Forget the pit, there are new options for barbecue lovers in Hong Kong
Autumn in Hong Kong usually means heading out to a barbecue pit, but some places offer a little extra, writes Vanessa Yung
and that means it's barbecue time. In countries with more space, that would mean firing-up the backyard barbie, but in Hong Kong it means heading out to a public barbecue pit. Hongkongers love to barbecue so much they have invented their own way of doing it: each person stands around the fire holding a two-pronged fork to char their own meat, brushing the food with honey before it's done to give it a sweet glaze.
Whether you prefer to head to the barbecue pits in the countryside, or to the growing number of barbecue cafes in commercial or industrial buildings in the city, there's something for everyone. The four destinations we're featuring all do barbecue with charcoal - something which adds a nice smokiness to the meat. And they do it all for you - from starting the fire to preparing the ingredients, even cleaning up the mess afterwards.
The motto at this party centre, which opened in August, is "My home to let". The aim is to provide a comfortable, home-like space for people to throw parties, without the normal problems of trying to entertain in flats that are too small, and without having to clean up.
Located on the fifth floor of an industrial building in Kwun Tong, the 2,000 sq ft space has a spacious living room with an open kitchen and three different themed rooms. There's the "girlish" room (decorated with lace, floral wallpaper and bell jars), and one with British and northern European designs.
But one of the most popular spots is the barbecue garden - an outdoor area next to the colourful Kidult room, which has glass panels overlooking the tile-lined terrace. The barbecue garden can be reserved with a minimum of eight people, and with a group of more than 15 people the Kidult room can be secured free of charge, too.
"The barbecue garden is seldom shared for optimal privacy," says founder Philip Wong. "The Kidult room is great for those having a barbecue. It's especially good for families, because parents barbecuing on the terrace can keep an eye on their children in the room, where they are entertained by television, board games, and toys. Adults can opt to play mahjong in the room, too," Wong says.
Hide n" Seek charges per head, and the price varies depending on the food. There are basic packages and more expensive treats such as those with Angus beef and seafood. The fee includes unlimited soft drinks. Guests can bring their own food, and there's no service, corkage or cake charge.
Joe Chan, the owner, can talk at length about the reasons that upstairs barbecue places in urban areas are becoming more popular. "Transport is convenient. There are no mosquitoes. You can enjoy your food in a nicely air-conditioned lounge and drink a cocktail whenever you feel like one," he says.
He opened his first J1 Club in Tsim Sha Tsui to offer a more versatile bar experience. The place has beer pong tables, electronic dart machines, karaoke facilities, private rooms and a barbecue terrace that can house up to 80.
They serve an all-you-can eat buffet of 30 types of food; guests can do the grilling themselves or have the staff do the job for no extra charge. There is a surcharge for seafood and wagyu beef, both of which must be ordered in advance.
For those who don't feel like socialising with strangers, each VIP room in the six-month old branch on Carnarvon Road has its own balcony and dedicated stove.
Looking forward to an urban escape at the weekend where you can stretch out and enjoy a little bit more space? Whitehead Club is an all-in-one option that allows guests to barbecue and enjoy other outdoor activities. While adults can spend time on the golf course, children can enjoy the game booths, the large-scale bouncy castle and the rented bicycles.
That's all great, but the club isn't the easiest place to get to. Are they worried about competition from the budding urban barbecue sites? "Not at all," says Shum Cho-kwam, sales and marketing manager of the recreation club. "Our site is huge and can house up to 3,000 guests without it ever feeling crowded.
"It's worth your while travelling all the way here. Where else can you see the sunset in Tolo Harbour while you barbecue? Some hate barbecues because they can be very stuffy and smoky. Not here - we have a natural sea breeze."
What's more, not many other places offer the option to roast a whole suckling pig. Don't worry about cooking experience: each pig comes with a "handbook" to teach you how to do it the right way.
Instructions on how to properly roast other popular items, such as pipa duck and whole chicken, will be available soon. You can order from an à la carte menu of more than 70 items, including prawns, waygu beef and jade spiral shell, or choose one of their combos.
In May, they launched Full House, an air-conditioned cargo container equipped with karaoke machine, mahjong tables and outside barbecue facilities. It is popular, even during the summer low season, says Shum.
Other than Thai food, one of our favourite stops after a day of cycling in rural Tai Mei Tuk is this all-you-can-eat venue which is always packed during weekends. It's an affordable place, with more than 60 food items to choose from, including lamb rack, chicken kidneys and saury fish.
Most items, including the vegetables, are skewered on bamboo sticks and laid on the rack over the small charcoal stove. To give the food the flavour of Chongqing (awkwardly translated as Chung King in the name), each table comes with jars of chilli and cumin powder, as well as soy sauce mixed with herbs, an alternative to the sweetness of honey.
Some dishes, such as tiger prawns and clams in a clay pot, need a ticket, as do soft drinks. But aside from those, you can grab as much food as you want from the buffet room.
Just ignore that little voice reminding you that, although you worked off a few calories while cycling, you'll be putting them back on here.
Let someone else do the work
Don't you wish someone else would put up with the heat and smell of the grill? At these destinations, the work is done for you.
This Mong Kok hotel has a festive barbecue buffet dinner from December 15-26 in the alfresco lounge, The Backyard. Think wagyu beef skewers, kurobuta pork chops and Norwegian salmon steaks. Each guest receives half a New England lobster with garlic-herb butter, an imported craft beer and a glass of Lungarotti Brezza Rosso wine from Umbria.
Inside at The Place, there's buffet lunch and dinner with more than 80 dishes.
The buffet at this German restaurant in Wan Chai has a live cooking station with meat and seafood skewers . There are also plenty of appetisers, a pork knuckle carving station, plus free-flow draught beers and ice cream, every Thursday to Saturday from 6pm.
A three-hour barbecue buffet dinner with lamb chops, suckling pig and beef steaks is held on the final Friday of each month in the alfresco area at this Italian restaurant. The price includes other all-you-can-eat dishes and desserts, and free-flow beer and wine.
The highlights of this all-you-can-eat barbecue dinner at the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin, include sea-salt roasted pork belly, chilli tiger prawns and rib-eye steaks. Included are hot and cold dishes and desserts, during weekends, public holidays and holiday eves.
