Autumn is finally here, and while it gradually cools down in Hong Kong, we’re on the look-out for hearty eats and belly-warming bites. Check out some of the most exciting new restaurants and menus to be found in Hong Kong this November.
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New skewer bar KIDO
With Fukuoka positioned as the newest hype travel destination of Japan, it logically follows that Hongkongers might desire a taste of the island town’s signature flavours. Japanese comfort food thus finds a new home in KIDO, a new
hakata-ku skewer bar focused on yakitori chicken and Fukuoka-style grills. Theatrical entrance and dark, mysterious interiors with dim lighting and rich colour accents rule the roost, with diners seated under a ceiling of traditional Japanese roof tiles.
Vegetarians, don’t despair—the menu is diverse and covers not just meats, but a variety of vegetable and fruit ingredients as well. Signatures include
Yakitori Chicken Skewers, of course, that use every part of the animal, and
Tempura-fried Chicken Nanban. Other highlights like
Kurobuta Pork with Fuji Apple, Avocado, and Sugar Pea Shoots, the
Most Famous Oita Mushroom, and
Mozzarella and Cucumber Roll. Deep-fried
kushikatsu skewers are also on the menu, featuring the likes of
Saga Beef Lean Lamb Cube,
Karatsu White Eggplant, and
Hokkaido Herring Roe on Seaweed.
And how do you know for sure that KIDO serves up legit cuisine? The restaurant’s famous recipes were invented by head chef Kimura Junichiro’s father, who originally debuted the dishes at their family restaurant Ogura on Kyushu island. Much imitated but never surpassed, it has made Ogura a must-visit destination and earned Chef Kimura’s father the nickname of ‘God of Chicken’. Now that’s a title we want bestowed upon us!
KIDO, G12–13, 8 Minden Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 2104 6855
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Menu refresh and new lunch menus at Madame Ching
Time for a wardrobe change! Madame Ching, the veritable First Lady of the Star Street precinct, has made refreshing new additions to their a la carte menu whilst keeping with its modern Chinese flair. Dig into new signatures like the
Crispy Yellow Eel ($110) with a sesame ginger sauce and an irresistible
Slow-Cooked Beef Cheeks ($190) served with mushroom mayonnaise and coriander. There are also three new lunch sets on rotation, a piece of news we are sure will delight office workers in the area, so you don’t get fatigued by the same flavours and dishes. Wrap up your meal with a homemade
Tofu Ice Cream and you’re good to go!
Madame Ching, 5 Star Street, Wan Chai | (+852) 2577 7227
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%ARABICA opens up Kube coffee kiosk at K11 MUSEA
Hong Kong’s chicest coffee shop wouldn’t be deserving of its title if it didn’t have a presence at the city’s most artistic retail destination. Minimalistic %ARABICA has opened the doors to a golden coffee kiosk on the waterfront of K11 MUSEA, marking the company’s sixth location in Hong Kong.
Known for its medium-dark roasts and single-origin coffees, %ARABICA will be serving up their regular drinks menu, including crowd-favourites
Spanish Latte and
Matcha Latte. Though we’re not quite smitten with the moniker of Kube—no doubt stylised to match the shopping centre’s K-themed branding—we can’t deny it makes for a convenient location to pick up a cup of joe on your shopping trip, as well as a landmark for plenty of Instagram opportunities.
%ARABICA, Kiosk 06, G/F, K11 MUSEA, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
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The Tai Pan at the Murray welcomes a new menu and chef
November sees a culinary refresh at luxurious hospitality destination the Murray. Executive Chef Terrence Crandall has swept in to open up the kitchen to American melting pot flavours with modern European bistro influences.
With a focus on fine organic and artisanal products, the Tai Pan is reinventing classic recipes, inspired by the chef’s global travels. One such highlight is the seasonal
Hairy Crab Risotto ($220), a novel take on a Shanghainese crab congee Chef Crandall was served many years ago. Enhancing the traditional Chinese ingredient with an Italian approach of Carnaroli rice simmered in a ginger-infused stock, the dish is then topped with flavourful Balsamic vinegar pearls and frothy coriander foam.
For gastronomical adventurers, test your taste buds on a grown-up mash-up of a childhood favourite: the
Foie Gras PB & J ($230). Once you get past how that combination could possibly work, you’ll find a seared slab of foie gras served on toasted French brioche bread with a citrusy rhubarb and strawberry compote. A touch of freeze-dried raspberries and toasted pistachios for textural contrast finished off this decadent and distinctive dish.
Epicureans won’t want to miss the crown jewel of Chef Crandall’s new menu: the grilled, full-blooded
Mayura Wagyu Beef Ribeye M6 ($1,380). If the name rings a bell, it’s because Mayura cattle is famed for its unique (and questionable) diet of chocolates and sweets. We’re sure the cows don’t mind, and we don’t either, considering the tender and marbled result we get to taste on our plates.
The Tai Pan, The Murray, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central | (+852) 3141 8888
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Authentic, family-style Thai at Ruam
Restaurants and bars rotate out on Ship Street so frequently, it’s almost impossible to keep track. This foodie locale’s latest addition is Ruam, a casual Thai eatery surrounded by lush greens that you have to brave a steep set of stairs to revel in. Don’t expect anything fancy here—Ruam focuses on family-style food, with a spotlight on lesser-known, authentic dishes that you don’t come across at most other Thai eateries.
For starters, dig into the
Moo Dad Deauw ($88), sun-dried pork strips served with toasted sesame seeds and Sriracha sauce, and the
Gai Ping ($78), chargrilled chicken skewers served with a savoury peanut sauce. Fan favourites like the
Pad Thai Kung ($148) and
Pad See Ew ($118) can be spotted on the menu, as well as Ruam’s take on Thai boat noodles, the
Kuay Tiew Rua ($138), served with tenderloin in a pig’s blood broth.
Curries come aplenty—just take your pick from colourful dishes like
Gaeng Phed Ped Yang ($188), a duck leg red curry,
Gaeng Penang Kung ($178), a creamy coconut-based prawn curry, or
Gaeng Massaman Ka Gae ($208), a slow-cooked lamb shank curry. And how can you have a Thai meal without wrapping up with a classic mango sticky rice? As a finisher, the
Khao Neeo Mamuang ($88) is not to be missed.
With a brand-new, free-flow alfresco brunch menu on offer, Ruam is sure to become a weekend favourite. Pop down and indulge in some of Thailand’s most famed fare with a gingery
Oh Yeah! ($88) cocktail in hand.
Ruam,
Shop 9, 1/F, J Senses, 60 Johnston Road, Wan Chai | (+852) 3160 8535
Tuscan trattoria fare at Associazione Chianti
Live your best Italian life at Associazione Chianti, Wan Chai’s newest trattoria. The latest addition to the Blacksheep Restaurants
familia focuses on soulful Tuscan cuisine, hearty pastas, and an expansive collection of wines from this famed Italian region. Simple, quality ingredients take centre stage, with protein-rich dishes like
Bistecca alla Fiorentina ($1,198) that can easily feed four, and
Garganelli Omaggio a Camillo ($188), a housemade pasta with Chianti beef ragu, as highlights of the menu, so you can have the full countryside trattoria experience right in the heart of Hong Kong.
Vino lovers will want to take note of the wine list, which features both independent, boutique labels, as well as global brands. Exclusive pours are also on the cards, as the restaurant is working directly with Italian wineries to present new and unusual wines for Hong Kong audiences. Well, time to do like the Italians do and
mangia,
mangia!
Associazione Chianti, Shop 2, 15 Ship Street, Wan Chai
Acclaimed Locavore pop-up at Test Kitchen
Get a taste of the inventive contemporary European cuisine that catapulted a duo of chefs to international culinary fame. Locavore, one of Asia’s 50 best restaurants, will be popping up at Test Kitchen for four nights only, and one half of the kitchen masters, Chef Eelke Plasmeijer, will use this opportunity to present Locavore’s famed fusion food that combines the best of Indonesian flavours with a European flair.
The
Nine-Course Menu ($1,180) features expertly-sourced, seasonal produce that transforms into creative dishes like
Maitake or Oyster Mushroom “Steak”, fried in bacon fat with a toasted yeast sauce and pickled mushrooms, and
Lotus Root Chips with XO emulsion. This is one dining event that is not to be missed, and tickets are going fast.
Test Kitchen, Shop 3, Kwan Yick Building Phase 3, 158A Connaught Road West, Sai Ying Pun | (+852) 9032 7628
Lee Lo Mei is back with a whole new look
Lyndhurst Terrace’s quirkiest modern Chinese eatery makes a grand return after a summer facelift, and its menu and the pun-filled dish names are better than ever. Lee Lo Mei reimagines itself into a casual-romantic destination, heavily inspired by the retro-chic landscape of 1960s Hong Kong, with vivid shades of turquoise, green, and yellow, accompanied by dark wood accents and vintage booth seating.
What about the food? Well, it’s as playful as you’d expect, combining nostalgic flavours with a bit of fun. There is the flavourful and tender wok-fried
Gulu Pork ($188) with pineapple and vanilla, the absolutely fabulous
Crab-ulous Noodles ($198) with king crab meat with tomato and herbs, a signature Cheerful Cheeks ($288) dish of slow-cooked beef cheeks and tendon with mustard potato mash, and so much more.
If you’re game to try a lot of different foods in one sitting, you can’t go wrong with the starter dishes at Lee Lo Mei. From the deep-fried
Got You Wonton More ($88) and stuffed
Stuffy Squid (148) balls to the spirited take on a pineapple bun sandwich with char siu patty and pineapple jam with the
Ping Pong Buns ($118), there’s so much to love and dig into.
Office workers in the area, don’t miss out on the film-inspired lunch menu, with meal sets named after classic Hong Kong actors and productions. And of course, what’s a visit to Lee Lo Mei without an aspect of people watching? Indulge in a taste of Hong Kong childhood with the
Yakult Fizz ($128) and try a refreshing
Butterfly Mule ($128) with Hong Kong baiju and vibrant butterfly pea.
Lee Lo Mei, G–1/F, 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central | (+852) 2896 7688
Read more! Here are the best places to indulge in new drinks and cocktails this November.
New modern Indian menu at Chaiwala
Chaiwala made quite a stir when it debuted in the Hong Kong restaurant scene just a year ago, and following its first birthday, a new and revamped menu has been unveiled. Meat-lovers will want to try the
Masala Beef Balls ($150) and
Indochina Pork Ribs ($210), but don’t stuff yourself just yet before you get past the appetisers. There’s Chaiwala’s tandoori section to fuss over, with a delicious new offering of
Tandoori Beef Ribs ($550), replete with tender Australian beef ribs drizzling in a classic tandoori marinade.
To offset the heavy meats, dig into the grilled
Paneer Tikka Skewer ($180),
Vegan Kofta Curry ($150), and
Kashmiri Nuttie Mutter Pulao ($65), a basmati rice dish with green peas and dried nuts, just so you can say you got your daily intake of veggies in, and finish off with a refreshing
Punjab Cadillac Colada Virgin ($80), a non-alcoholic take with chai syrup, coconut, and nutmeg.
Chaiwala, Basement, 43–55 Wyndham St, Central | (+852) 2362 8988
Photo courtesy of Butter
Your favourite sweet treats now at Butter Cake Shop
You can’t stop Blacksheep Restaurants’ roll, as they’ve got another (sweet) trick up their sleeves for this month. Their new online cake shop,
Butter, is a one-stop-shop for all of the restaurant group’s most requested baked treats, so you can nosh on them anywhere, anytime. The classics are all there, including Motorino’s rich
New York Cheesecake ($588), the irresistible
Red Velvet Cake ($388) from Burger Circus that we can never skip, and even a puppy-friendly, sugar-free
Doggie Cake ($258) from Stazione Novella.
The Cheesecake Factory lands in Macao with exclusive dishes
The Cheesecake Factory has arrived in Macao with four new dishes and a Macao-exclusive.
The Portuguese Chicken ($218), made with a coconut curry peanut sauce and melted cheese, is only available in Macao. Other new dishes to the menu include
Breakfast Tacos ($148),
Crispy Pineapple Chicken and Shrimp ($158), and
Crispy Brussels Sprouts ($98) which we fell in love with. Also, don’t neglect their perennial favourites such as the
Farfalle with Chicken and Roasted Garlic ($208) and
Chicken Madeira ($268). Do we even need to remind you to save space for their legendary cheesecake selection? They are currently still in their soft-opening period in Sands Cotai Central, so head over now before word spreads and it becomes absolutely packed.
The Cheesecake Factory (Macao), Shop 2203D–E, 2/F, Sands Cotai Central, Macao | (+853) 2882 3398
Read more! Here are the best places to indulge in next-level pineapple buns.
Grissini is back with new chef and menu
After 30 years at the forefront of Hong Kong’s Italian culinary scene, Grissini proves that an old dog
can learn new tricks. After its recent renovation, this harbourside stalwart aims to reinvent itself as a destination for younger Italian food lovers. Don’t worry, the panoramic, floor-to-ceiling views are still there, but they’ve added counter-style seating around Grissini’s new live prep stations, so you can enjoy a show with your meal.
As tempting as they are, don’t fill up on the legendary
grissini breadsticks, as you’ll want to leave room for the rest of the food, created by new chef de cuisine Marcello Scognamiglio. Influenced by his coastal hometown of Naples, where fishing culture is king, his signature
Vitello Tonnato ($230) and classic
I Rigatoni Cacio e Pepe ($210) are excellent new additions to the menu, as are
La Battuta Di Bonito ($180), a bonito tuna tartare with ricotta cheese and figs, and the
La Guancia Di Manzo Brasata ($330), a hearty dish of braised beef cheeks in Nebbiolo wine, spinach, and chestnut. Pair that with one of Grissini’s staggering collection of 800 Italian vintage wines and make it a meal to remember.
Grissini, 2/F, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai | (+852) 2584 7722
Japanese take-your-pick hot pot at Dondonya
The weather is taking a cooler turn, and you know what time it is: it’s hot pot time! Donburi specialists Dondonya are stepping out of their comfort zone this month with a brand-new Japanese hot pot offering, with tons of options for diners for a customised experience. Choose from three belly-warming soup bases—
Shrimp Miso,
Kelp with Clam, or
White Chicken—and go wild with the sides, with mushrooms, pumpkin slices, tomatoes, vegetables, and three kids of meats: Australian wagyu, pork belly, and seafood.
Need something more filling? Don’t forget the carbs: after you’re done chowing down on the sides, drop a plate of Sanuki udon or premium Miyagi Hitomebore rice into the soup base and slurp the whole thing up like a
zōsui (Japanese rice soup) dish! And if that’s not enough, there’s also the option of additional sashimi side dishes and desserts of
Nikusaku Rice Ice Cream or
Sencha Ice Cream. Big appetites are most certainly welcome here.
Dondonya,
locations vary
Afternoon tea set at The Cakery
After a string of successful pop-ups, The Cakery returns to bring the city its full range of organic, sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly baked treats. The brand now has permanent homes in the Landmark and Lee Gardens Two—the latter has recently reopened after remodelling. Their Afternoon Tea ($468), which was previously split into either gluten-free or vegan options, has now been combined into one ultra-healthy set. Sit down for an afternoon pick-me-up, with bites such as the Stuffed Romesco Quinoa Baby Eggplant, the Cheer Pods chia pudding, and a healthy twist on the traditional scone made with almond milk, brown rice flour and vegan butter. We particularly love the Lemon Tart which was fresh, zesty, and just the right amount of indulgent. Feast away without feeling guilty!
The Cakery, Shop 124, 1/F, Lee Gardens Two, 28 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay | (+852) 2816 1838
Read more! Here's more indulgence with Hong Kong's best truffle fries.
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Four seasonal menus at L’Envol
L’Envol at St. Regis Hong Kong is introducing four autumn-inspired experiences in their interpretation of French haute cuisine using seasonal produce from France and Asia. The highlights are undoubtedly their eight-course menus. The “Signature” Dinner Menu ($1,888 per head) includes delights such as the Piedmont Beef Abalone “Like a Tartare” (with abalone added to the classic French dish as a homage to Hong Kong), and the signature Hokkaido Sea Urchin Box; while the other eight-course “Prestige” Caviar Menu ($2,688) is a veritable smorgasbord of caviar, featuring the likes of Le Shadi de La Maison Nordique paired with Brittany blue lobster salad, and L’Ossetra Tsar Imperial Petrossian paired with a dry haddock-infused duck egg. Don’t forget about the famous L’Envol three-tiered cheese trolley featuring over 30 types of cheeses, served with all sorts of condiments!
L’Envol, St. Regis Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Drive, Wanchai | (+852) 2138 6818
Wellness gastronomy at Asaya Kitchen
Located in Rosewood Hong Kong, the brand new Asaya Kitchen serves wholesome, health-conscious, Mediterranean- and Japanese-inspired fare that supports responsible sourcing. Expect to find a menu full of nutrient-rich dishes, with raw, sprouted, pickled, and fermented ingredients, prepared in light and clean flavours. We particularly like the look of the Warm Petits Farcis ($185), the Mushroom Tea with confit organic egg yolk and soba noodles ($125), and the Sea Bream Carpaccio ($165). Even their drinks list features an array of antioxidant-rich, organic, and biodynamic wines. Definitely one to keep an eye on!
Asaya Kitchen, 6/F, Rosewood Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 3891 8732
Originally published on October 30, 2019. Updated on November 8, 2019.
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