incy's Profile

Came here a couple of times recently.The lunch consists of a buffet and one chooses a main course which only adds about HK 50, so the buffet is the main attraction and it is.The spread is not huge but quality is decent, given the size of the restaurant and price.  The chorizo bruschetta deserves special mention as it was very tasty. A let down was that my plate was apparently not washed well as there was sauce stuck to the bottom!We tried 2 different paellas for main course. They were very thinly spread, the thinnest in my expereince. Salty and dry. To be honest, a disappointment. Sub-standard paellas are a sin in what is supposedly a good Spanish restaurant.My suggestion to the restaurant is that instead of allowing themselves to be let down this way, they might as well offer paella as an option at the buffet and do away with the main course. This way, they save resources of having to serve up individual portions, make them tiny to save money and drag down their own standard.Dessert and coffee were included. The dessert was tiny, non-descript, another let down. Same comment, might as well leave a couple of cakes at buffet.  Coffee was fine.…Read More

Agree with other posters about the great sea view and the pleasant decor.  Came for lunch but was rather disappointed, especially remembering LIAN which was run by the same group MAXIMS (MX) also at IFC.They only offered the set lunch menu and did not provide the a la carte menu until asked.  Obviously only wanted people to order from the set menu so we did. First that came was the lime soda, nothing much to write about. It  was fine.Then came the starters, not together for all diners at the table (only 2) but whatever/whichever was ready/handy for them/ I had the  papaya and pork salad which was in fact  fine except that within 2 minutes came my main course! The server, on seeing that I was about 10% into the starter, plonked the main course on the table and left. My companion's main course came 10 minutes later.My main course was beef pho. The pho was actually very good but the beef was only so-so. They also included some tripe which I did not like.It is fine to charge premium prices since HK is expensive and IFC especially so. But the service (or lack of it) is really a shame.…Read More

I wasn't expecting to, but I liked it!I am talking about their new Dark Mocha Panna Cotta Drink.  It is said to be coffee and dark mocha layered with italian-style pudding, which is panna cotta.  I wasn't expecting to like it because I never liked panna cotta much although I love desserts.  As it turned out, it was a very pleasant surprise.  The coffee mocha drink is cold (of course!) and refreshing.  There is a whirl of cream on top with bits of chocolate flakes inside providing for some crunchiness amid the soft panna cotta.  They give you a fat straw to drink with and the panna cotta gets sucked through like jelly.  The coffee, the mocha and the panna cotta mesh very well in a harmonious symphony of taste. Quite filling too!    …Read More

This is a well-known spot for late night supper.  Went through renovation a year or so ago but still not really freshened up too much.  People supposedly come for the authentic Chiu Chow cuisine and this is where the problem starts.No small/tiny cups of Chiu Chow tea when you settle down, which is a tradition.  None when you finish your meal, which is also a tradition.  The tea is supposed to be strong and cleansing, a nice end to a rich and fulling meal.  No, not unless you ask for the tea.  How is this restaurant authentic?The crabs are now from Australia.  Done in the usual Chiu Chow tradition, just plain poached.  Not bad but not as flavourful as the ones of yesteryear.More traditional dishes:Marinated goose served sliced. Not bad at all!  This is one dish that has kept up standards, not too fatty, not rough or tough, tasty and fresh, eaten after dipping in vinegar and garlic, very satisfying. Marinated "red sausage" - so-so is the best mark that can be awarded.  Texture is coarse and not flavourful as in the past.Marinated cuttlefish served sliced.  Rather coarse in texture again, otherwise, tastes fine.  Expect more from this restaurant which should be one of the best in town.Kale in superior broth - came more like stir fried mixed vegetables but tasted fine.  Congee with minced pork and dried fish squares - the restaurant delivers!  Not much to look at (traditional Chiu Chow restaurants don't care about presentation and that is fine by me), it is fresh, enticing and did not need any pepper.  Good.Dessert of steamed rice dumplings with custard filling / mash filling.  One of my favourite desserts but turned out to be a huge disappointment.  The filling was not even hot enough!  A huge no-no.…Read More

This is a popular noodles shop often with a queue at the door.  Their noodles portions are large, to the point that it is often impossible to finish, so when you order, you can tell them to halve the noodles in order not to waste food.Liked their piquant thousand year eggs in soy sauce and chopped garlic. The sauce is really strong and piquant - that is their selling point.  Do give it a try.You get to choose the type of soup base for your noodles - I prefer sour and spicy.  Alas, it is no longer as fragrant as it was before.  In the past, as soon as you open the lid of the (take away) noodles, you are overcome by the aroma of the pickles making the broth.  Not anymore.  How sad!For accompaniment, you get to choose from a lot - enoki mushrooms, Chinese mushrooms, ham, cuttlefish balls, fried tofu etc.All in a hearty meal - just not as good as before!…Read More

Not sure if this restaurant deserves all the negative reviews.We came rather late at night, after the Japanese noodles shops nearby closed so came over for a quick dinner. Ordered some appetizers and two different bowls of noodles and found the dinner quite satisfying. There was certainly nothing to complain about.Ordered a coconut each for drinks - refreshing but the credit is largely not to the establishment.  After all, they just bought the fruit, opened it up and served it.The spring rolls were very crispy, not greasy and filling satisfying.  The dough packets deserve praise - served piping hot (this alone makes food taste 30% better), the wrapping has great texture, thin, ever so slightly chewy and the contents very flavourful.  The noodles we ordered were respectively cold noodles with Vietnamese sausage and beef in tomato broth.  Both were very good.…Read More

First time visiting and pretty sure or at least hope that it will be our last.  We were attending a concert nearby, had a few minutes to spare and thought we would eat something as we hadn't had a chance to eat.  Ordered a tuna sandwich at the cashier. In Cantonese.  She asked if it was a ham and egg sandwich, I said "No, tuna sandwich".  Went to the food counter and it turns out she had issued a voucher for a ham and cheese sandwich.  Perfectly fine, as I love ham and cheese sandwich.The item came out slightly cool, as in it has been in the fridge.  Came in a triangular box quite typical for sandwiches.  The bread was awfully dry, stiff and everything can be similarly described, plus tasteless.  Finishing the sandwich required a bit of determination.  We know that this is Maxim's and therefore middle market.  We love and respect it as the brand in many ways represent Hong Kong.   How hard is it to make a ham and cheese sandwich that does not taste like cardboard?…Read More

This is one of my favourite haunts for a quick bite.  Sometimes I think it is more enjoyable eating here than  at the fabulous but more formal restaurant upstairs!They have a menu that is simple but sufficient but I almost always go for their sandwich jambon gruyere which is also available for take-away.  Here, they serve it slightly hot and you feel the heavenly taste - their small baguette with a thick and crunchy crust, the soft bread instead, the hard gruyere with succulent slices of ham, PLUS some mustard.  The symphony of flavours is just too good to be captured on paper.  They do have other sandwiches, including another sandwich that has ham and brie cheese but time and time again. I order my sandwich jambon gruyere!    For tea, I love their coffee, and their earl grey, served in huge heavy pots that are sometimes a chore to lift, but I love having my coffee or tea there. …Read More

This is a very good Chinese (mainly Cantonese) restaurant tucked away in an erstwhile rundown part of Sheung Wan a few minutes by car from the hustle and bustle of Central. That it is on the first floor provides even more privacy. There are private rooms in addition to the main dining room.The food is authentic and quite unpretentious, including both dim sum and traditional banquet dishes. Har Kau (prawn dumplings) had fresh prawns inside and is almost as good as any one would find, spring rolls had very crunchy wrapping, were not drenched in oil, and the filling was tasty. Other dim sum dishes did not disappoint either. Other dependable dishes include baked crab shell (crab was fresh and seasoning good and not overly done), traditional Cantonese soup (again, the product of many hours of labour using the best ingredients) and vegetables. The litmus test for Cantonese cooking is the steamed fish. The one we had was just right - which is always a feat as a minute too much or too little would have changed the fate of the dish. The fish was tender, succulent and in itself deserves a round of applause.…Read More

Was told about this takeaway outlet so asked someone to buy for me.Apparently, this chain does nomt use MSG or so they say.  The beef brisket on noodles is very good.  Unlike the usual chunky variety, this brisket is cut in slices, like pastrami (but a bit thicker).  The texture is very enjoyable, not too chewy and certainly not rubbery.  It is not overly fatty and there is very little grease.  The noodles are firm which is what I like.  Soup is packed separately, to protect the noodles from getting soggy.  Makes for a great (light) lunch! …Read More

Have never been to this Starbucks outlet before.  Happened to be in the area and had about twenty minutes of "in-between time", so decided to go in.Chose Mocha coffee which was promptly provided.  As expected, tasted great although it was more a cocoa drink than coffee.  It was smooth, aromatic and not overly sweet.…Read More

The photo does not do the lunchbox justice, I am afraid. For a takeaway lunch of pork chop on rice, one gets two large slices of quite thin and crispy (but not greasy) pork chops, on a bed of rice that is quite fragrant, garnished with chopped spring onions and soya sauce with Vietnamese style seasoning. Makes it a very pleasant and satisfying takeaway lunch which is difficult to find in Central, especially at a very reasonable price. Highly recommended!I do have to add that I did not attend the shop to buy the lunch so am not able to comment on efficiency, cleanliness, service or the like.…Read More

The  cream here is the best you can find in Hong Kong in patisseries, hands down, the best.Have tried various desserts here but the best is the one that had creamed wrapped in a crepe like a pouch. This time I ordered their custard which comes in a small bottle.  Beneath a very rich, creamy and most delicious cream / curd is some caramel sauce.  So it is like an upside down creme caramel.The coffee mocha is thick, smooth and aromatic.  A very satisfying afternoon tea!  …Read More

Read great things about this outfit on this site and decided to walk over after dinner to see what the fuss is all about.  Walked over the wrong part of Leighton Road and had to trace our way back.  Thankfully, it is still not too hot or humid so it was fine.  Still had a bit of trouble finding the place even when we were just 20 seconds away.  Then the queue came into sight.  There was a long line of people waiting outside the shop which actually went around the corner!  Luckily, they were waiting to be seated and there was no wait for takeaway.Asked what was their best-seller and was told the green tea with glutinous rice balls and a bit of red bean, so went for that.  Given a slip of paper and within a minute or two the ice-cream came out in a plastic cup with a spoon.  Nothing too special about the presentation.  The ice-cream was very rich, very creamy, which is what I like.  The green tea flavour was very distinct, which, again, is what I like.  Did not care for the red bean and actually did not like the glutinous rice balls at all.  They were bland and generally let down the ice-cream.Do go and give their green tea ice-cream a try but not the glutinous rice balls. …Read More

Have been to this restaurant many times, usually for dinner.For lunch this time we came rather late so despite the fact that the restaurant is usually crowded, we were able to get a table without a reservation as it was not full.There are many options on the menu and prices are very reasonable. You can easily eat within HKD 200 and you have two plates (half size) since there many combinations offering a rice dish plus a bowl of noodles (eggs too, then coffee and a slice of fruit or similar).  Other options include some sashimi or sushi.We opted for some tempura and udon each, then ordered a tempura cake on rice in addition (yes, we had 2 lunch sets each!).  The tempura cake on rice is cheaper (about HKD 130) but tasted far better than the (slightly) more expensive lunch sets. Not that the other lunch sets were not good!We started with the usual salad. Tempura was good, but not excellent as expectations of this place are rightly high.  For a lunch set, the tempura came drenched in soy sauce which is not exactly what I like. The batter is thicker than should be for this place and overall I was expecting better.  Noodles were good, in consistency as well as the broth.  As I said, it was the tendon (tempura cake on rice) that stole the show.  It was small pieces of seafood, chopped up amid small vegetable pieces and fried.  Crispy, flavourful and very enjoyable!…Read More