Where a Eurasian in Hong Kong likes to eat Asian food, and where she goes for fun, and fancy, nights out

Tina Herms McAfee is a big fan of Yardbird, Uma Nota, and Kokomi’s in Admiralty. For high-end Thai food, she heads to Aaharn at Tai Kwun and the new Samsen

Carbone is one of her go-to places for a fun evening, and with an office in Quarry Bay, she knows the perfect place out east for an after-work glass of rosé

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Steamed red curry of lobster with young coconut and Thai basil at Aaharn in Central, one of Tina Herms McAfee’s go-to places in Hong Kong for high-end Thai food. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 12:44pm, 9 Mar 2020Updated: 12:57pm, 9 Mar 2020

Half German, half Chinese, Tina Herms McAfee is the marketing director of hospitality-led premium co-working space operator The Great Room in Quarry Bay.

I love Asian food. My go-to and comfort food would be Thai, dim sum and Japanese. I will admit that my husband is the foodie in our relationship, so he is the one introducing me to all the newest spots around town.

Yardbird (154-158 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan, tel: 2547 9273) is hands down one of my go-to spots for casual weekday meal or a fun weekend dinner. They are super friendly and the food is always consistent. My staples include KFC – Korean fried cauliflower – the Yardbird caesar, the chicken meatball dipped in egg yolk, and the sweetcorn tempura.

Uma Nota (38 Peel Street, SoHo, tel: 2889 7576) is another favourite for the Brazil-Japanese inspired menu. It’s casual, the food is super yummy and the vibe is always fun. Some of my picks are coxinhas de frango – chicken and okra dumplings with home-made chilli sauce – the ceviche guaya, and a variety of skewers.

Glory salad from Uma Nota, in Peel Street, Central. Tina Herms McAfee recommends the coxinhas de frango, ceviche guaya, and the skewers.

I crave Kokomi’s (Shop 002, LG1/F, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, tel: 2386 1255) salmon and rice tea soup. It’s a great restaurant for a yummy and quick bite.

Thai is one of my weaknesses and a great little shop near work is Thai Kitchen (16 Hoi Tai Street, Quarry Bay), run by a lovely lady and her two Thai chefs. I regularly order the chanatcha’s fried egg, but occasionally I will sneak a hot basil mixed pork with egg.