Favourite restaurants, cafes and bars of Gloria Chung, Hong Kong-born food and travel writer
Chung tells us where she goes in Hong Kong for a decadent breakfast, milk tea and cocktails, the best places for lunch on a summer’s day and the best kept secret for a date night, plus some hot tips for Manila dining
When I feel like a fancy breakfast I’ll go to the lobby of The Peninsula (22 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2696 6772). The warm morning sunlight makes it feel so calm and blissed out. It does a really good traditional congee, I also love the lobster and truffle sausage and the bircher muesli.
I live in Yuen Long and my family’s favourite cha chaan teng is Man Fong Cafe (Chee King Garden, 35-55 Kin Tak Street, Yuen Long, tel: 2870 2777). We love the delicious milk tea and “swiss” [dark soy sauce] chicken wings.
For a quick and quality lunch, try Potato Head (100 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun, tel: 2858 3036). It’s the best Indonesian food in Hong Kong and perfect in this humid and hot weather.
Another good option for summer is Hokkaidon (Shop 313, 3/F, Cityplaza, 18 Taikoo Shing Road, Quarry Bay, tel: 2577 0828) for its donburi with fresh sashimi. You don’t want to miss the overflowing salmon fish roe rice.
I’m a coffee addict and there are two new cafes that are my current favourites. Halfway Coffee (12 Tung Street, Sheung Wan, tel: 9511 7197) serves fantastic coffee. It’s served in beautiful vintage cups and glasses collected by barista/owner Tommy Chui. The cafe aims to serve the community and share Hong Kong culture.
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Amber Coffee Brewery (Full View Building, 142 Des Voeux Road Central, tel: 3106 0872) is another new favourite. Try the hand-dripped coffee by Hong Kong barista champion Dawn Chan. He always surprises me with they way he can change the taste profile of the beans by the way he drips. I had the best piccolo latte in Hong Kong there.
When I need a drink, I go to Dr. Ferns Gin Parlour (Shop B31A, B/F, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central, tel: 2111 9449). I always ask Gerry the mixologist to make me a “Dr’s prescription” and he will come up with the exact cocktail I need at that moment.
If I go with a group of friends, I like the vibe and the varieties of craft beer in Second Draft (98 Tung Lo Wan Road,Tai Hang. tel: 2656 0232). It does awesome food, too.
For a night out, apart from Caprice, try The Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel (8 Finance Street, Central, tel: 3196 8820). Executive chef Andrea Accordi cooks the best ravioli, and the à la carte items are comparable to any Michelin-star restaurant. It’s quiet at night after the afternoon tea crowd, making it the best kept secret for a date night.
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If I’m with a group of friends, we go to Yuet Wah Wui Seafood Restaurant (2/F-3/F Chung Wai Commercial Building, 447-449 Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay, tel: 2394 9928). All the Cantonese dishes are really good. We like the chicken with ginger and scallions, as well as the clams with fish soup.
When I need to stock up my pantry, I head to Rondavy’s Artisan Kitchen (11/F, Bartlock Centre, 3 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay, tel: 2893 2128) for its new “sconkies” [scones+cookies]. They come in various flavours, but I like ginger the most.
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I travel a lot for work and was recently in Manila for Madrid Fusion, where I was impressed by the booming food scene. If you’re there for the first time, try Toyo Eatery (Building C, Karrivin Plaza, 2316 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati 1231, Metro Manila, tel: +63 917 720 8630) and Manam (4th Avenue, Net Park Building, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, tel: +63 2 332 9390). The former serves contemporary cuisine with Filipino ingredients and the latter serves traditional Filipino food in a modern setting.
