Christmas dining during Covid-19 might be a quieter affair – but there’s still these 13 new Hong Kong restaurants and festive menus to try

Dec 2 , 2020

Sharing plates at Nissa la Bella – one of several new openings in Hong Kong this winter, despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Nissa la Bella

Michelin-starred chefs like Simon Rogan and Dominique Ansel are offering one-off charity experiences, while Alba truffles and Miyazaki, Kagoshima and Kobe Waygu beef steal the spotlight in new restaurant menus

Restaurant restrictions in Hong Kong have tightened again due to the fourth wave of Covid-19, with eateries only allowed to remain open until only 10pm, serving groups of two for dine-in.

But there has still been a slew of new openings in spite of the ongoing pandemic, with F&B companies no doubt taking advantage of empty retail spaces left behind by the bad economy. The show must go on, as they say.

These latest additions to Hong Kong’s dining scene include a veritable glut of Japanese concepts ranging from yakitori at J Senses in Wan Chai to yakiniku and teppanyaki in Central. We’re particularly intrigued by the new truffle tea parlour at K11 Musea and also very excited for Ma and Duckee, two more establishments where we can take our vegan or vegetarian friends. Not to be outdone by the Japanese, two new French concepts have sprang up in Sheung Wan, as well.

Of course, restaurants are getting ready for the festive season, too. Michelin-starred Beefbar is serving beautiful multi-course menus for steak lovers while Miyazaki and Kagoshima beef are in the spotlight at Tsukada Nojo in Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui. And as Christmas is the season of giving, The 12 Days of Christmas Holiday charity campaign will offer altruistic foodies unique experiences by chefs behind Michelin-starred restaurants from around the world, with all proceeds going to a worthy cause.

So while Hong Kong might have to hunker down at home for most of this holiday season, if you’re up for a lunch or dinner for two, there will be plenty of new options to try this month.

New opening: Nissa la Bella

Some of the dishes available at new French restaurant Nissa la Bella. Photo: Nissa la Bella

The South of France has its own unique gastronomic culture. Due to its location off the Mediterranean coast, the region tends to incorporate more olive oil as well as plenty of seafood. Nissa la Bella showcases this unique cuisine with tantalising street food like The Socca, a chickpea pancake served warm and wrapped in paper. Another must-try is the Osso Bucco, a traditional slow cooked Lombardy veal stew served with polenta.

10-14 Upper Station Street, Sheung Wan

New opening: Yakiniku Ishidaya

Wagyu cuts at Yakiniku Ishidaya. Photo: Yakiniku Ushida