foodie_fatty's Profile

After pretending to be tourists and taking our visiting friends around the markets, we stumbled across this joint along Nathan Road. To keep this short:-The decor was simple and clean and the seating was spacious-Decent portion size and selection-Reasonably priced at around $60-70 a dish-Personally, I thought the braised beef noodles were great; succulent meat and the broth was rich, but not-overpowering.FINAL VERDICT: EXCELLENT, SIMPLE TAIWANESE FOOD AT A GREAT PRICE…Read More

I've actually been to 'Fang Fang' before for dinner and although it seems like an over-glorified Chinese restaurant, it was actually quite good. At the time I remember the service was excellent where staff were attentive and could offer insights and recommendations as to which dishes we would like but without it feeling like an aggressive or pushy sale. The food itself was fresh and full of flavour as well as being beautifully presented, so I did have good thoughts about this place; until my experience today. My boss booked a table of 8 for the desk due to hearing  so many rave reviews and we were all quite eager to try it out for lunch. We were guided to the private room, which was a pleasant surprise and the member of staff was very courteous. We found out that they had a lunch set menu only and no à la carte, which was a little disappointing but acceptable as I guess we couldn't expect every item to be offered if it was to be cooked fresh and with so many diners that needing serving.  For a modest $198 HKD we were in a clean, suavely decorated establishment, right in the heart of Central. We certainly didn't have any qualms about that!From the set menu I ordered:*Starters*-Dim sum (1 x Signature shrimp dumpling & 1 x Truffle mushroom dumpling)-Hot and Sour Soup  *Main*-Sweet & sour Iberico pork with pomelo and strawberry*Dessert*-Fried custard dumplingThere weren't too many issues with the starters to be fair. I am not a fan of mushrooms, so I have no idea what possessed me to order the hot and sour soup, but I did  and I found it too be a quite soothing. The mushrooms had a slight crunch with a subtle flavour that complemented the acidity and spice of the soup. The soup itself was thick and smooth and felt satisfying and hearty with each and every mouthful. The dim sum was so-so as the filling was prepared very well and enriched with all the fresh ingredients cooked just right, but the outer casings were sticky and fell apart quite easily, which made the combination rather laboured when taking a bite. The dumplings were also extremely hot when they were served, so it appears as though they were a little too eager to get the dishes out to the customers rather than let them cool down for just a little while to overcome the issues.The main was a disappointment for me, not that I couldn't eat it, but just the concept behind it. I figured that as you had to pay extra and since Iberico pork is regarded as quite the delicacy, I would be served thick, succulent slices of pork lightly glazed with an invigorating sweet sauce. However, I received sweet and sour pork, as common as you would find anywhere else in HK. It tasted fine if you accepted it as that quintessential takeaway favourite, but why waste the meat by battering it and masking the flavour? Would you  consider using A5 Kobe beef for a spaghetti bolognese as well? With regards to the mains, we were served our rice first and then the main dishes came at different times ranging from 20-40 minutes later. This was poor planning and service as we either had to wait for everyone to be served and then our food would go cold or eat straight away and finish at different times, while the last few to start feel pressure to wolf down their main without taking a moment to enjoy their meal. Some of my colleagues ordered the fish (which came in 3 meagre pieces) and even then they barely touched it as they didn't expect something 'grilled' to be battered.I thought that they might redeem themselves with the dessert, the 'fried custard dumpling', but it was hardly the case. What I received was a single 'jin dui' (fried glutinous rice ball) with ice cream. It was  hard to break into and got tightly wedged on my spoon as I was trying to take a piece. I expected custard to drip out but it seemed like there was just lotus paste lining the inside.The member of staff was courteous enough to try and make amends by offering us all coffee on the house, which was a nice gesture, but couldn't really make up for the experience itself.I am not actually greatly critical of many places and can enjoy very simple meals, but this was a really disappointing experience for me and I have said all the above with pure sincerity and no malicious intent whatsoever.FINAL VERDICT: A GREAT PLACE MARRED BY A PURELY UNINSPIRING LUNCH…Read More

Feeling rather lazy on the weekend, we decided to order takeaway and noticed this little joint on online dining platform . It seemed reasonably priced and acceptable quality; the online photos didn't suggest anything to the contrary. We thought it was worth a go and ordered:*Braised beef noodles*Chicken rice*DumplingsBraised beef noodlesThe broth was rich, however a tad salty and oily for my taste. It wasn't like with ramen where you could sip it and enjoy it in its own right, but overall it was tolerable. The noodles weren't impressive at all as they went way past the point  of being al dente and lacked much substance -breaking apart with very light contact.  However, it wasn't all despair; the beef itself was the silver lining; soft, tender and just melted in your mouth. Chicken riceThe ratio of chicken to batter was decent (i.e. they didn't skimp on the meat) and the chicken itself was cooked just right. I was pleasantly surprised that, though being fried, the chicken wasn't so oily so you didn't have the guilty feeling building up inside after each bite. DumplingsActually, we were expecting something similar to the pan-fried Shanghai ("Sang Jin baau") dumplings, but instead we got something more akin to deep-fried gyozos . The pastry was quite thick and I'm not sure if it was just because of the time it took to deliver, but the texture was a bit spongy and dry so it gave you a somewhat bloated feeling afterwards. The filling tasted OK, it was finely minced and had some seasoning, but overall I didn't find the dumplings made me crave more and it was a bit of a chore to get through them if I am being honest.FINAL VERDICT: :) THE BRAISED BEEF AND  FRIED CHICKEN ARE WORTH A SHOT!…Read More

Hidden away on Peel street by the market stalls, you wouldn't be blamed for walking past this quaint little coffee shop. Even as someone that has been here a few times already, I still find myself having to consciously keep an eye out to spot it. In terms of layout, there are a couple of seats outside the front, inside is fairly narrow with bar seating to the side and then at the back there is outside seating in the mini garden.So the menu is slightly different now compared to a few months ago, but as I usually stick to my reliable go-to choice of a flat-white, I kept up the same tradition on my most recent trip. Specifically, I had  a flat white with 'Oatly milk' as I've been trying to cut down a little on the lactose, but it's nice to see that they have options to choose soy and oat milk.For most, a coffee is just a coffee and I'm certainly no caffeine connoisseur but I have had my fair share. In my honest opinion, these guys really make a great brew! An immediate sign of a bad latte/flat-shite (that was a genuine typo but I will leave it in as it's pretty apt) is that it will come out boiling hot and virtually undrinkable for 20 minutes. I'm happy to say that the coffee here passed this first test with ease. It was warm, velvety-smooth and not bitter or sour in anyway. I drank my coffee with such ease and pleasure that I was even thinking about getting another...FINAL VERDICT: EXCELLENT COFFEE! WORTH SEARCHING THROUGH THE ROUGH OF PEEL STREET TO FIND THIS DIAMOND!…Read More

After suffering the inevitable hustle and bustle of navigating through  the annual Chinese New Year Market in Victoria Park, we were feeling a little peckish, pretty tired and wanted to escape the sweaty crowds  around us during the festive period.  Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a familiar, neon baby face staring at me and as I focused my attention to that direction, I was pleasantly surprised to see it was the Little Bao's signature logo.I've never tried the branch in Soho as I wasn't a fan of the cosy bar-like seating but this new location was much bigger in comparison. It used to be the iconic Pacific Coffee (or pseudo-library) where floods of students would gather and take up all the seats with their study books sprawled across the tables as they shared a mocha between five. We went decided to give it a go and walked in with just a general sense of the type of cuisine served there. Basically, Little Bao is a fusion of 'East meets West' with a modern twist on simple dishes.  I'd say this place falls into the same space as Bread and Beast. Similar flavours, an Asian touch and typically catering to the overseas diners giving them a little taste of home away from home. We ordered:*Pork belly baos *Truffle fries*short-rib dumplings*Szechuan fried chicken The baos were actually quite tasty, I felt they had the same moreish characteristic of the traditional 'char siu baos' in which they are derived from. The bun itself is a nice contrast to the usual bread/brioche by providing a light, fluffy 'pillow' for the pork to rest on, allowing you to enjoy the full taste of the filling with a hint of sweetness from the bun itself. It's hard for me to think back to the pork belly alone as the components of the bao have such a strong  synergy as a whole, but from what I remember, I was surprised that it was not overly fatty and barely needed the gentlest of bites to break into the soft and tender meat. I could totally see why many of the diners around us were ordering several different baos right off the bat and then making a second order soon after. I look forward to trying the other fillings when I head over again in future.The truffle fries came topped with mushrooms and truffle dressing. Rather than eat them the usual way, you toss the bowl together like a salad, albeit, a relatively unhealthy one. The fries were the crunchy-soft type I like, the mushrooms (which I usually don't like) were soft and not overpowering in taste and the dressing was a little tangy, which binded everything together ever so smoothly. Though I would say the portion size wasn't the most generous but I guess I am a glutton for fries so you can make up your own mind about this.   The short rib dumplings were good; the casing was crispy and chewy and I did enjoy being able to taste the slow-cooked, tender beef. I have to say again for 128 HKD, it would just be a dish you try out of curiosity but it was not substantial enough to be considered a real dish.The Szechuan fried chicken was just mediocre if I am being honest. The fried chicken was similar to those you would find in a Korean fried chicken joint. Even though I don't eat Szechuan cuisine all too often, I'm still well aware that the authentic flavour takes more than just adding five-spice seasoning. There was none of the tongue-numbing spice of the Szechuan peppercorns and don't get me wrong, I certainly don't enjoy the dreaded 'ring of fire' the next morning that you get from somewhere like 'Chili Fagara' in Soho, but if you state something is a certain flavour then there should be some form of validation in the taste.FINAL VERDICT: COME PIG OUT ON THE BAOS  …Read More

Once you walk into this place, you will be quite amazed at how beautifully decorated it is. Elegant, ambient lighting guides the way as you tentatively descend the spiral staircase towards the dining area. As you walk to your table you can watch the cooks working hard to prepare your dishes and see all the BBQ meat (like the roast goose) on display; an homage to the traditional roots of the food.In short, Mott 32 serves a modern fusion of the traditional dim sum, immaculately presented, but at a hefty markup. It's true that compared to the local places, the dishes appear more carefully prepared with higher-end ingredients, however, the price seems to reflect the cost of the surroundings more than the cost of the food itself.  From the dishes I've tried, they were very good indeed; oozing flavour, well-balanced and you could taste the relatively superior quality of the fillings. I would recommend this place as somewhere to take a client or if you want to make a good impression on someone that's visiting Hong Kong , but for a general experience of the local cuisine, just go out there and explore.FINAL VERDICT: A LUXURIOUS TASTE OF HONG KONG'S MOST BELOVED  TEA TIME TRADITION…Read More

So I heard of this place from others as it's renowned for its apparent medicinal rice-based drinks. I'm no doctor so I cannot attest to or contest the science behind using rice mixed with some other ingredients to cure so many ailments from anger to digestive issues but I am somewhat skeptical. How convenient it is being in Asia and finding out the most abundant and common staple of them all is actually a miracle product!  My apologies, I'll stop being facetious for a moment and keep it short. So my girlfriend has been going here for a little while now and there hasn't been any noticeable change, unfortunately she's still a grump...just joking of course! But yeah, there hasn't been any sign that the claims behind the drinks are indeed true. That's not to say CheckCheckCin is not worth a vist though. I would think of this place as another drink vendor, but a good alternative for those that cannot drink milk or soy.  I actually tried the 'Cooling strawberry' today and it was quite refreshing, comparable to a yoghurt drink or 'Actimel', but is made with fresh strawberries, has a thinner consistency and without the unnecessary added sugar.FINAL VERDICT : A GOOD CHOICE FOR THOSE WITH MILK ALLERGIES…Read More

For most of my childhood I can remember there being pho on the table nearly every lunch time. Living in a Vietnamese household you do learn a thing or two about the nation's cuisine, especially pho being the most loved and  iconic dish of them all.With a recent trip to Hoi An, we were having a serious case of pho-fever...no no, don't worry, I don't mean some contagious illness, just that we were getting a taste of authentic pho and we were still ready for more. Pho Le was recommended by a friend and we went with few expectations. Many so-called pho places in HK will do it with as much effort as they would with instant noodles, which is a shame as pho is meant to be a clean dish, full of flavour and give you that wholesome feeling. I have to say that even my mother would approve of the pho at this restaurant and that's no mean feat, let me tell you! The broth was full of flavour, you could taste the beef and pepper and so refreshing  to the point where you could  just drink it by itself and be happy. The pho itself was just right, soft and lightly chewy. I find many other restaurants will make a mess of the pho by being too soft and it just breaks apart or too chewy and you feel quite laboured eating it. The meatballs were delicious and the beef was soft and succulent; perfect with a little drop of sriracha sauce.This time we tried the garlic butter wings and they were ok, but nothing special to be honest. Previously, we tried the rice rolls, but I found them to be quite plain and the wrap was cold and chewy so they were probably pre-prepared and left out for a while. The Spring rolls were nice, well-seasoned, though  a little chewy and oily, but no real complaints there.FINAL VERDICT: PHO HERE IS A MUST, EVEN IF YOU AREN'T A FAN, YOU WILL BE AFTER A BOWL!…Read More

This place will usually have a queue outside so be prepared to wait a while but also note that you need all dining members there to be seated, that is to say, if you are still waiting for the one straggler to join you then they won't let you sit down.We have been here many times and each time, the food has been very good. This time we chose:-Black Pepper Teriyaki beef bowl (+ roasted chicken)-Slow cooked pork cartilage bowlService was very quick and our dishes came out in minutes, the meat on both dishes was really soft and tender; you didn't need to cut into the meat, it would just gently tear apart into pieces. The flavour was very nice too, kind of subtle and not overpowering but the essence remaining throughout. I preferred the black pepper teriyaki beef to the slow cooked pork cartilage as it was leaner. Both contain some fat on the meat to add to the texture and flavour but the pork cartilage has significantly more so just be aware of that.Portions aren't huge so you might need a little snack afterwards, but not too bad for the price and quality. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, though sometimes you do feel they try and hurry you along to make room for the customers waiting to be seated (though you can't blame them for that). FINAL VERDICT GET THERE QUICK TO AVOID HTE QUEUES AND ENJOY A FLAVOURSOME LUNCH …Read More

I absolutely love eggettes and have tried many all over Hong Kong. Call me a snob, but I'm not a fan of the local places that sell the fish balls, siu mei etc and then eggettes on the side. I think if you want to do it right, you have got to be a specialist and 'Mammy gai daan jai' is one of the best. They do not skimp on the filling; the cheese is extra cheesy and crispy on the outside, the banana tastes fresh, soft and naturally sweet and the chocolate is, well, full of chocolatey goodness. The eggettes themselves are freshly made in front of you and  as soon as they are served in the paper bag, you can warm your hands from the heat. They are exactly as they should be, lightly crispy on the outside and oozingly soft and squishy on the inside.I would say that they aren't the cheapest at about 30 bucks for one, but you do get the quality at the higher price. Be also aware that it can get a bit busy so just be prepared to wait a little while.FINAL VERDICT: ONE OF THE BEST WAFFLE PLACES IN HONG KONG!…Read More

Usually, we would head here for a lunch now and then, especially as there is the unlimited chicken option! A rather casual place, which is good for an easy lunch on a Friday afternoon or on a weekend if you happen to be passing by. Let's not beat around the bush here, this place is basically as close to Nando's as we can get in HK, but without all the thrills like unlimited ice cream and soda, which I don't really care for.This time, we went for the set lunch (inc soup and iced tea):-Chicken wrap-Unlimited Chicken  (see below, sorry Openrice won't let me insert it here for some reason)The set lunch starts with a small chicken soup, which is creamy and full of real chicken pieces and chunks of vegetables. It's not meant to be anything special, just to get buy a little time until the main course comes but I actually think it's quite tasty.The fries are as ever with a uniform crispy exterior and soft inside, so no complaints there but we are all about the chicken here. The wrap was nice, the salad inside broke up the heaviness of the meat and with a dab of the spicy sauce, it was pretty enjoyable. The unlimited chicken this time was acceptable, but is usually more moist and tender, whereas I found it somewhat dry this time. Each bite took some effort and needed a sip of the sparingly flavoured iced tea to wash it down with. I won't judge it purely on this recent experience as the times before were pretty good I thought. The sauces are creamy and each have a little hint of something that will appeal to most taste buds. whether you like a spicy kick or a mild tang.FINAL VERDICT: NOT BAD TO GET YOUR FIX OF SOME FLAME GRILLED CHICKEN…Read More

To keep it short, the lunch buffet was a decent, very reasonably priced option, especially for Central at around $90. They change there selection slightly each time, but the staple dishes include:Chicken TikkaChicken MasalaSaag (usually fish)Egg curryDahlVegetable currySauteed/steamed vegetablesPlain and garlic naanSamosasPakorasSpring rollsBasmati and plain ricePapadumsMixed cold saladPudding balls (can't remember what they're actually called but way too sweet for my liking so I wouldn't touch them) The food tasted good, especially the chicken tikka, which has a mild spice to it but the meat is moist and succulent. Unlike other places though, no drink (like a tea or lassi) is included, but they do have some sort of orange squash you can try.FINAL VERDICT: SIMPLE, REASONABLY PRICED, NICE TASTING LUNCH WITH A GOOD SELECTION …Read More

Quite a well-known establishment in Hong Kong now, but I remember when attending a few years ago for a birthday when it first opened. A friend of ours didn't eat beef (yeah, we don't hang out now ) so he was left trying to get full from a mountain of fries. When I say it's steak and fries and nothing more, then it really is so make sure everyone is OK with both.During the most recent time I attended it was filling up fast and there were people waiting for tables, but we luckily booked before. The staff are warm and welcoming and make you feel comfortable as you're settling in. The steak itself is very good and at 300-something dollars, it seems to be better value than the top steak houses around that are in excess of 1k. It comes already cut up into pieces and medium-rare is really just that, mildly browned up on the outside and still slightly pink in the middle. It was so good that I pretty much helped the girls finish up all of theirs after I finished mine. I'm not a glutton but there aren't too many sadder things for me than seeing decent steak go to waste.As for the fries, well, there's not much to say but they were just right, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside and UNLIMITED! The staff member was very attentive and came over to ask if we needed a refill when we were running low and after my 5th or 6th portion, I thought I would call it a day, but I could have stayed there until the morning...or when they kicked me out.It's not somewhere I would go all too often, but it's definitely worth a shot once in a while when you have the appetite.FINAL VERDICT: GREAT STEAK, UNLIMITED FRIES...NEED I SAY MORE?!…Read More

Make sure you book a table for this place as you're very unlikely to find a table if you just walk in. Also, as you might have to wait at least a week and it certainly isn't going to be the cheapest meal you have, you are best advised to keep this to those special occasions. If you're a baller and want to take a date here, then be my guest, but you better make sure she's worth it! I took my girlfriend here a while ago, but unfortunately I can't find the photos we took from the whole night. Basically, it's a 9 or 10 course tasting menu, whereby each dish has a unique well-balanced flavour and will just scintillate your palate in a way you cannot anticipate or imagine until you take that first bite. Even things that you wouldn't usually eat or have reluctance to eat (e.g. sea cucumber), I would say you need to still try it! Each dish is beautifully presented; either set on an eye-catching plate or in a scenic setting like a beach or a garden to set the mood and take your eyes to where your taste buds are happily about to go. I remember there was a meringue that was made in front of you with some liquid nitrogen, which was a great touch. Also, as we mentioned it was for a birthday, they also gave us a cute, personalized, rich chocolate pig. We felt bad about crushing the fella as we dug into him, but it was for a good cause.Unlike many of these gastronomic experiences, we were both satisfied with the amount of food and were close to bursting by the end of it, but it didn't feel like we were forcing our way through the dishes at all.FINAL VERDICT: FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS! …Read More

Hidden away from the hustle and bustle -where the busy Amercian burger joints lie, is a local gem, the aptly named, Honbo. Despite being off the High street, it can still get quite busy with a capacity of around 16-20 (with a squeeze) and the fact it can get busy is a testament to the quality of the burgers.I usually build up an appetite before I go here and choose a big one like the 'Honbo 2.0'. With 4 x 2oz patties and triple cheese I don't really need to mention why The burgers are very good; succulent and juicy and you can see all the chunks of minced beef as you bite into it and it softly tears apart. I think being thin, you get more of the crispiness, which helps steer you away from the monotony of a squidgy meat patty found in other places. It's not exactly cheap, but reasonable if you use some promotional offers.The fries are thin cut, crispy and come with a nice creamy and tangy, mayo-based dipping sauce. I won't usually have any sauce but it makes a nice change from the usual condiments. I've tried the cheese fries also before, which were OK but the cheese didn't seem so wholesome and it was a bit filling for my liking. The last and only time I tried the sweet potato fries, I was disappointed as it was really chunky and didn't seem very well cooked.FINAL VERDICT: TASTY  BURGERS AND RELAXED AMBIENCE…Read More