Tag: southeast asian
Wong Chun Chun
1/F, Foremost Building
21 Jordan Road
Kowloon
Tel 2721 0099
Posted: January 9th, 2010 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, kowloon city, Off the Map, southeast asian, thai, W
Comments: none
Wong Chun Chun
23 Tak Ku Ling Road
Kowloon City
Kowloon
Tel 2716 6269
Posted: January 9th, 2010 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, kowloon city, Off the Map, southeast asian, thai, W
Comments: none
Shiok Singapore Kitchen & Bar
66 Peel Street
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2899 2001
Posted: January 9th, 2010 under Soho, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, S, singaporean, Soho, southeast asian
Comments: none
New Indonesian Restaurant
9 Keswick Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2808 4778
Posted: January 8th, 2010 under Causeway Bay, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Causeway Bay, indonesian, N, southeast asian
Comments: none
Lime
G/F Shop E
Hau Wo Street
Kennedy Town
Hong Kong
Tel 2889 8849
Posted: January 8th, 2010 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, kennedy town, L, Off the Map, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Lanna Thai
L1-34 Festival Walk
Kowloon Tong
Kowloon
Tel 2265 7333
Posted: January 8th, 2010 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, festival walk, L, Off the Map, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Bak Kut King
Shop 1 G/F Wun Cha Tower
Wun Sha Street
Tai Hang
Hong Kong
Tel 2972 2266
Posted: January 4th, 2010 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, B, malaysian, Off the Map, southeast asian
Comments: none
Lanna Thai review
Regular readers will remember that myself and shopping malls don’t get on very well together so the prospect of a trip to Festival Walk filled me with gloom. Still, chin up I thought, there must be restaurants there as well. Indeed I was barely out of the MTR before I’d identified a place; Lanna Thai.
Geographically Lanna refers the Northern parts of Thailand and was, from the 13th to the 18th centuries, a kingdom in its own right. The restaurant is tucked away at he end of one of the arms of level one. It’s an attractive place, modern furniture. Gongs and vases provide just enough ornamentation to remind you that you’re in a Thai restaurant.
The menu does bear a few nods to northern Thai cuisine but, since this is a family restaurant, I wasn’t really surprised to see that there were considerably more dishes from the south where recipes tend to be less spicy. There were in fact choices from all over Southeast Asia.
There were plenty of a la carte options to choose from but it was the set menu that caught our eye. This offered a four course dinner for a very reasonable price.
For starters we both wanted the the shrimp cake but for the soup course my companion opted for the chicken tom yam while I went for the minced pork with tofu and seaweed. The pork was ok. I’ve often had this with noodles in though I don’t think they are obligatory. Its not meant to be a spicy but I did feel it could have done with a little more black pepper.
Tom yam is a spicy dish and my friend felt that hers was definitely lacking in chilli department. “It’s not bad” she protested, “It’s just not what I’d hope for in Tom yam.”
She was much more enthusiastic about the Green Curry ($108) she’d ordered for her main course. This came with a baguette Vietnamese style and she assured me it tasted like a green curry should. I’d ordered the sautéed prawns with chilli ($118).
Again this had less chilli than I might have expected but it was still a pleasant dish with red and yellow peppers and spring onions.
Dessert was a single piece of coconut and sago cake with sweet corn.
Overall it was pleasant meal. If you want authenticity give it a miss but after a harrowing trip to a shop it’s a good place to unwind. And, for the set meals at least, very good value for money.
Level 1, shop 34
Festival walk
Kowloon Tong
Tel 2265 7333
Posted: October 1st, 2009 under Reviews, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Kowloon, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Vietnam Station
136 Tung Lo Wan Road
Tin Hau
Hong Kong
Tel 2895 0788
Posted: July 4th, 2009 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Off the Map, southeast asian, tin, V, vietnamese
Comments: none
Red Penny
G/F 148 Kam Sheung Road
Yuen Long
New Territories
Tel 2488 3263
Posted: July 4th, 2009 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Off the Map, R, southeast asian, yuen long
Comments: none
Green Cottage Vietnamese Restaurant
6P032, Level 6, Terminal 2 Sky Plaza
HK International Airport
Lantau
New Territories
Tel 3197 9440
Posted: April 30th, 2009 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: airport, Area, G, Off the Map, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
Green Cottage Vietnamese Restaurant
2/F Cigna Tower
482 Jaffe Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2832 2863/2832 9038
Posted: April 30th, 2009 under Causeway Bay, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Causeway Bay, G, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
Box Thai
1/F Shiu King Court
4-8 Arbuthnot Road
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2537 6887
Posted: March 11th, 2009 under Lan Kwai Fong, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, B, Lan Kwai Fong, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Pho Lemon review
“Free noodles”, said the waitress. It doesn’t take anything more than that to convince me so in I went. To be honest I’ve been meaning to try Pho Lemon ever since it opened a couple of years ago.
It’s quite a small restaurant but the white walls and tables with a touch of green on the linen made it seem a little more spacious. Paintings on the wall add a hint of French colonial charm.
The staff are cheerful and friendly and, since it was still early and there were no other customers, more than happy to chat. They told me that they were offering a complimentary bowl of beef or chicken pho with every main course. They don’t do this every night. Sometimes the special offer is a free Saigon beer. Sometimes they don’t have a special offer but when they do it is usually from Monday to Thursday.
To go with my beef pho I decided I would order vegetarian rice paper spring rolls ($58) and Sarong prawns ($188). I also ordered a bottle of Saigon Beer.
I was most impressed with the spring rolls. They were stuffed with avocado, tomato and mushrooms and were really quite flavourful. It was a generous serving too. These dishes are made for sharing.
The background music was an eclectic mix ranging from Tijuana Brass to Parisian back-street ballads with electronic wallpaper music thrown in for good measure. It was such an odd selection it merely seemed to add the the general cheerfulness of the place.
The Sarong Prawns were delivered with a smile. I’d been wondering what sarong prawns were, it turned out they were quite a familiar dish after all. There were six large meaty prawns each wrapped in a cocoon of crispy noodle. There was also something that tasted suspiciously like thousand island dressing in there. Not that I have anything particularly against it but I do think it should have been mentioned on the menu.
The prawns are served with a refreshing green mango salad. This is a relative of the Thai papaya salad, som tam, but the Vietnamese version is fresh and tangy rather than spicy.
The crispy noodles are actually quite filling and towards the end I was extracting the prawn from its wrap in order to save a little space for the beef pho.
It wasn’t a huge bowl, though it was big enough and quite tasty. Not bad at all for a complementary dish. I do have to say, though, there are so many small Vietnamese pho shops around town now that I don’t think these would shake the faith I have in my favourites.
After despatching the noodles I took a well earned rest. The tables around me were filling up and the staff were quite busy though one did find a moment to ask if I’d like dessert. I chose the grilled banana with ice cream ($58) and rounded off with a Vietnamese coffee.
Posted: February 26th, 2009 under Reviews, Soho, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Reviews, Soho, southeast asian
Comments: 1
Pho Vietnamese Restaurant
Shop 3, 8/F Megabox
38 Wang Chiu Road
Kowloon Bay
Kowloon
Tel 2359 0117
Posted: January 28th, 2009 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, kowloon bay, megabox, Off the Map, P, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
Pho Vietnamese Restaurant
G/F Circle Tower
28 Tang Lung Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2574 177
Posted: January 28th, 2009 under Causeway Bay, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Causeway Bay, P, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
Pho Vietnamese Restaurant
2/F Ashley Centre
23-25 Ashley Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2736-7177
Posted: January 28th, 2009 under southeast asian, Tsimshatsui.
Tags: Area, P, southeast asian, Tsimshatsui, vietnamese
Comments: none
Pasar
2/F Yu Wing Building
64-66 Wellington Street
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 3693 4448
Posted: January 28th, 2009 under Central, Lan Kwai Fong, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Central, Lan Kwai Fong, P, singaporean, southeast asian
Comments: none
Nha Trang
Wu Chung House
213 Queen’s Road East
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2891 1177
Posted: January 28th, 2009 under southeast asian, Wanchai.
Tags: Area, N, southeast asian, vietnamese, Wanchai
Comments: none
Mint & Lemongrass
49 Staunton Street
Soho
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2803 2253 or 3481 3280
Posted: January 28th, 2009 under French, Soho, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, French, M, Soho, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
Mang Ambo’s Filipino Restaurant
120 Jaffe Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2143 6877
Posted: January 28th, 2009 under southeast asian, Wanchai.
Tags: Area, M, philippines, southeast asian, Wanchai
Comments: none
Kam Lung Thai Food
96 Tung Lo Wan Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2578 5932
Posted: January 28th, 2009 under Causeway Bay, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Causeway Bay, K, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
i Thai
Shop 112-113 Level 1
New Town Plaza, Phase 1
Shatin
New Territories
Tel 2693 3128
Posted: January 28th, 2009 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, I, Off the Map, shatin, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
i Thai
Shop A,C,D G/F Miami Mansion
13-15 Cleveland Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2504 3930
Posted: January 28th, 2009 under Causeway Bay, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Causeway Bay, I, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Ging Jie Private Thai Kitchen
1/F 20-22 Tang Lung Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2575 7128 or 6010 8128
Posted: January 28th, 2009 under Causeway Bay, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Causeway Bay, G, private kitchen, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Fresh
G/F Lakeside 1
Phase 2 Hong Kong Science Park
Shatin
New Territories
Tel 2210 7022
Posted: January 28th, 2009 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, F, Off the Map, shatin, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Coco Thai
West Block
Island Road
Deepwater Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2812 1826
Posted: January 28th, 2009 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, C, Off the Map, south island, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Café Merlion
Shop 127, New Town Plaza (Phase 1)
Shatin
New Territories
Tel 2605 3636
Posted: January 28th, 2009 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, C, malaysian, Off the Map, shatin, singaporean, southeast asian
Comments: none
Baba Nyonya Malaysia Singapore Restaurant
Shop 3, G/F Cheong Yuen Appts
2-8 Tsat Tsz Mui Road
North Point
Hong Kong
Tel 2368 8706
Posted: January 1st, 2009 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, B, malaysian, Off the Map, singaporean, southeast asian
Comments: none
Cafe Locomotive Review
According to the place mat the restaurant takes it’s name from a recipe for the famous Vietnamese beef noodle broth that was popular at a railway station hawker stand. The old hawker never gave up his secret recipe but cafe locomotive have created their very own.
It seems to be popular too. On my previous trips to this area the Cafe Locomotive has always been packed. This time I got there early.
The decor boasts a railway theme with luggage racks and station clocks showing the time in several cities around Asia. The staff are friendly and efficient. I ordered a coconut base with jelly bits and ice and perused the menu. Most people were having the noodles and they did look very good but I had decided I wanted to try something different.
I started with roasted French quail ($48) this is served simply on a banana leaf with a slice of lime and an orchid (which I didn’t eat). It can sometimes be a bit of a fight to get the meat from the bones of small birds. The use of fingers is essential. The restaurant does provide disposable plastic gloves but that is cheating in my view and besides it makes the whole process seem rather surgical.
It was a tasty bird and it wasn’t long before all I had left was a neat pile of bones. The waitress enquired as to whether everything was to my satisfaction. I assured it was and she whisked my plate away.
The waiter had warned me that the quail would take around fifteen minutes to prepare. This meant that my next dish, big head prawn ($118) arrived almost as soon as the last one had been cleared away.
The prawns were baked in a rich, buttery garlic sauce. This too was most agreeable. The only downside was that flesh of the prawn seemed rather less that the shell had promised. But I guess that is prawns for you. You never do get as much as you think you’re going to get.
For vegetable I’d ordered morning glory in broth ($42). It turned out to be a considerably larger bowl than I had anticipated. I couldn’t finish it all though I made a valiant effort soaking up the broth with garlic bread.
The lemon creme brulee with cinnamon sugar French toast and ginger ice-cream ($39) proved to be an excellent finale but then I’m a sucker for ginger ice cream.
Cafe Locomotive is quite a small but very popular restaurant. If you’re making a special trip it’s worth calling ahead to make a reservation.
Posted: December 15th, 2008 under Causeway Bay, Off the Map, Reviews, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Causeway Bay, Off the Map, Reviews, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
Thai Basil Review
This is a large and very popular restaurant in Pacific Place and whilst it may be called Thai Basil, there is no shortage of Vietnamese influenced dishes on the menu.
I arrived shortly after seven. There were still quite a few tables available then but I was very lucky. I took a seat near the front in the belief that I would be able to watch shoppers bustling to and fro while I enjoyed a leisurely dinner.
I was wrong. By the time I had studied the menu and ordered, the place had filled up and there was a throng of a dozen or more people waiting outside. Since my view of busy shoppers was blocked I studied the decor. The walls were midnight blue. Decorating them, at least the part that was nearest to me, were stainless steel skulls of a variety of horned animals.
A series of white Romanesque columns showed the way to the back of the restaurant where, in the distance, I could see the kitchen staff going about their art.
I wasn’t to dwell on the fixtures and fittings for long before my first dish arrived. This was the Vietnamese style clear white rolls with mango and beetroot ($72). They also included carrot, cold noodle and were garnished with mint. They were really quite sumptuous.
Within moments of this arriving my second dish, papaya salad with seared tuna ($85) arrived. This is a Vietnamese variation of the famous Thai dish som tam. It is not as spicy as som tam – instead it has a tangy fruitiness which compliments the tuna perfectly. I’ve had other variations of this made with green mango and whilst my papaya version was delicious I’d love to try it with the mango as well.
The last main dish was Thai tiger prawns($165). These came wrapped in a nest of crispy noodles with a sweet and sour dip. As with all the dishes they are probably best shared, and while I had no trouble eating the lot single-handedly, the noodles did get a bit boring towards the end.
I rounded off with lime meringue pie ($42). Two small ones to be exact but with a tower of meringue that reminded me of something Van Gogh might have painted. Otherwise they were fairly ordinary.
The food at Thai Basil is great but the service is necessarily fast and furious. I would have have felt guilty dallying over coffee and meringue whilst the folks outside were eying it hungrily.
Posted: November 14th, 2008 under Admiralty, Reviews, southeast asian.
Tags: Admiralty, Area, Reviews, southeast asian, thai, vietnamese
Comments: none
Pho Saigon Review
I’d stopped here for a bowl of noodles a few times and I’d been impressed with how good they were. But I don’t like to eat big lunches, a bowl of Beef Pho ($34) is plenty, so I wandered back in the evening time to try a few of the other things on the menu.
It’s quite a new restaurant but already it does well for itself during the lunch time rush. In the evenings it closes at eight ‘clock but does have plans to stay open later in the near future.
I went along about seven and had the the place almost to myself. I was told that the reason the noodles are so good is because the soup is made the old fashioned way, by boiling the bones for 24 hours, rather than from prepared stock as is more common.
Another excellent noodle dish I’d tried was the prawn and crab roe with a tomato based soup ($34) but this time I wanted to try a few of the other things. Many of them were already familiar some other a littler more intriguing.
The sweet potato and chicken curry ($38), which can be served with either rice or baguette, was very tempting indeed. But another dish had caught my eye and I was keen to try them. These, according to the menu, were boneless chicken wings ($35). Since a chicken wing is mostly bone anyway I simply had to find out.
They were a delightful surprise. They don’t look much like wings, they are considerably bigger than I was expecting. This is because they have been stuffed with lemon leaves, minced vegetables and vermicelli.
I was offered two dipping sauces, one popular in the North of Vietnam, the other popular in the south. They were both good but I think if I could only choose one I would plump for the one from the north.
To accompany the wings I had some spring rolls, both the fried and the ‘summer’ style cold spring rolls which were stuffed with tiger prawn. Another familiar item was sugar cane prawn sticks ($40) and rounding things off I had some thin slices of barbecue pork cheek.
By the time I’d wolfed all that down I was too full for dessert but there is a wide range of coconut milk based drinks. I’d ordered one with jackfruit so I finished off with that.
Pho Saigon is a little noodle shop with a big heart, the food is good and it is great value for money. Who can ask for more?
Posted: June 11th, 2008 under Off the Map, Reviews, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Off the Map, P, quarry bay, Reviews, southeast asian
Comments: none
Sala Thai Review
I was back over in Elements again this week. I decided that this time I would stay away from the roof garden area and see what else I could find. There are plenty of other restaurants in there so I wasn’t worried about getting too hungry.
I didn’t have to search too hard. From the outside Sala Thai looks relaxed and inviting and there is an enlarged version of the menu by the entrance to tempt anyone who is not entirely certain.
I really like Thai food so it didn’t take much to tempt me at all. The interior is pleasantly wooden. Some booths, some parts raised a little and they seem to be able to pack a lot of people in without actually appearing to be too crowded.
I was lucky. When I arrived there were not too many other guests but the place filled up quickly and by the time my food had arrived the place was buzzing with life.
The menu offers all the Thai classics, green and red curries, tom yam soups and spicy salads. Although it is divided into appetisers and mains I never really expect the food to arrive according to that order. It never does in Thai restaurants. So it came as no surprise that the the dish I ordered last, stir fried mixed vegetables ($58) arrived first. Shortly before the rice.
The dish I’d ordered from the appetiser section did arrive next. This was a green mango with soft-shelled crab salad ($68). The Mango is julienned in the same way that papaya is in the famous som tam but the flavour is more tangy and complements the crab rather well. It is mixed with cashew nuts, chillies and a dash of lime juice.
To go with the vegetables I had ordered the salt encrusted grilled mullet ($118). This is very popular in Bangkok and is one of the chefs specialities. It is also quite big but it was moist and tender. The fish is stuffed with lemon grass, galangal and lime leaves before it is grilled and these impart a delicate fragrance to the fish. But be careful of bones. They are not particularly small in a mullet but there is always one that sneaks in and stabs your gum.
For dessert I chose the ever popular mango and sticky rice. The black and the white rice were shaped into two halves of a heart with coconut cream poured all over. Mmmm delicious.
Posted: April 4th, 2008 under Reviews, southeast asian, Tsimshatsui.
Tags: Area, elements, Off the Map, Reviews, S, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Pho 26 Review
Vietnamese noodle shops are hugely popular at the moment, it seems there is a new one popping up every other day. I’m not sure how new Pho 26 actually is, it’s not a area I frequent too often, but it is extremely popular.
I first noticed it a few weeks ago but that time there was a queue already out of the door. The same thing happened on my second attempt a week later so by that time I was really curious.
That part of Queens Road isn’t exactly the life and soul of party-land so there had to be something that was drawing the crowds. So next time I got there around 6.30pm. There were already plenty of customers but tables were still available. I found one towards the back.
The decor is purely functional as one would expect, though the green that is beloved of Vietnamese restaurants is in evidence. The menu too is simple and functional consisting mainly of a variety of noodle dishes and a range of smaller side orders.
Top of the range of noodle dishes is the Top Choice Kobe beef Pho. It was an intriguing option and I’m sure it would have been delicious but at $138 I felt was perhaps a bit too luxurious. Each to their own of course, but for me a bowl of noodles shouldn’t require such deep pockets.
And indeed nothing else on the menu does. The next most expensive option regular Kobe Beef Pho ($49) so I decided to give that one a try. To go with it I ordered a side of pork and lemongrass paper rolls ($38). These are the popular Vietnamese style cold spring rolls.
There were some other items on the menu I would have liked to try, such as the black pepper steak cubes ($50) but I could already see the size of the noodles servings and knew it would be overdoing things.
The two dishes both arrived with impressive speed and, as I had anticipated, the noodles were a huge serving with a generous amount of beef that was gradually cooking in the piping hot soup base.
What I hadn’t been expecting were the two large slices of turnip that accompanied what was otherwise classic bowl of beef pho. But it was an inspired addition and I enjoyed the combination very much.
The menu also includes a variety of breakfast sets for around $25 and snacks that include everything from chicken wings to peanut butter and condensed milk on toast.
There are no desserts on the menu but the drinks can double as a sweet course. I had an iced ocean coconut milk ($17). I’m not sure where the ocean part comes into it but it was thick and sweet and laced with chunks of nata de coco. The straw it came with was very wide and cannon like. Presumably to allow solid matter to be drawn in but if you’ve never used one before you need to approach it with caution or will end up with coconut milk down your front. I speak from experience.
Posted: March 11th, 2008 under Reviews, Sheung Wan, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, P, Reviews, Sheung Wan, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
Husk Review
One of the great things about travelling around Southeast Asia is that you rarely go more than a few metres without finding something wonderful to eat. Often it is being cooked right there before your eyes, and costs very little to taste.
I must confess, very often when I’m down that way I don’t get to sit down for dinner in the evening because I have spent the whole day snacking.
There is, of course, no shortage of Southeast Asian restaurants around Hong Kong but Husk is the first one that I know that is dedicated to bringing together a wide variety of those tasty morsels from all around the region. And while Husk may be in a fancy shopping mall, with fancy overheads to contend with, the prices are still very reasonable.
It’s a fairly large restaurant with huge tables rather like a dining hall. It would be great for large gatherings but is still good if there is only the one of you.
There is a wide range of curry and rice dishes including fish head curry. I was tempted but I’d made up my mind I wanted to try some of the smaller dishes. First up was Gai Yang ($48), grilled marinated chicken with a dip called nam jim. The main ingredients in the nam jim are fish sauce, lime juice and palm sugar.
This was followed by marinated beef wrapped in betel leaf. The dish is called Bo La Lot ($38) and is served with the more familiar sweet chilli sauce.
Both dishes were really delicious and I was very tempted to order seconds. My third dish arrived in the nick of time. This was grilled Vietnamese eggplant ($38) slices and served with prawns and shallots.
The last dish I had ordered had been the Lime Cured Tuna with green mango, rose apple, mint and dried shrimp ($48). The problem with this was that the tuna was out of stock so the waiter offered to either have it prepared with crispy salmon, or change to the crispy salmon and cucumber salad.
I opted for the former. The salad itself is a Vietnamese variant of the famous Thai som tam though not usually as spicy. I guessed that the salmon would probably work just as well. I was right, the tanginess of the mango was a wonderful counterpoint to the salmon.
The eggplant had proved to be quite filling but I was just able to round off the proceedings with sago gula Melaka ($28). This is pearl sago with coconut milk and palm sugar.
With drinks added, the bill came to less than $300 and I ordered easily enough for two people. Good food, great value. What more could you ask for?
Posted: February 7th, 2008 under Off the Map, Reviews, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, elements, Off the Map, Reviews, southeast asian
Comments: none
Bali House Review
It’s always nice to stumble upon somewhere new, especially when it is in a area that you thought you knew pretty well.
Bali house is a small Indonesian/Chinese place that I’m sure I must have walked past a hundred times and never noticed. Perhaps this is because, unlike most of the restaurants shoe-horned into this area, Bali House is aimed squarely at the local residents and has nothing much to catch the eye. It is also just across the road from Chez Patrick and I’m probably looking in the other direction when I pass.
But there are two gatekeepers stationed either side of the door. On the left a ginger and white cat, and on the right a bilingual mynah bird that greets patrons in both English and Cantonese. I said “good evening” as I walked in. It cocked it’s head to one side and looked at me in the way that birds do when they think you are talking rubbish.
The decor is basic but the welcome was warm enough. I was ushered to a table and a glass of weak tea was promptly produced. I took a moment or two to find a menu, during which time I cast an eye around the room. The staff seemed to know all the customers and some of those seemed to know each other as well.
A large pile of freshly loaded satay sticks stood on the table at the very back. The menu duly arrived. It was a rather confusing affair, several dishes seemed to be listed twice and nasi goreng was conspicuous by it’s absence. Or maybe I just didn’t notice it.
No matter – I had already decided on half a dozen chicken satay. Which were delivered piping hot and with a nice cold bottle of Tsing Tao. The peanut sauce wasn’t too spicy but there was some chilli in shrimp sauce on the table so I could mix to taste.
I also pointed out a dished called Ikan Assam Pedas – the picture looked good. Ikan is fish and there appeared to be chillies as well. The man shook his head and offered sambal ikan, so I thought, why not? Sambal is essentially a sauce, it consists of fresh chillies, shrimp paste, lime juice, sugar, and salt. That said, every Indonesian home cook has their own variation. This had pineapple in.
Normally I would draw the line at pineapple in a savoury dish but I didn’t mind this at all. There was something in the sauce that prevented it from becoming overwhelmingly sweet.
Dessert was the Thai classic, mango with black sticky rice and coconut cream. A generous serving it was too.
For the princely sum of $127 I decided it was good value indeed. You wouldn’t bring a first date here and it wouldn’t impress any clients either. But when you’re feeling a little peckish and you can’t make up your mind what you want, remember the little Indonesian place on Peel Street.
I whistled at the mynah on the way out and headed towards the Pickled Pelican for a beer.
Posted: August 31st, 2007 under Chinese, Noho, Reviews, Soho, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Chinese, Reviews, Soho, southeast asian
Comments: none
Thai Delight Review
I can normally rely on my son to demand steaks and burgers when we have occasion to dine out. A plate of taco chips is usually about as exotic as he’s prepared to go. But that was before he and his mates skulked off to a full moon party in Koh Samui.
Now Phad Thai has entered his mental menu so this time, when I suggested dinner, that was what he wanted. We went to Thai Delight on Lockhart Road. It’s a fairly large and modern restaurant and I have a suspicion it does better rather later at night than it does at 7.30 when we were there.
The staff were friendly and courteous and we had our pick of the tables. We chose one that would have had an excellent view of a large TV screen had there been anything on it. I thanked heaven for small mercies and ordered beers.
It’s a reasonably extensive menu but there are no surprises. All the items you expect in a Thai restaurant are present; curries, spicy salads, tom yum… “I’d like phad Thai with tiger prawn” ($88) he said. I suggested we have some other dishes as well.
For starters I ordered the mixed platter (small $72). This included Vietnamese style spring rolls, fish cakes, prawn cakes, chicken in pandanas leaves and som tam. To my taste buds the som tam was lacking in oomph but not everyone like chillis as much as I do. If you prefer it spicy be sure to let the waitress know.
Following that we had the Tom ka kai ($53), and smoked duck breast with mango, tamarind and chilli salad. The Tom ka kai was chicken in a spicy coconut milk soup and was very good indeed.
I thought the duck was good, though I did think chef had been quite conservative with the chilli. My son wasn’t impressed – I think he was holding out for the phad Thai which duly arrived complete with a huge prawn on top.
He would have been quite happy to wolf down the lot himself though I did manage to secure a few mouthfuls. Phad Thai has never been a favourite dish of mine. I have nothing specific against it, I just feel that Thai cuisine has so much more to offer.
But, like fried rice and banana pancakes, it is a budget travellers staple and who can criticise a young fellow for wanting to recapture, for a moment, the flavour of his holidays.
“How often did you eat phad Thai in Samui?” I asked. He screwed his face up thoughtfully and then said “Every day.”
Posted: August 3rd, 2007 under Reviews, southeast asian, Wanchai.
Tags: Area, Reviews, southeast asian, T, thai, Wanchai
Comments: none
Thai Curry House Review
This is a very pleasant restaurant in Sheung Wan. I’ve passed it several times at lunch times and it always seems to be doing good business. But since I can’t pass restaurants very often without eventually going in you could say its time had come.
The decor is unpretentious. Bright walls with just a little Thai ornamentation give it a spacious airy feel. Kenny G played in the background but not loud enough to put me off my dinner.
What makes this particular restaurant interesting is that its menu leans heavily on dishes and styles from southern Thailand and Malaysia. It even includes the Singaporean dish, Hainan chicken, and you can enjoy your curry with either rice or roti.
I’m a sucker for crispy fried soft shell crab ($55). There were plenty of other things to choose from though, all of them quite familiar, spring roll, fish cakes, chicken in pandanus leaves.
But the soft shell crab was a good call. Southern Thai cuisine is not as spicy and is sweeter than the more familiar Thai dishes and while the crab wouldn’t have been a very spicy dish anyway the southern sweetness was quite apparent..
It became even more obvious in the green papaya salad ($35). This was an interpretation of the famously spicy dish som tam. It was not even slightly spicy. The chillies were simply not there. Now I have to confess, I am a great lover of the real Mccoy, and without the chilli it took a few mouthfuls to get used to.
But it was still an interesting dish. It will never replace the spicy version in my affection but not everyone likes chilli and with those people in mind this is a perfectly acceptable adaptation.
The main course was chicken curry baked in pastry ($68). This was a delicious coconuty yellow curry served in a chicken shaped clay pot with a layer of filo pastry on top. I’d thought about ordering some roti but along with the chunks of chicken there were chunks of potato. Combined with the pastry itself, it was quite filling enough.
Dessert was the only disappointment. I’d ordered the baked apple roll with ice cream and pandanas sauce ($28) and while the ice cream and pandanus sauce were fine the apple roll itself was rather tired and uninspiring and completely lacking in flavour.
But even without the dessert this restaurant is good value for money and a great Thai option for those that don’t like it so hot.
Posted: May 4th, 2007 under Reviews, Sheung Wan, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Reviews, Sheung Wan, southeast asian, T, thai
Comments: none
Baba Laksa Review
Tripping out of Tin Hau station on the way to the lunar new year flower market, I suddenly noticed it was lunchtime. A quick turn left along Hing Fat Street and I nipped into Baba Laksa, which of course, I’d never seen before.
It would seem to be at a disadvantage along such a busy one-way, no-stopping road, but at 1.30pm, the place was almost full. A high ceiling, clean white walls and simple dark furniture set the tone. I managed to grab a table near the door just as the previous people were leaving.
The small menu features curry laksas, mees, some extra spicy ‘pepper mees’, Hainan chicken ($45), and a few snacks such as satay sticks ($22), or belacan chicken wings. The main dishes range from $35 to $55. At lunchtime this will include a drink with your order. There are some sets for $26 which were a mystery to me as that menu was in Chinese only. Oh, well..
I wouldn’t call myself a Laksa connoiseur, but it arrived looking perfect to me – thick soup with hints of chilli, creamy texture, stuffed full of noodles and goodies. I set to (though I was a bit dubious about the look of the large prawn – so dubious, in fact, that I left that aside).
The coconut curry soup was gently spicy, and I think purists would say not spicy enough. I appreciated it, however, as I’m not into getting my tongue burnt off. There were lots of bean sprouts, and real pork (hmm – is that authentic laksa? Not really, but who cares?).
The dish was a fairly big one – definitely enough to satifsy a hungry shopper. The peach tea was, as expected, yummy. Very sweet though – it gave me enough of a sugar rush to spend nearly 2 hours fighting the crowds and haggling in the market, before calling it a day.
If you find yourself in the Tin Hau area, I would recommend this place as a good fill-up joint. The prices are reasonable, the surroundings no-frills, but clean and spacious, and the food, though not authentic Malay or Singaporean laksa, is tasty. You can’t ask for much more than that.
Posted: February 6th, 2007 under Off the Map, Reviews, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, malaysian, Off the Map, Reviews, southeast asian
Comments: none
Chuk Yuen Vietnamese Restaurant Review
Chuk Yuen has been on Gage Street for ages but I’d never been in before. I’d always quietly hoped it was going to be one of those little, great-value-terrific-food, gems that one finds from time to time.
I went along the other evening with a heart full of hope but alas, it was not to be. It was not a bad restaurant by any means just rather ordinary and, at that price point, one really shouldn’t complain.
The decor is predominantly bamboo and rattan with green paint. The tables are a rather dark green and make the restaurant rather gloomy. At least when there are not too many diners to cheer things up.
There were other people there and they appeared to have ordered quite a lot of food so I was heartened. All the usual suspects were on the menu, spring rolls, prawns on sugarcane skewers, noodles. I ordered pork and shrimp rolls ($24).
These are the typically Vietnamese dry white noodle variety. They were quite big, being generously stuffed with prawn, pork, noodles and bean sprouts.
To go with them I ordered a beef curry in a clay pot with French bread ($60). This was piping hot when it arrived and I had to wait a few minutes for it to cool before I could eat it. The curry, like the rolls, was a really generous serving and the sauce was really quite tasty. The beef however, was rather more fatty than I like.
There are, of course, plenty of people who would say that this was a good thing and that the fat is what makes it taste so good. I wouldn’t argue with that but I would have liked to see a little more lean meat because what there was also tasted good.
For dessert I had red beans with coconut milk ($5).
It would be wrong to criticise a restaurant for being too low cost. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but the Chuk Yuen has been around for quite a few years. That must mean that enough people do appreciate its style, and as far as they are concerned, that is what counts.
Posted: September 29th, 2006 under Central, Noho, Reviews, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Central, Noho, Reviews, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
Good Luck Thai Review
There are a number of restaurants around town that over the years have become so familiar that I tend to forget about them. Or at least forget to talk about them. Good Luck Thai is one in particular. I’ve lost count of the number of times I have eaten here, whether it be lunch or after an evening in the Fong, it’s a restaurant that rarely disappoints.
They must be doing something right or I wouldn’t keep going back, so I decided it is time to put something into words.
The restaurant is in Wing Wah Lane which, for those that are unfamiliar with the area, is a sort of appendix to Lan Kwai Fong. It’s a rowdy little alleyway, packed with interesting eateries. At the entrance to the lane jovial touts try to encourage you to dine at their place. Good Luck Thai is on the left just around the corner
Like the alleyway itself it is often rowdy, particularly at night time. I decided to go along early to beat the crowds but even at 6.30 there were a number of people already there. There is seating inside and out, I took a table just on the inside, ordered a beer and settled down.
The decor is basic and functional and a brief glance at the menu tells you that the emphasis here is on value for money. Yum Talay ($75) is one of the more expensive items on the menu. I decided it would make a nice starter.
Yum Talay is a spicy seafood salad dressed in fresh lime juice. The menu does offer other, more familiar, starters such as fish or prawn cakes and spring rolls and if you are in a group then a selection of these would be a good choice. The yum talay would be considered a main dish but one that I guessed, incorrectly, would be quite light.
The seafood consisted mostly of squid, prawns and mussels. It was a generous serving and came garnished with a full compliment of chilies. If you prefer a milder version be sure to let your waitress know when you order.
There is a Malaysian restaurant just across the alleyway that is owned by the same company and because of it’s proximity Good luck Thai is able to offer the option of Indian bread with your curry. Being a great lover of nan bread I ordered two ($20 each) to go with a green pork curry ($48).
I’ve had the green curries here before, they are particularly rich and creamy and come in portions that could easily be shared amongst a group of four. The pork was lean and tender and the nan and the curry sauce seemed almost as if they were made for each other.
During the course of the meal the evening staff started their shift but although the number of customers had grown it was still early and they filled in the time chattering and catching up on the days gossip. The waitress was still chattering away when she came to collect my plates and, forgetting to switch back to english, asked me in Thai if I enjoyed my meal. I replied in Thai (it is one of the few things I can say) which earned me a big smile.
I ordered Tak Goh ($20) for dessert. These are little cakes of sago and corn topped with a thick layer of coconut cream and wrapped in banana leaf trays.
As I left more and more people were flowing into the lane looking for good and inexpensive places to eat. It wouldn’t be long before Good Luck Thai and all the other restaurants would be doing brisk business. I wandered off into the Fong in search of another beer.
Posted: June 2nd, 2006 under Lan Kwai Fong, Reviews, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Lan Kwai Fong, Reviews, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Sabah Review
One of the great things about Malaysian restaurants is that invariably they offer a fabulous blend of styles. Curries, for example, can be found in Indian and Thai styles as well as Malay. On top of this they are almost always great value for money.
I stopped into the Wanchai branch of Sabah the other evening (The other is in Kennedy Town). It was still early but it was already quite busy. Had I arrived half an hour later I probably wouldn’t have got a table.
The restaurant is simple but functional. There are some kites decorating the walls and some tribal carvings, a nod to the province from where the restaurant takes its name. Mercifully there were no tourist office posters of Mount Kinabalu, not because I dislike the mountain but because they always serve to remind me that I haven’t yet climbed it. I must get my act together one day.
In the meantime I focused my attention on the varied menu. The choices included samosas, satays and shrimp cakes. I decided on the deep fried bean curd ($45). This was stuffed with cucumber and bean sprouts and served with Thai style sweet chili sauce and Malay spicy peanut sauce.
They were pleasing and not too filling, which was a good thing because I went way overboard on the main course. In my defense I will say I didn’t realise just how much I was ordering. I had already decided to forego rice and have two main dishes instead. But then I said to the waitress right at the end of the order “… and could I also have a chapati please ($18), no make that two.” She looked at me in wonderment.
The chapatis were the first to arrive. They were quite a bit bigger than I was expecting and came with a delicious curry sauce dip. Fortunately the next dish came soon after, otherwise I might have ruined my appetite before I’d even got started.
However, grilled fish with in banana leaf ($98) arrived in the nick of time and I was able to turn my attention to that for a while. The fish had been grilled with shrimp paste, something that I always feel should be used with great care because of its potential to overpower all other flavours. This fish was good and though the the shrimp was trying very hard to assert itself it didn’t overwhelm.
The next dish to arrive was king prawn in butter and fried egg white ($160). This dish was huge – I would recommend sharing. The prawns themselves were monsters and there were five or six of them. I’m afraid I lost count but they were all wonderfully fresh and firm. The fried egg white in which they are tossed is very rich so by the time I’d worked my way through all of them I was feeling very full indeed. I decided I’d better rest awhile before attempting dessert.
“Don’t forget your chapatis” quipped the waitress with a cheeky grin. She was right, I hadn’t even finished the first one. Ordering two had been totally reckless. I looked at it for a while and tried a nibble but I knew it would be either the chapatis or dessert.
The dessert won the day. From the beginning of the meal I’d had my heart sent on the Malaysian bubur char char ($25). I had no idea what it could be but it had a charming name. I gave my order and the waitress hurried off to the kitchen in disbelief.
The sweet itself was warm coconut milk with taro and sweet potato and was pleasant enough though not as mysterious and exotic as the name. But then If I’d thought about it I might have remembered that ‘bubur’ is Malay for porridge.
Posted: February 4th, 2006 under Reviews, southeast asian, Wanchai.
Tags: Area, malaysian, Reviews, S, southeast asian, Wanchai
Comments: none
Sukhothai Review
I’d just come back from a wonderful break in the land of smiles and was yearning to extend it for just one more dinner time so I wandered along to Sukho Thai in the Sun Hung Kai Centre. This is the newer of the two branches, the other one being in Stanley.
I was the first customer of the evening and, for a short while, had the waitresses all to myself. I ordered a glass of draught Carlsberg ($48) and munched on crackers dipped in either chillies in a sweet honey sauce or chillies in fish soy sauce while I contemplated the menu.
The ancient city of Sukhothai, a UNESCO world heritage site in the north of Thailand, was the first capital of the Kingdom and is regarded as the cradle of Thai civilisation. The name means “dawn of happiness” and during its 200 year reign the arts flourished, the Thai alphabet was born and its influence stretched across parts of Burma, Laos, Cambodia and far south into the Malay peninsula.
I ordered the crispy, soft shelled crab with green mango salad ($65) for starter. The salad is related to the popular som-tam (green papaya salad which is also on the menu) though it is not as spicy. This was fresh, sharp and tangy. A little spicy but not too much. I felt the urge to ask for sticky rice to go with it but the meal had only just begun and there was a lot more to eat yet.
For main course I ordered a Phanaeng style curry with roast duck and garnished with cherry tomatoes and grapes ($62). This is a rich, thick curry from the south made with peanuts and coconut creme. Consequently it leans towards the sweet rather than spicy.
To go with it I ordered steamed tofu stuffed with spinach ($52). Both of these dishes were large and would be more than suitable for sharing.
The tofu was served in a herbed lime sauce and while it was quite delicious I could have perhaps chosen a better option, say fried vegetables with salted fish, to follow the mango salad.
For dessert I opted for the lemon grass panna cotta with marinated plums and berries ($68), and rounded off with coffee.
It was an enjoyable meal in pleasant surroundings but stepping out on to Gloucester Road I could feel the onset of winter in the air and had to accept that my vacation was over.
Posted: December 4th, 2005 under Reviews, southeast asian, Wanchai.
Tags: Area, Reviews, S, southeast asian, thai, Wanchai
Comments: none
Blues By The Bay Review
I’m afraid Tsim Sha Tsui’s Avenue of Stars isn’t what I would have chosen for a promanade but, judging by the number of people out enjoying themselves, I’m rather a small minority.
Since it is facing Hong Kong’s impressive skyline I can forgive it once in a while and still enjoy a stroll, especially around twilight, that marvelous time between light and dark, on a balmy summer evening.
There were a lot of people out, though surprisingly few of them tourists. A couple of brave joggers were weaving their way between the children comparing their paw prints to those of Jackie Chan, and everyone else who seemed to be having their photograph taken against something or other.
For me the skyline, the lights and the boats chugging by were entertainment enough … well almost. Towards the end of the promenade, down by the New World Centre, I could see some tables. Suddenly I had a mission.
Perhaps a little bit too far round to be perfect but the al fresco tables do still afford quite spectacular views, especially if you sit looking back towards Wanchai. The bay that the restaurant names itself after is presumably Causway Bay which is just about opposite. And the blues, in fact jazz standards being sung by Rod Stewart which, in my opinion, have all been done better by other people. But I’d probably be in a minority on that as well.
The menu has quite a wide range of choices, though it does have a slight Thai bias – red curries and beef salads rub shoulders with items such as escargot and lobster thermidor. I ordered a Pomelo Seafood Salad ($88) and a glass of Chardonnay to get proceedings under way.
It was a generous serving of pomelo, in a spicy peanut dressing. It tasted good but there were only a few scallops and prawns representing the seafood, which was a little disappointing.
For the main course I ordered Pan-fried Cod with asparagas ($138). Although the cod was not as generous a portion as one could have hoped for, the Thai style sweet and spicy sauce that went over it certainly was – there was too much and it overwhelmed the delicate flavour of the fish which, once the sauce had been removed, was really quite nice. The asparagus was fresh and crisp.
For dessert I ordered Fried bananas with three scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream ($58) and rounded off with a coffee.
The dessert was good but I couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed with the rest of the meal. I sat for quite a while watching families walking by, watching customers come and go. It’s quite a popular restaurant and it’s a really nice location. I’ll certainly come again but next time maybe just for drinks.
Posted: July 16th, 2005 under International, Reviews, southeast asian, Tsimshatsui.
Tags: Area, International, Reviews, southeast asian, Tsimshatsui
Comments: none
Spice Market review
Harbour City is a peculiar kind of shopping mall, it’s more like a shopping warren. I’m sure it would be possible to wander around in circles for hours and not realise it. I don’t normally go in there unless I can help it, but each time I do it starts off looking familiar but then I realise how horribly wrong I am. It’s like the shops ARE all the same but they have shuffled themselves around and are now in different places.
I’d set out in search of the Spice Market which was at the Marco Polo Prince, I’m not sure what folly possessed me and led me into the mall, perhaps it was the heat and humidity or a subconscious lust for adventure. Suffice to say that I could have just legged it up Canton Road and been there in a trice.
Instead I wandered around for what seemed like ages on the wrong floor. I eventually came to a clearing on the far side of which was a glass staircase. I climbed the staircase and there at the top was a bustling Spice Market.
The restaurant offers an all you can eat buffet dinner for just $295. I didn’t have a reservation and was lucky to get a table. The buffet dinner, I learned, is very popular. I shown to a table adjacent two ladies who, it appeared, had already been there a while. They had buffet dining down to a fine art, take only small portions and don’t rush, it isn’t a race. I decided to follow their example.
The restaurant is a long curving room, the food is laid out along one wall with the tables set apart on a slightly raised wooden platform. With a name like The Spice Market one could be forgiven for thinking that this is primarily South and Southeast Asian cuisine and while they are well represented the restaurant aims to provide something for the whole family.
I decided to start with some cold cuts. Not too much, I told myself, some chicken slices, smoked salmon mmm maybe just one more piece of that salmon and ooh they’ve got Thai beef salad here. Well by the time I’d taken not too much of lots of different things I had quite a full plate. I’ll have a little more discipline next time around I told myself.
I decided I might just as well work my way along the line which meant my next course would be sushi. There were also oysters that were attracting a lot of attention. I’m not a huge fan so I decided to pass them by in favour of the sushi.
I did notice that the desserts were on a sort of detour behind the sushi counter. Two children were having a whale of a time manufacturing waffles, one ladling the other pressing, and then taking it in turns to deliver the finished waffle to what I could only assume was a fairly large family group somewhere out of sight.
I continued my journey. Roast beef and steamed vegetables didn’t seem very Asian but I didn’t really mind, there was still teppanyaki, hotpot, satays and barbecue. An intriguing item on the barbecue counter was something called slipper lobsters. These look like lobsters but are the size of a prawn and have a really tough shell. The flesh, when I finally got it, out was really quite tasty but there wasn’t as much of it as I would have hoped for.
My last forage along the main section took me to the Indian counter. This was getting much less attention from the throng as were the other options but for me tandoori fish and beef curry along with nan bread and poppadoms proved to be a perfect way to round off.
There was of course dessert, chocolate mousse, caramel creme, ice creme, tiramisu … all our favourites. I shan’t embarrass myself by telling you what I had but I would like to stress that I only had a small spoonful of each.
Spice market is good for a family event or a good crowd from the office, not fine dining, I like to call it fun dining. The food was good, plentiful and varied. I like that in a buffet. With beers the bill came to $330, which I thought was jolly reasonable.
Posted: June 4th, 2005 under Reviews, southeast asian, Tsimshatsui.
Tags: Area, Reviews, S, southeast asian, Tsimshatsui
Comments: none
Green Review
Green is a funky little Thai restaurant in the Sanlitum Causeway Centre. That’s on the walkway opposite the Sun Hung Kai Centre in Wanchai. There is an abundance of foliage outside underlining the restaurants name, and if that doesn’t get the message across, the green neon glow radiating from the bar most certainly will.
The owners have managed to achieve quite a lot with the space available. A lounge area, basks in the green neon beside the bar and is separated from the main dining area by another two trees. The furnishings are simple but stylish. The overall effect is very modern but also very Asian.
There are no major surprises on the menu and all the classic Thai favourites are there – Tom Yam Gung, those delicious fish-cakes and the spicy sour salads – and they are done well. The menu also offers the infamous som tam (green papaya salad) but it’s only for those that like it hot.
They have an impressive range of set dinner options (and lunch for that matter) but in the end we decided to go a la carte. I never really think in terms of appetisers or main courses when eating Thai, usually I just order a range of dishes and see which comes first. But before we could do that we had to first make a short list and then whittle it down.
The frogs legs with lemon grass ($68) and the seafood pomelo salad ($85) were both very tempting but alas they had to be postponed for another time. What we couldn’t possibly go without though was the soft-shelled crab with chilli and basil ($88). To go with it we also ordered the Thai style charcoal grilled pork neck ($68) and a classic green chicken curry ($88).
The crab was the first to arrive. It has a delicate flavour and is best while it is still crisp and hot so we dug in with gusto. My guest thought it was just about the right level of spiciness but I added just a little extra chilli. We were soon distracted by the arrival of the pork.
The slices of pork come with their own, deliciously spicy, dipping sauce. The meat itself isn’t spicy, just dip as much or as little as you want.
Lastly came the green chicken curry. For me this is as quintessentially Thai as tom yam gung. Sometimes I think that all Thai children are taught to make this dish at school. I’ve eaten it so many times and in so many different circumstances from home cooking in rural Thailand to the swankiest restaurants but I’ve rarely had a bad one. This, I’m happy to say, conformed to the trend – lean tasty chicken, crisp eggplant and the almost intoxicating fragrance of hora pa, or Thai basil.
The restaurant was starting to fill up now, but we had just enough room to share a dessert. Mango sushi is a slightly different take with the mango and sticky rice combination. The black and the white sticky rice are rolled together with the black on the inside and then sliced sushi style the mango is then layered on top and coconut cream and a sprinkle of peanuts added. An elegant finish to a delicious meal.
Posted: April 15th, 2005 under Reviews, southeast asian, Wanchai.
Tags: Area, Reviews, southeast asian, thai, Wanchai
Comments: none
Chilli n Spice (Causeway Bay)
G/F Miami mansion
13-15 Cleveland Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2504 3930
Fax 2511 0326
Posted: August 1st, 2004 under southeast asian.
Tags: Area, C, Causeway Bay, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Cafe Siam Review
I’ve known about Cafe Siam for years, I used to go past it at least once a day as I rode up the Central to mid-levels escalator. I have worked in three different offices that were all within a five minute walk of the restaurant. I even walked around for at least a week with a miniature take-away menu in my pocket. But it wasn’t until the other day that I finally got myself through the doors and up to a table.
Whenever I enter a Thai restaurant the cooking smells always trigger a Pavlovian instinct to order all my favourite Thai dishes and it takes a great force of will to look elsewhere on the menu. My favourite dishes, of course, are all classic dishes that can be found on all good Thai menus. That little pocket menu helped immensely, because it meant that even before I arrived at the restaurant I already had a shortlist of not so common dishes I wanted to try.
The starters I’d narrowed down to two; Koh Moo Yang, or char-grilled marinated pork served with a tamarind, toasted rice and shallot dip ($65) was very tempting but was pipped at the post by the Gai Manow, chicken and water chesnut roll ($68). These are cut into bite-sized pieces and served on a bed of crispy fried basil with a dab of mayonnaise and a sliver of lime.
One of the great things about Thai cuisine is that it happily borrows from its neighbours and the flavours will change according to which border you are near. The larbs and the ever popular green papaya salad, som-tam, originate in Laos, the mild yellow curries come from the south.
The next dish was Khao Soy ($65), a Burmese style chicken curry served with soft and crispy noodles. This was also a mild curry but not as sweet as the southern style curries. It is served with a hot and sour northern style chilli paste.
The main course was completed with Deep Fried Garoupa in a very spicy chilli sauce ($158).
The dessert menu is made up of tried and trusted favourites such as mango with sticky rice, banana fritters and fresh fruit. Cafe Siam make their own brand of herb tea and at $28 a pot is well worth a try. In fact it is so popular that they even sell it in packets to take home.
Posted: May 11th, 2004 under Central, Reviews, Soho, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Central, Reviews, Soho, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Pho Lemon
G/F 25 Elgin Street
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2523 8272
Fax 2523 8966
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Soho, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, P, Soho, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
Soho Spice
G/F 47 Elgin Street
Soho
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2521 1600
Fax 2521 2600
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Soho, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, S, Soho, southeast asian, thai, vietnamese
Comments: none
Bon Apetit
4B Wing Wah Lane
Lan Kwai Fong
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2840 0639
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Lan Kwai Fong, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, B, Lan Kwai Fong, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
Good Luck Thai
G/F 13 Wing Wah Lane
Lan Kwai Fong
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2877 2971
Fax 2511 1723
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Lan Kwai Fong, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, G, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
King and I
L4-1&2, Level 4 Millenium City 5
418 Kwun Tong Road
Kowloon
Tel 3580 1660
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, K, Off the Map, southeast asian
Comments: none
Rice Paper
P413-418 Podium 4, World Trade Centre
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2890 3975
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Causeway Bay, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Causeway Bay, R, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
Chilli n Spice (Western)
Shop 117, Podium Level 1
The Westwood
8 Belcher’s Street
Hong Kong
Tel 2542 7777
Fax 2542 7721
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, C, International, Off the Map, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Café Nirvana
G/F 65, Wing Lok Street
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong
Tel 2545 2588
Fax 2545 2162
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Sheung Wan, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, C, International, Sheung Wan, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Myanmar Thai Palace
G/F Comfort Centre
108 Old Main Street
Aberdeen
Hong Kong
Tel 2870 2080
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: aberdeen, Area, M, Off the Map, southeast asian
Comments: none
Qing
3 Mee Lun Street
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2815 6739
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under International, Noho, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, International, Noho, Q, southeast asian
Comments: none
Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine
Shop C/D 6/F Lee Theatre Plaza
99 Percival Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2890 1993
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Causeway Bay, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Causeway Bay, S, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Walls
1/F 1 Hillwood Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2377 0989
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under southeast asian, Tsimshatsui.
Tags: Area, southeast asian, thai, Tsimshatsui, W
Comments: none
Chilli n Spice (Tuen Mun)
DD124 Lot 2289 Hung Shui Kui
Tuen Mun
New Territories
Tel 2473 0168
Fax 2473 0893
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, C, Off the Map, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Chuk Yuen Vietnamese Restaurant
939 King’s Road
Quarry Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2561 5151
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, C, Off the Map, quarry bay, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
Lanna Thai
11/F Food Forum
Times Square
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2506 3303
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Causeway Bay, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Causeway Bay, L, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Lotus Thai Restaurant
C-D Beverly House
93-107 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2866 0228
Fax 2865 5073
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under southeast asian, Wanchai.
Tags: Area, L, southeast asian, thai, Wanchai
Comments: none
Rice Paper
Shop 3319, 3/F Gateway Arcade
Harbour City
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 3151 7801
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under southeast asian, Tsimshatsui.
Tags: Area, R, southeast asian, Tsimshatsui, vietnamese
Comments: none
Thai Paradise
1/F Jade Centre
98 Wellington Street
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2815 5926
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Lan Kwai Fong, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Central, Lan Kwai Fong, southeast asian, T, thai
Comments: none
Perfume River
89 Percival Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2576 2240
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Causeway Bay, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Causeway Bay, P, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
Thai Pepper
G/F Yen Kung Mansion
401 Tai Mou Avenue
Tai Koo Shing
Hong Kong
Tel 2886 4133
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Off the Map, southeast asian, T, taikoo, thai
Comments: none
Taste Good Thai
1/F 16 Wing Wah Lane
Lan Kwai Fong
Hong Kong
Tel 2523 9543
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Lan Kwai Fong, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Lan Kwai Fong, southeast asian, T, thai
Comments: none
Thai Shin
?? Tang Lung Street Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Causeway Bay, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, southeast asian, T, thai
Comments: none
Tin Hau Laksa
Shop L, G/F 81 Electric Road
Tin Hau
Hong Kong
Tel 3806 2683
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, malaysian, southeast asian, T
Comments: none
Mekong
Kimberley Plaza
Knutsford Terrace
Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon
Tel 2316 2288
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Knutsford Terrace, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Knutsford, M, southeast asian, thai, vietnamese
Comments: none
Satay Inn
Upper G/F Sino Plaza
255-257 Gloucester Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2833 6188
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Causeway Bay, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Causeway Bay, S, southeast asian
Comments: none
Wong Chun Chun Thai Restaurant
G/F 442 Prince Edward Road
Kowloon City
Kowloon
Tel 2716 0099
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, kowloon city, Off the Map, southeast asian, thai, W
Comments: none
Chuk Yuen Vietnamese Restaurant
Gage Street
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Central, Noho, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, C, Noho, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
Prawn Noodle Shop
Shop 201, 2/F Grand Millenium Plaza
181 Queen’s Road
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong
Tel 3184 0505
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Sheung Wan, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, malaysian, P, Sheung Wan, southeast asian
Comments: none
Spice Market
Marco Polo Prince Hotel
Harbour City
Canton Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon
Tel 2113 6046
Fax 2113 0055
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under southeast asian, Tsimshatsui.
Tags: Area, S, southeast asian, Tsimshatsui
Comments: none
Ayuthaiya
Shop G23, Festival Walk
Kowloon Tong
Kowloon
Tel 3105 5055
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: A, Area, festival walk, Off the Map, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Mai
6 Knutsford Steps
2/F Miramar Shopping Centre
132 Nathan Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2730 1300
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Knutsford Terrace, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Knutsford, M, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Sabah
98-102 Jaffe Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2143 6626
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under southeast asian, Wanchai.
Tags: Area, malaysian, S, southeast asian, Wanchai
Comments: none
Pasar Laksa
Shop 4A, GF Quality Tower
29-31 Hillwood Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2375 9229
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under southeast asian, Tsimshatsui.
Tags: Area, P, singaporean, southeast asian, Tsimshatsui
Comments: none
Chili Club
1/F 88 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2527 2872
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under southeast asian, Wanchai.
Tags: Area, C, southeast asian, thai, Wanchai
Comments: none
Indochine
2/F California Tower
30-32 D’Aguilar Street
Central
Tel 2869 7399
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Lan Kwai Fong, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, I, Lan Kwai Fong, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: 2
Malay Mama
11A Mercer Street
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong
Tel 2542 4111
Fax 2542 4113
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Sheung Wan, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, M, malaysian, Sheung Wan, southeast asian
Comments: none
Katong
G/F 8 Mercer Street
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong
Tel 2543 4008
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Sheung Wan, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, K, Sheung Wan, singaporean, southeast asian
Comments: none
Pasar
197 Johnson Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 3168 2057
Fax 3168 2058
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under southeast asian, Wanchai.
Tags: Area, P, singaporean, southeast asian, Wanchai
Comments: none
Phukets
1/F 51 Elgin Street
Soho
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2868 9672
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Soho, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, P, Soho, southeast asian, thai
Comments: 1
Restaurant Le Flamboyant
9/10 Knutsford Steps
2/F Miramar Shopping Centre
132 Nathan Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 3168 2000
Fax 3168 2020
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Knutsford Terrace, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Knutsford, R, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
Thai Simple Kitchen
G/F 379-389 Jaffe Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2893 5777
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Causeway Bay, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Causeway Bay, southeast asian, T, thai
Comments: none
Cafe Locomotive
G/F 11 Wun Sha Street
Tai Hang
Hong Kong
Tel 2882 8227
Fax 2882 8260
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, C, Off the Map, southeast asian, tai hang, vietnamese
Comments: none
Indonesian Restaurant
G/F, 28 Leighton Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2577 9981
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Causeway Bay, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Causeway Bay, I, indonesian, southeast asian
Comments: none
Thai Shing
G/F Tang Fai Building
36 Tang Lung Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2834 2500
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Causeway Bay, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Causeway Bay, southeast asian, T, thai
Comments: none
Mini Paris Vietnamese
56-58 Yee Wo Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Causeway Bay, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Causeway Bay, M, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
BAAN
C16 Millenium City 5 APM
418 Kwun Tong Road
Kowloon
Tel 3148 1181
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, B, Off the Map, southeast asian, vietnamese
Comments: none
Tonkin Vietnamese Restaurant
Shop G512-513 Shun On Mansion
Stage 5, Tai Yue Avenue
Taikoo Shing
Hong Kong
Tel 2569 7928
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Off the Map, southeast asian, T, taikoo, vietnamese
Comments: none
CoCo Curry House
G/F 8 Wing Wah Lane
Lan Kwai Fong
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2523 6911
Fax 2523 6911
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Lan Kwai Fong, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, C, Lan Kwai Fong, malaysian, southeast asian
Comments: none
Husk
2/F Elements Mall
Kowloon Station
1 Austin Road West
Kowloon
Tel 2196 8696
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, elements, H, Off the Map, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Sawaddee Thailand
16 Chan Man Street
Sai Kung
New Territories
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Off the Map, S, sai kung, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Shek O Chinese-Thai Seafood Restaurant
303 Shek O Village
Hong Kong
Tel 2809 4426
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under Chinese, Off the Map, southeast asian.
Tags: Area, Chinese, Off the Map, S, shek o, southeast asian, thai
Comments: none
Cinta-J
Shop 4, Malaysia Building
69 Jaffe Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2529 6622/2529 4183
Fax 2527 3200
Posted: January 1st, 2004 under southeast asian, Wanchai.
Tags: Area, C, southeast asian, Wanchai
Comments: 1
