Where to eat hotpot, teppanyaki and Chinese desserts in Hong Kong: a pie-loving Englishman’s go-to restaurants
- Rob Davenport is an Englishman who loves his pie and mash. He reveals his favourite places to eat Chinese comfort food and satisfy his sweet tooth
- He likes the lobster and abalone at Lamma’s Rainbow Restaurant, and the hike afterwards, and goes to high-end hotel restaurants for clay pot rice and teppanyaki
Rob Davenport is the founder and CEO of the TaKe Group, an eco-minded enterprise creating Japanese-inspired household products and kitchenware using renewable and sustainable bamboo from its own farms and factories. He spoke to Andrew Sun.
As a child, I grew up in a green area in Cheshire, outside Manchester [in northwest England]. We had an allotment, growing all sorts of vegetables. It was a working-class upbringing and it put me close to the land.
We preserved things, made jam and pickled beetroot. It also made me understand where things come from and their carbon impact.
For me a splurge is Nadaman (7/F, Island Shangri-La Hong Kong, Two Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, tel: 2820 8570). Splurge for me is not just high-end Michelin stars. It’s having a good experience with friends or family. Teppanyaki really brings everyone together, with a little sake.
I really like The Legacy House (5/F, Rosewood Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 3891 8732). The clay pot rice is tasty. I normally get the preserved meats option.
Again, it’s good for sharing, and has a nice view. I also think it’s well priced for the standard of food.
I like going to Lamma Island’s Rainbow Restaurant (23-27 First Street, Sok Kwu Wan, tel: 2982 8100) for seafood. It’s a good weekend experience and you can get on their boat from Central or Tsim Sha Tsui, have lunch, then go for a hike. The lobster and abalone are fresh and very tasty.
Another thing I like is that they have a fish farm.
I love Taipei and its night markets, so one of my comfort-food places is Pun’s Food (11 Pak Sha Road, Causeway Bay, tel: 2468 4668). There’s a good selection of reasonably priced dishes.
Dim sum, gelato and oh, the decor – a designer’s Hong Kong food picks
One of my favourite dishes is the vegetarian dish, Buddha’s delight rice and the authentic Taiwanese market-style chicken. Pun’s three treasure with chicken, sausage and sticky rice is very comforting, too.
I have a big sweet tooth for Chinese desserts like almond tea, sesame soup and baked sago pudding. Lotus Garden (Shop D, G/F, 51A Sing Woo Road, Happy Valley, tel: 2891 5569) is my go-to place. It fuels my running. I used to have it every day, even at 1am.
It is a classic family-owned enterprise that’s been there forever.
I like taking visitors to local places with a twist, like Mott 32 (Basement, Standard Chartered Bank Building, 4-4A Des Voeux Road, Central, tel: 2885 8688). The char siu and duck is absolutely delicious, and the setting is nice.
Another highlight is the Australian lobster har gau.
Hotpot is also a nice experience. Lau Haa Hot Pot Restaurant (shop A, Block A, Lockhart House, 441 Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay, tel: 2214 9388) is decorated like old-school Hong Kong in a downstairs space, very cosy and well priced.
One thing I miss from the UK is good pie and mash. The Pie Room in the Rosewood, London (252 High Holborn, London, tel: +44 20 3747 8633), does amazing pies you can eat in or take away, like chicken and tarragon.
In terms of the sweet stuff, apple and rhubarb crumble with custard is comforting. I highly recommend it.
