A Toilet for Two?
Would you lunch from a lavatory, scoff at a school desk or dine with dogs? Dorothy So puts aside her table manners and ventures into the quirky world of Hong Kong’s oddest themed restaurants.
1. Modern Toilet
Modern Toilet restaurant does a complete flip on the “what goes in must come out” philosophy. This novelty theme restaurant from Taiwan offers a large range of suspiciously coloured food items, which are brought to the table in toilet or urinal-shaped containers. “We also have serveware shaped like old-fashioned squatting toilets,” says Sally Ng, who manages the Mong Kok restaurant. Wow, talk about being spoiled for choice.
With its dim lighting and deep brown leather seats, the newly opened Modern Toilet in Causeway Bay is the more glamorous (if you could say that) of the two Hong Kong branches. Not only is it bigger than the one in Mong Kok, it’s also divided into several separate sections, each with its own unique sub-theme. For example, customers can park their rears on the cushion-padded toilet seats in the “shower room” or huddle inside the giant sewage pipe-shaped dining booths. “The branch in Mong Kok is probably more suitable for younger kids while this new branch is more sophisticated,” says Ms Ng. When our yellowish brown curried chicken arrived, still bubbling in its toilet bowl container, we realized that Ms. Ng is using the term “sophisticated” very loosely.
4/F, Capitol Centre, 5-19 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay, 2895-6288
2. DaHoops
Ted Yiu opened DaHoops half a year ago as a response to the lack of venues showing basketball in Hong Kong. Not only is there a big screen TV showing the latest NBA games but the cafe is decked out with basketball posters, jerseys and autographed images, all from Ted’s personal collection. While DaHoops Café may be small, the place is cosy and looks more like a friend’s living room, making it perfect for private parties. “A lot of people come here to watch the games but we also get a lot of non-basketball fans who come because they like the comfort and privacy of the venue,” explains Yiu.
The food is also a draw. “At the end of the day, the NBA theme is just a gimmick. If the food is not good, customers won’t come back,” says Ted, who used to work at an American restaurant in Canada. DaHoops is a perfect hangout for basketball fans, serving up your typical diner fare with NBA-related names, such as the Legendary Jordan’s Burger and Steve Nashchos, which are all made fresh to order. It also has a full liquor licence. And, as a side note to all the Canucks out there, DaHoops serves Tim Horton’s coffee.
11/F, Radiant Center, 7 Cannon St., Causeway Bay, 6773-2090
3. Van Gogh Kitchen
Hand-painted recreations of Van Gogh’s works adorn the walls of this fine-dining restaurant, and in the waiting area, next to the main dining room, sits a snooker table which owner Vincent Fung had custom-made to look like the one from the famed artist’s Night Café painting.
Fung, who also owns the popular upstairs café Small Potato, opened Van Gogh Kitchen almost a year ago. “Van Gogh Kitchen is as much about the food as the concept,” says Fung. The restaurant’s chef formerly worked at Wildfire and Water Margin and all dishes—from the house-cured rib eye to the Australian lamb shoulder—are prepared with the artistic flair you would expect from a restaurant themed after the legendary artist. “I really admire Van Gogh’s determination. He never gave up painting even though he never met with success during his own lifetime.” Fung shares Van Gogh’s sense of determination—he is a fulltime government employee, runs three upstairs eateries in Causeway Bay, and, to cap it all off, has put out three issues of his own comic book—all with both ears intact.
2B, Shing Wah Mansion, 451-457 Hennessy Rd., Causeway Bay, 3528-1333
4. Dogside Café
“It’s hard to be a dog owner in Hong Kong,“ says café owner Gary Leung. “That’s why I opened Dogside, as a sort of sanctuary for owners and their pets.” Dogs enjoy total freedom at the café and as soon as you step inside you’ll be greeted by Leung’s three furry brown poodles, Fan Kat, Fan Gua, and Fan Gong.
The interior is kept simple, with minimal furniture so visiting pooches have more space to roam about. Leung says, “Having less clutter keeps the café looking clean and tidy and that reassures owners about bringing their pets here.”
Unlike some pet cafes in the city, Dogside has a professional chef working in the kitchen, making simple snacks and various Asian fusion style pasta or rice dishes. The menu also has a page catering especially for its canine customers, which includes items such as dog-friendly birthday cakes and tuna fish macaroni salad. Dogside isn’t made solely for pet owners. It’s actually non-dog owners who make up the majority of the café’s weekday clientele. As Leung explains, “anyone is welcome, as long as they love dogs.”
Room 462-464, 1/F, 462-468 Lockhart Rd., Causeway Bay, 6553-3699.
5. Teresa New Life Coffee Shop
This coffee shop opened in January this year as a collaborative effort between the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association and the Teresa Teng Foundation to commemorate the late Taiwanese singing legend. The walls of the shop are lined with her photos and records, many of which were donated by the singer’s fans. The coffee shop—which has been granted full copyright of the singer’s images—also offers a wide range of souvenirs, ranging from Teresa Teng coffee mugs to photo albums.
“Ms. Teng’s healthy image is a good fit with the social message our association tries to promote,” says Ms. Loretta Poon of New Life, an organization dedicated to bringing about social integration for those with psychiatric disabilities. The coffee shop–which provides job opportunities and career training for the psychiatrically disabled—is not just a tribute to the star’s musical talent, but is also a reminder and continuation of her public spirit. In keeping with this positive message, the coffee shop’s menu revolves around healthy eating and features many organic ingredients, including Teresa’s favourite soy products. The signature desserts are all naturally sweetened and the café also offers a special coffee from the singer’s hometown of Gukeng in Taiwan. “‘New Life’ is the name of our organization but it’s also apt for this themed coffee shop,” says Ms. Poon. “Not only are we paying tribute to Ms. Teng’s past achievements, we are also giving new life to her legacy.”
No. 35, East Tsim Sha Tsui Station, 2723-6634.
6. After School
Although decked out with old-school classroom tables and chairs, the name After School refers more to the café’s ideology than to any physical or decorative gimmick. Owner Pokit Poon opened the second floor café a few years ago after finishing his studies overseas and the café’s name symbolised his transition from being a student to a professional designer. “Art and design are the main themes of this place,” explains Poon, who recently converted his design studio near the back of the café into a small room which serves up fresh oysters amidst shelves of Italian and Japanese art glossies.
More specifically, After School focuses on the nostalgic design and the café is scattered with remnants of Hong Kong architecture from the 60s and the 70s, including an old wooden door, which Poon had converted into a long table. “There is something special about the details in the designs from that era,” says Poon, and he’s absolutely right—these details are still relevant today and it’s precisely because of this that After School has managed to remain popular and successful.
2/F, 17 Yun Ping Rd., Causeway Bay, 2983-2130.
