The Setting
Sunday night. Not really feeling like visiting my usual haunts in TST so I decided to visit Tonikaku since I hadn't tried them since their recent renovation.

I'm greeted by a brand new, somewhat ominous (albeit interesting) entrance. The heavy door opens to reveal a warm, inviting dining room, definitely a grade up from the previous design. The louban recognises me and whisks me away into the private "room" at the back of the shop. Inside, I'm disappointed to find that the renovation hasn't had quite the same effect as the main dining area, but I'm here to focus on the food so let's move on...

The FoodI start with some appetisers and pick a few that are interesting; natto with mountain potato, konnyaku with miso and some vegi I don't quite remember (but was good). They were served quickly and hit the spot. The konnyaku wasn't quite as supple as I would have liked but the others made up for the shortcoming.Next we have a perennial favourtie, grilled eggplant with sweet miso. It's not the most difficult dish to prepare and certainly less daring of an order, but I can't deny that there's something quite addictive about combination of the overpowering miso taste fused with the muted fleshy texture of the eggplant.I wasn't really expecting much for this since many restaurants tend to use ready-made (read: frozen) oysters but surprisingly the ones at Tonikaku were either a) freshly made, or b) of higher ready-made quality as to mask its ready-madeness (terrible word so apologies). In any case, well worth the price.On the other hand, I had seriously high expectations for this dish. No restaurant should serve beef liver sashimi without being confident in its quality and flavour. You'd be asking for a whole lot of trouble if anyone were to contract a disease so I didn't expect Tonikaku to take this dish lightly. Fortunately they came through, and the sashimi had a wonderfully subtle and clean (or better put, pure) taste of liver that no cooked liver could ever hope to match. I'll give a smiley face for this one.Only towards the end did Tonikaku fail to impress. The fish cakes were below par (hard to do since they're ready-made) and the fried vegi was very average. Was it an off day? Perhaps, so I wouldn't discount them outright, but these are very basic dishes that should have been of higher quality.

Conclusion
Overall, the meal was above my expectations and the always eccentric owner (he was wearing a Dragon Ball tshirt and sports an afro) entertained in just the right doses so a return visit is definitely warranted. If you're looking for a down-to-earth, authentic Japanese izakaya I would say Tonikaku stands out as somewhat of hidden gem. Give it a try.

The Setting
News had reached me that Starbucks would donate all (as in, every single dollar) proceeds from sales between 3pm~5pm on Friday to Japan via World Vision. How could I, being so close to Japan not do my part and help? I couldn't, and neither could all the folks from my office. So off I went at 3:20.

I expected a line, but nothing like this.I ended up waiting for 40 minutes to get to the counter. It was drizzling and cold outside, yet all these people were lining up, waiting to donate their money for a good cause. It was really a great sight to see.

Once inside, I was once again greeted with a huge crowd, patiently waiting for their drinks.While I was waiting for my nine drinks (always for for their short espresso-based drinks; the flavour's better and stronger) I saw a lot of people making multi-drink orders. Some orders were into the thousands of dollars, which again is a heartwarming thing to see.

This post is less of a food review and more of a supportive shout-out to Starbucks and Maxim/Coffee Concepts for doing the right thing and using their brand to get the community involved.

The only thing they could do better is to start recycling!

The SettingIn another attempt to eat outside of my immediate work vicinity I decided to trek (10 minutes or so) to this apparent institution in Sheung Wan at around noon. It's typical of any lower-end restaurant; cramped, loud, moderately clean and not much service. With expectations set, I ordered the Tomato Pork Chop Rice.

The DishThe dish certainly isn't the best looking meal I've had but we all know judging based on looks is wrong, particularly at this price point (though to be fair, at $42 it's not exactly cheap either). Digging right in, I knew I was in for a treat. The pork chop was quite well flavoured, and not too oily, atypical of pork chops I usually eat. The sauce was oozing with tomato sauce that was naturally sweetened by the tomato as opposed to copious amounts of ketchup and sugar.

The generous portions of tomatoes and pork make this a winner, though at $42 I'm not sure I could necessarily claim this to be the best in class.

Conclusion
Would I go again? I think I will. This is definitely a no-frills establishment, but the history and above average quality and flavour, and the location is quant (back streets of Sheung Wan) so the walk there and back is a nice stroll during a warm, sunny day.

The Setting
Cramped, hole-in-a-wall place, though admittedly cosy and welcoming. I went for lunch, and while I didn't have to wait long to be seated, the food easily took more than 20 minutes to arrive so those in a rush beware.

The Food
Despite being known for their Fish & Chips, I opted for their pie instead. I've always found deep fried fish to be too greasy, not just here but in general. I ordered the Beef and Onion Pie with a side of chips and baked beans.

The pie was surprisingly good. Plenty of flavour, tender beef and buttery crust. Ditto for the chips (with and without vinegar). Those of you expecting crispy chios take heed; these are traditionally made so soft better describes these more accurately. The baked beans were nothing to write home about but the primary items were sufficiently good to lead to a satisfying meal.

The Somewhat Ugly
The primary cooking method is deep-frying, which means the smell of oil hangs thick in the air. You will come out of here smelling like you just manned the grease fryer at a diner. Those of you who have important meetings after lunch may want to consider takeout. The other issue is price. I've always believe the prerequisite for comfort food would be good value, and Chippy teaters on the edge in terms of affordability. I ended up paying $100, which isn't expensive, but is pricey enough that I wouldn't make this place a regular spot.

That said, the food does come across as genuine (a notion supported by my Brit colleagues) so if you want to splurge a little once a week, Chippy should be strongly considered.

The Setting
Quick lunch break in Central. I had exhausted my wonton/congee options in my immediate area so I wanted to try something new. The places on Wyndham are preposterously overrated (and pricey) so I decided to try this joint. The place is fairly typical; cramped, brightly lit and not particularly comfortable. Does it matter? Not really, since you're going for cheap, quick food. So long as it's clean (which it is) I think ambiance takes a backseat.

The Food
Despite how busy the place was, the food arrived relatively quickly. Presentation, like ambiance isn't really a factor for a restaurant like this. More important is if the food is properly cooked and is served piping hot. Check for both.

Next, flavour. The noodles were just about right. The wontons were correctly proportioned (i.e. not so massive you have to eat it in 2~3 parts) and really fresh and tasty. The soup wasn't too oily and had the right amount of flavour without the overpowering MSG so check there as well. The ngau lam was where I was disappointed. It was somewhat tough and lacked the punch one would expect from meat that has been stewing for ages. Maybe it was an off-day so I wouldn't discount it outright, but next to the wonton it really didn't impress.

Conclusion
If you're looking for a quick, tasty and cheap meal this place certainly delivers. I admit I was quite conservative with my first order, but I intend to return and try out there rather extensive menu in the coming weeks.