Header image: Confusion, Sheung Wan
Bear’s Lab
Getting in on the “bowl“ craze is this new Central offering on Stanley Street. Using only natural ingredients and plenty of superfoods, you’ll find every ingredient marketed as “healthy” all packed into one tub. If you‘re on the hunt for foods like açai, spirulina, turmeric, charcoal, flaxseed, chia and cashew butter, Bear’s Lab offers them all in smoothie bowls, smoothie drinks and even smoothie lattes.
Shop F, G/F, World Trust Tower, 50 Stanley Street, Central, 2702 0802
BEDU
New Middle Eastern restaurant and bar BEDU, by the same peeps who brought us Brazilian-Japanese restaurant Uma Nota, will open its doors mid-August. With dishes spanning from North Africa to the Middle East, the powerful flavours will combine spicy, sour and smoky notes in the menu by Chef Corey Riches.
40 Gough Street, Central
Cafe Terceira
Spinning tradition on its head in Causeway Bay is relaxed Macanese-Portuguese restaurant Cafe Terceira. Expect dishes like crispy suckling pig bun with piri-piri sauce and rack of lamb curry. An inexpensive Macanese tea set for two is a highlight, offering up pork chop buns, squid cakes and Portuguese egg tarts.
Shop 1302, 13/F, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, 3101 9539
The Coffee Academïcs RØASTERY
The Coffee Academïcs has launched its latest concept, The Coffee Academïcs RØASTERY. Along with its nine shops across the city, this new roastery offers a custom-blending service where coffee lovers can select their chosen coffee origin, taste and scent profiles, then individualise their packaging preferences, all digitally via iPad. This pop-up will be at ifc mall for the next six months.
Shop LA5, 3/F, ifc mall, 8 Finance Street, Central
Confusion
Here to clear up the confusion that plant-based cuisine is limited to just salads and smoothies is new vegan diner Confusion in Sheung Wan. Its mission is to expose people to a plethora of cuisines and flavours that are free from animal products. Offering a wide range of choices – with daily and weekly specials and everything from breakfast burritos to burgers and soups to bento boxes – this welcome spot is bringing yet another option to the increasing trend of vegan dining.
103 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, 2563 3699
Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao – noodle bars
Reliable favourite (and Michelin-recognised) Crystal Jade – our go-to spot for a xiao long bao fix – is rolling out contemporary open-kitchen noodle bars, starting with its shops in Times Square, Mongkok’s MOKO Mall and New Town Plaza in Sha Tin. Diners can watch the chefs in action hand-pulling their noodles in three different shapes: the standard double width, triangle or “dragon beard” style, which particularly complements spicy, Sichuan-style dishes. A great-value children’s set menu has also been introduced, featuring an assortment of kid-friendly goodies including noodles with scallion oil and deep-fried spring rolls.
Times Square: Shop B221A, Basement 2, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, 2506 0080
MOKO: Shop 505B, 5/F, MOKO, 193 Prince Edward Road West, Mongkok, 3586 9498
New Town Plaza: Shop A238, 2/F, New Town Plaza Phase III, 18 Sha Tin Centre Street, Sha Tin, 3580 8772
Greyhound Cafe (ELEMENTS) 
Opening its first flagship across the water at ELEMENTS, this contemporary Thai restaurant has unveiled a 4,500-square-foot space featuring the brand’s first Thai noodle bar and an open drink and dessert bar, bringing with it a range of new dishes and cocktails. Look forward to the lobster tom yum super bowl, braised pork leg with Japanese udon, yellow curry crab on rice and spicy hotpot seafood pontoon. Go, Greyhound!
Shop 2001B, 2/F, ELEMENTS, 1 Austin Road West, TST, 2386 6008
Hugger Mugger/Chaiwala
Another cloak-and-dagger addition to the secretive cocktail scene storming Hong Kong, Hugger Mugger is Pirata Group‘s British-themed cocktail bar taking over the downstairs spot on Wyndham Street held previously by Zafran. The menu features a range of cocktails inspired by eclectic British characters from history like William Shakespeare, Charlie Chaplin and Pink Floyd.
Beyond the bar will be modern Indian restaurant Chaiwala. With three different spaces – a chai bar, dining room and kitchen – culinary director Balaji Balachander of London’s famed Benares restaurant will bring dishes from Kerala to Kashmir to Hong Kong.
Basement, 43–55 Wyndham Street, Central
LCB express
Opening in Causeway Bay is café LCB express, inspired by the chilled seaside style of the South of France, with a healthy menu and outdoor area. Yoghurt bowls, salads and hot panini are staples, along with smoothies and a wide selection of coffee and tea – the star of the show is the intriguing Ripple Coffee (above), where an image of your choice will appear on the foam like magic.
3/F, L’Hart, 487-489 Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay, 2467 1388
Little Tipsy
The newest restaurant to add its creative presence to Hong Kong’s rapidly evolving Kwun Tong neighbourhood, Little Tipsy opened its doors at the end of July and knows just what diners need as they progress through their busy days. The delicious yet balanced lunch menu curated in partnership with a local nutritionist is complemented by a salad bar that is packed with flavour and freshness (soft-launch lunch priced at $88 from now until 20 August 2018, available Monday–Saturday, 11:30am–3pm). This price includes a daily soup, salad bar and coffee or tea.
Highlights of the salad bar include a selection of cold cuts, potato salad with spring onion and bacon, quinoa salad with roasted cauliflower, carrot, feta and mixed herbs and a Mediterranean-inspired salad of roasted courgette, aubergine, bell pepper, okra and house-made pesto. For something a little more substantial to help you to fight through the day, the set lunch also features add-on main options ranging from mushroom risotto with onsen egg and Parmesan cheese, to spaghetti with clams, to pan-seared sea bass with mashed potato, to slow-cooked strip loin with roasted potato and green salad. Fans of fine tea will be spoilt for choice, with signature blends including roselle dried fruit tea and rose chrysanthemum tea. A free-flow option with unlimited red/white wine and Prosecco is available every Saturday from 12–3pm, priced at $128 per person.
Room A, 9/F, Wong Tze Building, 71 Hoi Yuen Road, Kwun Tong, 2360 0188
McSorley’s Brewhouse & Grill
Local craft beer, whisky and classic pub grub take centre stage at no-frills modern Irish gastropub McSorley’s. Located on the rooftop of ELEMENTS shopping mall, this laid-back spot spreads itself across two floors. The menu offers a plentiful seafood selection, featuring freshly shucked oysters, mussels with white wine and garlic and traditional fish and chips.
Shop R0001, Civic Square, ELEMENTS, 1 Austin Road West, TST, 2736 4888
Oh My Goose!
Taking food-court dining to the next level is Oh My Goose!, which presents updated takes on Hong Kong roast-meat faves such as BBQ pork and roast goose. Dig into wallet-friendly, creative dishes like baked BBQ pork and goose with cheese on a sizzling plate and – limited to just 10 portions per day – stewed rice with mushroom and sea urchin topped with roast goose. Or go for the classic roast goose with glass noodles – Chef Sky Lin trained at HK’s iconic Sham Tseng Chan Kee Roasted Goose and inherited the secret recipe, so we have very high hopes indeed.
Shop F1, 4/F, Langham Place, 8 Argyle Street, Mongkok, 2110 3998
Room 309
Tucked inside The Pottinger hotel in Central lies the intimate Room 309 cocktail bar. In over-the-top fashion, access is only by key card, revealing a lavish, antique-embellished interior in which to have a tipple. With award-winning mixologist Antonio Lai shaking and stirring up personalised cocktails and classic concoctions, including an “invisible” menu of clear cocktails, it sounds like quite the chi-chi drinking experience.
The Pottinger Hong Kong, 74 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 2308 3188
Sugarfina
All the way from Beverly Hills comes luxury confectionery boutique Sugarfina. Harbour City in TST is its Hong Kong home, with the shop offering a colourful array of exotic and innovative candy flavours from across the globe. Customers can design their own candy bento boxes, hand-selecting their candies according to their tastes. Pretty sweet!
Shop 3327, 3/F, Gateway Arcade, Harbour City, 3–27 Canton Road, TST, 2116 4688
Te Quiero Mucho
Aiming to refresh the image of the traditional hotel model is Mojo Nomad, which seeks to provide guests with modern, innovative and stylish private and shared accommodation. It features the latest technology alongside a collection of design-heavy bars, stimulating workout spaces and a vibrant two-storey Mexican eatery, Te Quiero Mucho. This opening follows the success of Mojo Nomad Aberdeen, with the Central branch setting out with the same shared vision: connecting travellers.
288 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, 3728 1000, info@mojonomad.com
The Wise King
Although we don’t know much about King Alfonso X of Castile from back in the 1200s, we do know that he was often referred to as “the learned king”, so it makes sense, were he alive today, that he would have used all his knowledge to set up a trendy cocktail bar. Regardless of the reasoning, this modern bar is hidden away, as all the coolest new watering holes are, behing a basement entrance off Staunton Street in SoHo. The Wise King’s menu is filled with exotic ingredients and includes drinks such as the Turrón Sour, made with toasted almond and herbal brandy liqueurs, and a tapas selection featuring the usual suspects like patatas bravas, cheese and charcuterie.
Basement, 25 Staunton Street (entrance on Tsun Wing Lane next to Pure Fitness), SoHo, Central, 2326 5822
Yan Toh Heen (reopening)
Two-Michelin-starred Cantonese superstar Yan Toh Heen at the InterContinental is even more stunning following a complete makeover by CAP-ATELIER, with the interior design inspired by an elegant jade jewellery box. Standout features include the jade entranceway, handmade 3D silk screens with custom-designed Suzhou double-sided embroidery and a private collection of Yixing clay teapots. Executive Chef Lau Yiu Fai remains at the helm, having been with the restaurant since 1984. He’s created a series of new dishes that match the grandeur of the interior refurbishment including a selection featuring Kagoshima Wagyu and pork.
Lower Level, InterContinental Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, TST, 2313 2323, click here to book online
Coming soon
maze Grill
Gordon Ramsay will open his third Hong Kong restaurant this autumn, upscale steakhouse maze Grill, which will thrill fans of the famed TV chef in its Harbour City spot come October.
4/F, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, 3–27 Canton Road, TST
Closures
Rhoda
Our favourite neighbourhood place to have a great meaty meal that we could feel good about enjoying, Rhoda, is closing its doors. Founded by Chef Nate Green, our Foodie Ethical Meats columnist, Rhoda paved the way for using whole animals and larger cuts to decrease waste and promote sustainable sourcing practices in Hong Kong, with the restaurant nostalgically named for Chef Green’s grandmother, who inspired his way of cooking. Rhoda will leave a hole for many who are seeking to be conscious carnivores or those who just want to eat a delicious meal that’s made from scratch using ethically sourced ingredients. Rhoda’s last supper will take place on Saturday, 8 September 2018, but before closing, they will host two “whole animal” dinners to celebrate the restaurant’s time in the city.
Read Chef Nate Green’s Ethical Meats columns here
Wing Wah Noodle Shop
This Bib Gourmand noodle purveyor in Wanchai will shut shop on 31 August after nearly 70 years in business. Famous for making its egg noodles using a bamboo pole, the owner is staying mum about the reasons for its closure. So we say goodbye to another slice of local history…
September 2018 update: Wing Wah has a new lease of life thanks to Chinese restaurant group LH GROUP, which bought the trademark. Opening date, location and menu items TBC…
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