{"id":9544,"date":"2021-10-22T17:02:49","date_gmt":"2021-10-22T09:02:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=9544"},"modified":"2022-04-18T14:16:56","modified_gmt":"2022-04-18T06:16:56","slug":"chungking-express-dalat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/chungking-express-dalat\/","title":{"rendered":"Chungking Express Hotpot House: Dalat’s Ode To Wong Kar-Wai’s Iconic Movie"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chungking Express, a real Hong Kong restaurant in Dalat\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Telling the stories of love, disconnections, and nostalgia in the concrete jungle of Hong Kong as it neared the 1997 handover, Wong Kar-wai’s <\/span>Chungking Express (1994)<\/b> is a masterpiece. Throughout the movie, viewers see a heartbroken cop searching and eating expired cans of pineapple in his subconscious desire to freeze time and eternalize the memories of his love.<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, stopping time is impossible, but time travelling in the realm of the senses can now be a reality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Drawing inspiration from the movie,<\/span> Chungking Express<\/b>, a hotpot house in <\/span>Dalat<\/span><\/a>, is decked out in retro decor and serves Hong Kong-style hotpots. What\u2019s more, the restaurant has 1994-style canned pineapples that haven\u2019t expired yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It glows with neon sign boards and ambient colors<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\"CHUNGKING
\nImage credit: <\/span>Chungking Express – M\u1ed9t chi\u1ebfc l\u1ea9u HongKong<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Situated on the bustling and central Tr\u01b0\u01a1ng C\u00f4ng \u0110\u1ecbnh Street and a 10-minute walk from Dalat Night Market is Chungking Express, a restaurant serving Hong Kong-style hotpot meals<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The venue can easily turn a few heads with its ostentatious neon sign board glowing in the cheerful shade of canary that reads \u201cCHUNGKING EXPRESS\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, the restaurant looks like a magic box of contrasting colors, with the ground floor emanating red while the second floor giving an old-school vibe with dashes of seafoam and emerald.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s see what\u2019s inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Retro aesthetics and photo opps aplenty<\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\n
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\"CHUNGKING
\nImage credit: <\/span>@reibui<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

As you walk inside, you\u2019ll enter a cinematic atmosphere bathed in a glow of raspberry from surrounding neon signs and fluorescent ceiling fixtures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"CHUNGKING
\nImage credit: <\/span>@khanhhoang0501<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The venue is compact and cosy, equipped with earth-toned round tables and wooden dining chairs for an old-school appeal. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Decked out with yellow diagonal-patterned tile flooring and white square-tiled walls, the restaurant looks like a perfect homage to the dining culture of Hong Kong in the 90s.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"CHUNGKING
\nTwo visitors recreating a scene in the movie<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>Chungking Express – M\u1ed9t chi\u1ebfc l\u1ea9u HongKong<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Aside from great lighting effects, the restaurant is decorated with various pin-ups and posters of Chungking Express movie characters such as Cop 223, Cop 633, Faye, and the Blonde Wig.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"CHUNGKING
\nImage credit: <\/span><\/em>@lananh.6.7.99<\/span><\/em>
\n<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Therefore, rest assured that you have plenty of photo ops here.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"CHUNGKING
\nImage credit: <\/span>Chungking Express – M\u1ed9t chi\u1ebfc l\u1ea9u HongKong<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Presenting a contrast to the ground floor, the second floor is steeped in different shades of green, more pleasant to the eyes for those who can\u2019t stand overly vibrant colors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"CHUNGKING
\nImage credit: <\/span>@kimquynhh_<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Spanning the space are yellow booths paired with aluminum tables, which are suitable for large gatherings.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"CHUNGKING
\nImage credit: <\/span>@tonytonyflynn<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

As you look up, you\u2019ll see a broad array of ceiling pipes wrapped in posters that read, \u201cSliced Pineapples In Heavy Syrup\u201d. Needless to say, whoever came up with this must be a big fan of Cop 223 – a pineapple lover.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"CHUNGKING
\nImage credit: <\/span>@hm1096<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

There\u2019s an open kitchen on this floor, which is designed to look like the entrance of the Midnight Express stall in the movie. As long as you don\u2019t get in the way of the kitchen staff, you can make the most of this setup for your cinema-inspired snapshots by recreating the casual flirting scene between Cop 633 and Faye.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While Midnight Express serves only fast food to go, Chungking Express brings you hotpot dishes that make you slow down and linger at the table.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A variety of hotpots and a must-try food item from the movie at Chungking Express<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\"CHUNGKING
\nImage credit: <\/span>Chungking Express – M\u1ed9t chi\u1ebfc l\u1ea9u HongKong<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

From tender and chewy meatballs to spicy soup broths, Chungking Express has excellent hotpots to warm up in Dalat’s year-round chilly weather.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Priced at <\/span>VND79,000 (~USD3.47)<\/b> per pot of soup bases, Chungking Express serves spicy, flavorful broth with a mouth-numbing sensation. There’s a good range of ingredients to go with the broth, from tender<\/span> goat shanks (VND89,000, ~USD3.91 per portion)<\/b> to homemade <\/span>dumplings (VND125,000, ~USD5.49)<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Chungking
\nImage credit: <\/span>Chungking Express – M\u1ed9t chi\u1ebfc l\u1ea9u HongKong<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a vegetarian or on a plant-based regimen, you can check out a combo of vegetables from only <\/span>VND75,000 (~USD3.30)<\/b> that includes cabbage and spinach, or smooth and silky white tofu at <\/span>VND29,000 (~USD1.27)<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

For refreshing beverages to cool the spicy flavors, check out the mildly nutty <\/span>red artichoke juice (VND39,000, ~USD1.71)<\/b> or the aromatic <\/span>rice wine (VND39,000, ~USD1.71)<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"CHUNGKING
\nImage credit: <\/span><\/em>@tonytonyflynn<\/span><\/em>
\n<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

To end your meal on a sweet and cinema-worthy note, we strongly recommend a<\/span> can of pineapple juice (VND39,000, ~USD1.71)<\/b>, which the restaurant dubs \u201ca drink for the loner\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t worry! This homemade can of pineapple juice doesn’t have an expiry date.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Chungking Express is an ideal place to dine and take a stroll down memory lane<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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History buffs or fans of Wong Kar-wai’s movies who keep reminiscing about their dreamy, polaroid-like frames can now relieve their cravings at Chungking Express.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only is Chungking Express a beautiful tribute to the timeless movie with its retro d\u00e9cor, but it’s also a great place to hang out over steaming hotpots amid the chilly evenings of Dalat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Address:<\/b><\/span> 94 Tr\u01b0\u01a1ng C\u00f4ng \u0110\u1ecbnh, Ward 2, Da Lat, L\u00e2m \u0110\u1ed3ng Province<\/span>
\n<\/span>Opening hours:<\/b><\/span> Mon\u2013Sat 11AM-2PM and 5PM-10PM | Sun 11AM-2PM and 5PM-11PM<\/span>
\n<\/span>Telephone:<\/b><\/span> 89 808 52 72<\/p>\n

Website<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Also check out:<\/span><\/p>\n