Visa Run?: Great Restaurants to Try in Hong Kong While You're There

Regular visits to Hong Kong aren't uncommon for Beijing folk. And why wouldn't you pop over to the 852 (that's their region phone code and what all the cool kids call their home city); there's fresh air, there's humidity (even during this time they call "winter," 18 degrees Celcius, hilarious right), lots of people speak English, and there's a coastline with a breeze. 

But even when we do head over to Hong Kong, our jobs don't end: we keep our new restaurant radar on. Because otherwise how will you know which new spots are worth trying?

Ciao Chow

Italian spot Ciao Chow is located in the hustle and bustle of Lan Kwai Fong. Although the area is not known for its fine dining, Ciao Chow is definitely a step up with its open kitchen and a separate open pizza kitchen. Check it out for a solid Italian meal.

We started off with the funghi e barbietole salad (HKD 119), a medley of mushroom, roasted beetroot, and goats cheese, and tried the Calabrese pizza (HKD 139) topped off with a generous amount of Calabrese salami and chili flakes. We really enjoyed the Neapolitan pizza, which was comparable in quality to Beijing favorite Bottega. 

G/F, California Tower, 30-32 D'Auilar Street, Central, Hong Kong (+852 2344 0005, www.ciaochow.com.hk)

Dim Sum Library

For something a little different than regular dim sum, check out Dim Sum Library. Items that stand out on the menu for their innovative edge include dan dan xiaolong bao (HKD 48 for three pieces), black truffle har gau (HKD 48 for three pieces), and the Sichuan mala beef cheungfan (that's changfen, or 肠粉, to us Beijingers) (HKD 58). 

While we really enjoyed the dan dan xiaolongbao, we found that adding the mala sauce that comes with the Sichuan mala beef cheungfan brings out the spice even more. If you're not good with spice, don't try that combo.

124, 1/F, Pacific Place, Admiralty, Hong Kong (+852 3643 0088, www.dimsumlibrary.com.hk)

Aqua

Ah, brunch. We heard, through the grapevipe, that Hong Kongers are pretty into brunching too, so we went straight to Aqua on our first weekend day to enjoy their free-flow brunch with a view over the city. 

The menu changes with the month/season, and their current deal for the month of February is HKD 598 for free-flow veuve clicqout champagne and cocktails (HKD 448 for the brunch without the booze).

With that you get unlimited starters (sushi, sashimi, salmon, cold cuts, ravioli) and then mains to share that are presented on an Italian and a Japanese platter. When we were there we got delicious scallops and tender grilled Wagyu beef (pictured below). The dessert will almost send you over the edge, and we guarantee you won't be having dinner that evening.

While not cheap, we reckon the brunch is very much worth it, especially if you're drinking up your bubbles and keeping those cocktails coming.

30/F, 1 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong (+852 3427 2288, www.aqua.com.hk)

TokyoLima

Because we love Pachakutiq here in Beijing, as soon as we heard that a Nikkei restaurant was opening in Hong Kong, we jumped at the chance to visit on opening night. While it's hard to judge service precision on opening night, everyone was extremely friendly and helpful, and there was nothing to complain about with regards to food either.

Recommendations include the salmon tiradito (HKD 160), pictured below, which was a fresh salmon marinated in a slightly sweet and tart mango sauce. The little avocado cubes add a little extra creaminess. We also really enjoyed the tuna and watermelon tartare (HKD 150), which was flavored with a soy citrus sauce and a little bit of mint.

Under the larger plate section, we had the polla a la brasa, a Peruvian grilled chicken (HKD 230) with a crispy kimchi and orange skin. While the kimchi flavor could have been a little more pronounced, the juicy chicken was particularly moreish.

We are excited to go again, as, being the opening night, not all dishes were available when we went for dinner. We recommend calling up to book in advance, and the restaurant is only open Tuesday through Sunday for dinner.

G/F, 18-20 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong (+852 2811 1152, www.tokyolima.hk)

Butcher & Baker

Not as new as some of the others on this list, Butcher & Baker is still worth mentioning. Actually, this place is much more than a butcher and a baker, with a florist, restaurant, and a café attached. It is here that we came face to face with the largest macaroni and cheese (HKD 145) we have ever seen (pictured below).

We can also recommend the steaks (with a whole range of prices to choose from), and the salads which are varied and fresh. For something a little naughtier, try the deep-fried crunchy Camembert (RMB 135), served with a side of cranberry sauce for dipping. 

On Fat Building, 57-59 Cadogan Street, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong (+852 2591 0328, www.casteloconcepts.com)

Where's the regular Dim Sum?

And for good old regular Dim Sum, definitely not new, but we discovered this place in Kennedy Town that was really cheap and fun: Sun Hing Restaurant (新興食家).

Open from 3am to 4pm daily, this is also a good early morning/late night kind of place. We highly recommend the custard buns and the shaomai. If you don't know how to get around a traditional Chinese character menu, we suggest you just start pointing at things you see passing. You can't really go wrong here anyway.

Shop C, G/F, 8 Smithfield Road, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong (+852 2816 0616)

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Email: margauxschreurs@truerun.com
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Photos: Margaux Schreurs