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A diverse guide to food in Hong Kong
16 `SPHERE MAGAZINE
Picture credit: Dim Sum, xiantianmi, www.sxc.hu
Hong Kong Foodie
western
thai
JAPANESE
The Globe, 45-53 Graham St., Mid Levels, Hong Kong There’s nothing outstanding about ‘The Globe’ for anyone from the UK; but that’s the whole point – it’s pretty much like an English pub. There’s pie and mash, fish and chips, steak and kidney pudding. There’s also handpulled real-ale brewed locally by a Cathay Pacific pilot in his spare time. A great stop if you are feeling a little homesick. They’ve got a dartboard, the most extensive selection of international beers in Hong Kong and the best jukebox ever!
Nana Banana, 117 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong The best Thai food available in Hong Kong, they do set lunches comprising of soup, a main course with rice or noodles, a desert and a drink – all for about a fiver! The a la carte menu is extensive and interesting and doesn’t have to be too spicy unless you request it. And for whiskey lovers, they have a selection of over 200 scotches to choose from.
vietnamese
Bahia, 101, Lung Mei Village,Ting Kok Rd., Tai Po, NT If you fancy a barbeque but don’t have the space or can’t be bothered with organising the food or clearing up afterwards, then outdoor barbeque restaurants are the ideal answers. It’s a little out of the way but you can make a day of it as there are places nearby where you can rent bicycles, rowing boats and skiffs. On entry you pay a fee (about £10) that includes as many visits as you like (can manage) to constantly replenished supply of meat, fish, seafood vegetables and fruit (yes fruit) to be grilled by you at your table.
Shabu Shabu Dennies House, 20 Luard Rd, Wan Chai Shabu Shabu apparently means to do the washing which refers to the way that the meat etc is swished around in a pot of boiling soup until it’s cooked to your liking. In the same vein as the barbeque restaurants, the food here is only as well cooked as you make it. You choose from a selection of mixed meats, seafood, fish and which soup you want to cook it in. The soup is placed on an induction hob built into the middle of the table and you add the ingredients as required and leave for as long as you think necessary. A particular favourite is the mixed seafood basket which you have to keep an eye on whilst you’re cooking as the abalone have a habit of walking off across the table. The décor is dimly lit Japanese natural wood and the staff are very attentive. They also do a great green tea ice cream.
Nha Trang, Wellington Street, MidLevels This Vietnamese restaurant has earned itself a reputation for good food and poor service. It’s usually busy in the evenings resulting in a wait of around 10 minutes. A favourite among the locals is the Pho (soup noodle with thinly sliced raw and cooked beef and fresh basil) softshell crab and sizzling Saigon crepe; made with lentil flour, fried and has pork, shrimps, and bean sprouts and cooked with a light curry sauce. It is a very unusual dish and the tastes and textures came together very nicely.
chinese Lei Garden, Elements Mall, Kowloon Slightly up-market and slightly expensive Hong Kong Chinese restaurant but with a few interesting twists from the traditional ‘yum cha’ dim-sum dishes. One of the nicer aspects is the private room that they have for discreet business meetings; equally could be for private parties or even romantic dining.
Barbeque
SZECHUAN Sijie Sichuan Dishes, Rm 289 Go Wah Bldg, 285 Lockhart Rd HK An interesting phenomenon of Hong Kong is the ‘private dining’ experience. Essentially, the establishments are not advertised and unlicensed; they don’t have menus and are usually based in converted apartments in popular nightspot areas like Wanchai or Lan Kwai Fong. Sijie is a restaurant that serves authentic (and very spicy) Szechuan dishes.
SEAFOOD Fusion, Sam Mun Tsai Village, Tai Po, New Territories There are loads of seafood restaurants in Sai Kung and they’re always busy and always expensive and just a little bit too crowded and noisy. Fusion has recently been refurbished and with its’ location in a quiet fishing village and outdoor seating (weather permitting) it makes for a very pleasant night out as you look out across the bay. It’s a little pricy and a blow out can cost upwards of £50 per person but the fish, shellfish and seafood is as fresh as you can get (you choose what you fancy from tanks as you enter the restaurant) and they will cook it how you like it if you can’t find what you want on the menu.
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