Honolulu Coffee Cake Shop

Since this was a Hong Kong trip where Macau and its egg tarts were not part of our itinerary, we instead headed to Honolulu Bakery, written by Time Out Hong Kong as having one of the best char siu bao and egg tarts. I missed the char siu bao by the time I arrived, they ran out by lunch time.

Egg tarts - HKD 5 each

Lei Garden

For our final evening together, my mom and I tried out Lei Garden, a one-Michelin star restaurant with around 4 branches in Hong Kong Island.

We went around Causeway Bay most of our time in Hong Kong, so we saw the Lei Garden poster a lot and decided to celebrate our last meal together there. We came as walk-in guests at around 8:20, but the place was too full that we were promised a table only at 9:30. My mom's insistence, however, granted us a table by 8:35. Thank you Mommy! 你知道到了我最想吃这儿.

Soup no. 6 for HKD 156. The 服务员 explained to us that it took 6 hours to make this soup! They steamed the herbs, fish bones and chicken to make the soup. For that method, I felt it was very much worth the price.

Dumpling Pro

This isn't part of our week-long Michelin hop but my mom and I tried Dumpling Pro in Wan Chai, to be consistent with our all-Chinese meal plan. I've read reviews that its 饺子's wrapper-to-filling ratio was spot on, allowing the subtle sweetness of the fresh pork to shine through in every bite, while its skin has a light floury fragrance and slight chewiness. I was sold.

Out of excitement for our dumplings, we over-ordered and had to stop mid-eating and go into a lengthy conversation to give our tummies time to digest.

Mixed Vegetarian Stuffing (Cabbage, Carrot and Water Chestnuts for HKD 32

Eva's home made orange cheesecake

Props to my very good friend Eva for a gastronomic innovation worthy of a spot on the Ritz Coffee Bar - cotton soft sweet tangerine goodness perfectly paired with a cup of black coffee. She shared that its perfection is attributed to the sour cream added along with cream cheese, and the zest of orange juiced into it. A few minutes after it came out of the oven, we all had ourselves a slice. Try it at home!



My lactose intolerant stomach taught me a lesson by late afternoon.

Hung's Delicacies

Our next Michelin stop for dinner was Hung's Delicacies in North Point area, along Wharf Road. The eatery was quite small, around 2 6-seater tabes, 5 2-seater tables, but there was a short line of hungry customers waiting for a seat outside. Its walls were adorned with articles and write-ups in praise of the restaurant.

According to the brief history printed on our placemats, Ah-Hung started his career in gastronomy at 17 when trained with Yung Kee as their cook specializing in won-ton noodles. He's had experience has Hong Kong's Maxim Group placed him in Beijing "to uphold food quality at top level". Later on he worked as manager of Hong Kong International Airport's 10+ restaurants.

Over time, Ah Hung developed his own special ways in making Chinese marinade-braised dishes and roasted meats which have been famous amongst visitors and received the much deserved one-Michelin star rating.

Free soup! Has pork, pork floss, peanuts, chest nuts.

Chuan Lam's Mix Noodle in Sauce - Lard, Soya Sauce, Ginger, Spring Onion, Beijing Spring Onion, Chinese ham soup) for HKD 38

Marinated Goose Slices - half for HKD 120

Hung's Delicacies
84 Wharf Road
Hong Kong, China

Desserts at Yung Kee

Took my mom to try out Yung Kee's roasted goose, since I loved it so much before, I thought I'd go delirious over it again. This time, however, it seemed that the love has died, or they just gave us below par tough duck meat. This entry, however, is in praise of the different versions of sweet sesame innovations.

Sesame balls in ginger soup for HKD 24 - Ginger, then a burst of sweetness, is always a good combination.

Crystal Jade (在香港机场)

My mom and I's first Michelin stop was Crystal Jade Restaurant in HKIA. Crystal Jade was awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand Category - the inspectors' food favourites in top quality restaurants.

My brother and I went to Crystal Jade Shanghai last November, so I knew what to expect, and went back to basics on this visit.

"La Mian" in Sichuan Style (四川坦麺) for HKD 36. 当然！

Tim Ho Wan

I finally made it to Tim Ho Wan! I've been looking forward to this one-star Michelin restaurant since it came out in the 2010 List. What makes this place more intriguing is that Chef Mak, previously from Four Seasons Hotel's Lung King Heen ( still something to look forward to when I return to HK) established Tim Ho Wan (means"add good luck") to offer affordable dimsum to everyone.

My friend and I were lucky enough to reach Tim Ho Wan with a short line. We waited for around ten minutes late on a weekday afternoon, when the normal waiting time is around 1 - 2 hours.

English titles of the food are my translations from our receipt. If they seem incorrect, they most likely are.

Crispy skin deep fried bun (酥皮 叉 焼包) - HKD 14

Simply Life in Citibank Tower

I remember when I used to work for UBS, on lunch time, I would usually head to Canteen, an upper middle restaurant that served lunch, cafeteria-style, for people working in the IFC. For my Hong Kong visit, my previous boss and I met up in the renovated and rebranded Canteen, now called Simply Life.


I prefer this set up. It makes it look less of a cafeteria and more of a deli-style presentation also seen in City Super. I suppose this rebranding justifies the price range.

Dai Wing Wah

I spent last week in Hong Kong to see old friends and mentors, and to celebrate 新年 with my mother. 香港的天气很舒服！A good break from the piercing cold of Beijing.

One evening, my friend and I chanced upon Dai Wing Wah is the one-starred Michelin starred restaurant my friend and I chanced upon after dinner, while walking along Wan Chai, so on the next evening, I went back for a quiet meal, to properly savour the flavour of their beef.

Beef braised noodle with soy sauce for HKD 48

Yung Kee, Central, Hong Kong

Dinner with Migs in Yung Kee was the highlight of my trip - my first one michelin star restaurant! Bo Innovations, and then the holy grail of Asian Michelin dining, Lung King Heen is definitely in the pipeline.

Service was a bit slow. Perhaps that's why its just one star?

Century egg and ginger. We arranged it in a smiley.

Their main drawing card is the Roasted Goose (half portion at HKD 210). Worth it!

Comes with a tangerine sauce!

We had the Yeung Chow fried rice for HKD 98

A peek inside

It was crisp. It was golden. It was delicious. This left my taste buds dancing for days, and is probably responsible for vacation separation anxiety.

I loved this experience. Thank you An for the suggestion! =)

Yung Kee

32-40 Wellington Street,

Central, Hong Kong

Tel: (852) 2522 1624

Japan Mi-nesushi, Times Square area, Hong Kong

Our feet aching from walking, Kat and I entered a hole on the wall Japanese outlet off Times Square. We were surprised to see it open to a larger sushi bar inside.

Some of our interesting picks - I don't really know what they are called because I just picked them up as the went along the belt.

HKD 20 grilled salmon

HKD 15 grilled squid

HKD 15 grilled fish

HKD 20 rice wrapped in salmon and scallops

Its a special order so it comes with its won container

Scallops!

Japan Mi-nesushi

G/F, Chong Hing Square,

No. 601, Nathan Road,

Mongkok, Hong Kong, China

Tel: 852 3586 9515

Hui Lau Shan, Fanling, Hong Kong

After dinner, Eva took me to Hui Lau Sa for sweet warm soup for dessert. It was freezing outside so although I am a self confessed ice cream junkie, I opted for anything warm.

Sesame was one of the best flavors I've discovered. Here was the sweet almond sesame porridge and almost sweet soup for HKD 17.

Add Sesame Glutinous Rice balls + HKD 7 and it was just perfect.

Hui Lau Shan Healthy Dessert

Shop 19, 2/F, Fanling Town Centre,

18 Fanling Station Road,

Fanling, Hong Kong

Fukui Japanese restaurant, Fanling, Hong Kong

I had a field trip to Fanling to visit my good friend Eva and we dined in Fukui. Some interesting new things for me.

I have come to worship soft shell crab ever since Jho formally introduced me to it. Soft shell crab tempura for HKD 46 - the wonders of frying soft shell and topping it with Jap mayo.

Deep fried chicken gristle for HKD 28 - the chicken bones are so soft that you can eat it!

The good find - mince kobe friend rice in stone pot for HKD 45

Thank you Eva! =)

Fukui Japanese Restaurant

Shop 101, G/F, Fanling Centre,

33 Sun Wan Road,

Fanling, Hong Kong

Market House Bakery, Hong Kong Disneyland

The mouth watering cakes on the display window of Market House Bakery in HK Disneyland are fakes. Shucks! I was drawn to the shop expecting a version of the goodies below, but I was disappointed to see a half empty Maxim's tea shop with a few bite-sized cake displays.

I was still sulking until I saw the Tiramisu slice. I like Tiramisu with thick cream, much like the one below, but I found it funny how they padded an extra ~HKD 6 for the Mickey logo on it.

Plain tiramisu, rebranded into Mickey Mouse tiramisu for HKD 22.

Hong Kong love

I associate Hong Kong with the place where I grew and felt confident with myself. It was the time in my life when I felt saddest and most privileged. I am grateful to my mom and the Pecots for granting that experience.

During this visit, I pulled a Tai Tai during the holiday - slept, shopped, dined with my friends (3x).

But first, off to Disneyland we went.

We joined a drawing session along Main Street. I had no future in the arts.

This was the first sketch of Beauty and the Beast! Beast really looked like a beast and Belle was hardly a beauty.

Then the final product

Where dreams come true.

A deluge of memories filled my head when I passed through IFC. This wss the first bank and first branch that received my first salary.

I had butterflies in my stomach when I walked through Hong Kong station.

I caught the unveiling of the Jimmy Choo line in H&M. The girls went crazy! Unbelievable.

Hong Kong was rightfully the shopping capital of Asia. They sold everything.