Keeping up with new restaurants in Hong Kong, let alone new chefs and new menus, can be tricky. Our restaurant news round-up will keep you in the loop about the city’s ever-evolving dining scene. From the latest eatery to open its doors to celebrity chefs to Hong Kong brunches and bars, it’s all here!
Vietnamese family feast
Modern Vietnamese resto Xuân has launched a nine-plate spread that recreates a typical dinnertime feast enjoyed by families at home in Vietnam. Going beyond the ubiquitous pho and banh mi, the well-balanced meal presents Chef John Nguyen’s selection of the best of seasonal ingredients – expect nourishing broths, refreshing salads, locally-sourced fish, and incredible pork, beef and chicken mains. Ideal for sharing between three to four persons, the array of dishes is priced at HK$798 and comes with a clay pot of steamed Jasmine rice. Xuân is at G/F, 12-24 Lun Fat Street, Wan Chai.
2891 1177 | info@xuan.com.hk
Fiery finger food
Bringing back that much-needed bar vibe, the Fagara Aperitivo offering from Chilli Fagara allows diners to get their hands (or chopsticks) into their favourite spicy comfort foods, followed by a cold one or two – either at home or in the restaurant. The set of three appetisers and a chilled six-pack of Peroni beer costs HK$388, and you can choose from the likes of the restaurant’s famed chilli-oil-dunked Pork & Vegetable Dumplings, Ma La-style Hot Wings, golden-fried Crispy Calamari, tangy Pork Riblets, and Vegetable Spring Rolls. Available from 5 to 7pm daily at Chilli Fagara (7 Old Bailey Street) or via Deliveroo.
FAM is back
FAM at Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District, has reopened again and is making great use of the beautiful big green patch right outside the restaurant (and the accompanying 180-degree Victoria Harbour view!) through its “Picnic Set Takeaway for 2”. The set of signature dim sum delights – the likes of roasted pork buns with buttered charcoal-crust tops, and fried mixed wild rice with seafood and egg – comes with roll-out mats or beach chairs to use in the aforementioned green space. The à la carte menu is also available for takeaway, and delivery is also available via Deliveroo and UberEats.
2866 3667 | fampark.com
Barbecue lovers, listen in!
Soft-opening in October is Smoke & Barrel, the first authentic American smokehouse barbecue joint to grace Hong Kong’s dining scene. It’s the brainchild of chef-restaurateur duo Chris Grare and Arron Rhodes, and follows on the trail of their first successful co-venture, Kinship, which opened in May 2019. Expect delicious old-school American barbecue using slow-and-low cooking techniques and an authentic imported wood-fired smoker. 32 Wyndham Street, Central.
Drinks at Duddell’s
Popular venue Duddell’s has appointed a new Salon Manager, Mario Calderone, who has loads of experience at big-name bars in the UK, Australia and here in HK; Mario recently helmed the award-winning Honi Honi Tiki Cocktail Lounge (#29 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2016). At Duddell’s, his new cocktail menu is based on the bygone principles of quality, seasonality and ingenuity, with a range to suit every fancy. Start with Mario’s own signature drink for the venue, the frothy, thirst-quenching Duddell’s Sour (HK$140). There’s also a new daily happy hour from 3pm to 8pm. Level 3, Shanghai Tang Mansion, 1 Duddell Street, Central.
2525 9191 | duddells.co
17 different dim sum dishes
The talented chefs at Hong Kong restaurant The Legacy House are debuting a selection of 17 new lunchtime dim sum delicacies from 29 September. Time-honoured recipes are given a modern spin in the likes of Fish Dumplings with Fungus and Tangerine Peel, which are shaped like swimming koi and have hand-dotted scales, and the juicy Lobster Dumpling, elegantly crowned with glistening caviar and gold leaf. The always-impressive Cantonese à la carte menu is also available. (Don’t miss the roast goose!) 5/F, Rosewood Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
3891 8732 | Instagram @thelegacyhousehk
Churro champions
Hong Kong’s first authentic churro shop, Twist & Buckle, has arrived in Tsim Sha Tsui, on Chatham Road. The brainchild of a pair of South Americans with a passion for sharing authentic churros like those they enjoyed from local bakeries as kids, the churrería dishes out soft, crispy, handcrafted churros with a “twist”. Try the classic El Churro Original (HK$25), dusted with cinnamon and served with a choice of dipping sauces including traditional dulce de leche. Or go for a Glazed option or something from the Chilled selection (warm churros served with vanilla ice cream). There’s a range of freshly squeezed lemonades to wash everything down, too. Open seven days, 12pm to 11pm.
BaseHall hits it out of the park
Exciting developments in Central! Now open in Jardine House is BaseHall, a multi-concept food hall featuring eight eating spots and two bars. Highlights include: Roti Tori, a Japanese-style rotisserie chicken joint; Pub 1842 from Young Master; tacos by Esdras Ochoa at Westside Taqueria; and contemporary nasi lemak at Return of Lemak. You’ll also find gourmet burgers, Korean delights and authentic Vietnamese dishes; plus, plant-based fans can grab a wrap or salad at Treehouse. Oh, and if you just want to go for a cocktail or two, there’ll be live DJs setting the scene. basehall.hk
Great brunch options…
#1 Ying Jee Club free-flow brunch
Head to two Michelin star Cantonese restaurant Ying Jee Club between 11.30am and 3pm every Saturday and Sunday for a weekend brunch with free-flow. Pair your favourite Cantonese dishes with two hours of free-flow Delamotte Brut Champagne, white or red wine (sommelier’s choice) and soft drinks. HK$388 per head. yingjeeclub.hk
#2 AQUA
Aqua has a great weekend brunch featuring free-flow Rosé and champagne, oysters, sushi and sashimi platters. Prices start from HK$688. aqua.com.hk
#3 Écriture
This two-Michelin-starred Hong Kong restaurant has refreshed its weekend lunch menu with a more casual vibe. It’s now offering a six-course lunch that stars French seasonal produce; it costs HK$780, and you can also get a wine pairing option for HK$280. ecriture.hk
#4 The Pizza Project
The Pizza Project on Peel Street has a brunch on weekends and during public holidays from 12 to 4pm. The menu is priced at HK$158 and includes antipasti, Pizza Al Metro and a dessert. For the Pizza Al Metro (pizza served by the metre), guests can choose three toppings from a list including Carbonara, Truffle, Pesto and more. thepizzaproject.hk
Hong Kong restaurant’s Michelin stars
The Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau 2020 delivered its verdict earlier in the year, and Hong Kong’s food scene has a lot to celebrate. For starters, we now have seven three-star establishments! If fine dining isn’t your vibe, or your budget, don’t stress – the Guide also awards street food and more wallet-friendly options. See our wrap-up of which Hong Kong restaurants received an accolade in this dedicated story: Hong Kong’s Michelin Stars.
See more in our Wine & Dine section:
Hong Kong’s best rooftop bars
Best brunch spots in the city
