Some meals stay with you longer than others. Last evening at Tan Yan was one of those.
I was there with a bunch of friends, the kind of table where menus are barely glanced at and food is ordered with full intent. At Tan Yan in HQ27, that works perfectly because the menu is built for indulgence. It celebrates Shaokao style Chinese barbecue, with skewers layered in cumin, chilli powder and Sichuan pepper, the kind of flavours that don’t hold back.
We began lightly, or at least that was the plan. A corn and edamame chaat set the tone, with charred corn adding a nice crunch to the softness. The chicken lettuce wrap followed, crisp, fresh and packed with flavour, eaten almost like a paan. And then came the tempura prawns, easily among the crispiest I’ve had. I stopped at three, not out of restraint, but out of curiosity for what was coming next.
And what followed was a steady flow of skewers. Pork belly, bacon glazed in a sticky sweet sauce, chicken mince stuffed shishito, lamb, chicken, prawns. Plates kept arriving, and conversation slowly took a backseat. There is always that moment at a table when everyone is quietly enjoying their food, occasionally looking up just to nod in approval. This was that kind of meal.
What I didn’t expect was how good the vegetarian selection would be. Somewhere between all the meat, the sweet potato and string beans made their way to the table and quickly became repeat orders. Both completely different in flavour, yet equally addictive. Even the grilled corn kernels and chilli cheese stuffed shishito held their own, making sure no one at the table felt left out.
Drinks flowed alongside. Draught beer for most, with a few mocktails making the rounds. I tried the iced pineapple and watermelon from a friend’s glass and made a mental note to order them properly next time. Service kept pace with the table, which is not easy when there are this many people and this many dishes involved.
Just when we thought we had covered most of the menu, the larger plates started arriving. Jumbo prawns, Sichuan eggplant, rice and noodles, all served sizzling and full of flavour. The kind of dishes that make you reconsider how full you actually are.
The mala chilli oil dumplings came in later and were instantly a hit. There was already talk at the table about that chilli oil and whether it could be taken home. That kind of addictive.
We were convinced we were done. Then came the hand pulled biang biang noodles, Hainese chicken rice and stir fried long beans. The noodles, with their hit of chilli oil, were easily one of my favourites of the night. The long beans came a close second. The Hainese chicken rice, while good, felt a bit subdued in comparison to everything else on the table.
By this point, people had started leaning back, some even declaring they were done for good. But dessert has a way of changing plans. The coconut caramel custard was outstanding, easily one of the best I’ve had in a while. And the cuddle bear, as charming as it sounds, was a crowd pleaser with its take on brownie and ice cream.
Evenings like this remind you why you go out to eat in the first place. Great food, a table full of people who enjoy it as much as you do, and a menu that keeps surprising you till the very end. Tan Yan gets it right on all counts, and this is one place I would go back to without thinking twice.
Address: Tan Yan
HQ27, Sector 27, Gurgaon | Phone Number: 9211443350
