Dinner Is Back On!

 

We’re gung-ho for food in Hong Kong!

We even heaved a collective sigh of relief when the government lifted the dine-in restrictions after a 10-week hiatus. Cooking dinner for your family is great but doing that night after night gets a bit intense! So, if you’re as excited as us to make dinner reservations, checkout our guide of the most exciting eats in the city:

 

1. TMK Rap & Rolls

 

 

The latest entrant to the tempi-style sushi roll, Pirata Group’s signature Temakeria launches its second edition in Wan Chai on the Moon Street.

This wild, punk rocker of a venue is unabashedly loud and indulges you in lip-smacking, bold pan-Asian flavours with delicious, chilled sake. The standout items are their classic hand rolls and the TMK salad – a hearty, crunchy mix oozing with flavours.

Vegetarians and vegans will not feel left out – the menu has crafted some surprisingly appetising bowls.

Note: TMK Rap & Rolls is set to open from Tuesday, 10 February. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.

 

TMK Rap & Rolls, 17A Moon Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong; +852 2662 2269

 

2. Lucciola Restaurant & Bar

 

 

A modern twist on a pan-Italian classic menu, renowned Chef Francesco Gava offers an indulgent, authentic, traditional menu with the finest tastes and flavours.

Located at The Hari, Aron Harilela’s new luxury hotel in Wan Chai aims to pay a premium tribute to Italian dishes from all over the country and upgrade them with the finest, freshest seasonal ingredients.

The restaurant offers heritage recipes perfected over generations of Chef Gava’s family – spaghetti with Sicilian anchovies, garlic with ample of Tomino cheese, and the Fresh tagliatelle with Piedmontese frog legs, amongst others.

The retro-chic interiors, with muted green and warm ambers, encapsulate the cheerful spirit of Italy. Large angled ceilings create a perpetual flow of natural light; Lucciola, is a breath of indulgent air.

A special occasion or an intimate meal, tuck into Lucciola’s indulgent menu and do not miss the Tiramisu – heard it’s the most delicious bite in all of Hong Kong!

 

Lucciola, 1/F, The Hari Hong Kong, 330 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong; +852 2129 0388

 

3. Carbone 

 

 

Elegant, impressive yet unpretentious – Carbone serves New York-style Italian food in Hong Kong. The decor, lights and mood will stoke The Godfather nostalgia; waiters here are dressed perfectly in tuxedos. The food pays a homage to the impeccably prepared mid-20th century Italinao Americano cuisine which was all about comfort, ample portions and crowd-pleasing options. The Linguini Vongole on their menu is a big hit – so fresh and eclectic, it’s elevated to an altogether new level!

We are jonesing for a night out with friends and their lemon cheesecake – equal bits lemony and creamy, almost like a dream in your mouth.

 

Carbone, 9/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2593 2593

 

4. Ma… and The Seeds of Life

 

 

Hardcore carnivore? Give a chance to the many plant-based eateries which have popped up in Hong Kong. You’d be pleasantly surprised with all sorts of spells the chefs are casting on vegetables these days.

Who would’ve thought that going meatless is a breeze in the SAR today, thanks to the many vegan fixtures which are changing the dining scene, one hearty plate at a time. The newest entrant, Ma… and The Seeds of Life, is an ode to harm-free, raw, flavourful and rich fine dining experience.

French jewellery designer-turned chef Tina Barrat titillates the palate with a wide spread of delicious canapés, a health-conscious selection of small savoury bites – we absolutely loved the chiaviar, sour cream and quinoa blinis here and the orange fennel soup and salads are creative yet oozing with taste – and a meticulous menu of raw and cooked mains. Wash it down with their organic, biodynamic wines. We wrapped up our meal with their Classic “Tinamisu” – a delectable, gluten-free delight.

 

Ma, Shop 11, 1/F, H18 Conet, 23 Graham Street, Central, Hong Kong; +852 3165 1717

 

5. OBP

 

 

Modern wooden booths, metallic archways and a green living wall – SOHO’s newest speakeasy, OBP, is a tribute to the iconic alcohol houses (sool-jip) found all over South Korea.

Boasting of eclectic and funky tipples, the cocktail menu is a mix of light and elegant drinks. Don’t miss the Korean sake (rice wine) or the Dokdo (sour apple) gimlet which team perfectly well with their street-food inspired sides.

Keeping the current COVID-19 restrictions in mind, OBP is open from noon to 10pm daily, but the plan is to operate from 6pm to 2 am when all’s eventually well!

 

OBP, 3-5 Old Bailey Street, Central, Hong Kong 

 

6. Passepartout Brunch & Coffee

 

 

In a quaint corner of the bustling Lockhart Road, a tiny bistro is scoring gastronomical points and serving Parisian vibes.  Named after the fictional character in Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days, this petite cafe offers a slew of authentic globetrotting dishes amidst cosy surrounds.

Surprisingly, the chef crafts almost everything from scratch.

And we mean everything – their unique ice creams to intriguing mains, deliciously fresh seasonal pastries to India-inspired butter chicken masala waffles or their take on rice patties and onsen eggs with tender slabs of char siu. Yokohoma, a hearty bowl of Japanese comfort food, is enough to get our hearts craving for some much-needed travel!

 

Passepartout Brunch & Coffee, Chung Wai Commercial Building, Shop 2, 447-449 Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong; +852 2882 0828