Breakfast may not be as popular as it once was (at least in my circles – hello, intermittent fasting), but I still think there’s little better than starting the day with a mini feast, esspecially one that’s satisfyingly full of flavour.
With this in mind, one Saturday morning my friend and I made our way up to The Peak to check out Rajasthan Rifles’ newly launched breakfast menu (available 8–11am).
Rajasthan Rifles is Black Sheep Restaurants’ first Anglo-Indian restaurant. The menu and the decor are inspired accordingly, and the result is unlike anything else I’ve seen in Hong Kong. Before going, I had thoughts of how it would compare to Black Sheep’s New Punjab Club, which is easily one of my top three restaurants in town. The strong flavours, bold decor, fun service – it’s stellar! Rajasthan Rifles is sort of the chill version of that. The flavours are lovely but less complex, and the vibe is more mess hall than jewel box, which, perhaps, is ideal for long, lazy mornings.
It was chilly and misty on the day we went, so we tucked into a corner booth and ordered steaming hot cups of chai ($58) as we browsed the menu. There are eight options for mains, including heavier dishes like breakfast versions of keema and pau and kulcha and fry, as well as lighter dishes like Dalhousie porridge with banana and date and fruit and yoghurt.
Bhurjee ($108): a three-egg masala scramble is piled on top of buttery milk buns. It’s lightly spiced, so it’s not too overwhelming to have first thing in the morn.
Keema and pau ($148): this one was heavier but was absolutely delicious. It’s a great choice for those who like strong, savoury flavours. It is slightly different than the dinner versions I’ve had as it contains bits of egg.
Rifles rolls ($118): there are various options for Rifle rolls (which are basically naan wraps): bacon and honey, sausage and crushed peppercorns, three fried eggs or a combination of fillings. We went with the bacon and honey, and this one was intense! The bacon was thick cut and spiced, and the spicy drippings along with the runny honey were pretty heavenly. I’d recommend sharing this one as it’s quite heavy to have on its own.
We tried a number of side dishes including masala beans ($18), grilled mushrooms ($28), pork sausage ($28) and jam and marmalade ($48). The beans were light with a slight tang, the mushrooms and sausage were nice but standard and the homemade spreads (orange marmalade, peach and rose jam and strawberry preserves) were well worth the calories.
Verdict
Rajasthan Rifles is a welcome addition to the breakfast scene in Hong Kong. It can be hard to find good à-la-carte breakfast and brunch options in this city, and this restaurant has great food, a fun vibe and a reasonable price point. And, of course, the service has to be mentioned; the friendly staff will have you smiling and enjoying yourself, which is just a great way to start the day.
Shop G01, G/F, Peak Galleria, 118 Peak Road, The Peak, 2388 8874, book online
This write-up is based on a complimentary media tasting provided in exchange for an honest review and no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed here represent the author’s.
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