Architect Frank Leung's favourite restaurants in Hong Kong
Leung is spoilt for choice when it comes to Chinese and Asian cuisine in Sheung Wan where he lives, loves Epure for its design, and enjoys going to restaurants where knows the chef and staff well
I enjoy having the right meal at the right time and the right place. For example, I'm thoroughly satisfied with beef brisket noodle or laksa for a quick lunch, as much as I enjoy a treat at The Peninsula on special occasions, and treasure my mum's cooking at home on weekends.
Near my Sheung Wan studio there is so much variety. For noodles, I like (6 Hillier Street, tel: 2543 9282) and (8 Ma Sha Street, tel: 2543 4008). I love how authentic everything is at one of the best congee joints, (7-9 Burd Street, tel: 2541 1099); hip modern Thai at (206 Hollywood Road, tel: 2549 0020); nostalgic dim sum at (160-164 Wellington Street, Central, tel: 2544 4556); and the ultra-artsy French of (163 Hollywood Road, tel: 2956 3188).
During the week, our cross-cultural picks [in Sheung Wan] include (258 Hollywood Road, tel: 2559 6077) for Japanese-style pasta and amazing green tea tiramisu; (2 Lok Ku Road, tel: 5976 4730) for kimchi burritos; and our favourite, (33 Hillier Street, tel: 2572 0238), where barista Hikaru-san brings Melbourne coffee culture to life.
I also enjoy restaurants where I know the chef and staff well, and they always bring us pleasant surprises and their best secret dishes. (25 Tung Lo Wan Road, Causeway Bay, tel: 2882 8013) and (1/F The Langham Hotel, 8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2132 7898) fit that category.
For visitors, I like to offer them a few extremes. I have a penchant for local cha chaan teng, especially ones with a bit of history. I enjoy (17 Connaught Road, Sheung Wan, tel: 2540 6340), which was once on the shoreline.
For architects and designer friends, a recent design-centric culinary experience is (shop 403, 4/F Ocean Centre, Harbour City, 17 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 3185 8338), which, besides having a fantastic menu, is designed by award-winning architects Yabu Pushelberg.