawing inspiration from China, Malaysia, Germany, and Vancouver’s multicultural landscape, reflects in the menu’s diversity. From celebration salad to chili mirin mussels, salted egg yolk spaghetti to chargrilled steak, ube cheesecake to ginger osmanthus jelly, diners will be taken on a memorable culinary adventure that’s both new and familiar.  

I had the pleasure of tasting some of these dishes, paired with bar manager Korbin Mountford’s inspired cocktails at House of Dawn’s media opening.

Drinks: 

Lulu Breeze Margarita: Named after Lulu Island, this cocktail was a gorgeous shade of my favourite colour. Tequila, blue curacao, lime juice, passionfruit juice, and yuzu syrup, this dangerously easy-to-drink beverage was tropical, fresh, and delicious. 

Sensibility Grapefruit: Gin is one of those things you either love or hate. I thought it was the latter for me, but this cocktail just may change my mind. Gin, falernum syrup, grapefruit juice, and St. Germain elderflower, this refreshing cocktail is something I would have again!

Bourbon Black Peach Tea: This house iced tea-based cocktail has a healthy shot of bourbon-infused peach tea, peach Soju, and lemon juice. Smooth and light, yet still invokes a healthy Asian glow. 

Phantom Creek Riesling: Bright, fresh, and crisp with floral fruity notes, this white wine paired beautifully with the seafood dishes we had.

Light Bites:

Crispy truffle shrimp roll: Ao much flavour packed in one bite! Prawn, pork fat, celery, cilantro, confit garlic, ginger, onion, scallion, Parmigiano Reggiano, seaweed powder, truffle aioli, lime zest to warm up the palate for the meal to come!

Chicken karaage: House-marinated crispy chicken thigh, pickles, togarashi aioli, and a sprinkling of spring onion, this was a familiar and tasty bite. 

Food:

Tuna Tartare: A contrast of flavours and textures in carefully stacked layers of fresh mango, tuna, avocado and arugula. Served with crispy wonton chips, should you choose not to polish it all off by yourself, this starter is a good one to share. 

House of Dawn Mussels with Chili Mirin Sauce: Loved the heat that the chili added to the fresh, plump, and juicy mussels. One almost needed more garlic bread (or a plate of frites!) to soak up the delicate sauce of ginger, garlic, cilantro, shallot, fermented chili, Shaoxing wine, cilantro, and mirin.

Smoked Soy-Glazed Sablefish: Expertly pan-seared, flaky, melt-in-your-mouth-buttery sablefish delicately balanced atop a dome of rice, sundried tomatoes and edamame, this fun and interactive dish was brought to life with the genmaicha dashi broth, poured table-side.

Chargrilled Flat Iron: An incredible 8oz flat iron steak, cooked to fork-tender, medium-rare perfection, served with mashed potatoes, broccolini, and miso sauce, this was a main dish that my fellow diner had ordered, but I greedily gobbled up bite after umami bite. Don’t judge. It was that good. 

Classic Ube Light Cheesecake: I could smell the aroma of the browned butter feuilletine before this delicious dessert even hit the table. A brilliant creation by talented pastry chef Archia Natividad, this creamy yet light cheesecake, finished with a fragrant ube Chantilly and raspberry gel, was not too sweet (the highest compliment in Asian dessert!) and literally made me lick my plate. 

House of Dawn is officially open and is offering a 10% discount off of food from now until the end of November. Can’t wait to check out the rest of the menu and re-experience upscale-casual, Asian-fusion dining.

With thanks to the House or Dawn team. Dinner was complimentary.