Restaurant Review: Flaming Frango

If a trip to the new Flaming Frango space in SoHo was a new hit single, it would be a remix of Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb”, ending with an ooh-na-na from Camilla Cabello’s “Havana”.

Now 2,000 square feet in size, Flaming Frango’s new dining space boasts a spacious open bar where guests can chill with a drink or two either before or after dinner. These include signature tropical cocktails like the lychee lemongrass colada ($85) – which easily became my favourite with its refreshing lemongrass and zesty pineapple touches – Portuguese red sangria ($78/glass or $380/jug) and daiquiris available in multiple flavours.

Portuguese red sangria

If you’ve ever been to Flaming Frango, the first piri-piri kitchen and bar in Hong Kong, you’ll know that they pride themselves on their homemade spicy sauces and – of course – their chicken. Everyone comes here to try the famous piri-piri chicken (starting from $88), which is freshly grilled with a perfectly charred exterior encasing a tender and juicy interior. Guests can challenge themselves to the various spice levels of the eatery’s homemade piri-piri sauces, with chilli lovers like me enjoying the hottest level for a wham slam on the taste buds. They have wholesome flavours catered to non-spice eaters too, including mint sauce and ginger sauce, that are equally memorable.

With the new space, Flaming Frango has some additions to the menu. One brand-new item is the sherry garlic beef ($98), with New Zealand beef cubes seared with a dash of Spanish sherry and garlic. This tasted like the beef you get off a Japanese teppanyaki counter (read: scrumptious).

The quinoa and feta cakes ($78) proved to me, a non-fan of quinoa, that quinoa can be a bad boy in this crispy, cheesy rendition.

Sampling portion of quinoa and feta cakes

Hands down, our favourite new item was the portobello and truffle croquettes ($78). These golden poppers were filled with a smooth, creamy truffle-portobello mixture that definitely didn’t slack on flavour.

Sampling portion of portobello and mushroom croquettes

While the majority of our meal was filled with hits from the small bites and sides, the new main dish, piri-piri chicken coconut curry with rice ($138), didn’t seem to be on par with its strong main contender, the piri-piri chicken. The curry was essentially made from the same piri-piri sauce with the addition of cream, and it tasted exactly like what I just described: sauce and cream. Next time, I’ll stick with what Flaming Frango is known for – their awesome piri-piri chicken and small bites.

Verdict

These guys definitely know their spices, which was evident in their homemade sauces, piri-piri chicken marinade and signature rice. Flaming Frango serves up simple, hearty food that isn’t too hard on your wallet. We’re definitely coming back soon for some chicken and cocktails!

G/F, Escapade, 55 Elgin Street, SoHo, Central, 2556 7555

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.