Shopping malls have hit Hangzhou with full force, and it’s only going to get worse, or better, depending on your stance on malls. With all of the modern convenience of a monstrous consumer area, underground parking, an enormous ice skating rink, and a dizzying number of branded retail outlets; the Dashidai is about as good as it gets these days. There's all kinds of food to be had as well, and the best news is that the long-awaited food court is finally ready for action now, giving shoppers a chance to cool their heels while munching on a variety of foods in the cool, clean comfort of the mall's cavernous space. We found booths with everything from wild to mild, and a centrally-located beverage island that has an incredible selection of fruit juices, chilled desserts, shaved ices, and fresh fruit platters. A truly beautiful sight to behold was the beer, however. Remember John Travolta telling Samuel L. Jackson (in Pulp Fiction) about getting a glass of beer at a McDonald's in Paris? Well, this is China, where you can get 5-liter barrels of Paulaner and Köstritzer for 200RMB each, as well as 500ml mugs of Tiger draft for 25RMB. With beers ready, we soldiered on and found food stations like Jintumen BBQ: a street-style themed BBQ that has all the popular favorites like lamb, beef, and chicken skewers, as well as grilled Taiwan sausages at prices that stayed around the 3RMB mark for each. Kou Shui Mian serves up some tasty cold noodles and fried dishes. Sichuan Hot Luck Pot, as the name implies, has spicier fare for Sichuan cuisine lovers, and prices fall in the 18-30RMB range to get your choice of just about anything edible tossed into a large bowl and fried. Newmen's Kitchen is a steamhouse that covers the full gamut, from classic items to animal innards. Shanghai Dim Sum: Not quite as gnarly as the steamhouse, and a better deal with safer looking treats averaging between 7-15RMB. The only thing obviously missing from the whole scene is western food, but time will tell if Dashidai plans to mix it up a bit in the future, by offering cheese-covered soft pretzels, Greek gyro stands, and the obligatory pizza joint. It really is a shame they aren't here yet, to go with that great German beer.
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