Where can you eat poon choi? Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year speciality gets a Year of the Ox upgrade – 6 restaurants offering Michelin-starred, Hokkaido seafood and vegetarian options
Poon choi is a coveted dish originating from the villages of Hong Kong’s New Territories – the area north of Kowloon that many indigenous inhabitants call home. It features layers of many different ingredients, shared out from large basins called poon. Poon choi is traditionally eaten to celebrate events such as weddings, important birthdays and, of course, Lunar New Year.
However, as time has gone on, people have become more than willing to enjoy the taste of the New Territories dish at villages all year round, and eventually restaurant groups, hotels and other caterers were able to replicate the recipe. It quickly became a hit for its ease of preparation and its impressive presentation.
The traditional dish has come a long way and Michelin-starred and recommended restaurants such as Hong Kong’s Dynasty and China Tang today even offer upmarket versions. Tsim Sha Tsui’s Dong Lai Shun has a northern take on the Hong Kong speciality, as well as offering a vegetarian option, and even Korean temple food masters Soul to Soil have introduced their idea of poon choi.
Innovation abounds as Sexy Crab in K11 Musea has upped the ante by making Japanese Hokkaido crab the centrepiece of their offering, while North Point’s Chop Chop decided to appeal to the masses by providing a claypot rice option. Scroll down to see the details of the latest poon choi offerings this city has to offer.
Dong Lai Shun
Dong Lai Shun’s poon choi is back! The city’s mainstay of northern Chinese cuisine offers different poon chois with a twist. Priced at HK$1,488 (US$192), mutton and Sichuan spices bring a different flavour for Lunar New Year. And now vegetarians too can rejoice, as the restaurant has prepared a meat-free poon choi made with vegetarian abalone, sea cucumber and shark’s fin, as well as other ingredients to make sure everyone can get in on the festive mood.
Basement 2, The Royal Garden, 69 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East
Soil to Soul
Vegetarians have another choice of poon choi this year. Specialists in Korean temple food, Soil to Soul has launched two varieties to tantalise the taste buds of herbivores. One poon choi comes with Korean soy bean sauce made with signature soy sauce marinated for over 10 years, while the other is Korean sweet and spicy – with both priced at HK$1,988. The bumper feast includes some of the restaurant’s signature specialities such as tofu skin pocket and radish dumplings, among other ingredients such as rice cake, all sorts of mushrooms as well as sweet potato noodles. Order five days in advance.
Shop 704, 7/F, K11 Musea, 18 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
Sexy Crab
Fans of one of the most-coveted crustaceans in world are in for a treat. Sexy Crab, the city’s newest address to sample the decadent shellfish, is dishing out its own version of poon choi. The Japanese Hokkaido hairy crab big bowl feast, with fish maw and lobster paste, sets you back HK$3,888. For an additional HK$650 diners can add another whole crab, and even an extra 40 grams of crab roe for HK$108. Order five days in advance.
Shop 401A, 4F, K11 Musea, 18 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
Chop Chop
Poon choi is a classic Hong Kong festive dish while claypot rice is the quintessential winter comfort food. Chef Dai Lung of Chop Chop brings the best of both together in a very affordable poon choi clay pot rice (HK$328). The auspicious comfort food features premium ingredients such as sea cucumber, abalone, fish maw, black hairy moss with dried oyster and stuffed zucchini with dry scallop. Available from February 1 to 25.
Shop 3, G/F, 18 Wang On Road, North Point
Dynasty
This esteemed establishment is bringing classic poon choi to the forefront for the Year of the Ox. Superior produce in the offering includes whole fish maw, abalone, dried scallop, sea cucumber, Chinese mushroom, dried oyster, prawn, roasted goose, sea moss, poached chicken, goose web and more. Priced at HK$3,072 for four people, additional portions can be added for an extra HK$768 per person, with a four-person minimum. Order at least one day in advance.
3/F, Renaissance Harbour View Hotel, 1 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai
China Tang
This acclaimed restaurant inside The Landmark centre has launched a Prosperous Year of the Ox poon choi (HK$1,988 for four people or HK$2,933 for six). Filled to the brim with 18 scrumptious goodies such as abalone and fish maw, as well as delicious braised pork belly and other premium produce.
Shop 411-413, 4/F, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central
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- Born in Hong Kong’s rural New Territories, poon choi has endured as a beloved Lunar New Year culinary tradition
- Today chefs at Dynasty, China Tang, Chop Chop, Dong Lai Shun, Soil to Soul and Sexy Crab offer fresh twists on the village classic