ngc21's Profile

Despite the restaurant claiming to be one of the most well-acclaimed provincial cuisine restaurants that serve authentic Peking cuisine, I can't help but feel that the food served was decent at best. However, their service is worth mentioning as uniquely good (especially in Hong Kong). Although this place is often hard to eat at during busy dinner times, they still provide good service and nice staff that help divide the dishes well. They are also quite patient with elders too, which thankfully gave me some comfort as my grandparents frantically fought over a bill for no apparent reason.Along with the active, passionate, and heated dinning environment, the seats were comfortable, and it is usually a great place to bring professional colleagues, old friends, or dearest family members along. Me and my dad specifically came to take advantage of the 40% off for AE credit cards, and the amount of food that we got a la carte was not necessarily bad, but not outstandingly good either. Somehow I distinctly remember the quality of the food being wayyy better back in the day (around 5-6 years ago): the Peking duck used to be juicier, more tender and crispier; the char siu dumplings were less artificially sweet and more packed with larger portions of meat; the vegetables were less oily, fresh, and rich in flavor. But overall, still a decent location for celebratory events, or to invite friends and family to try out Peking duck if they haven't yet (for some reason).…Read More

Tucked away in a dark, gloomy, and shady alley in Wan Chai, this ramen place is probably one of the most underrated restaurants I have ever stumbled upon so far in Hong Kong. Despite its tight and cramped dinning space, me and my friend were warmly welcomed and were amazing by the unexpectedly diverse range of foods offered. Not only do they have ramen, but they also offer a bunch of izakaya, yakitori, and deep fried snacks as well. We ordered the set for 2, and got 2 main courses, 4 yakitori options, 4 fried oysters, and 2 drinks, WHICH IS QUITE GOOD. All the foods that were delivered tasted amazing. My only nit-pick would be preferring the broth to be thicker, richer, and more seasoned; maybe provide some sesame on the side as well (like other ramen establishments).The staff was also attentive: consistently responding to our requests/questions, taking away finished plates, and refilling our waters frequently. Compared to other locations, I also didn't have the extra pressure to finish my food quickly, which allowed me to relax and take in the dinning experience a lot more enthusiastically. I was particularly blown away by the interior decor: The many retro/vintage japanese newspapers, the eye-catching menu options, and the anime posters added a spectacular complement to the overall atmosphere. Will definitely bring a friend here to eat again, and maybe enjoy a beer or two as well!…Read More

Despite the insane amount of people waiting outside during a late thursday night, I was shocked that somehow my table of 5 was able to get a spot only after 6 minutes. And as we were seated, we hastily ordered, and the desserts arrived just a quickly.My personal favs were the sesame soup and the steamed egg white with almond tea, as they were both rich in their respective flavors and not overwhelmingly sweet in the slightest. I was told by my other friends that their mango desserts were only alright though, as the mangoes still looked quite frozen and harder to chew, so perhaps their desserts could've tasted better if the mangoes were prepared fresh and not ice hard.In conclusion, quite a nice establishment that opens late into the night (which is exceedingly becoming more rare in Hong Kong). I will for sure revisit this spot if I'm walking around the Mong Kok area late at night and particularly craving for a nice asian soup dessert. For those who are waiting for entry, just know that spots get freed up quite quickly, so the wait to dine in is 100% worth it. You could also just take out as well if you wanna bring your meal somewhere else.…Read More

Decided to stop by here before heading into work, and I think I will be visiting this place a lot more often for morning or afternoon coffee. Its clear that they expect for customers to stay longer than the average visitor; With the toilet being right next to the store, this place makes a good location for people like me to camp and work efficiently while taking a break or stopping for a quick meeting. I even did an interview once here too!Though it is usually more ideal to come here during the morning, you can also expect a heated packed atmosphere in the afternoon, which could serve as a nice change of pace and background noise as you grind on some work. I personally sat here around 3hrs and enjoyed the drinks, wifi, and electric ports to charge my computer. This time, I got several hojicha lattes, and its clear they put careful thought and passion into making each drink. Would for sure come here more often, maybe once a week even haha.…Read More

Always walked past this place on my way to work, so I finally decided to give it a go. And to my luck I just happened to stumble into this place during a lunch rush haha. Though I was able to find a seat quickly since I was dinning alone, the place was obviously cramped and I couldn't really shift left or right without accidentally nudging the people next to me. The order was just as speedy, as not even after 10 seconds a waitress came to my side and was already impatiently waiting for me to order. Since I didn't want to ruin the flow of the business, I just simply ordered a classic char siu with rice and hoped for the best, along with a side of veggies too. And just as quickly, the food arrived.The food was quite satiating, but I wish the char siu could have been fattier. Though I was able to chow down fast, I couldn't help but think of fairwood/cafeteria quality while eating the pork, due to how thin and firm they were. At the same time, I couldn't help but notice that my "extra" side of veggies was only met with one piece of choi sum? Was that it? Did I pay $15 for just 1 piece of choi sum??Oh never mind, seems like they didn't forget and only gave me my extra veggies 10 minutes after I was already done with the main meal LOL.All in all, not a bad place to get a quick bite and zoom back to work, but I would definitely recommend checking out other cheaper/better options around this area before ending up at this one.  Since quality of food here seems to differ from time to time (according to other reviews), you won't be expecting me to consistently come here any time soon.…Read More

As an branch extension from the Japanese chain from Osaka, Sushiro in Hong Kong is generally quite well-regarded for good value, decent quality, and speedy eating times. You will often find any Sushiro (especially this one in Mong Kok) jam packed with people during lunch and dinner rush hours. Despite the long wait times, I find the tablet ordering system and the conveyor belt delivery most efficient, which really deserves a lot of praise as they try to accommodate as many customers as possible. Even when you consider some pricer options for sushi in the nearby area, Sushiro is already too iconic, budget friendly, and successful to simply ignore for a quick evening meal. Overall, besides the long queue times and the dinning time limit, you can easily find solid, modest, and appealing food anytime at this establishment. And that of course goes for all branches of Sushiro in Hong Kong.…Read More

Though it took quite a journey to get to this location (after all, it was a Central Police Station in the past), me and my friends had a great time sitting down and chilling while eating some nice snacks. Though the prices of egg waffles here were more expensive than the average price you would get outside, the unique flavors that they offer (such as hojicha) make up for it. At the same time, there was also a nice view of the city and other surrounding cultural buildings you could look at while enjoying a nice quiet meal. And as a side bonus, I don't know how they did it but they somehow made cucumbers a really enjoyable snack. Thanks to this establishment, I somehow gained a new interest in eating seasoned cucumbers for a while.Overall, though this place offers a nice view and nice snacks, I would say that you could definitely find somewhere a lot more easier to find. I would only consider coming here again if I ever visit Tai Kwun in the future. Not bad, but not really a must go to be honest.…Read More

Stopped by here after a grueling night of squash, and the quick cheap meals were not too shabby. Though we had a party of 5, 4 dinner sets were able to keep us all full and satisfied. The restaurant had a packed and busy feeling, which didn't made our visit too comfortable; The wooden bench seats didn't help much either, and the weird paintings around the establishment felt - off (to say the least). Other than that, we were seated right next to the kitchen, so we had first hand witness to the not so sightly views of the dirty kitchen behind us. The staff were nice to us at least, but I could tell they were running out of patience once they approached us and realized we haven't fully decided our order yet.As mentioned, the food was quite pleasant actually. We were given a decent serving of appetizers and rice, and all the dishes were very satisfying and well seasoned. My personal favorite dish was the beef and stir fried beans, which complemented my plain rice perfectly. All the dishes were only around $60-$70 too, which was surprisingly good and cheap for Hong Kong standards, especially on Hong Kong island. Definitely a rare gem that I will continue to visit over time.…Read More

Ordering here was a meh experience. Even though there were a lot of staff, we had to wait for one specific person to take our orders, which was weird since our table spoke both english and cantonese. I guess this place is meant to be a quick dessert place after dinner or after a late night sports session. The food came quickly, but it wasn't as fulling or as good as we expected, which maybe explained the cheap prices here.The tofu wasn't smooth and resembled more like steam egg; The mango sago was alright; Though the shaved ice wasn't bad (well its just flavored ice after all), toppings had to be additionally added with extra fees. All I was given was a pitiful side of red beans, and this was already around $80. Though there isn't much options around the North Point area, maybe consider travelling a station to Quarry Bay for better stalls instead.…Read More

If you are looking for a place to find creative food combinations, this place fits the bill quite well. For the three times I visited so far, I was always blown away by their seasonal palates and aesthetically pleasing interior and dish designs. For coffee aficionados and barristas, this is definitely the place to pull up. For today, I tried a pastry along with a unique matcha coconut milk drink, which was a bit annoying to mix since I kept accidentally spilling the top part. Still a refreshing take on aesthetic modern matcha though.This place also gives you wifi and space to work on personal stuff, hence the half restaurant half cafe feeling. Though I'm not certain, I think this place has a half asian half Australian fusion in their dishes? Compared to their central place, this place is a bit cramped for me though. The dinning environment is dark and classy, but tables are tightly packed together. Overall, would for sure come again for future lunch meals if cheaper!…Read More

Although I initially wanted to visit here for their dinner menu, instead I decided to try out their lunch options after work. Compare to the average Japanese Restaurant in Hong Kong, this place is a bit on the expensive side, which makes sense since they do serve quite a lot of premium options in general, but I never expected lunch to be around $150 either. The atmosphere was quite heated and warm, and I just so happened to get a front row seat of the grill as I waited for my lunch set to arrive.The food was alright to be honest. Though the pork I was served was a bit on the tougher side, it still complemented the rice really well, and I enjoyed the red bean dango that came on the side too. The rice tasted amazing, only to be further elevated by the onsen egg and the soy sauce. If only the meat selection was better, this place would've been a 5/5 for me. Seems like I could've gotten cheaper prices too if I came 2 hours later with 30% as well. Overall, nice place to stop by for a fast bite, and will for sure check this place out again for their other menu selections for dinner time.…Read More

Though usually packed during weekday lunch times, I rarely see people in the restaurant every time I pass by. So I decided to check it out recently during dinner. The food that this place served seems to be on the healthier side (ignoring their ice cream options), and ordering food was quite direct and quick with QR code. I heard that they generally serve quite a lot of low carb and low fat meals for takeout too, so I ordered a soft shell crab pasta to test the waters.A bit meh in my honest opinion. Though the food tasted nice, I wish my plate had more variety and flavor. The salad was just a bunch of chopped lettuce, and the main course was just rice and crab (which didn't taste bad). I just wish there was more color and specialty for my dish, since it just looked like brown slop. I did hear that their options get a lot more varied during the lunch rush hour, so maybe I could find better tasting meals then. But overall, a nice cheap place to pop in for a quick meal after work, but don't expect any mind blowing quality here.…Read More

With a lovely atmosphere to read your favorite Christian Literature and enjoy a nice morning meal and coffee, Alternative Cafe offers a quiet space for you to experience a quiet and reflective time, complemented with a satisfying atmosphere and comfy food. The lay out inside is definitely unique and visually appealing, but I'm not a big fan of how the place is 2/3 library and 1/3 eating, making the dinning area quite cramped for both customers and staff walking around. The food and drinks were quite nice too; amazing coffee and a hefty serving. This place is probably one of the few places in Hong Kong where you can get great and reasonable priced food, along with friendly and professional staff, eager to help out with food choices and coffee introductions. While waiting for the food, you can also take a quick gander on their nice gifts, souvenirs, and recommended book section.Overall, a great cafe that I will definitely visit again with a few friends. Quite the hidden gem for coffee lovers, cozy atmosphere, and a passionate and friendly owner!…Read More

This place was initially hard to find for me, since I was so confused on how to get to the B1 Floor without any direct escalators or elevators. That was when I noticed a small rectangular entrance on the ground floor, which did eventually lead me to the entrance of the restaurant. After sitting down, I quickly ordered a set for two, which including a sharing of 2 soups, 2 main courses, 2 appetizers, and dessert. With the lovely wood, azure, and emerald atmosphere, my expectations were quite high for this pricey establishment.The food that arrived was only alright though. The highlights for me were the fried rice and the beef, which both definitely could be prepared better. The rice was a bit to dry for my liking, and the dish could've have been seasoned a lot more in my opinion. The beef also could have been more tender and softer to chew. The soup was actually pretty good, but it had too many ingredients in the small bowl, so it was a bit awkward to drink from. In terms of taste however, I feel like you could definitely find establishments with similarly tastes in cheaper places around Hong Kong, maybe a bit harder in the Causeway Bay area though.Overall, decent food that is a bit too overpriced for my liking; The presentation and the colors of the dishes were amazing, but I wish the actual quality matched it. Maybe I could pop in another time for dinner and see if the food selection would improve greatly instead.…Read More

Stumbled upon here while strolling through Kowloon City, and heard from a few friends and reviews that this was the ultimate place to go for some traditional egg waffles. Apparently they have already existed for a couple of years now, and unfortunately this is the last branch of their company. It was quite therapeutic seeing a remanent of old Hong Kong street food, but to speak about the quality is something else haha.On the outside, you may get a wave of nostalgia and comfort without even experiencing old Hong Kong, but even such a blissful feeling can never ignore the many hygiene violations you may unfortunately witness. For one, while paying for my order, my change of a $5 coin was returned to me fully submerged in pancake batter (which I quickly rubbed off). Next, no one seemed to really care about hygiene? After touching their money several times, they proceeded to crack about 20 eggs into a large tub of custard, without even changing their gloves or washing their hands. TO BE FAIR, this is culturally and traditionally the most Hong Kong thing you would ever see, and I would rather eat here than sewage water from other less developed asian cities. Yet, I would at least expect that for a place so well-known and long-lasting, they would have some sense of cleanliness and health.Also while waiting for my order, you can tell that that grill was never washed throughout the day; But I'm willing to ignore that since I did visit around evening time, so they probably didn't have much time to wash it. It was a bit nice to see them work diligently through the many orders they received, but man I was expecting something special for my egg waffle order. I ordered mine with a cheese filling, and was quickly disappointed when I proceeded to see them slap 3 slices of refrigerated square cheese. This thing was like $35 too! I should've just ordered an original flavored egg waffles haha.Finally the order arrived, and man the outside was amazing. The fresh crispiness was something you rarely see these days, and the crunch of my first bite was something I won't forget any time soon. So looks and texture wise was really good. The taste was a bit meh though, for some reason the cheese inside was slightly sour?? I hope thats normal haha.Overall, quite a nice place to grab street food when you're bored. Don't expect nice behavior or fast service though, since usually it would take between 20-30 minutes just for a freshly made batch. I won't be deliberately visiting anytime soon, but if I stop by again, might try their other filling options and shao mai too. Fun fact, when my mom tried this place out during covid, she got a nasty stomach bug. So uhhh yeah, don't be afraid to try this place out! …Read More