New & noted: Zen, Wan Chai – a satisfying mix of old school and hip dishes for all tastes
From traditional char siu and sizzling Chinese lettuce hotpot to the funky pan-fried king prawns and clams with vegetables in red fermented wine paste, this enjoyable menu celebrates both new and old cuisines
Those of you with long memories will remember Zen back when it was in Pacific Place. By the time it closed in 2013, it was getting a bit tired, and wasn’t anything I would have recommended. On the other hand, Zen Too – a younger, hipper reincarnation that existed for only two years – was excellent, and we were sorry to see it go in 2016.
So what was Zen – the newest version, in Wan Chai – going to be: old-school and mediocre, or young, hip and delicious?
I’m happy to say it’s the best of both. It’s an elegant, quiet and discreet space with a menu of both classic and inventive dishes, that were – with one exception – very well done.
The manager who took our order was helpful and steered us away from dishes he thought weren’t up to scratch.
We ordered several dishes from the snack section of the menu. Deep-fried crispy baby oysters Taiwanese style (HK$68) were delicious – a plate piled high with small juicy oysters that had a thin crust.