Header photo: El Taquero’s taco selection

Fabulous new restaurants & offers to try in October

You’ll have a packed feasting calendar this month with these exciting newcomers and delicious offers!

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Amber x SingleThread Farms (Healdsburg, CA) – 4-hands dinners by Richard Ekkebus + Kyle Connaughton

When it comes to sustainable fine dining, our very own two-starred Amber and three-starred SingleThread Farms from Sonoma County, California, are at the pinnacle, both crowned with Michelin Green Stars in recognition of their eco-conscious efforts. Priced at more than $4K a head, the 12-course tasting menu by chefs Richard Ekkebus and Kyle Connaughton costs a pretty penny, but it’s a unique opportunity for HK diners to savour SingleThread Farms’ signature dishes inspired by Japanese cuisine; these include prawn and tomato bisque with silken tofu and sea urchin and salmon roe don with malted potato and braised negi. Additionally, Chef Ekkebus will be surprising Amber loyalists with a selection of all-new dishes that spotlight local seafood and veg.

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Ami x Troisgrois – Le Bois sans Feuilles (Ouches, France) – 6-hands dinners by Nicolas Boutin + César & Léo Troisgrois

Brothers César and Léo Troisgrois, the fourth generation of the legendary three-Michelin-starred Troisgrois culinary family, will be taking their first trip to Hong Kong to join hands with Executive Chef Nicolas Boutin of Ami, a La Maison Troisgros alumnus from the 90s. The six-hands menu, sure to be a doozy, is completely under wraps, but we can tell you that you might have to forgo dining out for the rest of the year when it comes to the price tag (only you know if it’s worth it).

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ARTIFACT K•A•Y•A – new izakaya-style chef’s table at BaseHall 02

An extension of otherworldly speakeasy-style bar ARTIFACT at BaseHall 02 – the brainchild of mixology superstars Beckaly Franks, Ezra Star and Michael Larkin – ARTIFACT K•A•Y•A offers a modern and edgy izakaya-style chef’s table dining experience. For a simpler lunchtime affair, there are donburi (Japanese rice bowl) sets, but there’s also an inventive à-la-carte menu and, for dinner, an eight-course tasting menu with optional wine-pairing and caviar add-ons. As we’ve come to expect from the trio of founders, the eatery’s beverage programme is just as notable, and we’re looking forward to trying the pristine highballs and sake bombs.

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Asaya Kitchen at Rosewood Hong Kong – Eleven Madison Park (NYC) residency

Though it’s not due for another month, this event is so hot that it might be fully booked before this article is even published (our apologies if so). Chef Daniel Humm of the Big Apple’s three-starred plant-based pioneer Eleven Madison Park will be taking over at Asaya Kitchen, another sustainable superstar, for five days in November. Chef Humm’s eight-course tasting menu will feature Eleven Madison Park’s signature plant-based dishes, crafted using seasonal produce hand-picked from HK farms. Wine pairings curated by Eleven Madison Park Wine Director Gabriel Di Bella take the menu to another level.

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Casa Cucina – relocation to Causeway Bay

After two successful years in Sai Ying Pun, Venetian-inspired cicchetti bar Casa Cucina is making the move to the bustling Fashion Walk neighbourhood of Causeway Bay from mid-October. In addition to its colourful Italian fare, the eatery will offer afternoon tea, freshly baked pastries and an expanded coffee selection.

Chef’s Cuts – new flagship outlet at AIRSIDE with Sour Dough bakery

Following its initial expansion from the Gold Coast to Central Market, Chef’s Cuts has opened a flagship 5,000-square-foot branch at AIRSIDE that not only offers sustainable all-day dining at is restaurant but is also home to Sour Dough, the popular Wanchai bakery based on sourdough mastery and artisan techniques, now operated under Cafe Deco Group. We’re big fans of Chef’s Cuts salads and signature meat and seafood dishes just as much as we adore Sour Dough’s sourdough breads and pastries.

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Chôm Chôm – Vietnamese street-food eatery returns to SoHo

We shed a few tears when Chôm Chôm closed its doors earlier this year. A mainstay of the SoHo dining and drinking scene for the past decade, the corner spot is reopening from 6pm on 1 October, and we couldn’t be more chuffed for Head Chef Logan Hester’s all-new menu of Vietnamese street-food bites (washed down with plenty of fresh beer). Thanks for bringing it back to us, Black Sheep.

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El Taquero – new Mexican restaurant in Wanchai

We’re always on the lookout for an authentic Mexican restaurant, and El Taquero by Epicurean Group seems to tick all the boxes. Mexico City native chef Alejandro Ramírez Pérez oversees the lively open kitchen. The showstopping dish is the Al Pastor Experience (pictured above), where marinated pork is slow-cooked on a trompo, or vertically rotating spit rotisserie, alongside pineapple and onion. The al pastor cooking method, brought to Mexico by Lebanese immigrants in about 1800, is used to create the quintessential al pastor taco of Mexico City. All the tacos at the eatery are served with freshly made corn tortillas, and the five accompanying salsas are also homemade. Complementing the extensive food menu is an impressive drink selection featuring a large range of agave spirits, margaritas and – our Mexican bevvy of choice – micheladas.

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Estro x Da Terra (London) – 4-hands menus by Antimo Maria Merone + Rafael Cagali

Chef Antimo Maria Merone’s collaborations at Michelin-starred Neapolitan restaurant Estro continue this month with a partnership with Chef Rafael Cagali of two-starred Da Terra in London, an Italian restaurant influenced by Chef Cagali’s Brazilian heritage. The four-hands menus feature a selection of inventive dishes prepared by both chefs, from tomato pananzella, BBQ lobster and cachaca babà by Chef Cagali to squid with almond, caper and caviar, red prawn riso and pigeon with chard, beetroot and balsamic vinegar courtesy of Chef Merone. There’s one extra-special collaborative course that’s available only at dinner, designed by the dynamic duo – Brazilian-spiced turbot with pumpkin.

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Flat Iron Steak – pop-ups in SoHo and Tseung Kwan O

The humble oyster blade cut of beef is the focus of this pop-up taking over both Macelle and the Steak King space in Tseung Kwan O until the end of the year. We love the concept – pay a flat rate at lunch and dinner and be treated to either a seven-ounce Black Angus flat-iron steak (lunch) or 12-ounce steak (dinner), grilled in a wood-fired Josper oven, alongside fries or salad. Steak upgrades – think hanger and Wagyu – are available, as are plenty of sauces, sides and sweets, but we appreciate the simplicity of the flat iron. Wine is priced from just HK$45 a glass.

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Gu Liang Cai – new Chiu Chow restaurant at Central Market

Chef Ronald Shao of LUBUDS F&B group is on a roll with the openings! His latest baby is vintage-casual Chiu Chow concept Gu Liang Cai, a partnership with a team of native Chiu Chow chefs. High-quality, authentic and approachable Chiu Chow dishes are the backbone of the eatery, offering signature marinated meat specialities like all manner of goose parts, pork belly and beef brisket (some with the option of a Sichuan-style marination with Chiu Chow ginger and Sichuan peppercorn), chilled fish and marinated seafood dishes and plenty of classic Chiu Chow snacks, soups and sides. The lunch sets are extremely good value for money, if we do say so ourselves.

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Hotal Colombo – Crab Club: Chefs’ Edition with Gizzy Alesbrook + Susan Jung

The latest edition of Hotal Colombo’s popular Crab Club celebrating the greatness of Sri Lankan cuisine sees the restaurant’s chef, Gizzy Alesbrook, teaming up with renowned author and food journalist Susan Jung to present a spicy, flavour-packed menu where sweet and succulent mud crab is the star of the show, followed closely by Jung’s beloved crispy chicken wings. This is messy eating at its finest!

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Informal Affairs – rooftop gin-bar pop-up at Ovolo Southside

We’re psyched about this pop-up on the rooftop of Ovolo Southside, a collab with home-grown gin brand N.I.P in tribute to the Hong Kong of the 90s and and early 2000s (which we shudder to think was 30 years ago). In a retro dai-pai-dong-style setting, the creative gin cocktails shaken up by The Wise King’s Sandeep Kumar and Issac Lim, Ovolo’s bar manager, are paired with a HK-inspired vegetarian snack menu by Ovolo Hotels Executive Chef Raul Tronco Calahorra and visual designer Ron Wan (we spy a sourdough pineapple bun with lemon butter!). Follow Informal Affairs on Instagram for all the deets.

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La Fiesta – Spanish festival at PMQ

La Fiesta is back! Organised by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, this edition of the festival is dedicated to the traditions of southern Spain (Andalusia in particular), with three days of flamenco and Spanish guitar performances, cooking demos, football activities by LaLiga, lucky draws and more family-friendly events. On the food front, Spanish restaurant La Paloma will be offering up its signature tapas, while Los Ibéricos will present a diverse array of Spanish libations, Ibérico hams and Spanish cheeses. Click here for the full festival rundown.

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Melody: House of Food & Music – new dining, drinking & music destination in Sai Ying Pun

Opening in mid-October, Melody is housed in the massive, maze-like space vacated by Foodie fave Potato Head Hong Kong. Similar to Potato Head, Melody is made up of five eclectic rooms – Kitchen, Dining Room, Music Room, Bar Lounge and Garden Room – where seasonal modern European dishes by Chef Jamie Draper, classic-with-a-twist beverage programme by Bar Manager Kaan Gilmour from London and killer music programme courtesy of Johnny Hiller, who has been instrumental in the international club scene since the early 90s, take centre stage. This multifaceted spot is just what Hong Kong needs, and we think it’s perfect for the Sai Ying Pun ‘hood.

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MONO x Mérito (Lima) – 4-hands menus by Ricardo Chaneton + Juan Luis Martínez

The latest MONO Unplugged instalment places the spotlight on two culinary mavericks from Venezuela – Ricardo Chaneton of Michelin-starred MONO itself and Juan Luis Martínez of Mérito in Lima, Peru, which ranks 11th on the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022 list and previously earned the esteemed Highest New Entry Award in 2020. The pair are teaming up to craft lunch and dinner tasting menus that tell the story of the rich cultural heritage of Latin America. There’s also the exciting opportunity to add on tequila pairings by Mexican brand Volcan de mi Tierra, available exclusively at the event.

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Nobu Hong Kong – iconic Japanese restaurant returns to Regent Hong Kong

All of Regent Hong Kong’s restaurants – from two-starred Cantonese eatery Lai Ching Heen to The Steak House – have enjoyed great success since the five-star hotel soft-opened its doors earlier this year, but with the official grand opening on the horizon, it’s Nobu that’s now set to be the jewel in the hotel’s F&B crown. This iconic restaurant, the brainchild of celeb chef Nobu Matsuhisa and and actor Robert De Niro, has become a global dining sensation offering elevated contemporary Japanese cuisine with Peruvian influences. Executive Chef Jason Au, a Nobu veteran since joining the team at Nobu Fifty Seven in New York City in 2007, will be serving up the restaurant empire’s world-famous dishes including black cod with miso, yellowtail jalapeño, toro tartare with caviar and rock shrimp tempura with creamy spicy sauce. The beverage programme is just as noteworthy, presenting signature Nobu cocktails, sake crafted exclusively by Hokusetsu Brewery in Japan for Nobu restaurants worldwide, Matsuhisa Chardonnay and Cab Sav and private-label Nobu Champagne by Louis de Sacy.

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Pici Pasta Run – fancy-dress charity race

It’s the third edition of this unique charity event spearheaded by pasta bar Pici, with all registration fees donated to local mental-health charity Mind HK – and this year is especially noteworthy as it’s the first race following the pandemic. The mission for your team of four is to don your most imaginative costumes (just in time for Halloween!) and run 12 kilometres along the harbourfront (remember that it’s the taking part that counts). All participants who cross the finishing line will receive Pici souvenirs, free pasta and drinks and a medal. The best-costumed teams will also take home one of three grand prizes. 

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Teppanyaki Mihara GOTEN – new kappo-style teppanyaki restaurant in Causeway Bay

Renowned Japanese chef Terufumi Mihara has moved his refined kappo-style teppanyaki restaurant from Tseung Kwan O to Causeway Bay, strengthening the connection between the chef and his discerning diners in the process. At Teppanyaki Mihara GOTEN, Chef Mihara infuses his traditional Japanese artistry with global touches; in particular, his homemade sauces with unique Chinese, French and Italian influences play starring roles. Must-try seafood items include grilled king crab crêpe, broiled Ezo abalone with Hokkaido sea urchin and grilled rockfish with clam-butter sauce, while A4 Miyazaki Wagyu beef roll and A5 Kumamoto Wagyu beef tenderloin are just a few of the meaty contenders that diners can look forward to.

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Tong Chong Street Market Beer Festival – event dedicated to local craft beer in Quarry Bay

This beer playground by the folks behind Tong Chong Street Market is set to showcase 15 home-grown brewers (and one local gin brand). In addition to four hours of free-flow beer – with more than 70 beers to sample – there’s an array of enticing snacks in store like chicken wings by Wingman and lobster rolls by Lobster Boss. We’re especially jonesing to try the Pandan Milkshake IPA created exclusively for the festival by Breer, a food-upcycling start-up that collects surplus bread and uses it to brew craft beer. But don’t get too comfy with your brews because beer pong, pickleball, cornhole and more fun games are yours for the playing.

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VEDA x ZA ZA TA (Queensland) – 4-hands dinners by Raul Tronco + Michael Jackson

In 2022, Ovolo Hotels made headlines by becoming the first global hotel brand to commit to a vegetarian-led menu offering – Plant’d – across its hotel restaurants. Now, in honour of World Vegetarian Month, Chef Raul Tronco of VEDA, the vibrant veg Indian restaurant at Ovolo Central, is welcoming Chef Michael Jackson from Middle Eastern-inspired veg restaurant ZA ZA TA of Ovolo The Valley in Queensland, Australia, for a five-course plant-based menu spanning from Mumbai to Tel Aviv. Exciting stuff.

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Wine & Dine Festival – highly anticipated gourmet festival returns to Central Harbourfont

After five looooong protest and pandemic years, the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival is making a grand re-entrance with an outdoor gourmet party to beat the rest. It’s set to feature a whopping 300 booths of sips and bites from around the world. On the food front, there’s everything from Japanese BBQ to Indian chicken tikka to sink your teeth into. The Tasting Theatre, where hands-on demos and workshops will be offered, is also making its festival debut. On the wine side, you’ll have the chance to sample the best bottles from 36 countries and regions, as well as lesser-known gems from Moldova, Singapore and Thailand, natural wines, low-alcohol beverages and more. Let’s get read to wine and dine!

When: 26–29 October 2023 (26th, 7:30–11pm; 27th–28th, 12–4pm, 5:30–11pm; 29th, 12–8:30pm)

Where: Central Harbourfront Event Space, 9 Lung Wo Road, Central

How much: Tasting Pass – HK$200/person to include 8 tokens + eco-cup or HK$400/person to include 14 tokens + 1 Lucaris wine glass

For tickets: book online (from 10 October)

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Yakiniku KAGURA – new branch at AIRSIDE

The openings at new Kai Tak mega-mall AIRSIDE are coming thick and fast. The second overseas branch of this yakiniku expert from Hokkaido (the first is at ELEMENTS), Yakiniku KAGURA specialises in premium Mirai beef raised on the brand’s own farms in Japan. Beyond grilled meat, there are several AIRSIDE-exclusive offerings at the farm-to-table eatery – sukiyaki, shabu-shabu and steam box. Another plus is that there’s a small al-fresco area too if you want to avoid your clothes taking on a distinct, shall we say, aroma.

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RELATED: New Restaurants, Pop-Ups, Menus & More: September 2023

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