Get more with myNEWS

A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you

Learn more

A new branch of Thai restaurant Khao San at The Wai mall in Tai Wai, in Hong Kong’s New Territories, is among this month’s restaurant openings in the city. Photo: Khao San

Lifestyle Food & Drink

14 best new restaurants and cafes to try in Hong Kong in August 2023, for Michelin-star tempura from Japan, Thai street food, treats for you and your dog, and more

New mall The Wai has a slew of restaurants, including Southeast Asian food favourites and a new branch of one of Hong Kong’s most beloved coffee chains
A branch of a two-Michelin-star tempura restaurant in Hokkaido, Japan, opens, and a new Shake Shack in Kwai Fong and a Southside bakery both welcome pet dogs

Food and Drinks

Lisa Cam

Published: 12:45pm, 3 Aug 2023

Why you can trust SCMP

This summer is proving to be a scorcher in Hong Kong, and there are some hot new restaurant openings in the city to match.

Harbour City mall, in the city’s Tsim Sha Tsui neighbourhood, has just announced the launch of a restaurant by Sichuan cuisine specialist Kenny Chan Kai-tak.

There are also plenty of places to eat opening at the new The Wai mall in Tai Wai, in the New Territories.

An offshoot of a two-Michelin-star tempura restaurant has opened in Central, and a barbecue restaurant serving Hokkaido-style lamb has landed in Causeway Bay – so there’s plenty to try if you’re not off to Japan this summer.

A selection of dim sum at Azure 80. Photo: Azure 80

1. Azure 80

Azure 80 is Hong Kong’s newest dining destination for Shanghainese and Sichuan food. Overlooking Victoria Harbour, it has palatial interiors and a stylish cocktail bar.

Deep-fried diced chicken and lobster with chilli at Azure 80. Photo: Azure 80

Chefs Kenny Chan Kai-tak, previously of Yun Yan and Sichuan Lab, and Andy Lau Wing-yuen reimagine Shanghainese and Sichuan food with dishes such as eel-stuffed pork intestines with chilli, and elegantly presented sliced pork with garlic and poached chicken in Sichuan chilli sauce.

Shop OTE 201, Level 2, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui

2. Tempura Araki

Tempura Araki, a two-Michelin-star tempura restaurant in Hokkaido, Japan, has opened its first outpost in Hong Kong’s Central neighbourhood. The brand is known for its attention to detail when it comes to cooking tempura, from the temperature of the oil to the control of the heat.

5/F, 10 Wellington Street, Central

3. Mount Yotei

At Mount Yotei, named after a peak in Hokkaido, the name of which translates as “sheep’s hoof mountain”, diners can enjoy yakiniku – Japanese grilled meats – with a particular focus on rare and little-known lamb cuts popular in the region.

Alongside grilled meats, the menu includes side dishes like lamb soup, as well as non-lamb appetisers such as abalone.

26/F, L’ Hart, 487-489 Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay

12 new Hong Kong bars and restaurants in July 2023, for ramen and more

4. Cview

On the 16th floor of M+ museum, in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District, Cview offers captivating views of Victoria Harbour. The restaurant’s menu, by head chef Yat Ming-tsui, features dishes from China’s Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces and Shanghai, including steamed freshwater herring and Huadiao wine-marinated drunken chicken.

16/F, M+, 38 Museum Drive, West Kowloon Cultural District

5. The Square

The latest trendy cafe-restaurant in Sai Kung embraces the laid-back spirit of the seaside neighbourhood.

The two-storey establishment is pet-friendly and the menu blends European and Asian flavours and prioritises local produce, with items such as chicken and waffle, and whole lobster burger.

Slow-cooked crispy pork at The Square. Photo: The Square

The Square also offers sandwiches, wraps, pastries, and more.

22 Wan King Path, Sai Kung

6. Longtail

The interior of Longtail in Causeway Bay. Photo: Longtail Thai

Longtail Thai restaurant and cocktail bar has opened its doors on Fashion Walk’s Food Street, in Causeway Bay, serving affordable Thai street food. The green curry is made with free-range chicken, while the pla tod samun prai features whole deep-fried line-caught local sea bass.

Diners can eat alfresco or inside, where there are views of the open kitchen.

Shop C, G/F Towning Mansion, 50 Paterson Street, Causeway Bay

7. Stumpy Bakery

Rambo the Corgi is Stumpy Bakery’s mascot and the inspiration behind the cafe. Photo: Stumpy Bakery

Stumpy Bakery, in the pet-friendly Arcade mall at Cyberport, in Pok Fu Lam, is inspired by the owner’s corgi, Rambo, and serves made-to-order sandwiches, salads, pasta dishes and signature items like the Corgi Butt Bread to bring joy to fans of the breed. A range of dog-friendly treats is also available.

Shop 105, Level 1, The Arcade at Cyberport, 100 Cyberport Road, Pok Fu Lam

8. AFK

Opening its doors on August 7th, AFK (Away from Keyboard) is a grab-and-go deli that aims to change perceptions of what healthy food is. The menu offers a range of “Rolls”, and “Box” options like the 30-hour sous vide brisket box and the 24-hour sous vide char siu box.

A lighter option is the shredded chicken box with home-made pesto and Turkish tomato sauce.

Shop HOK 66, Hong Kong MTR Station, Central

9. Khao San

Thai-style curry crab at Khao San. Photo: Khao San

Khao San’s new branch at The Wai mall in Tai Wai offers Thai delicacies in a bistro setting with a wood-heavy interior with green accents and rattan furniture.

The menu offers street food such as satay skewers, spicy papaya salad, and jumbo grilled squid. Curry options include green curry lamb chop and curry crab, and the drinks and desserts include lemongrass mojito and tricolour glutinous rice with mango.

Shop 431, 4/F, 18 Che Kung Miu Road, Tai Wai

Too hot for hotpot? What to eat on sizzling summer days to stay cool

10. Nove at Galleria

Nove, a contemporary dim sum lounge that also serves innovative cocktails, has moved a few hundred metres from its previous location on Li Yuen Street East in Central to The Galleria mall.

The new multilevel space offers leisurely lunches and gourmet dinners. Nove’s menu consists of handcrafted dim sum, with a new addition to the menu being Peking duck, which is available in half portions.

The dining room at Nove Galleria. Photo: Nove Galleria

G06, The Galleria, 9 Queen’s Road Central, Central

11. Lung Chong

Following its success in Wan Chai, Lung Chong has opened a new outlet in Tai Koo, in the east of Hong Kong Island, with a focus on innovative dim sum paired with traditional Hong Kong dishes.

Blanched pork liver and kidneys and Lung Chong. Photo: Lung Chong

On the menu are eight different styles of siu mai – including black garlic and spicy lobster broth. Signature dishes like the Lung Crab, in which crabmeat is accompanied by fried rice rolls, are also available at the new location.

Shop 2, 8/F, 1001 King’s Road, Quarry Bay

12. Nha Trang

The interior of the new branch of Nha Trang Vietnamese restaurant, at The Wai mall in Tai Wai, was designed by Betty Ng of Hong Kong architecture firm The Collective Studio – her work also includes Penicillin cocktail bar and Spanish fine-dining restaurant Agora, in Central.

Shop 425, 4/F, The Wai, 18 Che Kung Miu Road, Tai Wai

13. Shake Shack

The outdoor area at Shake Shack’s new Kwai Fong location. Photo: Shake Shack

Shake Shack’s newest location at Metroplaza shopping centre in Kwai Fong is a pet-friendly alfresco spot that celebrates the special bond between customers and their furry friends.

The opening will also see the return of the chain’s limited-edition barbecue menu, with items such as the BBQ ShackMeister burger and BBQ bacon cheese fries available until October 10.

Shop 488-490, Level 4, Metroplaza, Kwai Fong

14. Noc

Iced Pandan Cococoffee is exclusive to Noc’s new location at The Wai. Photo: Noc

Noc’s new location at The Wai mall in Tai Wai spans over 3,000 sq ft (280 square metres) with huge panoramic windows and the brand’s signature minimalist interiors. Noc’s new Iced Pandan Cococoffee – a mixture of coconut water, espresso and pandan extract, topped with a layer of foamy milk – is exclusive to this branch.

Unit 430, 4/F, The Wai, 18 Che Kung Miu Road, Tai Wai

Post