"Chef Alex Au's roast goose and master dim sum, two floors above Jalan Imbi — reserve a private room to impress a client."
About Li Yen
Two floors above Jalan Imbi, inside The Ritz-Carlton, Li Yen has run a serious Cantonese kitchen for more than twenty years — long enough to outlast most of Kuala Lumpur's hotel dining rooms and to land in the MICHELIN Guide. Executive Chinese Chef Alex Au cooks classic Cantonese with a Teochew accent, and veteran dim sum chef Tan Tiong Guan runs the steamers.
It is one of the city's reference tables for Chinese fine dining; the wider Kuala Lumpur dining guide sets the rest of the field.
The Kitchen
The signatures are the honey-glazed BBQ Iberico pork (char siu cut from premium pork, lacquered and just-rendered) and the roast goose, alongside a dim sum trolley that is the reason regulars come at lunch. Dim sum chef Tan Tiong Guan has decades behind the steamers, and the har gow and char siu bao show it.
Chef Alex Au leans on Teochew technique under the Cantonese canon — clean broths, precise steaming, restrained sauces. Individual dishes run from around RM200 a head; the lunch set lands near RM800 for four. For the broader canon, see the best Chinese restaurants worldwide.
The Room
The room is plush hotel-Cantonese: embroidered wall panels, semi-circular velvet banquettes, bronze-framed mirrors, and seven private dining rooms seating eight to thirty. Sound is muffled and easy, lighting is low and flattering, and tables are generously spaced. Dress is smart — collared shirts, no shorts. Lunch runs Monday–Saturday 12–3pm (Sundays from 10:30am); dinner nightly 6:30–10pm.
Best for Impressing Clients
Book Li Yen to impress a client because the room does the heavy lifting: a private dining room behind a velvet curtain, a roast-goose course that reads as occasion, and Ritz-Carlton service that never falters. Order family-style, let the dim sum open the meal, and the conversation stays on business rather than logistics. For a harder negotiation, weigh it against the city's deal-closing tables.
Not for
Not for a quiet, low-key dinner on a budget — this is hotel Cantonese at hotel prices (RM200+ a head), and the experience assumes a table ordering family-style, not a solo plate.
Frequently Asked
Is Li Yen worth it?
Yes, for Cantonese fine dining in Kuala Lumpur, Li Yen is among the city's most reliable rooms. It sits in the MICHELIN Guide, has cooked for over twenty years under Executive Chinese Chef Alex Au, and the roast goose and dim sum justify the hotel pricing. Expect around RM200+ per person and polished Ritz-Carlton service.
How hard is it to book Li Yen?
Moderate. Weekday lunches and weekend dinners fill in advance, and the seven private rooms book out for groups. Reserve through The Ritz-Carlton on +60 3-2142 8000 or via OpenTable a few days ahead; request a private room early if you are hosting a client dinner.
What should I order at Li Yen?
Order the roast goose and the honey-glazed BBQ Iberico pork, then build a dim sum spread from Tan Tiong Guan's trolley — har gow, char siu bao, and the daily steamed specials. At lunch the dim sum is the headline; at dinner, go family-style with the barbecue meats and a clear soup.
What is the dress code at Li Yen?
Smart. Collared shirts and closed shoes; no shorts, singlets, or flip-flops. It is a hotel fine-dining room inside The Ritz-Carlton, so dress as you would for any business dinner. There is no jacket requirement, but smart-casual is the floor.
Is Li Yen good for business dinners?
Very. Seven private dining rooms seat eight to thirty, service is discreet, and family-style Cantonese keeps a table talking. It is one of Kuala Lumpur's stronger rooms for hosting clients — see more client-dinner picks for the city.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Li Yen
Reserve via OpenTable or call the hotel · Private rooms on request
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address2nd floor, The Ritz-Carlton, 168 Jalan Imbi
NeighbourhoodBukit Bintang
CuisineCantonese
PriceRM200+ per person; lunch set ~RM800 for four
Dress CodeSmart · no shorts
SeatingMain room + 7 private rooms (8–30)
ReservationOpenTable / hotel · days ahead
