Yakitoritei

Yakitoritei (燒鳥亭)

G/F, Tsing Fung Building, 10 Tsing Fung Street, Tin Hau, Hong Kong

Date of visit : 2 Feb 2013 (Sat) 11:30pm

No. of diners : 2
Average cost per head : $300
Food quality : 8/10
Environment : 7.5/10
Service : 7.5/10
Value-for-money : 7/10
Overall rating : 7.8/10

Yakitoritei is a chained Japanese restaurant serving yakitori. The environment is cosy and with good ventilation that won’t make you feel smoky or stinky after the meal. The chefs are skillful in handling the grill.

a) Fresh vegetable salad ($22) – 8/10

Just like the nuts and pickles served in Chinese restaurants, this dish of salad is a mandatory item without the need of ordering. However, the vegetables were fresh and sweet, a good start for our taste buds.

b) Leek ($20 x 2) – 8/10

Small and slender size leeks were used. They were sweet and tender after grilled.

c) Zucchini with cheese ($20 x 2) – 7.5/10

The zucchini was grilled well with melted cheese. However, the cheese tasted like those Kraft sliced cheese for sandwiches.

d) Chicken wing ($30 x 2) – 8.5/10

The chicken wings were beautifully grilled with crispy skin and juicy inside. Well seasoned.

e) Chicken with mustard ($31) – 7/10

The chicken diced on the skewer was a bit overcooked, the mustard was mild and mixed with mayonnaise.

f) Special pork sausage ($20 x 2) – 8/10

This pork sausage wrapped on a chicken bone tasted good.

g) Japanese ginkgo nut ($28 x 2) – 8/10

They run out of the local ginkgo nuts ($14 per skewer) so I had this from the Japan. They are soft and with a good chew, but didn’t worth double the price.

h) Sweet corn ($38) – 8/10

The corn cob was beautifully grilled with moderate brush of soya sauce.

i) Mizubasho Junmai Ginjou ($168 for 300ml) – 7.5/10

With no photo taken. This sake was at the high price end on the menu (30% off at that night), however, was average in taste.

Q : When will I go again?
A : With friends in group of 3-6 for casual supper.

Q: What will I next order?
A : Repeat what I had plus something new on the menu.

02.2013

Trusty Congee King

Trusty Congee King (靠得住)

G/F, 7 Heard Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong

Date of visit : 13 Jan 2013 (Sun) 1pm

No. of diners : 2
Average cost per head : $60
Food quality : 8.5/10
Environment : 7.5/10
Service : 7.5/10
Value-for-money : 8/10
Overall rating : 8.25/10

a) Rice dumpling with salty pork ($22) – 8/10

Acclaimed to be the best rice dumpling in Hong Kong (as it’s named in Chinese), the Chinese rice dumpling is mainly composed of preserved salty egg yolk, marinated pork, etc.  stuffed in glutinous rice and skinned green beans. I personally prefer less green beans but for this one was still acceptable.

b) Rice congee with pig’s liver ($33) – 9/10

The name of the shop reflects the quality of the food as they do not use MSG in their food. Instead, they use fish soup base for the congee that make it tastes good. Their pig’s liver is one of the best in town, not only they can source good quality liver, they also cook them nicely without over or under cooked.

c) Rice congee with shredded chicken and chinese mushroom ($39) – 8/10

My friend ordered this one which I haven’t tried, but with a good congee base the whole thing wouldn’t go wrong.

d) Boiled kale ($20) – 8/10

Strong kale stems were used and they tasted naturally sweet without any seasoning required.

Q : When will I go again?
A : When I feel sick or want to avoid fried or spicy stuffs.
 
Q: What will I next order?
A : Their rice congee with fish is also recommended.

02.2013

Bor Kei

波記燒臘粉麵店 (Bor Kei Chinese BBQ and Noodle Shop)

Shop P, G/F, 425 Queen’s Road West, Western District, Hong Kong

Date of visit : 19 Jan 2013 (Sat) 1pm

No. of diners : 2
Average cost per head : $75
Food quality : 8.5/10
Environment : 6/10
Service : 6/10
Value-for-money : 8/10
Overall rating : 7.95/10

Traditional Chinese BBQ shops are distinguishing in Hong Kong under the high surge of property rent. Extra effort in travelling is worthy for visiting shops with good quality such as this one.

a) Roast goose (leg portion) and BBQ pork ($130) – 8.5/10

The skin of the goose was pretty thin with not much fat beneath it, however, unlike peking duck, not all the skin is crispy. The meat was juicy and well seasoned.

The BBQ pork was tender, especially the fat was condensed and shrunk to some chewy tendon like.

b) Rice vermicelli ($10) – 6/10

Not of good quality but went well with the BBQ sauce from the goose and BBQ pork.

c) Boiled kale ($11) – 8/10

Unlike many of the wanton noodle shops that serve poor quality vegetables, the kales on this dish were strong and still tender, and more stems than leaves.


Q : When will I go again?
A : Good to visit by yourself or in a small group up to 4 before your next stop for dessert or coffee in the area round. Shop opens till 1am but wonder if there are still food available. Closes on Sundays.
Q: What will I next order?
A : Heard that the white chicken is also worth trying.

02.2013

Amical

Amical

 

1/F, 1 Sun Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong

Date of visit : 3 Feb 2013 (Sun) 4pm 
No. of diners : 4
Average cost per head : $75
Food quality : 8/10
Environment : 8/10
Service : 8/10
Value-for-money : 8/10
Overall rating : 8/10

This is a hidden gem in the quite Sun/Moon/Star Street area. Run by the same owner of Café Corridor and Café Assembly, they serve own roasted coffee beans with its own character.

Coffee is the mainstream item on the drink list and you will go to the wrong place if you are not a coffee fans. The environment is nice especially the balcony when on a pleasant day. The barista is knowledgeable with the coffee beans, however, don’t expect a chat at peak hours such as a weekend afternoon.

a) Caffè shakerato / Caffè shakerato with cucumber syrup ($40/$45) – 8.5/10

This iced espresso coffee with a layer of foam is a refreshing drink in summer. Apart from the cucumber syrup, you can also pick from a few other Monin syrup such as crème brûlée but cucumber goes very well with this drink. Having said that, I still prefer fresh cucumber juice and avoid the over sweetened taste.

b) Caffè latte / Caffè latte with cucumber syrup ($40/$45) – 8.5/10

The coffee is smooth with good aroma, and you can request for a funny latte art when time permits.

c) Hand brewed Hawaii Kona Coffee ($60) – 6/10

Apart from the house beans, there sit a few choices of special coffee beans where you can order. This Hawaii Kona beans is with a special note of toast or raisin bread, however, the scent is weakened after brewed especially when served hot. Coffee filter cloth instead of filter paper was used for better retention of the coffee taste.

d) Cheese cake ($40) – 7/10

Amical serves 2 to 3 bakery. The texture of this cheese cake tasted like a quiche with intense egg flavor, not my favourite.

e) Banana muffin ($25) – 7/10

Could tell from the texture that much real banana was used for the muffin. Light and moist, however, I would prefer more butter to intensify the flavour.

Q : When will I go again?

A : On a weekday afternoon by myself or with a couple of friends.

Q: What will I next order?

A : Hot chocolate or special roasted coffee beans.

02.2013

Bistro du Vin

Shop 1D, G/F, Davis Street, Kennedy Town, Western District

Date of visit : 12 Jan 2013 (Sat) noon

No. of diners : 2

Average cost per head : $360
Food quality : 8.5/10
Environment : 8/10
Service : 7/10
Value-for-money : 8.5/10
Overall rating : 8.3/10

Converted from a once popular chinese dessert shop Xiao Tian Gu (小甜谷), the bistro du vin landed on a location which is better for a bistro in the Kennedy Town.

Visited on a Saturday for lunch and found that lunch sets were not available at weekends. With a size of 2 diners, the following dishes were ordered :

a)  Baby squid a la plancha ($130) - 8/10

This dish was not a standing item on the menu. Fresh squids from local market were simply fried with olive oil, salt and parsley. The squids were tender and fresh, good to go with a glass of white.

b) Cheesy onion soup ($75) - 7.5/10

Quite a large portion and won't have room for other dishes if you finish the soup all by yourself. The soup is delivered hot and rich. Generous spread of gruyere cheese. Don't know if the sweetness came from the onion itself or sugar was added, the soup was a bit too sweet to me.

c) Crispy suckling pig confit, choucroute (leg $220) - 9/10

This is one of the most popular dishes. You can order the belly portion ($200) or the leg portion which is more meaty. The piglet was beautifully cooked and well deserved its name "crispy". The pork was first slow cooked that kept the moisture in the meat, and then grilled outside to make the skin crispy. The choucroute on side did neutralise part of the pig's fat.  However, the sauce that came with the dish seemed redundant as it was quite blend. Anyway, at this price for a French piglet is value for money. Highly recommended.

d) Grand Marnière soufflé, vanille ice cream ($75) - 8/10

I am not a big fan of soufflé but when you saw almost one every two tables had ordered this dessert, you just couldn't resist. Many of the dishes are served in Le Creuset cast iron pots which do not only look good but are also practical in keeping the temperature of the food including this soufflé. Timing was well controlled that made the soufflé rose beautifully and sat well on the small pot. Although extra shot of Grand Mariner was demanded for the dessert, to our disappointment, not even extra shot was added, I couldn't taste any of the liquor.

House wine is at around $60 to $75 per glass or $350 per bottle. As corkage is free, highly suggest you BYOB (however, they only serve one type of glasses if you bring mixed wine but that's fair enough as compared to those who charge for corkage).

Q : When will I go again?
A : For friends of a group size 4 - 6, casual dinner

Q: What will I next order?
A : Crispy pig will be a re-order item. Rabbit leg in white sauce, slow cook lamb shank.

02.2013