ramensaurus's Profile

It's been a while since my last blog, and what better way to pick up where I left off than with a full tummy and complete satisfaction at a modern yakitori joint :) ServiceCame here on a Friday at 8pm and was told the wait would be around 2 hours, so my friends and I had a drink at a nearby restaurant down the street. Before we knew it, after about 1.5 hours, I got a call saying our table would be ready soon. Yardbird staff are all chilled out and all full of smiles. We had to call out a few times to one of the friendly servers as it was a full house, but they were quick to respond. FoodFrom chicken heart to tail, you would think their best dishes are all about the chicken, but I found quite the opposite to be true!sweet corn tempuraso crispy, so sweet delicioushad to give the tail a try, but it was just too fatty for me and could take no more than one bite. The waitress saw this and took this item off our bill. It wasn't necessary but a very nice gesture. slightly sweet, loved this dish!a tasty combination of tender meat and yolkfull of flavour and not too sweet, we each had two orders :) VerdictIt's always loud and noisy here, but also very chilled out. I like that this place is quite small. Of course this means a longer wait, but if it had the capacity for more, it would lose the homey feeling and turn into more of a food court. I would be glad to come back :) …Read More

Came here for a friend's birthday celebration on a Saturday night and was surprised to see the restaurant nearly empty. Better for our group I suppose since it felt almost like a private dining room :) We went for the three-course set dinner... ServiceThis place would not have even been an "ok" if it weren't for the friendliness of the staff. Granted there were only a few tables and thus no reason at all for them not to be attentive. The waiters also very gladly took photos for us. One even boasted about how good a photographer he was. Nice people. FoodToo bad I was not blown away at all, even somewhat disappointed. Starter scallops - a bit on the salty side. Wasn't bad, but nothing to rave about.lobster bisque - waaaayy too salty that I had to dip bread into the soup and eat it that way. I'm normally a huge fan of the soup part of the meal, but could only finish half of this bowl.My friend described the cod as buttery, but I could not taste the buttery-ness. Instead, the cod felt "slippery." Not to say that it was raw. It did have the "melt in your mouth" kind of feeling, which I'm sure a lot of people prefer. But the fish was bland. I couldn't make out any particular taste with the sauce. Saving the best for last? The petits fours were much better, and I loved the pecan crunch! But if I'm paying almost $700 for a meal, the petits fours alone being delicious just doesn't cut it.VerdictThe staff took a polaroid photo for our group, a nice little gift for the bday girl :) Apparently they are no longer giving out stuffed bears, owing to a change in management. Not sure if their dishes on the a la carte menu are worth a try, but it might take a bit of convincing for me to be back. …Read More

French cuisine in Macau. Who would've thought? And this place was truly a hidden gem. I came here with two friends for lunch last Saturday after an unsuccessful attempt at A Lorcha (we didn't book, oops). One of my friends comes here almost weekly for lunch since she comes to Macau for work quite often. She said she stumbled upon the place randomly (not through reviews or recommendations) while wandering around in the Largo do Senado area and was very happy with their lunch sets (only available on weekdays though... I might have to come back on a weekday^^) Tucked in one of the alleyways behind the fountain at Largo do Senado, La Bonne Heure (The Good Hour) is a truly delightful surprise. My friend tells me this place is frequented by local Portuguese. It maintains a low profile (and I think the chef likes it that way). We came for lunch to find only two other customers there, though it was apparently fully booked for dinner according to one of the waiters. (The restaurant also closes on Sunday). ServiceNot sure how the service is when there's a full house, but for an almost empty one, it was splendid. We chatted with the two waiters, who were both very friendly and attentive without being overbearing. They were also very cooperative when we asked to see the chef to give him our compliments. Now perhaps the more surprising part is that La Bonne Heure's chef is Japanese, and he used to work for Robuchon a Galera at Hotel Lisboa. His name is Koji. I asked him whether or not he cooked other types of cuisines, to which he answered no. And fair enough, because he's good at what he does. FoodAside from the tender meat, the best part about this dish is the seasoned skin. It's crispy and flavoured with salt and pepper. Not sure why but the blueberry sauce gave this dish a somewhat Christmas feel. The sauce was lightly sweet with blueberry bits. Even the mashed potato was buttery and delicious - perfect on its own without any need of gravy. Seriously, when even the plain mashed potato is this good, you know the chef is meticulous and serious about food. As cheesy as this sounds (sorry^^;;), I was touched because it was as though with every bite, I could taste the chef's diligence and passion for cooking. Another amazing dish. The puree was so smooth, and again the flavours here are light. The smoke salmon was so soft it simply melted in my mouth. My friend was telling me how this dish must have been difficult to make (hence requiring a professional to get it right) as the salmon was warm smoked slowly at the right temperature to achieve the extremely tender effect (salmon is usually hot or cold smoked). I didn't take a picture of it, but we also ordered the spaghetti alio olio . The noodles were soaked in a rather watery olive oil (it worked out fine though because the oil was less thick) and comprised a strong garlicky taste. While my friends found this to be a bit on the sweet side, my sweet tooth thought this was perfect. I liked the fizzy effect after the sparkling wine was added to the ice cream and purée. It tasted like a very sweet strawberry champagne with ice cream. VerdictI would GLADLY come back anytime I'm in Macau! My other friend says she may come back just for this... it really says something :) I have yet to find a French place in Hong Kong with food this good, and at this price! Whyyy >.< or maybe there is but I just don't know it yet? The bill came to about $150pp, and they didn't even include a service charge or tip (we tipped them separately ~ one that I was happy giving!)…Read More

I've been told that this is the best burger joint in town. Can't believe I had never been in all my 1.5 years living in HK. It's so good that it makes packing on a few (hundred) more calories worth it. Service Ok the service kinda sucked. On a late Sunday afternoon, the place was packed, and there was only one waitress. The food took a little longer than expected (around 20 minutes... which I'll let slide since the burger was so good) and the trash left behind by people sitting at the table before weren't cleaned up until we asked the waitress a second time. Other than that, you pretty much self-serve everything else, and get your own drinks in the fridge. Food The burger hands down stole the show. Maybe it's just the tea set, but the smaller sized burger was so much easier to eat. The toppings didn't fall apart. The patty was juicy as well, and cooked just right (I'd say it was between a medium and medium well - I'm not a fan of bloody nor burnt meat patties). The sesame bun was also sweet and so delicious that I could've eaten it by itself. The potato wedges paled in comparison though. They were a bit too soft and not crunchy enough for my tastes. Next time I'll try the curly/twisted fries and mozzarella sticks - the table next to us ordered it and I couldn't stop looking over!VerdictI'll be baaaaccck!…Read More

Came here on a Saturday and had to wait a little while. Mou Mou Club differs from other hot pot venues in that it's cleaner and has fewer options on the menu. The buffet section had a decent selection of fish balls, veggies, tofu, sausages, tomatoes, noodles, corn, mushrooms, etc. but limited sauces. No sha cha or peanut sauce *sigh* But if memory serves me correctly, adding $20 gets you unlimited Asahi, score!!The waiters here are friendly but can be kinda slow (not sure if this is some sort of tactic to give us less meat as the eating session is timed). We had a pot with two different soup bases ~ both sides ended up overflowing and thus the flavors were all mixed anyway -_-" The flavors of the soup bases don't really stand out, especially after mixing the cooked foods with soy sauce. Did anything really stand out here though? Not really, it's just your average hot pot. We found it strange that the meat looked different every time the waiter brought us more O_O But it was okay. The dessert at the end was also just your average supermarket ice cream. Not bad, but nothing really wowed me here.It's not expensive for all-you-can-eat, but the selection is meager compared to the average Chinese restaurants serving hot pot. I don't really see how it's Japanese style though besides the fact that there's udon... which is quite often used in Chinese hot pots. Regardless, I don't mind coming back to this place, though it wouldn't be at the top of my choices. …Read More

It should come as no surprise that with any fine dining restaurant, the wait is normally a few weeks. Chesa's no exception, but this place was truly worth the wait! Especially for cheese lovers... this place is cheese heaven. Amid the grandeur of the Peninsula, you almost would miss the humble entrance of this restaurant. From the outside walking in, it looks like some storage room. Inside, however, is a dimly-lit, cozy Victorian-style living room. The perfect setting for dates and nice for small family gatherings, but kids under age 3 are supposedly not allowed in according to the website. Whether they observe this rule is beyond me. ServiceAs expected, the waiters here were very friendly and ready to assist. Your glass doesn't go empty, or at least not for a long time. Also helpful with food selection if you're not sure what to order. FoodIf you like overly sweet and carbonated wine (I do!), order the bottle from Mosel, Germany. It will complement your meal. Let's start with the bread basket, as that's complimentary and always comes first. Nothing too special about the bread. Unfortunately it wasn't one of those where you could simply savor the flavor of the bread. I had to add butter. The pretzel bread was nice though - imagine a lightly salted and very soft pretzel but in the shape of an American football. It was pleasant and I wish they had served more of thatFollowing the mediocre bread, I was relieved to find that the raclette cheese was sooo gooooddd. A slice of cheese thinner than the plate itself. I compared this to the raclette at Swiss Chalet and found this to be better. It was bit burnt (which I liked) and didn't have much seasoning on top, which left the cheese in its almost natural state *drool* Served with potatoes and a side of olives, gherkins, and pickled onions. Eat together with the cheese. Yums!Mouthwatering and delicious. I LOVED IT. The cheese used was emmental, a Swiss cheese that is popular for fondues. It has a creamy and light sweet flavour, and blends well with plain sour dough. The bit of champagne did not overpower the melted cheese, but rather complemented it. I found both the fragrance and the taste of this enriching. I lost count of how many bread cubes I dipped into the pot. It was just too good to resist >.<This came a bit later, when I was almost full from the cheese. Luckily I had some room left in my stomach for this, because it was again amazing. The veal was thin and tender, and the creamy, gravy-like sauce - which was a little on the salty side - goes well with the blander potato sticks meshed together like a hash brown. One word: overrated. I was already full at this point but took a few bites. It looks cute, but doesn't mean it's good. Maybe I just like sweeter and thicker pieces of chocolate. The vanilla ice cream was also just alright, nothing too spectacular. VerdictGiven the price, atmosphere and quality of the service and entrees, and the fact that I'm a cheese lover, I'd gladly come back. Wouldn't order the dessert, but yes to more cheese, meat and wine :) Us three girls sat there for 3+ hours. …Read More

If you're off to Elements for dinner on a Sunday evening, be prepared to wait for a table... that is, unless you're dining at Yamashiro. I was surprised to find that all the restaurants at Civic Square were much quieter... almost dead quiet compared to the hustle and bustle inside the mall. My friends and I had wanted to try some of the other Japanese restaurants downstairs, but there was a wait at each venue. Yamashiro was actually our last resort, as it looked expensive, but we were in for a nice treat!Unlike typical Japanese restaurants, which are adorned with traditional Japanese decor (think Shoji room dividers, sliding doors, brush art, etc), Yamashiro has a more modern feel to it. From the outside, it looks more like an Italian restaurant. And when I first walked in, I thought I'd be getting fusion food. But rest assured that this place has a decent Japanese menu - one that's quite innovative as well. Just bring enough money if you want to leave the place feeling satiated. sushi bites ~ so very good. I may not be a sashimi fan but I do like spicy tuna, and the ones here were fantastic. The mayo and chili sauce blended well together (although to be fair, I don't think I've ever tasted bad spicy tuna anywhere). The sushi were presented neatly and almost artistically I'd say. plum wine with soda. We opted for this rather than plum wine on the rocks (which would've meant less volume lol). Plum wine by itself is delicious. The soda just made it sweeter, which I don't mind, and added some carbonation, again which I don't mind. plain udon with shrimp tempura on the side - nothing extremely special about this, but my friend wasn't feeling well and this was something nice and simple and not too salty. the tempura was battered and fried to a crisp. I like how the shrimp wasn't humongous (like how it's served in some other places) as it somehow gives the dish a more exquisite feel that matches the restaurant's setting, if that makes any sensethe soba was good too. It was the udon's twin really. They both tasted the same... the only difference was the noodlesthis snack was yummy though a bit on the dry side (looks like they used white meat). It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. From the picture, you can tell that it's flavorful with the flowing lava of sauces the eggplant was one of the innovative dishes for me. Half an eggplant served with the skin, with each side tasting different. I liked the green side better and thought I tasted some seaweed flavor in it. The other side was pretty bland. Would like to come to this place more often if I had the budget. Even their lunch sets range from $148 (daily grilled fish set) to $350 (Australian beef tenderloin stone grill set) O_O Sounds pretty baller to me...…Read More

Japanese all-you-can-eat seated buffets are becoming quite the rage in Hong Kong. But is it value for the money? Or is the quality of the food sacrificed at a cheap price? Kaneda has its ups and downs... some dishes were nice while others were just blah. It's not expensive, but I'd rather spend $200 elsewhere. Too mediocre for me to come back. if you've read any of my previous reviews, you'll know that I'm not a sashimi fan and thus it wouldn't be right for me to judge the sashimi. My co-workers found it okay though, no complaints, and they ordered more, so I'm guessing it wasn't bad. I just like sharing sashimi pictures because they're colorful :) I wish they had English translations on their order tickets like at Kichijyu in the Loop. NO to the mushrooms. They were dry and plain (no sauces to add flavour... boooo) and the bonito flakes didn't make it better because they were dry and plain as well The best part was the sawdust pudding dessert (right), which had a strong creamy and milky flavour, with crumbs at the top. On the opposite end of the spectrum was the creme brulee - the worst I've ever had >.< It was not only bitter and cold, but lacked the crackly caramelized top coat as well. I wasn't expecting anything fancy as I'm sure desserts aren't the restaurant's speciality, but seriously this was so bad... major disappointment.日式汁煮牛肉鍋... umm... I'm not sure if this was an attempt at sukiyaki... because if it was, it was very very sad. You can't just put some cabbage, mushroom, tofu and beef in super sweet broth and call it sukiyaki. That just doesn't do sukiyaki any justiceon the brighter side, this tofu (with a bite taken out of) was good ~ the sauce was sour, and sour things are appetizing in general, at least for me. I think I had about three of this... not worth $200 just for this though lola thumbs up for the okonomiyaki! very flavourful, lots of mayo and okonomiyaki sauce... what would normally cost about $100 for one I can get unlimited here! finally... an entree that I liked! woot! I wasn't sure what to expect when I read its name on the menu at first... the small circles that you see are balls of fried cheese, and the corresponding Chinese name is "a bite of cheese" ~ how fitting. The cheese wasn't very cheesy... as in it didn't have a strong flavour, but it was alright... the 年糕 had a vague cheese flavour as well. As a cheese lover, these two items get only a mediocre rating from me.Overall... the quality of the food here varied drastically. It's one of those places that I'll say I've been there done that, but probably won't be going back... at least anytime soon!…Read More

Came here for lunch on a Wednesday. The place was never fully packed even though we were there at peak lunch hour, which is a surprise as the food here is good! Only problem is there's very few waiters. At one point, only one sleepy-looking waiter was serving the entire room of customers. Lunch sets here are a bit pricier than the typical Wan Chai lunch, ranging around $80, but worth it. It's got four courses after all: miso soup, steamed egg custard, entree and then dessert. Both starters were quite disappointing, however. The soup was too salty (even for me... and I'm the type to add soy sauce to rice) and the egg custard was pretty plain. The mushroom in the custard had almost no taste. Maybe this meshes well with the overly salty soup, but I would've preferred if some of that sodium from the soup went to the egg. Thankfully, the food after was a lot better! The tempura was crispy and even came with a side of fatty tuna (though the fatty tuna was a bit too hard to chew). My mistake, however, was not ordering the spicy tuna rice that my friends ordered. I had a taste of the fish and it was fresh - chewy but not elastic. I'm not a huge fan of sashimi, but the spiciness masked the rawness. Generous portions too - one of my big-eater friends couldn't even finish the whole thing! For dessert, I went with the western choice of black sesame ice cream. Sweet with a strong black sesame taste, and not too milky - it was very good in my opinion!This place wasn't the best Japanese cuisine I've had, but I look forward to getting the spicy tuna rice next time! …Read More

I had brunch here a few weeks back with some friends, and think the branch in Causeway Bay is better than the one in Soho simply because there's more room inside. Got there at around noon and waited less than 15 minutes for a table ~ not bad for a Saturday! As always, I ordered eggs benedict, a brunch favorite, and the one with mushrooms was quite nice! The eggs were poached to perfection - thin layer of cooked egg white wrapping the liquid yolk. I was able to poke at it lightly a few times without it bursting. There was a good amount of Hollandaise sauce, enough to add sourness to the bun but not over the top so that it drowned out the plain yummyness of the egg. Drinks-wise, in addition to the usual coffees and teas, the restaurant offers a number of smoothie choices, including mango, pineapple and orange flavors. The mango smoothie was pretty bland, but still refreshing. I guess a bit more sugar to it wouldn't have hurt, or maybe I just prefer smoothies to be sweeter. At least it was healthy! The waiters were friendly for the most part... until the end. Don't decide to order muesli just for one when there's three of you. The waiter gave us an attitude when we told her we wanted just one order, but I'm glad we stuck with just one as the muesli turned out to be just alright anyway. Nothing really that special about plain yogurt, rolled oats and a limited assortment of fruits. Overall, a two thumbs up to the eggs benedict, a one thumb up to the mango smoothie, and the muesli was just okay.…Read More

It's not everyday that I go out of my familiar territory to try something different, and this was so different, in fact, that I would pay just for the experience itself. I have to admit that before coming here, I didn't even know where To Gwa Wan was. Definitely advise you to take a taxi here from Hung Hom, Yau Ma Tei or Mong Kok station unless you know precisely where the mini bus or bus will drop you off and how to walk to the venue. Tucked behind a long, shady-looking alleyway, this crowded shack offers a variety of seafood that you cook on a grill or in a pot. This place is definitely among the top three most local places I've been to in Hong Kong. And by "local", I mean that the atmosphere is festive and down-to-earth with a very homelike feeling. It's just so casual and chill - definitely a much humbler place compared to the restaurants I'm used to on the Island side. It's worth noting that this was the first time I stood up the whole time while eating. The smoke from the grill gets in your face when you're at seat level, so a lot of other patrons also opted to stand up. I'm a picky eater and not a big fan of seafood, but for all the meats and crustaceans I did try, I'd say the quality isn't bad, and the cleanliness... well, if it's been grilling or boiling in a pot long enough, it should be okay for your stomach. I didn't get sick at all. grilled to perfection, but hard to peel as you can see, we all stood around the table. The pot closer is spicy, while the one farther away is not. So much commotion at one table, lol!this was pretty good. It was dry after being on the grill for so long, but that's as expectedgood stuffsome stray cats roaming around... this one came to our tableDefinitely a nice step away from more refined dining :) …Read More

Loveee brunching on chill Sundays, and decided to try the semi-newly opened "American" restaurant at Civic Square in Elements. I recommend sitting on the upper level during the day as the dining room is comfy (aka spacious) and naturally well-lit with floor-to-ceiling windows (is there another word for those??)The setting, while praiseworthy, is most definitely NOT a positive indication of the food nor service, much to my disappointment.Talking first about service, the waiters and waitresses just... don't know how to wait on tables. It gets old, but often times a huge complaint for dissatisfied patrons is that they didn't refill your water. And yea, that's what happened here too despite the restaurant being mostly empty the whole time we were there (testimony perhaps to its sad service/food?) The service was also ssslllooowww. How long does it take to make a martini? (Ice, alcohol and pineapple slice does not equal 20 minutes) Amateurish much?Cost-wise, the lunch sets are decently priced... that is, until you take a bite out of their pulled pork ciabatta. Then you feel ripped off!the slushy martini wasn't bad. The liquid nitrogen, which the waiter spilled over my pants by the way, really wasn't necessary though and lasted a whopping 15 secondsclam chowder was a thumbs up. Lots of clams and not too watery. no to the ciabattas and prawns paninis, which have no real distinct taste. The burger one of my friends ordered that wasn't on the set lunch menu was quite good actually. It may have been that we ordered the wrong stuff. The check took a long time too. Not sure I'll be back until the waiters undergo some serious training! …Read More

I've yet to find a Super Monday venue that really "wows" me (besides Wagyu Lounge), and Barolo is no exception. Just another tight-knit space along the steps of Soho in my opinion: not bad, but not impressive. liked the mild tomato saucemmm peachyI thought the sauce was a bit too thick with not much taste to it. Felt almost like pasta I can make from a box. Liked the cute little pot though!a rather random finish, but it was complimentary so not gonna complain :) …Read More

If you're on a budget and want something simple/down-to-earth, then give this place a try. Definitely one of the better mom and pop shops in HK :) Not really sure what's so "chiu chow" about this place, maybe I need to come back and try some other things on their menusalty fish soup, but eh, it was complimentary with my rice meal so not gonna complain :) YUMMY! It's not that I'm easy to please, but sometimes it's the simple things that make life so awesome! Hot dogs... luncheon meat... egggg... :) they gave a bit more rice than necessary My co-worker ordered this... thus I can't comment... looks okay thoughProbably the only down side is that the place's situated in an alleyway with auto shops. We were sitting outside on a nice sunny day and definitely inhaled some gas …Read More

An all-you-can-eat 90-minute buffet at just below $200, Kichi Jyu is good value for the money. I normally wouldn't have thought twice about this place as buffets at this price must mean something's not right, but alas, after hearing how "awesome" this place was from several co-workers who've been (and reading other openrice reviews!) I decided to check it out. And indeeeed, the stuff here was pretty good!The down side: there's a couple. Firstly, the restaurant is NOT spacious, and they had to literally pull the table apart for me to get to my seat! (I hope they weren't trying to tell me something...lol) This means... you also HAVE to book in advance! They'll pester you (ie. call) a few times after you make a reservation just to make sure you're really coming, and they only hold a table for 5 minutes apparently, so be there on time. Finally, keep an eye on the time as they will kick you out after 1.5 hours (there's two sessions for the buffet - one starts at 6pm and the other starts at 8:45pm). They will not be shy about asking you to leave, either, but you'll understand why after you see the line going out the door.The up side: I liked how most of the items came in bite-sized portions, which leaves room for you to try a bunch of other things. I'm not a huge fan of sashimi and especially not the "fishy" taste, so I don't eat much more than tuna when it comes to raw fish. The chunks of tuna here aren't too different from average. Same goes for the tamago egg.Personally, I like everything flavorful and saucy... and the mushrooms lacked that. They were also a bit on the dry side. The baked salmon with butter was yummy, though the salmon used for it was a bit fatty. Compound that with the butter and it feels like you're eating a load of fat... but it was still delicious haha. HUGE YES to the scallops!!! Not sure what the sauce was, but it tasted like oyster sauce. Not too salty and the scallops were fresh and chewy - wish they sold this stuff in street stalls! A semi-sweet milky soup in a relatively generous portionIt was alright... couldn't taste much crab in it, but I like even plain congee so this will pass in my bookIt's not that it was really that bad, but I'd recommend saving your stomach for the bite-sized snacks, tempura and sushi! The sauce used for this udon dish tasted the same as the tempura sauce. The good thing is that it's not as oily as I expected. Again, it's served in a generous portionI didn't take a picture of the pork cutlet rice, or 滑蛋吉烈豬叭飯... but my two cents on it... the pork cutlet was soggy and too heavily batteredNevertheless, for the price, the quantity and the overall quality of the food (mainly referring to the snacks), I'll definitely be back! …Read More