Are you missing the traditional roast dinner your Mum used to make every Sunday? Craving some Yorkshire pud? Finding a restaurant in Hong Kong that serves a mean roast for brunch, lunch or dinner can be a tough ask. Good news – we’ve scoured the island to seek out the best of the best! From traditional British spreads to local meaty feasts, here’s our list of recommendations.
The Chinnery
The Chinnery, tucked away upstairs in the Mandarin Oriental, is rampant with masculinity. Its leather seats, dark tones and wooden detail make it the perfect place for a mid-week man-date, or even a regular date.
Adding a traditional roast to the Chinnery’s manly ambience seems only natural. Each lunchtime, the restaurant serves a roast of the day – merely one option on a wider menu, which each weekday offers a different option ranging from beef to pork, lamb and even roast salmon.
Our weekday lunch began with slightly spicy lamb samosa served with mint yoghurt. Next, we enjoyed Monday’s roasted saddle of lamb, served with dauphinoise potato, green beans and mint jus. The roast lamb made for a plentiful lunch, perfect for those with a healthy appetite. Dessert came in the form of warm apple and blackberry crumble with cassis ice cream, followed by coffee and delightful petits fours. Whisky lovers will revel in the Chinnery’s extensive range of single malt whiskies. They make the perfect addition to a weekday lunch for Madmen-inspired executives!
Be sure to arrive on time; the venue doesn’t take reservations, instead working purely on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 12pm, so mark this weekday date as an early lunch.
– Rebecca Simpson
The Chinnery
1/F, Mandarin Oriental, Landmark, Central
mandarinoriental.com
Shoreditch
Right in the heart of trendy Kennedy Town, Shoreditch brings a taste of British dining culture to Hong Kong. The hip, rustic interior is inviting and open, and it offers an extensive selection of both food and drinks. Roast meals are on the menu on weekends, and you can choose between roast lamb or chicken on Saturdays and roast beef or chicken on Sundays.
There’s just something really comforting about having a roast meal in the winter – which is probably why our visit just happened to be on a cold, grey Saturday! The meal got off to a great start when our drinks arrived with bamboo straws in them. Bravo, Shoreditch. The roast meals come with a bread roll, and a choice of soup or salad to start. I ordered the roast lamb shank, which was served with traditional trimmings; potatoes, carrots, beans, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. The lamb was tasty and well cooked, and, while the gravy was a little heavy on the pepper for my taste, the rest of the accompaniments were spot on. My daughter ordered the roast chicken, and (reluctantly) let me have a try. It was juicy and delicious, and was served with the same trimmings as the lamb. She gave it a big thumbs-up.
And, because no good meal is complete without dessert, I highly recommend the sticky toffee pudding. It was the perfect way to end a great meal.
– Danielle Higgins
Shoreditch
18 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town
shoreditch.hk
AHA Restaurant & Bar
Traditional roast chickens are about as hard to come by as ovens in this town. So, imagine our delight when we heard whispers that a roasted whole chicken with trimmings was making its way to Central.
If the thought of homemade roast chicken makes you homesick (and you sadly don’t have an oven), gather some friends and get yourself to AHA Restaurant & Bar for its roasted whole French chicken. You won’t be disappointed. This mouthwatering meal is perfect for sharing and comes with crunchy roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts with bacon, and a side of real gravy. It’s served on a wooden platter, carved into sharable portions and ready to devour.
We were gluttons on our visit; we also shared the grilled rib-eye prime cut, served with roasted garlic and vine-ripened cherry tomatoes. The menu is stacked with different urban takes on classic comfort food. And, while our meal was a carnivore’s dream, AHA’s menu happily caters to vegetarians.
Nestled on the cusp of Central and Sheung Wan, this spot is a great option for happy hour (check out the truffle fries!) or a full meal. Be sure to try the peanut butter semifreddo for dessert.
– Rebecca Simpson
AHA Restaurant & Bar
G/F, 198 Wellington Street, Central
ahabyzs.hk
See more in our wine & dine section
8 must-try traditional Hong Kong foods
Where to find the best ice cream in Hong Kong
Top things to do and best places to visit in Hong Kong
This article first appeared in the February/March 2019 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
