Gotta Grill

The weather’s getting cooler and the stomach’s growing hungry. So fill it up with fresh-off-the-grill goods from some of the city’s finest BBQ specialists.

Chuan Shao

If you happen across Hart Avenue off Chatham Road, you might see a team of chefs, diligently grilling rows of delicious-looking skewers from their full windowed kitchen. Take our advice – walk into the store and ask for a menu. Chuan Shao is one of the city’s rare BBQ places that specialize in Sichuan styled skewers. The restaurant boasts over 60 different grilled items, each one sounding (and smelling) “I have to try that” sort of delicious. You can’t go wrong with their two signature seafood sticks, which the restaurant makes from scratch. The grilled octopus stick is slightly crunchy around the edges but soft and fluffy on the inside, with deliciously chewy bits of chopped octopus mixed in. The shrimp stick is equally fantastic, made with super fresh sea shrimps and imitation shark’s fin for an interesting texture combination.

Look out for their seasonal seafood items. The razor clams are a popular choice, as are the mouthwateringly aromatic, big fatty grilled fresh oysters. Non-seafood items also shine and Chuan Shao has an impressive list of vegetarian items. Grilled corn, grilled eggplant with garlic and chives, even grilled banana and pineapple – you name it, they’ve probably got it. And of course, we have to mention their long list of BBQ-ed meats. The Mongolian lamb rack gets a thumbs-up but personally, we were most attracted to the thin sliced bacon wrapped around pieces of Korean ricecake. Mmmm... It’s also worth mentioning that Chuan Shao has a good selection of drinks to wash down all their fantastic food. Hoegaarden and Tsing Tao are on tap and they even carry – believe it or not – Kirin’s zero alcohol beer for those who need to drive home after the meal but still want their fix of boozy-tasting goodness. And after learning that the place stays open until three in the morning, we think we may have just found our favorite new post-drinks place. Shop 10-12B, G/F, Block A, Windsor Mansion, 29-31 Chatham Rd. South,
Tsim Sha Tsui, 2311-8101.

Bicho

This small, casual Japanese eatery fires up a mean selection of innovative and tasty yakitori items at extremely reasonable prices. Bicho is owned by the same team who manage Tengi Japanese restaurant two floors above and, like its more upscale sister restaurant, pays careful attention to its food quality, importing most of their ingredients fresh from Japan every other day. Try the grilled pork rolls with Japanese maitake mushrooms. The thinly sliced pork is tender and smoky and is a perfect complement to the delicate earthy flavor of the mushrooms. Other favorites include the chicken wings grilled with the chef’s special miso paste blend and the creative lychee wrapped pork. And be sure to take full advantage of Bicho’s fantastic dinnertime promotion: twenty different yakitori items go for half price from Sundays through Wednesdays from 6pm-8pm (last order 7:45pm). Just be sure to arrive with an empty stomach. 26/F, Continental Diamond Plaza, 523-527 Hennessy Rd., Causeway Bay, 2838-7022.

Harbour Grand Lobby Lounge

Hotel newcomer, Harbour Grand is taking full advantage of
the cooler months with their just-launched alfresco barbecue dining option at the Lobby Lounge. Available Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons, the BBQ menu offers up a nice selection of quality meats and seafood for the grilling.

For $328, enjoy an all-you-can-eat amount of US rib eye steaks, Aussie Wagyu beef burgers, juicy, fresh king prawns and succulent marinated spring chicken, amongst other things. The barbecue menu also includes a hearty salad bar, an assortment of sides (think comforting classics, such as baked potato and corn on the cob) and, of course, a range of desserts, from white chocolate green tea mousse to mango ravioli. Add on an extra $200 for the free-flowing drinks package, which includes soft drinks, juices, wines and beers.

So grab a table at this fantastic outdoor area, kick back and enjoy the comfortable sea breeze while you fill up on the good food and good booze. G/F, Harbour Grand Hong Kong, 23 Oil St., North Point, 2121-2683.

BBQ

This popular joint in Sai Wan does their grilled goods
“Hong Kong style,” which translates into a mishmash of
Asian-influenced BBQ skewers. Japanese staples, such as enoki mushrooms wrapped with beef, and grilled whole sanma are on the menu, along with some special, creative dishes like an amazing, crispy-charred around the edges but still melt-in-your-mouth foie gras toast. BBQ is perhaps most famous for their seafood items; BBQ-ed cuttlefish tentacles have enough bite and are always popular, as are the skewers of eel grilled with an addictive sweet sauce. But whatever you do, don’t leave before trying their signature scallops, which are grilled on a skewer or on the shell (we prefer the latter). Fatty, succulent, and grilled to perfection... trust us, you’ll fall in love with these scallops too. Shop B, G/F, 129-133 3rd St., Sai Ying Pun, 2548-9880.

Thai BBQ 2