Adorable Dim Sum Brunch at Yum Cha

It’s not your grandparents’ dim sum, but it’s definitely photogenic!

My absolute favourite, crispy fried tofu with salt and pepper.

Googly-eyed custard buns. It’s great fun to poke a hole in one of these and squeeze till it “throws up”. Childish? Maybe. Hilarious? Always.

Matcha custard buns. I preferred the other type, but these weren’t bad either.

Piggy buns filled with (what else?) BBQ pork.

Crispy shrimp wontons with a sweet chilli dipping sauce, served in a little metal box. It’s a little on the hipster side. Then again, this whole establishment is aimed at a younger crowd, so what do I know?

Yum Cha (Central)
南豐大廈 Nan Fung Tower, 2/F, Nan Fung Place,, 173 Des Voeux Rd Central
Tel: 3708 8081

臻 Zhen Restaurant Contemporary Dim Sum

Discovered this little gem while exploring Shek Tong Tsui… I was looking for this cafe that I had read about, only to find that they were closing for the day. But then I saw the the bright lights of Zhen Restaurant from a distance, and decided to check it out. So there’s always a silver lining!

We (Edwin and I) enjoyed the food, and the service was lovely. Two weeks later, we actually headed back with a couple of friends in tow! The dishes below are from two separate visits, so brace yourselves for the slew of food pictures ahead…

Lotus Paste Puff 籠相思

Foie Gras Spring Roll 鵝肝醬蝦春卷

Hand-pulled Chicken with Cucumber Salad 胡麻手撕雞

Fortune Golden Pot 黑松露燒金窩

Shrimps & Cheese Dumpling 墨汁芝士蝦餃

Signature Lobster Bisque 龍蝦湯蝦餃

Goldfish Dumplings 珊瑚蚌金魚餃

Fried Taro Duck 杏香荔茸鴨

Pork Dumplings 燒賣

Pan-fried Pork Buns 水煎包

The piggy and panda buns were new, so I don’t have the names for them.

Hainan Chicken Rice 海南雞飯

 

Osmanthus Poached Pear 桂花燉雪梨

The words “fusion dim sum” might turn some people off, but I generally don’t mind giving fusion cuisine a try. After all, these days our palates are influenced by so many different cultures, is fusion really so out there? Also, I’m a sucker for cute dim sum. I especially liked the lotus paste “birds” and the lobster bisque “shrimp”, and the dessert was AMAZING. One of my absolute favourite desserts, and I’m usually a chocolate and ice-cream kind of girl.

Alright folks, till next time!

臻 Zhen Restaurant Contemporary Dim Sum
Shop C, G/F, Nam Cheong Bldg
48-52 Hill Road, Sai Ying Pun Hong Kong
Tel: 2811 2568
http://zhen-restaurant.com.hk/

Dinner at Plaza Inn, Hong Kong Disneyland

I don’t know why, but for the longest time I thought that the Plaza Inn served a Western-style buffet, which was it never crossed my mind to give the place a try. I must have confused it with similar-looking restaurants from the other Disneyland Parks, because it turns out that Plaza Inn in Hong Kong Disneyland actually serves Chinese (Cantonese) cuisine!

There’s actually a story behind why Plaza Inn looks Victorian on the outside but is all chinoiserie chic on the inside: an American couple traveled to China, fell in love with its food and design aesthetic, and decided to open a Chinese restaurant once they returned home. At least, that’s the Cliffnotes version… you can read more here.

The table settings and interiors were indeed very pretty. The restaurant got really busy as the evening progressed, although I doubt anyone was there for the story. “We’re here for the food… save your tale for the gweilos.”

Peanuts and crispy whitebait. It was my favourite thing that night, so you can see how this is going…

Broccoli and mixed mushrooms. Oh you know, trying to be healthy. Taste-wise, nothing out of the ordinary, but the little Mickeys were a nice touch.

Tofu and roast meat. This had to be the most underwhelming dish ever. It tasted as bland as it looked. Ugh, next!

I can’t remember what soup this was, but I do remember that it tasted alright.

Spring rolls with wasabi mayonnaise. This was one of the better dishes, and also the first time I’d ever seen spring rolls in this particular shape (longer and thinner than traditional ones). Curiously, all other spring rolls I’ve come across since then were all shaped like these!

To be honest, we did make the mistake of ordering too much food. If we had ordered just three dishes instead of four (the peanuts don’t count), it’d probably have turned out to be a better overall dining experience.

However, this is my gripe: given that this is Hong Kong, the standard of the Chinese food served here really should be much better than this. Alongside Crystal Lotus at Disneyland Hotel, the dishes we’ve encountered haven’t been particularly impressive. Why is that so?

While the Disney dim sum has a “cute factor”, there isn’t much about Plaza Inn that stands out. The only time I can see myself returning is if we’re in Disneyland on a cold winter evening and nothing but a bowl of piping hot Chinese soup will do. Otherwise… nope.

As mentioned in the previous post, Edwin and I will be heading to Disneyland next week, and I’ll be on the hunt for Halloween-themed food-items. There might be a Jack Skellington burger, orange and purple drinks… pumpkin spice churro? Now, wouldn’t that be something.

One Dim Sum 一點心

Edwin’s sister Ines and her husband Brandon stayed with us over the Mid-Autumn Festival weekend, and together the four of us had some pretty good food during those few days. I’m always hoping for guests to come by so that I can bring them around to eat! (Actually no, I don’t really need that excuse and I’ll go out all the same, hehe.)

Anyway, we dined at our usual Japanese restaurant, and then Lee House Restaurant (with my favourite crispy tofu!), and eventually made our way across the harbour in search of more!

On Sunday afternoon, we went to One Dim Sum and were greeted with a long queue of hungry locals and travellers, all eager to sample Michelin-starred dim sum. The food had better be good after the 45 minute wait!

The various dim sum dishes arrived not long after we placed our order, and in fact they came one after another so quickly that I didn’t take close-up shots of all of them! Must eat while hot!

From left: 香滑奶皇包 // custard buns; 鼓汁蒸肉排 // steamed pork ribs; and 薄皮鮮蝦餃 // har gao (shrimp dumplings).

Of all the dishes we tried, the custard buns were probably the most underwhelming. Yes, they were piping hot and fragrant enough, but there was just a bit too much bun and not enough custard. On a side note, is it just me, or is anyone else craving for a 流沙包 (salted custard bun) right about now?

蜜汁叉燒腸 // Chee cheong fun (rice paper rolls) with charsiew (barbequed pork). Not particularly exciting, but a solid staple nonetheless.

炒兩腸粉 // More chee cheong fun, this time with deep-fried youtiao (cruller) as the filling. I never knew these existed until I came to Hong Kong. Now I’m on a quest to try ’em all!

鮮蝦腐皮卷 // Fresh shrimp rolled in deep-fried beancurd skin. The shrimp was plump and juicy, and I’m definitely not one to pass up on deep-fried anything!

蟹皇蒸燒賣 // Siewmai (I don’t even know what the English translation for this is!) with crab roe. I’m not a fan of siewmai, but I like how these were generously portioned.

香芒奶皇卷 // Mango mochi rolls. THIS. This was the highlight of our meal. I really wished that we had ordered one more, and I would trek all the way back to have this again. It was that good.

古法炸蛋散 // Egg pastry. The first few bites were enjoyable, and after that it was a bit much. I wish there was more syrup to counter the dryness of the pastry.

Overall, the food did not disappoint. The place was well-run, organised and efficient, and service was excellent. They were pretty serious about their food too – they served the egg pastry after the mango mochi rolls so that the syrup wouldn’t interfere with the mango taste.

All in all, definitely somewhere I’d bring friends and family. Watch out, mango, I’m coming for you!

One Dim Sum 一點心
Shop 1 & 2, G/F, Kenwood Mansion, 15 Playing Field Road, Prince Edward
太子運動場道15號京華大廈地舖1-2號
Tel: 2789 2280

An Evening in Paradise (Dynasty)

Finally got to try the entire selection of flavoured xiaolongbao (Chinese soup dumplings) at Paradise Dynasty!

There is a fixed order to eat these babies – you start with the original xiaolongbao in the centre, then the ginseng flavoured green dumpling. After that, you go clockwise: foie gras, black truffle, cheese, crab roe, garlic, and finally Szechuan.

My favourite was the black truffle, while Edwin’s favourite was the ginseng. Our least favourite was the cheese. As much as I like cheese, it really doesn’t pair well with Chinese-style broth.

For a limited time, they’re serving complimentary laksa xiaolongbao. (I’m not sure whether it’s complimentary for all diners or if you have to order the above set to get it.) If you love laksa then you’ll love the burst of coconut milk and lime flavours. It was a bit too spicy for me though!

A total of nine dumplings per person was rather filling, so we didn’t order much else. While perusing the menu, we were intrigued by the lettuce rolls with the homemade sesame sauce, so we gave that a try. If you like sesame sauce or dressing, you have to order this! Bonus points for being green and healthy.

We also had double-boiled chicken soup in an atas (high-class) apparatus. Fancy soup bowl aside, it was piping hot and comforting, just the thing for a cold winter’s night sitting in an air-conditioned restaurant in Hong Kong.

Once again we were too full for dessert, but those with adventurous palates might be interested in the durian dumplings, in case you’re on a “gotta try them all” quest!

Paradise Dynasty 樂天皇朝
6/F, Lee Theatre, 99 Percival Street, Causeway Bay
銅鑼灣波斯富街99號利舞臺廣場6樓
Tel: 2177 0903

Lee House Restaurant 李公馆

My friend Yue Han and his girlfriend Cordelia came up to Hong Kong for an Easter getaway, and we headed to Lee House Restaurant. This is one of my favourite dining spots in the city – consistently amazing food, stellar service, and convenient location to boot – what’s not to love?

Advanced reservations are needed, especially if you intend to dine here on a weekend or public holiday. In fact, we were initially on the waiting list for dinner service on Saturday, and I’m so glad we got a table in the end!

蟲草花石斛炖湯 // Cordyceps dendrobium soup. Yes, it’s herbal soup, but don’t let that scare you. The flavours were well-balanced, and overall it was as delicious as it was (hopefully) nourishing. In fact, their soups are so popular, you’re advised to reserve one when you’re booking a table!

茶葉熏蛋 // Eggs smoked in tea leaves. The aroma of the tea was incredible. These were a tiny bit overdone though.

茶葉熏雞 // Chicken smoked in tea leaves. This time we know the egg came first. The chicken didn’t taste anything like the egg, in case you were wondering. In fact, if it weren’t for the name (and presentation), I wouldn’t have known that tea leaves were involved at all. It tasted like… chicken.

上湯時菜 // Seasonal vegetables in broth. Just add garlic, and I’m good.

Alright, are you ready for the good stuff?

椒鹽豆腐 // Crispy salt and pepper tofu. MY FAVOURITE. #gonein60seconds #onemoreplease

I once heard that it’s weird for someone to like tofu so much. I don’t care.

And now, the pièce de résistance…

冰鎮咕嚕肉 // Iced sweet and sour pork. Most definitely not your usual Chinese takeout/zichar staple. These babies have been “shocked” in ice, and thus stay super crispy. More than that, there’s also some secret sauce going on.

This is one of their signature dishes, and you’ll also have to order it in advance. There’s also a “special” version which comes with a fancy ice sculpture and flashing lights. For all I know maybe it sings for you too. (I’m not kidding about the ice sculpture and lights though.)

Et voilà, another incredible dining experience at Lee House Restaurant. I would also like to point out that the service was excellent – all the staff were polite, efficient, and made us feel cared for. A notch above the rest for sure!

Lee House Restaurant 李公馆
2/F, OfficePlus@WanChai
303 Hennessy Road
Wan Chai, Hong Kong
灣仔軒尼詩道303號協成行灣仔中心2樓
Tel: 2821 3368

Yat Lok Restaurant 一樂燒鵝

So… This is on its way to becoming a food blog. Hopefully I’ll have time this Thursday to write about other things, it being a public holiday and all. And why not spend the first day of the new year reminiscing about good times? Maybe I’ll get inspired, catch the travel bug again, and start planning the next holiday.

In the meantime, we’ve got to eat, and I’m going to share with you what is quickly becoming one of my favourite dining spots in Hong Kong. It started just this October, when a friend from Singapore came up to Hong Kong and wanted to try local roast goose. I asked my boss if she knew of any good places, and she asked her friend, who recommended this. After trying it for the first time, I was sold. It was that good!

So now, every time someone comes to Hong Kong and wants to have a meal together, I will suggest this place. :p Although I’ll have to exercise some self-control. Roast goose isn’t the healthiest thing in the world!

Anyway, my friend Sylvia is in town at the moment, and we met up for dinner last night. At 7.15pm, there was quite a long queue! Thankfully, most of the people were in larger groups, and being a party of two, we managed to get seated after waiting for ten minutes. If you don’t already know by now, Yat Lok is very popular with locals and tourists alike!

We ordered the bottom quarter of a roast goose, which included the ever-so-popular drumstick. Just look at that crispy skin! *hungry again*

We also had iced lemon tea, kailan with oyster sauce, and rice (not pictured).

Our meal cost HKD208 (~S$35), which is honestly a little overpriced for local food. But the good food, quick service, and convenient location make it okay as an occasional indulgence. And to make things clear, I don’t dine like this all the time! Most nights, it’s healthy home-cooked food, with groceries from the neighbourhood supermarket.

So after dinner, Sylvia and I walked around and ended up having chocolate fondue at Haagen-Dazs, which is never a bad choice. Still, if anyone knows of any good local dessert places in Central, please let me know!

They called this a “mini” chocolate fondue, with 16 small scoops of ice-cream. Towards the end, there were three scoops left, and I thought for sure that I already had 8 scoops, but Sylvia said that she had 8 scoops herself, so those three had to be mine. Is it worrying that I literally lost count of the number of scoops of ice-cream I had?

Oh well, I think I’m done with ice-cream for the rest of the year. Then again, “the rest of the year” isn’t very long at all. 😉

Yat Lok Restaurant 一樂燒鵝
G/F, 34-38 Stanley Street, Central
中環士丹利街34-38號地舖
Tel: 2524 3882

Haagen-Dazs
G/F, 24 D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central
中環蘭桂坊德己立街24號地下
Tel: 2869 9158