A slew of restaurant openings in Hong Kong will kick-start 2023 in the best way possible – and offer a spectrum of new flavours. Two fine-dining veterans have combined to launch their own venture, while branches of old favourites have found new neighbourhoods. A new omakase restaurant, a freshly minted Korean steakhouse as well as Italian comfort food places have all opened in Central on Hong Kong Island, while a noodle shop with a cult following and a Spanish bakery join the fold in Causeway Bay. Read on to see which new experiences you may want to try to start the year. 1. JJJ Korean Steakhouse & Bar Fans of Hanwoo will now have a new spot in Wyndham Street, Central, in which to sample the best cuts of the prestigious Korean beef. Sink your teeth into some dry-aged Hanwoo rib-eye paired with caviar, premium beef in a bibimbap, or luxurious Hanwoo bone marrow in rice. Shop 03, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham St, Central View this post on Instagram A post shared by RACINES (@racines.hk) 2. Racines Meaning “roots” in French, this Sheung Wan restaurant was opened by Romaine Dupeyre and Adrien Castillo, previously of Petrus and Caprice respectively, and serves southwestern French cuisine. It is a tiny place with only 14 seats, and the kitchen turns out refined fare that might include red mullet with beetroot, orange and sauce diable , or pigeon with licorice, aubergines and anchovies. 22 Upper Station St, Sheung Wan View this post on Instagram A post shared by Filo Cibo e Vino (@filociboevino) 3. Filo Cibo e Vino A cosy Italian restaurant has opened on Staunton Street in Soho. Look forward to mouth-watering ossobuco, or braised veal, and freshly made pastas with duck ragu . At happy hour draught beers, house wines and spirits, prosecco and Negronis are HK$40 (US$5) – an absolute steal for Central district. UG/F Ming Hing House, 52-56 Staunton Street, Soho, Central 4. 69 on Jervois Those with a hankering for British cuisine can cast their eyes towards Sheung Wan. At 69 on Jervois, culinary director Danielle Giambattista delivers British comfort food dishes, some with a Hong Kong twist – think Welsh rarebit (toast with cheese sauce) and lap cheong, a sweet dried sausage. There’s also crispy haggis balls – Scottish comfort food in bite-sized portions. G/F, The Chelsea, 69 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan 5. Sushi Mew A Japanese restaurant offering a new omakase experience has opened in the middle of Central. Everything, from the ingredients to the decor, is flown in from Japan. Not only is there seafood, such as abalone from the Yamaguchi region, but a big selection of sake. 3/F, 118 Queen’s Road Central, Central 6. Bistro G’Day A laid-back Australian-style bistro has opened on the sleepy slopes of Hill Road in Sai Wan. Diners can treat themselves to classic seafood platters with fresh mussels, scallops and tiger prawns, and pan-fried Wagyu beef picanha with salsa and black garlic sauce. Happy hours are a free-flow affair, available every day for HK$228. G/F, Nam Cheong Building, 48-52 Hill Road, Sai Wan View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hao Tang Hao Mian (@haotanghaomian) 7. Hao Tang Hao Mian Hong Kong diners love their noodles, so they will be glad to hear that this famous institution in Tai Wai in the New Territories has opened its first branch in Causeway Bay. Slurp down a bowl of “ Buddha jumps over the wall ” – a stew famous for its premium ingredients, such as fish maw – noodle soup, or grab some black noodles with Hokkaido squid. Shop B, G/F, Florida Mansion, 9 Cleveland Street, Causeway Bay 8. Bape Cafe The Bathing Ape clothing label has added a cafe to one of its stores in the Gateway Arcade, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Patrons can look forward to a menu filled with dishes made from Japanese ingredients, such as miso white cod fish with mashed potato, creamy lobster linguine with scallops, hazelnut chocolate cake and the Bape ice-cream waffle. Shop G301, G/F, Gateway Arcade, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui 9. Crust Sorrento Crust is opening its third outlet, in Tseung Kwan O. The pasticceria ristorante features an authentic Neapolitan “grab and go” pastry shop and regional pizzas, focaccias, pastas, salads and desserts for those who want to dine in. Happy hour runs from 3pm to 7pm on weekdays, where merrymakers can sip on red, white or sparkling wine, and beer, for HK$38 a glass. Shop 5, G/F, The Monterey Complex, 23 Tong Chun St, Tseung Kwan O View this post on Instagram A post shared by KIN KAO Thai Noddles (@kin__kao) 10. Kin Kao Tang Lung Street has added another noodle specialist to its culinary line-up, with the opening of the second branch of a popular Wan Chai Thai restaurant. Known for its punchy noodle dishes, from intensely flavoured beef boat noodles to creamy chicken khao soi , this place is already a lunchtime favourite. 36 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay View this post on Instagram A post shared by DARA (@dara_hkg) 11. Dara This modern Filipino restaurant has been opened by chef Imelda Santos Bunoan, who hails from Pampanga in the Philippines. Dara is Pampangan slang for “auntie”, and the name reflects the homestyle flavours of her menu, which includes dishes such as sizzling sisig , lechon kawali and pancit palabok . Artisan House, 1/F, Shop 6, 1 Sai Yuen Lane, Sai Ying Pun 12. Oniku Kappo Jikon This elegant restaurant – which can only serve nine diners max – specialises in Wagyu sourced from Tokyo’s century-old beef purveyor Wagyu Hiyama, and features a lengthy tasting menu that charts the seasons through the produce used. Highlights include the rather extravagant “uni hot dog” and flame-grilled Wagyu beef tongue. Shop 506, 5/F, K11 Musea, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui 11. La Vina Spanish bakery La Vina has opened a branch in the World Trade Centre in Causeway Bay. You can get its famous Basque burnt cheesecake but you should also try the tiramisu cups and the Uji red matcha bean cream cakes, as well as pastries such as the coconut buttercream croissants. Shop G-09, G/F, World Trade Centre, 280 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay 12. Shikigiku Cafe & Bar Large glass windows welcome diners to experience Shikigiku during happy hour or for a quick lunch, with mini okonomiyaki, a Japanese savoury pancake, and Wagyu beef sandos on the menu as well as a selection of cakes and cocktails. Level 4, IFC Mall, 8 Finance Street, Central 13. BaseHall 2 This 18,000 sq ft (1,670 square metre) space in the basement of Jardine House in Central features Michelin-recommended dishes from all over Hong Kong. The concepts include Artifact, an 18-seat chef’s counter, a soon-to-be-opened speakeasy and a gourmet supermarket launching later in 2023. LG/F, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central 14. Big Buns This newly opened sandwich shop in Wan Chai offers deliciously dirty sandwiches such as The Chick, a combination of scrambled eggs, American cheese and sweet caramelised onion jam between warmed brioche buns. The Grilled Cheese is not to be missed, with its blend of sharp cheddar and mozzarella, home-made cilantro relish and kewpie mayo on toasted sourdough. Shop G16, Emperor Group Centre, 288 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai