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New restaurants in Tsim Sha Tsui, Sai Wan Ho and Sai Kung to try – for pub grub to posh pineapple buns

The Blind Pig is an American sports bar in Sai Wan Ho. Photo: handout

It has been sad to see many restaurant closures over the past 12 months, with the trickle becoming a flood since Covid-19 disrupted our way of life. But it has been good to see a few new restaurants opening of late.

Shore Hospitality closed Hunter & The Chase in Central recently but has opened a new American sports bar in Sai Wan Ho called The Blind Pig.

“The protests brought our business down dramatically – even after they slowed down – and eliminated all our large corporate parties in November and December, and then Covid-19 put the nail in the coffin. While our landlord had given some relief, in the end it was too little, too late,” says Shore Hospitality CEO & founder Mark Cholewka about the closure of Hunter & The Chase. But he says he is now focusing on opening in smaller neighbourhoods.

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“This had been our strategy for a number of years. We will continue to look at various areas around Hong Kong, particularly in residential districts. I would say our concept has to be compatible with the area,” continues Cholewka. He has two other restaurants in the same area besides The Blind Pig: The Salted Pig and Cull ’N Pistol.

A classic patty melt at The Blind Pig. Photo: handout

The Salted Pig provides an English-style farmhouse dining experience while Cull ’N Pistol is inspired by New England’s storied seafood traditions. The Blind Pig serves cocktails, craft beers and farm-to-table pub food. Signature dishes include grilled Angus beef burgers, Big City Reds beef hot dogs, classic patty melts, Frank’s redhot Buffalo wings and crispy pork knuckle fingers.

Harbour City has seen a few closures, the latest being Maze Grill by Gordon Ramsay, but there are some new openings, too.

Dang Wen Li by Dominque Ansel opened its first bakery/restaurant in Asia recently. Popular here is its take on the pineapple bun – it’s made with coconut mousse, coconut dacquoise, salted mascarpone cream, pineapple lime and passion fruit jam. There is a sit down area with a few savoury items such as turnip cake English muffins with soft scrambled eggs, silk egg katsu sando and omelette soufflés, and pastries such as ham and cheese croissants and pain au chocolat.

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In the same spot where Maze Grill once was is Western steakhouse Harbour Side Grill. At Gateway Arcade, café@Off-White offers a range of teas, coffee, milkshakes and smoothies with an all day menu featuring pasta, pizza, panini and mains. Café@Off-White is by Italian luxury fashion label Off-White by American designer Virgil Abloh. Also at Gateway is West Coast American-style restaurant J.S. Foodies which is part of a restaurant chain founded by Japanese fashion label Journal Standard. The decor is Japanese minimalist with industrial touches, and the menu offers burgers and pasta plus savoury or sweet pancakes.

Over at The One shopping centre, i.t orange forest debuts Afuri, one of Japan’s most celebrated ramen restaurants. People queue up in Japan to try chicken broth infused with yuzu; there are several variations of this combination on the menu in Hong Kong. Besides ramen, other menu items include donburi and dumpling dishes as well as small plates such as Kaiso seaweed salad and Kakuni pork buns.

Sai Kung is a neighbourhood whose restaurants have not been as affected as other areas by Covid-19, as the seaside town is a weekend escape for many who live in the city.

Crab cakes are a menu highlight at Joe-San in Sai Kung. Photo: Tracey Furniss

There have been three new restaurants opening in the past few months, including Joe-San, a casual dining restaurant on the waterfront which serves all day fare from breakfast to dinner. Breakfast dishes include egg and cheddar muffins, bacon and eggs benedict and pancakes with vegetarian options. For dinner there are sharing plates including seared tuna with salsa, crab cakes, and hummus with pita bread and mains dishes include spaghetti and meatballs. It is also a great place for sundowners; we especially like their espresso martini.

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Sai Kung’s first vegan restaurant opened in ‘the square’ recently. It’s called 2084 and serves tapas such as Peking wraps made from crispy Peking oyster mushrooms with cucumber, spring onion and hoisin sauce, and tofu satay with coconut rice. They also serve a choice of curries, such as adobo made with black and kidney beans and mushroom rendang.

Cozy Coffee has also opened its third outlet, this time in Sai Kung on Po Tung Road, which is the main road as you drive into the town. The decor is inviting, with an open front inside/outside bar at the main entrance, which is good for the summer months. They are famous for their siphon coffee with beans and flavours changing regularly. There is also an all-day menu featuring slow-cooked spring chicken, US Angus beef burgers, pasta and lobster roll with fries.

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While some old favourites have departed the local dining scene, new restaurants are popping up in different neighbourhoods across the city