Sai Kung
one-thirtyone
131 Tseung Tau Village, Shap Sze Heung, Sai Kung
27912684
This is a tiny busy restaurant that seats around 25. It serves up modern French food in a picturesque setting. Set in a village house with lawns that unroll to Three Fathoms Cove, you can imagine that you have escaped the gritty city for a while. You can eat under the pergola in the sun or in the equally warming amber dining room. The waiters are well trained and the food is exquisite. Organic food comes from the garden. This is quite an experience to be had and we are lucky to have this within an hour of most parts of Hong Kong.
Anthony's Ranch
28 Yi Chun St, Sai Kung
27916116
This roughly hewn slop-house is reminiscent of the kind of place you went for a feed ( after a hard day rounding cattle). It serves prime US steaks and chunky burgers. The food is so hearty it makes you want to hop on the rodeo to clean the arteries. The Kid Rib appetizer is recommended and any steak will fill you until you are oblivious of your surroundings. Washed down with a chilled mug of San Miguel you will find yourself beginning to nod off in a comfy cow-hide chair.
Taste Café
Unit B8, Marina Cove Shopping Centre, Sai Kung
27192511
This restaurant is a friendly place that makes up for its rather dull atmosphere (insofar as restaurants that serve $300 steaks go). Fresh seafood is a feature at the end of the week. Try the smoked salmon served with coronary sauce or the tomato soup with clams. The seafood tends to be overcooked and chewy here. This is a place for a quick feed and when you are not too fussed about having to chew your food.
Happy Valley
Palace Kitchen
Flat D, M/F, 63-65 Wong Nai Chung Road,Happy Valley
28992844
Private kitchens in Hong Kong usually serve up fusion, Shanghainese or Sichuan food. Cantonese kitchens are rarer. After all who would willingly admit that their kitchen at home isn’t up to scratch? Palace Kitchen takes a brave step introducing a Cantonese kitchen to Happy Valley. The food there is a stylish version of home cooking, presented appetizingly. Rose buds were added to the salt and pepper prawns, adding a sophisticated scent and a deeper hint of red to the dish of pink prawns. The deep fried pomfret was a delight, with a contrast of crispy crust that you bite through to reveal fluffy white innards.
Benson Cuisine
12 C Sing Woo Road, Happy Valley
28936900
Benson Cuisine is famous for its Western Style hairy crab dishes and you certainly do get plenty of these. Legend has it that the taste used to be better and I have to say I have had more exciting crab. But each to his own, I think it is worth a try if you are into crab. The space is rather small and it gets noisy so it's not the place for dining if you want to be heard.
Brown
18A Sing Woo Road, Happy Valley
28918558
This is a community-spirited restaurant which is a haunt for locals. The pasta and apple crumble is a must-have and the servings are supersized. Sharing is "de rigeur" so it is probably a place for your second date rather than your first. Once notorious for sloppy service, Brown has been working hard on its human resources and I was pleased with the results.
Admirality
Pool Deck
8/F, Island Shangri-La, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Admirality
28208580
The evocatively named Pool Deck offers beautiful Mediterranean alfresco dining with great views and generous portions. Order the mezze platter served with warm pita redolent of the Mediterranean. Service was good. It is the place if you want something not too pricey and you want a big feed.
Spoil Café
G/F,1, Sun St
35895678
Spoil is famous for its deserts. In HK where space is a premium, the availability of generous seating is rare. Spoil has large spacious picnic tables making it the perfect place for gatherings that are on the large side. Try the avocado and mango salad with prawn, mushroom risotto with foie gras, rigatoni with pancetta ham. The carrot cake is a great desert
Restaurant Petrus
56/F, Island Shangri-La, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Admirality
28208590
This is a rare Michelin two star eating experience. With opulent décor you could imagine you were in another world as diners chat quietly amidst the clinking of wine glasses and cutlery. With 1000 varieties of wine and French haute cuisine you would shouldn't be surprised that there is a dress code - formal jacket required.
Discovery Bay
Zaks
Shop G04, G/F, Shop 103, 1/F D Deck, Discovery Bay, Lantau
29876232
In Hong Kong, where space is at a premium it is refreshing to find a 5000 square foot terrace restaurant with beach views. Its bold style foreshadows a contemporary array of seafood, steaks, burgers and fusion Asian dishes. The prices are reasonable and while the food is not the best, the ambience, views and cheery atmosphere make up for it. King prawns, grilled in sea salt with mashed potato or seafood risotto is a good choice
Fagara
Shop 105A, 1/F, D Deck, Discovery Bay, Lantau
29876222
What would you expect from a Sichuan restaurant with an Italian sounding name? Fagara brings dimensionality to Sichuan food with nuanced taste sensations called "Ma", "La" and "Tang". The dishes are meant to begin with a flavoursome, followed by numbing note and finally a fiery finale. We were told to try the Dungeness crab and chili wontons and were not disappointed.
Tsim Sha Tsui
BLT Burger
BLT Burger, Shop 301, Level 3, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, TST
27302338
If you like Black Angus beef chargrilled to mouth-watering perfection, moisture sealed but barely restrained by the bulging crust, you will love BLT Burger. They have onion rings and this is one of the only places in HK to get sweet potato fries. The atmosphere is loud and the music is retro. Great for a laugh and some hearty food before heading out to hit the clubs
Gaylord Indian Restaurant
1/F, Ashley Centre, 23-25 Ashley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
23761001
Gaylord M. Focker was the name of Ben Stiller's tragic character in the movie Meet the Parents. According to Wikipedia - Gaylord is derived from the Huguenot (French) name Gaillard (meaning "spry"). Unfortunately after 5 minutes of Googling while I queued, I was unable to find the correct Indian origin of this restaurant's name. In a way Gaylord helped me define the word in the Indian context. With its delicious curries (which it has been serving for 30 years) it recalls what Indian food should be. Tandoori and vegetables are their signature dishes. It is a cheap and cheerful way to spend 100 HKD. The comfortable atmosphere makes it a great place to chill out on a chilled lassi.
Fat Angelo's
Shop B, Basement, The Pinnacle, No. 8 Minden Avenue, TST, Kowloon, Hong Kong
27304788
I would not recommend Fat Angelo's if you are watching your waist or a bit faint of heart but otherwise it’s a great family restaurant that won’t break the bank. Their website foreshadows what's in store "Our large portions are the talk of the town and satisfy both single diners and large groups of up to 50 people" I did not understand this fully until my order arrived. Let's just say I won't be needing breakfast tomorrow. Traditional favourites - Peperoni Pizza and Tiramisu are highly recommended. Preferred dress- something loose that you can expand into. The Tsim Tsa Tsui branch has a bar and lounge area where you can have an aperitif before dinner or a nightcap before you train it home. The atmosphere of dark wood and green and white checked tablecloths could have been a setting for The Godfather and would be rather ominous if it were not for the happy families stuffing themselves around me.
Clearwater Bay
Indonesian Rest 1968
G/F., No' 28 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
25779981
There is something special about Indonesian 1968. Within 5 minutes the spices, sounds and atmosphere creep under your skin and you can almost imagine yourself wearing a Batik shirt in a Kampung style resort. The interior is pastel and the furniture is island style. Papaya salad and sweet chicken satays is a must. For mains, make sure you try ayam panggang kecap rendang beef curry and lidah semur. Indonesians sure know how to stew a good ox tongue. Wash all this down with coconut juice and BYO ukelele for a holiday feel
Wan Chai
Fat Burger
202 Queen's Road East, Qre Plaza, G/F,Store 2, WAN CHAI.
28918855
Fat burger opened in 1952 (I assume this was the era when being called "fat" was not derogartory). In spite of the name, the patties are lean and are fresh rather than frozen. I know this because I released it from its bun and pinched it. It gave way to the force I exerted rather than bouncing back like a bull on steroids. You will get a feeling of the old days in this cheerful burger joint. onion rings made from real onions. Hand-scooped, real ice cream shakes. Great tasting chili. And fries cooked in 100% cholesterol-free oil.
Mid Levels
Olive
32 Elgin Street, Soho, Hong Kong
25211608
Olive is an atmospheric Greek and Middle Eastern restaurant in Hong Kong. Renowned Australian Chef Greg Malouf has designed a modern and exotic restaurant with modern Green and Middle Eastern Cuisine. Feature dishes include a range of mezza, selection of mains, salads and great deserts. The accompanying selection of wine will satisfy even the fussiest of palates.
Soho Spice
47B Elgin Street, Soho, Hong Kong
25211600
If you want to experience authentic Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, you can’t go wrong with Soho Spice. This restaurant features tempting small dishes and mains that can be shared. Definitely a great place to break bread with friends. Desserts are famous here and the wines from around the world will delight. The décor is sophisticated and is truly what one expects of Soho’s stylish dining experiences
BLT Burger
BLT Burger, Shop 301, Level 3, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, TST
BLT Burger brings cosmopolitan and sophisticated style to the humble Hong Kong burger. With a heritage spanning NYC and Las Vegas, its arrival in Hong Kong bestows a “crown of cool” on Hong Kong (the city sometimes known as the Manhattan of the East). You will find re- definitions of tired old post-war burgers, milkshakes, fries and desserts. The “build your own” option offers infinite customization. But wait, this restaurant is not just for the barbarous meat-eater, it even caters to vegetarians. Bring your vegetarian friends to feast the generous salads while you chow down on prime beef. Wash all of this down with a draft beer, wine or cocktail
The Peak
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Shop 304 & 305, Level 3 , The Peak Tower, 128 Peak Road ,The Peak, Hong Kong
28492867
I am always suspicious of a restaurant with a view. After all when rent is so high how can you afford a good chef. Somewhere a compromise must have been made (like the stale peanuts on my first class flight to US), so I was pleasantly surprised at the large servings at this restaurant on the Peak. The shrimp samplers we had were hearty and filling and there was no compromise that I could see. The restaurant has a Disneyland feel as it is pure Americana on top of the most famous lookout in Hong Kong. Highly recommend dessert and the servings were truly decadent. Most of all the setting is fun (when you want the waiter to stop at your table you have to place a Red Stop-Forrest-Stop signal on you table. If you do not want him to pay attention to you put the Green Run-Forrest-Run signal.
Pearl on the Peak
Shop 102, Level 1 The Peak Tower, 128 Peak Road The Peak, Hong Kong
28495123
After walking an hour from Midlevels to the peak you should reward yourself at Pearl on the Peak. The grills are classic and simply done. Moisture is sealed in at just the right temperature and there there are succulent seafood dishes . This is as far from the ocean as you get in HK and the seafood seems so fresh it must have been airlifted up. The music and decor lend an upbeat feel to the place. You can expect smartly dressed dining companions and candles in the evening. Don't leave without trying an exclusive vintage wine or three over the large outdoor terrace
Tien Yi
Shop 206, Level 2 The Peak Tower, 128 Peak Road The Peak, Hong Kong
29073888
Tien Yi (meaning Pinnacle of the World) serves up delectable traditional and innovative Chinese dishes. Try its precious speciality dishes such as bird’s nests, shark’s fins and abalone, as well as classic items like roasted meats and dim sum. Remember to try its impressive wine cellar that contains 3,000 bottles of the finest wines. Signature dishes include - Roasted Crispy Chicken, Sauteed Australian Scallops with Pine Nuts and Egg Whites and Sauteed Assorted Mushrooms served in a Whole Mini Pumpkin
Sha Tin
Sha Tin 18
18 Chak Cheung St, Sha Tin
37231234
Sha Tin 18 holds pride of place amongst Hyatt Regency Sha Tin restaurants. Relatively new, it has won approval amongst the New Territories folk. With a focus on Cantonese and Northern Chinese cuisine and theatrical displays of food handling, you can expect a visual feast on top of the food.
Pok Fu Lam
Classic Passion Restaurant
The Arcade, 100 Cyberport Road, Pok Fu Lam
29899552
This Guandong style Chinese restaurant has staged a recent comeback and remains a much-loved high end restaurant for the locals of Cyberport. The foods range from traditional to more daring fusion dishes. Additionally the wait staff are well trained and attentive. Definitely a place to chill out or impress your date.
Umami
G/F Le Meridien Cyberport, 100 Cyberport Road, Pok fl Lam
29807406
"Umami" is a term coined in 1908 by Dr Ikeda of Tokyo Imperial University. Umami is a pleasant savoury taste imparted by glutamate, a type of amino acid, and ribonucleotides, including inosinate and guanylate, which occur naturally in many foods. As the taste of umami itself is subtle and blends well with other tastes to expand and round out flavors. With such a name like this, I expected sophistication. What I got instead was good food served sloppily. Worth a try if you are in the area and like hip restaurant interiors but too much effort otherwise
Green T House
The Arcade, 100 Cyberport Road, Pok Fu Lam
29896036
This must surely be one of the hippest dining experiences in Pok Fu Lam. A sophisticated white and beige room is the setting for some delectable dishes. The artistically presented dishes become the centre-pieces of the experience. While the portions are rather small (I could eat four times as much), the tea selection is one of the best in the region. This is one of those choices between good and perfect and I have to say I had to try hard to find flaws in this experience.
Tung Chung
Golden Shanghai Cuisine
Shop 116, 1/F, Citygate Outlets, 20 Tat Tung Road, Lantau, Hong Kong, Tung Chung
26259008
This is a nicely presented Shanghainese restaurant in Tung Chung. A favourite amongst the locals it is a usually a bustling place serving up delicious helpings of "jiao zhi" dumplings and healthy pork broths or drunken chicken. When you want to escape the usual Cantonese fare in Hong Kong this is the place to go.
Handi Indian Restaurant
29888674
When you see "Indian" and "pizza" on the same menu, you know you are in an innovative restaurant. This is a great place for lunch and if you are a bit lazy I have heard you can take a free ride from the Tung Chung MTR to this restaurant. Curry potatoes and green peas, lamb rogan josh, butter roti, garlic naan, rose water and mango lassi are highly recommended. Skip breakfast and leave this restaurant filled to the brim with a lunch that will last till the next day. It's a great place to get the calories you need for your next marathon or after you have just finished your last day of the Atkins diet.
Essence
1/F, Novotel Citygate Hong Kong, Citygate Outlets, 51 Man Tong Road
36028808
A hip joint designed by world famous interior designer Yasumichi Morita, Essence is all about style (and fortunately for me, substance as well). Described to me as the best value restaurant buffet in HK it certainly lived up to that reputation. I enjoyed the dessert choices and wide range of salads. Go early for the sushi and oysters as it is very popular. You do not get the greatest selection of seafood but there are other things to savour.
