Showing posts with label hong kong. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hong kong. Show all posts

Monday, August 15, 2011

not taipei: HONG KONG


Notes for my next visit from the amazing meals our family friends hosted us at. I liked the ultra fresh lobster sashimi, plucked from the tanks moments before our meal, but even better are the pan fried pissing shrimps or mantis shrimps, which are like baby lobsters with juicy meat to dig out of its bug like shell. It's a dish that's hit the mark at almost every restaurant we've ordered it at.



Also, does this picture make you hungry or turn off your appetite?


For me,a  mixture of both, but carnivores that have had perfect crackling skin from a roast suckling pig at Fook Lam Moon will be thinking about it for weeks afterwards. Paired with a soft cushion of a steamed bun, I wanted more than my two piece portion of the thin squares. If the suckling pig isn't in your budget, then the crispy chicken has some delicious crunch going on too.


Advance reservations recommended at both.



FOOK LAM MOON
35/45 Johnston Road
Wanchai
+852-2866-0663

CHEUN KEE
53 Hoi Pong Street
Sai Kung Seafront
Hong Kong
+852-2791-1195

Friday, August 20, 2010

not taipei/hong kong: egg tarts from WING FAT BAKERY/RESTAURANT



The next time I go to Hong Kong, I'll definitely make a point to swing by Wing Fat Bakery for their egg tarts. Best eaten warm so that the jelly-like custard and buttery, flaky crust make melty magic in your mouth, I bought a box to share and even devoured one for breakfast the next morning.



Thankfully I found a egg tart place that satisfied on my trip a few weeks ago- on my trip to Hong Kong last year, I found a random bakery when I got lost walking from my hotel to my lunch meeting, but was not able to find it again since.

If you're craving hot egg tarts in Taipei? I'd recommend going to Parents Restaurant and ordering it about 20 minutes before you want to devour them. Anyone else have any leads for delicious egg tarts in Taipei or Hong Kong?

WING FAT BAKERY/RESTAURANT
117 Hennessy Road
Wan Chai, Hong Kong
2865 5987

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

not taipei: HONG KONG DISNEYLAND


breakfast from Chef Mickey's


Last week, I went to Hong Kong Disneyland for the first time. I had heard horror stories about people cutting in line, how it was too small and it just wasn't the same. It wasn't the same- but that's okay. And I only got cut in front of once. Other than that, it was pretty awesome. A bizzaro Disneyland if you will.

There were NO lines at practically every ride- I went on two weekdays- and even though it was small, they had a lot of the main rides- Space Mountain, Dumbo Flying Elephants, Jungle Cruise, Autotopia, Mad Hatter Tea Cups. Autotopia had the longest line we waited in- half an hour. But every other ride was practically zero wait, just go to the front and hop on. You feel like you've accomplished something because you're able to check off all the rides, and you spend more time on the rides than waiting in line!

Everyone at the park and hotels were exceptionally friendly. I know that's their job to be friendly, but everyone was so pleasant and helpful that it just felt really *nice* especially in contrast to the matter of fact service that you sometimes get in Asia.



But what cracked me up was seeing all the Chinese food everywhere. It's too be expected since most of their visitors are gonna be Chinese. But Tomorrowland's cafe had a whole range of noodles, rice and beef noodle soups.



I chose pork chop noodle soup (HKD $45) with a side of braised radishes . Even though it was put together assembly line style, it still tasted pretty good. A lot better than the awful noodle soup I had the night before at the Asiaworld Expo for the Coldplay concert- proving that just because we're in Hong Kong doesn't mean all the Asian food is going to automatically be good.



If you're going to be visiting, I'd advise eating the Chinese food over the American food. I don't remember the hot dogs and burgers at Disneyland OC being that good, but not this bad either.



I take that back. The corn on the cob wasn't bad. It tasted like the kind you'd get from Church's Chicken or KFC. You'd find it at the vendors, alongside dried squid and squidballs on a stick.





The park closed unbelievably early at 8pm, after the firework show, so we ended up eating dinner at Crystal Lotus in Disneyland Hotel. More Chinese food, but sit down style. It wasn't bad, but of course, a lot pricier (HKD $ 318/per person for set menu).





When we went we got the "Stay and Play" deal, where if you stayed at their hotel, you could buy 1 day at the park, get 1 day free. Pretty good for Disney lovers. I just checked and it's available until Sept 2009.

Maximize your Disney-fied stay by catching breakfast buffet at Chef Mickey's at Hollywood Hotel and Mickey Mouse waffles, or even better, meet Mickey and the gang at the Enchanted Forest at Disneyland Hotel where they'll wander around for photo ops while you eat. The Chef Mickey's breakfast buffet had Western style breakfasts, Chinese style dim sum and noodles, Indian curries and some Japanese offerings- as well as an array of pastries, fruit and juices. I sort of expected to see more food in Disney shapes, but the waffles were the only one.



On the last day, I found a little to-go cafeteria shop in the back of Hollywood Hotel where you could get sandwiches, hot plates and tiramisu with the mouse ears. I don't know how it tasted, but it's amazing that just the shape of it makes it so cute and recognizable.


HONG KONG DISNEYLAND
Lantau Island
+852 1-830-830

CHEF MICKEY's
Disney's Hollywood Hotel
+852 3510-5000

CRYSTAL LOTUS
at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel
+852 3510-6000

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

not taipei: Hong Kong



Here are some notes from my trip to Hong Kong last December. I'm headed there again this week, so hopefully I'll get to find more yummy places to eat!

RICE PAPER



Whether you trust food guides or not, you gotta trust your instincts. So when we thought we'd be adventurous and try modern Vietnamese food our first night in Hong Kong, I knew it could go either way, although maybe somewhere deep inside I knew the picture in the food guide looked a little too fancy for good Asian food.



Walking in, the modern decor and lighting might make it a romantic setting for a date, especially if you can grab a window seat for the view. But decor is rarely more important than food and service.



Perhaps we should have ordered their "make your own rolls" rather than trying an their curry, fish and appetizers, but it seemed a bit overpriced and pretty rather than hearty and fulfilling. If you get the seabass, expect it to be fried and under a mysterious sweet sauce.



The curry with french bread and spring rolls were the best thing about the dinner.





The sugarcane shrimp were interesting- but the shrimp was more processed than fresh, and the foie gras summer roll did not have melt-in-your-mouth foie gras, but rather something akin to dried liver.



While most of the dishes were decent, unfortunately, the service was worse than bad (they were asked for things more than three times before responding (bowl of rice, more water, etc) and they sprayed cleaner on the table next to us while we were still eating (the restaurant was far from closed or empty) and they abruptly cleared our dishes while we were standing up getting ready to leave (they could have waited a few seconds for us to actually gather our things and exit the table).


BRUNCH CLUB



Had a meeting here, chosen by the person I was meeting. A cute little cafe serving Western style breakfasts- I wish I had taken advantage of reading all the gossip magazines that they had available to read. I thought you couldn't read them until you bought them, until I saw a lady at another table with a stack, Barnes and Nobles style. Free wifi password upon request too!

Get the huge mix grilled combo plate over the others. I eyed the desserts too, but it was too early in the day.




CAFFÈ VERGNANO 1882



Best for a quick bite to eat- Italian food on couches and low tables. The pizza topped with prosciutto was more memorable than the pastas.



Instead of eating at a restaurant patio, you're eating facing the mall and escalators. We got the lasagna for an additional HKD$7 or something crazy like that, but it tasted as if it could have been from a frozen dinner. I think they are more well known for their coffees than food.





LEI GARDENS- strongly recommend



One of the more well known and popular dim sum joints in town, luckily our local friend made a reservation. Otherwise we would have joined the masses waiting in line for over an hour or so.



Everything came by steaming hot on carts- be sure to get the siu mai, the sticky rice with sausage and stir fried greens (I think it was spinach or yam leaves?)




HONEYMOON DESSERTS- recommend



It's pretty amazing to see this dessert shop all over town- fancy ones like the one near Lei Garden, or to-go ones in the food courts. I don't remember them being around during my last trip to Hong Kong in 2006, but this time they were everywhere. Serving dessert soups, puddings and drinks, the huge menu should be able to please everyone. My favorite is the almond tofu with mango soup and tapioca. (If you're looking for something less local, there's also Ben and Jerry's ice cream here!)



TRIPLE O's- recommend



When my Taipei friend heard I was going to Hong Kong, she said, you HAVE to try the burger place in Pacific Place. So I did. Canada's answer to Fuddruckers, Triple O's had burgers, shakes and fries and a lot of people eating them at their food court. I devoured my Mushroom Cheese burger and thick strawberry shake.



YE SHANGHAI- recommend



A bit of last minute indecisiveness and long wait at led us to eat at Ye Shanghai. It's a elegant spacious restaurant hidden in the back of Pacific Place serving Shanghainese favorites like river shrimp and chili wontons.



I couldn't stop eating the cold appetizer dishes and the crispy rice doused with seafood sauce, but I'd probably pass on the crab xiao long bao and sticky rice dumplings next time.





Like Taipei, it's amazing how every other mall is filled with name brands like Chanel, LV or Gucci, where even in LA, you have to drive to Beverly Hills or South Coast Plaza to shop there. In Hong Kong, it feels like every other major block. But you have to appreciate that the city and stores are open late and so many of the restaurants are regularly open until 11pm.

Lastly, the menu from Curry in a Hurry- Indian food at Times Square City Super food court. I always forget that you have to turn in your order to the main cashier, pay, bring back your proof of payment to the vendor and then get your food. It seems a bit like you're always lining up for something, but I guess it's easier for the cash to be collected in one place for the big bosses!



RICE PAPER
P413-418, Podium 4
World Trade Centre
Causeway Bay,Hong Kong
(852) 2890 3975

BRUNCH CLUB and SUPPER
4 Sun Wui Road
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
(852) 2890 2125
8am - 11pm

CAFFÈ VERGNANO 1882
Lee Gardens, Shop 108,
33 Hysan Avenue
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
(02) 2907 3817

LEI GARDEN
IFC Mall, 3rd FL
Central, Hong Kong
(852) 2295 0238
11:30 AM -3PM; 6PM -11PM

HONEYMOON DESSERT
IFC Mall, 3rd FL
(852) 2868 9799

TRIPLE O's
Pacific Place
Great Food Hall, Level LG1
88 Queensway, Hong Kong, China
(852) 2873 4000

YE SHANGHAI
Pacific Place
332, Level 3
(852) 2918-9833
11:30 AM to 3 PM; 6 PM to 12midnight

Websites and blogs to note that I will be researching on my latest trip to Hong Kong- I'm gonna see Coldplay there!!!

Any more recommendations on where to eat?

eat drink hong kong
hiphongkong
timeout hk

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

not taipei: Hong Kong recs?

hi everyone! I'm headed to Hong Kong tomorrow so I need some recommendations for Must Eats! Can be any kind of food or any good food blogs.

Also, thanks for the rush of new votes for the Reader's Choice.. it's great for those people campaigning for their very favorite restaurant, but share some of your other favorites, will ya? Otherwise I won't know if it's the same anonymous person just voting 10 times over.

Man, I have a sudden craving for pizza. I don't know why...

:)