Header photo: kushiage by Kushitei
Ān – pop-up at LANDMARK
Ān, the gourmet soy-focused sibling venture to Chef Vicky Lau’s Sheung Wan eatery Mora, which is also focused on soy dishes, will be popping up in Central for two months. Here, you can purchase an array of soy milk and tofu products that are made with certified non-GMO beans, combining the ancient Chinese soy milk tradition with Japan’s modern bean-to-pulp production technology.
Where: Shop 350, 3/F, LANDMARK, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central
When: 1 February–31 March 2023
How much: varies – prices include HK$22 for natural, black sesame and pistachio soy milk; HK$49–67 for soy milk + patisserie set; HK$78 for mapo tofu rice; HK$125–135 for lunch set of mapo tofu rice + soy milk + soy pudding; HK$97 for patisserie tasting set of soy-pulp cookie + soy pudding + financier
For information: phone/WhatsApp 6730 2494
Ask for Alonzo – new branch in Wanchai
Deadly Rabbit Concepts is hopping, opening its fifth Ask for Alonzo outlet this month. These laid-back neighbourhood trattorias are well known around town for serving up authentic-with-a-twist Italian cuisine at wallet-friendly prices. Be sure to check out the Wanchai-exclusive dishes at this latest branch – including powerhouse pasta plates like squid-ink linguine (pictured above), crowned indulgently with uni sabayon, and penne alla vodka, as requested by Alonzo’s regulars. For happy-hour lovers, Alonzo’s unbeatable aperitivo menu featuring cocktails, beer, house wine and bar bites remains, with prices starting from just $48.
Where: 8 Star Street, Wanchai
Opening hours: weekdays 11:30am–10pm; weekends 10am–10pm (happy hour – daily 3–8pm)
For reservations: phone/WhatsApp 6500 8405 or book online
Baan Thai – new branch in Causeway Bay
Joining its siblings in Central and Shek Tong Tsui, contemporary Thai eatery Baan Thai has set up shop in Causeway Bay. This outlet boasts a centrally located bar, cosy main dining area, private area seating up to 14 and two atmospheric terraces.
Where: 4/F, BIZ AURA, 13–15 Pennington Street, Causeway Bay
Opening hours: Sunday–Thursday 12–11pm; Friday–Saturday 12pm–midnight
For reservations: phone 2838 3878 or book online
Barkada – new modern Filipino restaurant in Central
Singular Concepts – of BARCODE, Bianco & Rosso, The Daily Tot and Tell Camellia fame – is set to launch two sensational restaurants later this month. First up, it’s Barkada, a modern Filipino eatery co-founded by Jen Balisi, who boasts more than 400,000 followers on her popular social media platform Indulgent Eats. We’re keen to check out the stylish space (which has been described as both tropical and retro), where Balisi will present bold, crave-worthy Filipino fusion plates the likes of adobo popcorn chicken, brown butter pancit canton and adobo birria quesotacos, as well as her takes on classic Filipino dishes including lumpia and sisig.
Where: UG/F, FOCO, 48 Cochrane Street, Central
Opening hours: daily 5pm–midnight
For reservations: phone 2663 0238 or book online
Black Sheep Restaurants – Feast for a Cause charity dinner
This very important charity effort by Black Sheep Restaurants is in support of those affected by the devastating recent earthquake in Syria and Turkey, with a fundraising dinner spearheaded by chefs Teya Mikhael (Maison Libanaise) and Palash Mitra (New Punjab Club and Rajasthan Rifles) at Black Sheep’s Team Canteen, open to the public for the first time. On the menu, starters include a comforting Middle Eastern lemon, chicken and lentil soup alongside a mezze platter, followed by a main of beef or spinach and feta manti (Turkish dumplings) and house-made baklava for afters.
Where: 1/F, 22 Staunton Street, SoHo, Central
When: Monday, 20 February 2023 (from 6pm)
How much: suggested donation of HK$500/person
For reservations: book online (walk-ins are also welcome)
Butter Cookies – new cookie shop at Pacific Place
Black Sheep Restaurants is back at it with this offshoot of their beloved cake shop, Butter. If you adore all things cookie related, you’ll be yearning to try out Group Pastry Chef Karys Plax’s freshly baked all-American cookies in three signature flavours – Chocolate Chunk, Peanut Butter and Lemon Crinkle (stay tuned for the debut of the Ginger Molasses, Butter’s Classic, M&M and Chewy Oatmeal Raisin cookies at a later date). Look out for the bubble-gum-pink Butter Cookies truck at Pacific Place!
Where: LG1/F, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty
Opening hours: daily 11am–7pm (or until sold out)
To contact: phone 2810 0660
Camp Krapao – new Thai concept at BaseHall 01
The addictive Thai staple of pad kra pao, or spicy stir-fry loaded with aromatic holy basil and crowned with an irresistibly crispy fried egg, is the USP of this new concept at food hall BaseHall, the latest member of the Common Abode hospitality group. Camp Krapao’s kitchen is headed up by Executive Chef Charrin Singdaechakarn (aka Chef Noom), who hails from the Isan region of north-eastern Thailand; in Hong Kong, she was the former chef de cuisine at Soul Food Thai. In addition to the Thai comfort-food dish of pad kra pao (available with either chicken, pork, tofu, prawn or Wagyu beef), Camp Krapao’s menu features a selection of well-loved Thai snacks, salads, bevvies and more.
Where: BaseHall 01, LG/F, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central
Opening hours: Monday–Saturday 11am–10pm
For reservations: phone 2688 6150
Dang Wen Li – pop-up at Tong Chong Street Market
Dominique Ansel’s HK bakery Dang Wen Li now has a pop-up food truck at Tong Chong Street Market in Taikoo Place, serving up select items from its signature collection of baked goods inspired by the flavours of the 852 as well as three exclusive food offerings – Impossible beef ball curry sandwich, Sun Kwai Heung char siu cream soup macaroni and chocolate chip cookie shot with Oatside oat milk. Get HK$5 off your order by bringing your own reusable tumbler or
mug!
Where: Tong Chong Street, Quarry Bay
When: 7 February–28 April 2023 (weekdays 8am–3pm)
Filo Cibo e Vino – new Italian restaurant in SoHo
Giando Group adds to its repertoire with the opening of neighbourhood Italian restaurant Filo Cibo e Vino, christened after the nickname of the eatery’s chef patron, Filippo Bencini. Chef Bencini was born and bred in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, but he has lived in Hong Kong for the past 13 years, founding dearly departed Italian eatery La Brata. The authentic dishes showcased at Filo Cibo e Vino are inspired by the cuisine of Parma, a city in Emilia-Romagna that’s considered by many to be the capital of Italian gastronomy. The menu is peppered with top-quality, sustainably sourced ingredients from Italy, and all of Filo’s pastas are made fresh in-house each day (including this gorgeous spaghetti with Sicilian red prawn and tomato).
Where: UG/F, Ming Hing House, 52–56 Staunton Street, SoHo, Central
Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday–Saturday 12:30pm–midnight; Sunday 12:30–9pm
For reservations: phone/WhatsApp 9250 6028 or email info@filohk.com
JIA Group – Chefs for Turkiye charity dinner
Following in the footsteps of Black Sheep (see above), Executive Chef Franckelie Laloum of JIA Group’s Louise will host a charity dinner in aid of the ongoing earthquake rescue efforts in Turkey and Syria, with 100% of the proceeds donated to disaster and emergency management authority AFAD. Chef Laloum will be joined by six other top JIA Group chefs to serve up a one-of-a-kind collaborative seven-course tasting menu. A silent auction will also be held on the night, with fantastic prizes on offer to raise more funds for this urgent cause – including stays at Rosewood Hong Kong and The Ritz-Carlton.
Where: PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central
When: Monday, 27 February 2023 (from 7pm)
How much: HK$4,888/person
For reservations: book online
KIN Noodles – pop-up at Central Market
Taikoo Place’s KIN Food Halls is bringing a selection of eight of its most popular noodle dishes from around Asia to Central Market this month, and it’s noteworthy that KIN is the first noodle shop in Hong Kong to offer 100% circular takeaway packaging. The bestselling noods on board include C.E.O. Beef Noodles’ Taiwanese organic beef noodle soup (pictured), Dam:a’s sam gae (ginseng free-range chicken noodle soup) and Penang char kway teow by Malaysian celeb chef Jason Yeoh. We can’t wait to get slurping!
Where: Shop G11, G/F, Central Market, 93 Queen’s Road Central and 80 Des Voeux Road Central, Central
When: daily 11:30am–9:30pm
How much: HK$48–88 (a complimentary tea comes with each noodle combo)
To contact: phone/WhatsApp 5682 4873
Kushitei – new kushiage expert in Tsim Sha Tsui
The first HK outlet of established Japanese restaurant chain Kushitei is landing in Tsim Sha Tsui early this month, specialising in seasonal omakase-style kushiage, or deep-fried meat, seafood and veg on bamboo skewers known as kushi. Kushitei has been brought to the 852 in partnership with AP Place Hong Kong Co Limited, a sustainable, farm-to-table Japanese restaurant group that also recently launched Wagyu-centric eatery Ushidoki and yakitori specialist Kicho, both in Central. Chicken is the headliner at Kushitei, in particular Kurosatsuma chicken raised at AP Place’s partner farm in Kagoshima, revered for is succulent texture and rich flavour.
Where: Shop G04–05, G/F, Grand Centre, 8 Humphreys Avenue, TST
Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday 5–11pm (lunch will launch at a later date)
For reservations: phone 2688 6150
The Landmark Mandarin Oriental – The Pizza Bar on 38th pop-up
The Landmark Mandarin Oriental is playing host to Tokyo’s famed The Pizza Bar on 38th, located at sibling Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, for a very limited time, so act fast! Rome-born Executive Chef Daniele Cason’s pizzeria is currently ranked third in the Asia-Pacific region (and first in Japan) on the 50 Top Pizza World list, and it’s well known for fusing authentic Italian pizza craftsmanship with premium Japanese ingredients like king crab and sea urchin from Hokkaido and Red Pearl strawberries from Ehime Prefecture. Chef Cason and his team will be temporarily setting up shop at Amber’s private dining room on the seventh floor of the luxury hotel, complete with a chef’s table and pizza oven. Please note that children under the age of 12 are not permitted.
Where: 7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, LANDMARK, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central
When: 14–26 February 2023 – except 20 February (lunch – 11:30am–1:30pm, 1:45–3:45pm; dinner – 6–8pm, 8:30–10:30pm)
How much: HK$798/person for the signature tasting menu, which includes 1 starter, a whopping 7 slices of pizza and 1 pizza dessert
For reservations: phone 2132 0066, email lmhkg-restaurants@mohg.com or book online
Macelle – new Italian steakhouse in SoHo
Macelle comes to us from the team behind neighbourhood meat master Steak King, so they should definitely know their stuff when it comes to steak. This trattoria-style steakhouse has a counter-to-plate steak concept, with signatures including a 1kg Angus Florentine steak and a 1.5kg M5 Wagyu rump cap, both ideal for sharing. Also on the menu are seasonal meat and fish items, all of which are cooked in Macelle’s wood-fired Josper oven. Notably, the eatery’s meat and seafood items are imported directly from the farmers and fishermen themselves each week. Bonus: there’s a 25% discount on all to-go meat purchased at the butcher’s counter.
Where: LG/F, Shama SoHo, 9–11 Staunton Street, SoHo, Central
Opening hours: daily 11am–3pm, 5:30–11pm
For reservations: phone/WhatsApp 5607 4860
The Peak Lookout – newly refurbished restaurant at The Peak
An iconic dining destination at The Peak for more than two decades, the interior and garden spaces of The Peak Lookout’s colonial-style heritage building have been completely renovated, with a modernised East-meets-West menu to match the venue’s new look. Signature items include reliable faves like the The Peak Lookout Burger, tandoori and curry plates from the Indian section of the menu, the popular dish of Hainanese chicken and a decadent seafood platter. Now that it’s become easier to have family and friends visit us in Hong Kong once again, this is a top choice for a meal out when sightseeing atop the highest point in the 852.
Where: 121 Peak Road, The Peak
Opening hours: daily 12–10pm
For reservations: phone 2849 1000 or book online
Pirata REMIX – 4-hands culinary experiences by Pirata Group
Pirata Group is placing the spotlight on its portfolio of acclaimed restaurants and executive chefs with the launch of Pirata REMIX, a range of innovative four-hands culinary experiences. We missed out on the first partnership (Chaiwala x Honjokko), but this month, we’re lucky to be able to experience La Favorita x Honjo, where Italian meets Japanese, and The Optimist x TokyoLima, a Spanish-Nikkei mash-up. If you can’t make it for dinner, items from each tasting menu will be sprinkled onto the respective restaurants’ à-la-carte menus the week following each event.
Where: Honjo, The Optimist and TokyoLima
When: La Favorita x Honjo – 25 January, 1 February 2023; The Optimist x TokyoLima – 8, 15 February 2023
How much: HK$498/person
For reservations: book online
Regala Skycity Hotel – new hotel at Hong Kong International Airport
Located at the new retail, dining and entertainment SKYCITY development right next to Hong Kong International Airport, newcomer Regala Skycity Hotel boasts three restaurants in addition to its 1,200 guest rooms, grand ballroom, banquet rooms, wellness facilities, children’s entertainment spaces and more. The jewel in the hotel’s F&B crown is Vivace (pictured above), a bold, colourful Mediterranean eatery whose interior design by Alexander Wong has already picked up a gong at the Build4Asia Awards 2022. Elegant Chinese restaurant Jade presents regional cuisine ranging from Cantonese and Beijing to Zhejiang and Sichuan. Finally, all-day diner Petra serves up international cuisine and features live cooking stations and a contactless ordering system. Note that the hotel is offering an 8% discount on all room packages booked via the official website before 31 March 2023.
Where: 8 Airport Expo Boulevard, Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok
Opening hours: varies
For reservations: phone 3556 3288 or email info@skycity.regala-hotels.com
rén – pop-up at BaseHall 02 by new F&B social enterprise
This concept merges good food with charity, putting on F&B pop-ups that raise money for the underprivileged around Hong Kong. The rén fundraising launch this month features a three-course dinner designed by guest chefs Uwe Opocensky of Island Shangri-La, Sheldon Fonseca of Miramar Group and award-winning pastry chef Joanna Yuen, paired with fine wines courtesy of Crown Wine Cellars. All proceeds will be donated to the Hong Kong Student Aid Society, which supports local children in need via residential care and educational services.
Where: BaseHall 02, LG/F, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central
When: Thursday, 23 February 2023 (from 7pm)
How much: varies
For reservations: email bianca@josootang.com or DM rén on Instagram
Smokehouse Bar & Grill – new smoked meats restaurant at Langham Place
Smokehouse Bar & Grill pays tribute to the down-home smoked meats popular in the USA, presenting smokehouse classics like beef brisket and short ribs, all washed down with smoked whisky-based cocktails. But it’s not just classic BBQ plates at Smokehouse; we’re intrigued by the smoky cumin lamb skewer (a nod to Chinese flavours), honey-ginger cedar-plank baked salmon, chargrilled whole sea bass and even a smoky dessert in the form of the smoky toffee banana, which is smoked with wood and lavender.
Where: Shop 05, 13/F, Langham Place, 8 Argyle Street, Mongkok
Opening hours: daily 12–10:30pm
For reservations: phone 2972 0078
Snow Garden – new Shanghainese restaurant in Hung Hom
At 71 years old, Mr Chiang Biu, who first opened Snow Garden in North Point to much acclaim in the 1980s, is back at it in Hung Hom with this authentic Huaiyang (aka Shanghainese) cuisine restaurant. Mr Chiang and his disciple, Chef Long Chi Fai, have brought back Snow Garden’s nostalgic flavours such as double-boiled Jinhua ham soup with chicken and Tientsin cabbage, pan-fried pork buns, jellyfish with scallion oil and Yangzhou crispy bean-curd skin rolls, all made with the same artisanal preparation methods that have been used for decades.
Where: Shop 101, 1/F, Y83, 83 Wuhu Street, Hung Hom
Opening hours: daily 11:30am–3pm, 6–11pm
For reservations: phone 3897 9686
SOMM – 4-hands dinner by Richard Ekkebus + May Chow
In celebration of its 18th anniversary, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental has another exciting collab up its sleeve, this time with Chef May Chow of Little Bao. For one night only at the hotel’s sommelier-led SOMM, Chef Chow will be joining hands with the hotel’s culinary director, Michelin-starred chef Richard Ekkebus, to present a creative, East-meets-West menu where seasonal Chinese dishes will be paired with Western wines and vice versa. Highlights include ocean trout with poached white asparagus, fruit tomato confit, tarragon and sauce Choron paired with Hasumi Farm Chikuma River Valley Pinot Noir 2019 from Japan and SOMM’s signature Wagyu short rib with black bean jus and Sichuan chilli matched with Domaine de Fondrèche Ventoux Divergente 2016 from France.
Where: 7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, LANDMARK, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central
When: Thursday, 2 February 2023 (5:30–6pm seating for 4-course dinner; 8–9pm seating for 6-course dinner)
How much: HK$1,200/person for 4 courses; HK$1,500/person for 6 courses; wine pairings – HK$500 for 4 courses or HK$800/person for 6 courses
For reservations: phone 2132 0055 or email lmhkg-restaurants@mohg.com
The Vault Cafe – International Women’s Day charity lunch
Eat well and give back to the community with this special lunch event at The Vault Cafe. Feste Group owner Abby Cadman and general manager Tegan Waters will be cooking up their own passed-down family recipes (including traditional Albanian byreks from Abby’s family and Tegan’s grandmother’s famous lemon meringue pie), with all proceeds donated to charity Mother’s Choice in support of vulnerable young mums and their babies in Hong Kong.
Where: G/F, Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road (entrance via Wyndam Street), Central
When: Wednesday, 1 March 2023 (11am–3pm)
How much: minimum donation of HK$200/person
For reservations: email info@feste-group.com or DM Feste Group on Instagram
Yakiniku Ishidaya – new branch in Causeway Bay
Celebrated yakiniku specialist Yakiniku Ishidaya has expanded to Causeway Bay with the opening of a second HK outpost at World Trade Centre. Originating in Kobe, the restaurant showcases the finest Japanese Wagyu beef from selected cattle farms for grilling – including cuts boasting the Kobe purple chrysanthemum trademark as well as the highest-grade A5 Wagyu, all hand-picked by founder Kiyotoshi Ishida. Notably, each of the restaurant’s staff, from the catering and operations teams to the marketing and training teams, has undergone training in Kobe in order to offer the most authentic yakiniku experience to diners. The panoramic harbour views are a bonus!
Where: Shop 1001, 10/F, World Trade Centre, 280 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay
Opening hours: daily 12–3:30pm, 5:30–10:30pm
For reservations: phone 2817 7938 or book online
Yurakucho
Yurakucho is the flagship of Singular Concepts – an izakaya with a difference, where sake and Japanese cocktails, robatayaki and live DJs mix and mingle in a cool-cat, 2,300-square-foot space. Singular Concepts co-founder Gagan Gurung oversees the highly anticipated bar programme.
Where: G/F, Yu Yuet Lai Building, 43–55 Wyndham Street, Central
Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday from 6pm
For reservations: phone 2663 0068 or book online
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