Eat Drink Hong Kong

There are a few of these dual cuisine type restaurants around. This one mixes middle eastern with an Argentinean grill. It’s not such a stretch as it might sound as barbecued meat is used in middle eastern cuisine anyway.

The steaks are served simply with salad and fries. I’m sure the fries could be swapped for pitta bread if you preferred. Along side the steaks are options for lamb, chicken or fish.

But the main part of the menu is dedicated to middle eastern cuisine so that is where I decided to focus.

There are the familiar kebabs but there are also a range of middle eastern curry dishes available. I was intrigues by the Iraqi Lamb Quzi which, if you order in advance, can be made using a whole leg of lamb ($599). Though it is also available as a smaller serving.

I decided to start with The Grand Dip ($48) this is actually a combination platter featuring Hummus, Babaganoush and Couscous and is served with pitta bread. To go with it I ordered a fresh lime soda ($25).

I also ordered an Argentinean chorizo ($48) which, as I suspected, went perfectly with the dips.

After much consideration I finally opted for the Lamb Ribs Targine ($88). This is, I believe, a Moroccan style curry made with dried apricots. The ribs are all chopped up so all the little cubes of meat also contain a section of rib. This helps to bring out the flavour of the meat. It is served with saffron rice and a small salad.

For dessert I opted for the creme brulee over the chocolate mousse. These were the only two available. I must admit I was a little surprised that there were no middle eastern options.

G/F 37 Catchick Street
Kennedy Town
Hong Kong
Tel. 2986 5455

G/F 35 Belcher’s Street
Kennedy Town
Hong Kong
Tel 2819 5568

G/F Shop E
Hau Wo Street
Kennedy Town
Hong Kong
Tel 2889 8849

Kennedy Town looks like a place worth keeping an eye on. Several new residential developments have been completed in recent years and with new MTR stations under construction at either end it would appear to be an up and coming area. Already there is a small row of bars and restaurants at the Harbour end of Davis Street. Just around the corner on Hau Wo Street there is a Japanese and two Thai restaurants. And just a little further away is an Indian Restaurant.

It was one of the Thai restaurants that caught my eye the other evening. It’s a low key informal place. Decor is greens and yellows, as befits it’s name, with pot plants hanging from the ceiling. It’s bright clean and friendly. The staff are friendly too, and keen to point out that since everything is cooked from scratch it may take a little time. I assured them that this wasn’t a problem and busied myself with the menu.

“Thai home cooking with a twist” boasted the place mats. I was intrigued. All the familiar dishes are there. I decided to get the ball rolling with some spring rolls ($25) and a lime soda ($20). The lime soda is simplicity itself. A bottle of soda water with lime squeezed into it. Sugar can be added on request but I liked it as it was. Sharp tangy and very refreshing.

The spring rolls arrived piping hot and, as promised, very fresh indeed. Laab is one of my favourite Thai dishes. Usually it is made from either minced chicken or pork. At Lime they also offer it with duck and “Laab Pla Thod” or fish ($45). I’ve never seen or heard of fish laab before so I had to give that a try.

I also had to try a variation of som tam. This is the infamous spicy green papaya salad. Here they offer a version made with green apple ($42). “It’s very spicy.” I was warned. Oh but I like it spicy, I said, give it your all.

The som tam arrived first and it was excellent. The apple brought a new flavour to the mix and added just a touch of sweetness. Otherwise it was classic som tam with no holds barred.

The laab is served with lettuce. Fish doesn’t mince the same way as meat and it loses a little in the texture. It does, however, stay where you put it and not fall into your lap when you try to fold the lettuce around it. Its a comparatively mild dish but there is a selection of chilli sauces on the table if you need to spice it up.

Another interesting item on the menu was tuna fish cakes. I wondered if these were based on the familiar tord mun pla. There is also a range of Thai beer battered dishes. Both these are going to have to wait for my next visit. I rounded this one off with banana spring roll served with ice cream and garnished with palm seeds ($25).

The restaurant only has seating for about a dozen people but take away orders are welcome.

G/F Shop E
14 Hau Wo Street
Kennedy Town

36 Forbes Street
Kennedy Town
Hong Kong
Tel 2819 6900

Grand Fortune Mansion
1 Davis Street
Kennedy Town
Hong Kong
Tel 2818 0101

Typhoon Kammuri threw cold water all over my plans for dinner last Wednesday but the day was salvaged. Quite pleasantly too. Like many people, after a day of forced idleness, I was bored silly.

I’d figured that since no markets had been open all day, menus might not be at full strength so I sauntered off to Kennedy Town where I’d heard about a handful of bars.

Davis was on the end of a line of four. It has a nice rustic feel, wooden stools and simulated stone topped tables. They also had a blackboard menu right in the doorway, I needed no other invitation.

There were a few other people there but there was plenty of space. The waitress went off to find another blackboard and lugged it over to the table and explained the dishes. For tapas the dishes are actually quite large, and if you are only looking for a light snack I’d recommend sharing.

For a starter I ordered deep fried camembert with assorted sausages ($78). There were actually three types of sausage in a tomato and pepper sauce. With the cheese and some slices of toast as well I decided that this was two tapas rolled into one. They both went down very well with a cold bottle of Beerlao.

This is the first time I’ve seen Beerlao in Hong Kong. It used to be one of the great beer secrets of Asia. Until quite recently it was only brewed in a small brewery on the outskirts of Vientiane. It is a crisp, delicately-flavoured pilsen style beer that is made with local polished rice, Hallertau hops, German yeast and malted barley from France.

Production has been ramped up recently with investment from Carlsberg. If they can maintain the beers integrity and resist the temptation to pollute it with preservatives Beerlao could become very popular indeed. I ordered another bottle.

For my next dish I had ordered grilled beef salad ($98). A simple but pleasing dish that consisted of slices of beef arranged around a green salad with a spicy sauce in which to dip the beef.

Dessert was deliciously decadent cheesecake with pistachio nuts and flavoured with Black Sambuca liqueur. If you are a lover of cheesecake, then it is worth the journey just for that!

G/F 68 Catchick Street
Kennedy Town
Hong Kong
Tel 2855 1882

53 Belcher Street
Kennedy Town
Hong Kong
Tel 2855 7738

83 Smithfield Road
Kennedy Town
Hong Kong
Tel 2872 8686