Showing posts with label central. Show all posts
Showing posts with label central. Show all posts
31 July 2011
I had breakfast here and it's a quiet sanctuary amidst the buzz and rush near the financial heartbeat of Hong Kong. Maybe it's overpriced. But maybe, you are paying more for the harbour view and comfort.
Yay or Nay? Yay
But? it's an upmarket Western cafe and I heard sprouts from the same parent company of Maxim (can anyone confirm this?) so an average Hong Konger thinks it's not worth it.
To try? I was there for breakfast so anything hearty.
Address? Shop 1081, IFC Mall
Nearest MTR? Hong Kong station
27 July 2011
The decor of Azure is nice and bourgeois and the selling point is supposed to be an open balcony that gives you a breathtaking night view of Hong Kong island. Unfortunately, the reality of the matter is people are crowded there smoking and taking photos so it becomes less of a calm view but a quick! snap a picture and scoot! kinda experience. The balcony is quite small too. It was just quite a squeeze outside.
Yay or Nay? Nay
But? Nice decor indoors. Comfortable and cozy too.
To try? Any cocktail I guess.
Address? 29/F Hotel LKF, 33 Wyndham Street, Central
Nearest MTR? Central Exit D2. Go past the Lan Kwai Fong stretch.
23 June 2011
When I see Fukuoka ramen and I'll start drooling. A sucker for thick soup bases, this is one of the better ramens that I've tasted. They have 3 choices - white, black and red. Red means spicy. I cannot remember what white and black means *fail* You also get to choose how firm you want your ramen to be. Their hard boiled eggs are very nicely done with a soft centre. My favourite ramen place didn't even managed that the last time I went! You can choose if you want just half an egg or a whole egg - good for the cholesterol conscious I guess.
Anyway, just try the original and choose the meat from the pig's neck! Those that order others (non-original) do not get this option.
Anyway, just try the original and choose the meat from the pig's neck! Those that order others (non-original) do not get this option.
Yay or Nay? Yay
But? Everyone has his/her own favourite place for ramen. This is not mine though it's quite good!
To try? Original
Address? 33 Wellington Street, Central. Map here.
Nearest MTR? Central D2.
25 April 2011
Apparently Anthony Bourdain recommended this place so it is pretty packed. Locals (usually middle aged to elderly) go there for their usual cup of tea (refilled numerous times), 1 or 2 dishes of dim sum, armed with their daily newspaper and park themselves there for hours. Tourists just flock there because it's highly recommended. I recommend it too, only because there's so much hype about the place. The interior is so authentically Hong Kong and the old people who sit there alone or in pairs, literally just sit there and read. Sharing tables is a norm, as per all HK eating places. But here, they tend to cram pple together and a table can be shared by 3 or more groups.
The place is bustling with life, with grumpy old ladies pushing the dim sum carts around. Most are unfriendly and unhelpful, especially if you cannot speak Cantonese. Some make good recommendations and try to help. Be prepared to deal with those who grumble when you open every single cover to look and decide not to choose any from their carts. Be prepared, also, to deal with patrons who accost the carts once they are pushed out from the kitchen because by the time the old ladies make their way to your side of the restaurant, most favourite dishes would be gone. Just be smart, quick and nice.
If you noticed, I've mentioned "old ladies" repeatedly as the cart-pushers. Well, gender segregation is very obvious here. The old men show you the way to your seat, write the slip with the number of people, refill tea and clear dishes. Basically, anything that requires more strength (they refill your tea with a huge kettle and their aiming is not bad) is the men's job. To each according to his/her abilities.
Another thing that I found interesting about this place is, conversations like this will take place:
Old lady approaching with her cart: XXX, YYY, ZZZ (whatever dishes she has on her cart)
Me (not understanding their heavily accented Cantonese): Do you have AAA?
Old lady: XXX, YYY, ZZZ.
Basically, they don't reply your questions and repeat XXX, YYY, ZZZ like a broken record player. Customer service is actually quite rare in HK.
Okay, done with my very lengthy introduction. I did say it's an interesting place.
The place is bustling with life, with grumpy old ladies pushing the dim sum carts around. Most are unfriendly and unhelpful, especially if you cannot speak Cantonese. Some make good recommendations and try to help. Be prepared to deal with those who grumble when you open every single cover to look and decide not to choose any from their carts. Be prepared, also, to deal with patrons who accost the carts once they are pushed out from the kitchen because by the time the old ladies make their way to your side of the restaurant, most favourite dishes would be gone. Just be smart, quick and nice.
If you noticed, I've mentioned "old ladies" repeatedly as the cart-pushers. Well, gender segregation is very obvious here. The old men show you the way to your seat, write the slip with the number of people, refill tea and clear dishes. Basically, anything that requires more strength (they refill your tea with a huge kettle and their aiming is not bad) is the men's job. To each according to his/her abilities.
Another thing that I found interesting about this place is, conversations like this will take place:
Old lady approaching with her cart: XXX, YYY, ZZZ (whatever dishes she has on her cart)
Me (not understanding their heavily accented Cantonese): Do you have AAA?
Old lady: XXX, YYY, ZZZ.
Basically, they don't reply your questions and repeat XXX, YYY, ZZZ like a broken record player. Customer service is actually quite rare in HK.
Okay, done with my very lengthy introduction. I did say it's an interesting place.
Yay or Nay? Yay.
But? I think the standard of the dim sum is so-so only.
To try? Chicken glutinous rice. The 糯米雞 never goes wrong in HK.
Address? G/F, 160-164 Wellington Street, Central
Nearest MTR? Sheung Wan Exit E2. Cross Wing Lok Street and walk through some kinda piazza looking thing. Walk towards the right until you see a Fitness First. Cross the road somewhere in front to a little concrete islet in the middle of the road. You should be at the intersection of many, many roads. Cross the road on your left to get to the correct side and you should be at the start of Wellington Street. Do not end up on the wrong side! Just keep walking down Wellington Street until you see the green 蓮香 signboard hanging overhead on the right. Yes, it's not that straightforward to find this place.
Think this is my wordiest entry to date.
Think this is my wordiest entry to date.
13 April 2011
Nobody comes to HK without a visit to Tai Cheong. Their egg tarts are FAMOUS. Something related to the 1997 handover. Some British bigshot paid this place a visit and it has since shot to fame and rightly deserved so, I should add! I've tried their wives biscuit and eggrolls as well. Both lose to Hang Heung IMO. Tai Cheong should remain synonymous with egg tarts and that's about it.
Yay or Nay? Yay.
But? Some people prefer the Portuguese kind.
To try? Egg tarts. That's all.
Address? 35 Lyndhurst Terrace (They have other branches)
Nearest MTR? Central either D2 and walk a long way or B and take the mid levels escalator
12 April 2011
Fancy seeing the "2 stools at the shopfront that have been there since 1952"? Well, another touristy place, another disappointment. This cha caan teng is so... blah. Going for historical reasons is so not a good reason.
Yay or Nay? Nay
But? Go if you are keen to see the legendary 2 stools.
To Try? I didn't have anything good there worth recommending.
Address? G/F, 2 Gage Street, Central, Hong Kong
Nearest MTR? Central Exit B and take the midlevels escalator.
08 April 2011
People rave about this restaurant. I've been there twice and it's always packed. But seriously, I'm not too crazy about this place. The goose is supposed to be great but it's too tough for me. It's over-rated and I cannot understand why it is so crowded and popular.
Yay or Nay? Nay
But? People still flock there.
To try? Roast goose, I guess.
Address? 32-40 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong
Nearest MTR? Central D2 Exit
The brevity of this post shows how unenthused I am about this place. Totally underwhelmed.
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