I know everyone is waiting for Hong Kong.
Today’s article is about Hong Kong Restaurant Week; tomorrow, I will be bringing you some high-value set menus from several Hong Kong hotels. In a few days, there will also be a flash sale package for Leslie Cheung’s memorial concert tickets + hotel. Excited yet?
Let’s start with Hong Kong Restaurant Week.
Ever since Hong Kong fully reopened its borders, more than half of my friends have been planning their return trips to HK to start their food tours. A few days ago, Cai Cai published an article on the best time to visit Hong Kong, and if you’re a foodie, I suggest you go soon.
Hong Kong is undoubtedly one of the recognized food paradises, with culinary delights from all around the world blossoming here—from local tea houses in the streets and alleys to exotic cuisines hidden in skyscrapers and countless Michelin-starred establishments. For those who love gourmet food, Hong Kong is a treasure trove not to be missed.
I suggest you go soon because the Hong Kong Restaurant Week event, organized by DiningCity, the world-renowned online dining guide and restaurant reservation platform, has started again.
After writing about Restaurant Week activities in Mainland China for so many years, this time, I’m finally going to eat to my heart’s content in Hong Kong.
The biannual Restaurant Week is a culinary event where you can feast at mid-to-high-end restaurants at super-value prices, and it’s also the best chance to dine at Michelin-starred spots.
But you need to act quickly to get a seat. Each event is time-limited with a restricted number of available slots. During the event, you can choose from fixed menus at different price tiers, many of which come from Michelin-starred and luxurious hotel restaurants.
Just last week, I made a special trip to Hong Kong to give you the lowdown on the “Must-Eat” places during Hong Kong Restaurant Week, such as The Lounge & Bar at The Ritz-Carlton, the seafood steakhouse at The Langham, and Ah Yat Harbour View Restaurant, which used to have a Michelin star…During Restaurant Week, you can enjoy meals at these places for just 100+ or 200+ per person, which is not an opportunity you get every day.
Besides the low prices, the variety of cuisines is also comprehensive.
For example, you can find high-end Italian and French cuisine, vibrant Spanish dishes, exquisite Japanese food, spicy Southeast Asian delicacies, and nearly 200 other restaurants offering a global array of cuisine.
Here’s how to make a reservation:
Reservations for this Hong Kong Restaurant Week start on February 21, 2023, and the event runs from February 23 to March 26, 2023. During this period, come to Hong Kong to enjoy fine dining at low prices, and while you’re at it, you can also check out the Hong Kong Arts Festival and Art Basel. It’s a feast for the senses.
To take advantage of Hong Kong Restaurant Week’s deals, click the “Read Original” link, which will take you directly to DiningCity for reservations. You will need to settle the bill with a HSBC credit card.
P.S. Hong Kong has high requirements for credit card payments, so I recommend bringing an HSBC credit card with you.
Moreover, there are tiers for the Restaurant Week menu:
The set menus for Hong Kong Restaurant Week are divided into three tiers, with the highest being the Elite level. The majority of the restaurants are either Tier A or Elite level, and the prices are determined by the restaurant itself.
Tier A: Lunch HK$198, Dinner HK$438
Tier B: Lunch HK$148, Dinner HK$298
Most restaurants in Hong Kong usually charge a service fee.
Make sure to pay extra attention to the Elite and Tier A set menus. Luxurious dining at floor prices—who wouldn’t want to seize this opportunity? There’s nothing to lose, only to gain.
As per the usual practice, there are too many restaurants, so I’ve made a concise table for everyone. As always:
Orange mark: Highly recommended restaurants
Yellow mark: Extremely popular restaurants, book as soon as possible
Remember to keep an eye on the ELITE and Tier A options. There are so many restaurants—I’ve included a link and QR code at the end of the article; make sure to scan it and take a closer look so you have a good idea.
Hong Kong
*Some restaurants may charge a proportionate service fee and taxes
*Actual participating restaurants and prices are subject to the official event website
Due to time constraints, I’ve selected six to try and share my thoughts with you.
Bostonian Seafood & Grill
Address: Lower Lobby, The Langham, 8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Lunch: HK$198/person + 10% service fee
Dinner: HK$438/person + 10% service fee
The Bostonian Steakhouse at The Langham is absolutely a paradise for seafood and meat lovers. Its status in Hong Kong is significant, having even been recommended by Michelin in the past.
The hotel’s location is excellent, right in the commercial district of Tsim Sha Tsui, and it’s a ten-minute walk to K11 and Victoria Harbour. The restaurant is in the hotel’s basement; coming here feels like stepping through a magical door, with just a few steps leading you into another world of American vintage style.
The restaurant adopts a minimalist earth-tone design, combining various sizes of reclaimed shipwood with metal ironware, industrial-style pendant lights, and furniture. Paired with rustic cement walls and layered oak flooring, it exudes a romantic yet sophisticated vibe.
Throughout the restaurant, you can find artworks by contemporary Chinese artists, which I heard are part of the owner’s personal collection. This tasteful display makes dining here feel as if you’re eating in an art gallery.
The restaurant serves both lunch and dinner, but I recommend going for dinner. After a busy day, meeting friends for a meal or having a date with a partner in this setting, and then taking a stroll by the nearby Victoria Harbour, is quite a delightful experience.
Although the menu consists of only three courses—appetizer, main course, and dessert—the variety is impressive. If there are two of you, you can order different dishes to try a wider range of flavors.
For starters, I recommend the chilled oysters and sliced scallops with crab meat salad and wasabi dressing.
The chilled oysters are served with mignonette sauce, cocktail sauce, and lemon. Mignonette sauce, a classic oyster dip made from reduced wine and vinegar, provides a fresh and slightly sweet taste. The succulent oyster meat is truly memorable. To ensure freshness, oysters should be eaten as soon as possible.
The sliced scallops with crab meat salad and wasabi dressing feature fresh crab meat, scallop slices, and lettuce, topped with adorable balls of wasabi dressing. The wasabi adds a burst of flavor, while the vegetables provide a refreshing crunch. The combination of scallops, crab meat, and greens is quite invigorating.
For the main course, the prime choice is the U.S. sirloin steak with black truffle fries. This single dish easily justifies the meal cost, with the steak’s marbling delivering a mouthful of rich, savory meat that is highly enjoyable.
For dessert, the blueberry crumble with vanilla ice cream is a must-try. Each bite releases a luscious blueberry sauce, while the vanilla ice cream wrapped in cookie crumbs is refreshingly sweet without being overwhelming.
If you prefer something sweet, the chocolate and passion fruit sphere is recommended. The rich chocolate paired with the sweet and tart passion fruit creates a complex and delightful taste.
Portion sizes are just right, and for dinner, you also get a complimentary cup of tea or coffee.
Casa Cucina & Bar
Address: Shop 8 & 9, 158A Connaught Road West, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
Lunch: HK$198/person + 10% service charge
Dinner: HK$438/person + 10% service charge
From Sai Ying Pun MTR station, walk out, go up the slope, cross the footbridge, and you’ll spot it around the corner. Although less bustling than areas like Central or Sheung Wan, the serene atmosphere here is a refreshing change.
This restaurant specializes in Italian cuisine, with head chef Anthony Cheung having trained at numerous Michelin-starred establishments. The menu blends traditional Italian dishes with unique twists.
Overall, whether it’s the environment or the dining experience, everything feels quite cozy. This place is definitely underrated, and the pricing is reasonable—just HK$198 for a satisfying lunch.
Chicken liver pâté toast is a common appetizer in classic Italian cuisine. Not only does it look appealing, but the chicken liver pâté, which is pan-fried and whipped into a smooth paste, paired with shallots and butter, offers a particularly delicate and smooth taste. The richness does not overwhelm, and a few bites can instantly whet the appetite.
For an additional HK$15, you can try the octopus fritters. These large bites are packed with chewy octopus chunks, and when dipped in salad dressing, they’re absolutely delightful.
The main courses in Italian dishes are mostly pasta. For pasta lovers, this will surely make your mouth water. I recommend trying the handmade pasta with roasted duck sauce and the handmade tagliatelle with seafood.
The most memorable dish is the Italian panna cotta. This dessert is captivating and is a homemade creation by Chef Anthony.
It looks like a Dirty beverage, and when you scoop it with a spoon, you can feel the fragrant and tender texture of the tofu. It tastes sweet but not overly so, with a prominent milky flavor, definitely top-notch.
For those with a sweet tooth, you can add HK$20 to try the classic tiramisu. It is much larger than what you’d typically get in dessert shops, with the perfect blend of cocoa powder and the cake beneath, offering a bittersweet taste with lingering flavor in every bite.
Meat lovers can opt for the dinner menu, which includes Italian roasted spring chicken, premium sirloin steak, and Italian braised beef neck, all of which are commendable.
A Lux
Address: Shop M2, 13 Duddell Street, Central, Hong Kong
Lunch: HK$398/person + 10% service charge
Dinner: HK$628/person + 10% service charge
A Lux, which opened last March, is not to be underestimated. It specializes in refined and high-end Italian and French cuisine, managed by the experienced executive chef, Mr. Chung Kwan Wai (Chung).
The restaurant’s name comes from the Latin word “Lux,” meaning a beam of light, which is quite a warm name. The location is also charming, nestled beside the gas lamps on Duddell Street, with the simple tones of granite steps extending into the restaurant.
Upon entering, chandeliers and cabinets emit a warm, soft golden light, with seating predominantly in soft blush velvet, making it extremely relaxing for a date or gathering.
I recommend coming for dinner, which consists of six courses, priced at HK$628. Given the ingredients and cooking techniques, this price is definitely worth it. After dining, you can easily wander to the bustling Queen’s Road Central, perfect for some post-meal shopping.
The amuse-bouche, in French, actually means “entertainment for the mouth,” is a starter prepared by the chef.
The star of these delicate slices is sea urchin, with no traditional seasoning or marinade, highlighting the original flavor of the ingredient.
Beneath is avocado mousse, which, thanks to the addition of milk and lemon, has a slightly sweet taste.
In addition, there are black truffle beef slices, fresh raw beef paired with black truffle and duck sauce—all are top-notch ingredients, offering an ultimate taste sensation.
The lobster bisque is a must-try. This soup is delicious with everything, and the shrimp within are particularly large and firm.
The grilled cod fillet is particularly special, wrapped in cellophane, which makes it look like a gift when served. Unwrapping it truly feels like a delightful surprise.
The pan-fried cod is encased in the cellophane and baked in the oven, resulting in an even more tender and smooth bite.
The main course is lobster handmade pasta, using only Spanish red shrimp, a delicacy well-known among food enthusiasts. The shrimp is firm, with a rich flavor in the head, far superior to ordinary shrimp. Additionally, the noodles are all handmade, giving them a chewy texture.
The meal is rounded off perfectly with a sweet Tiramisu, concluding the dish beautifully.
Ah Yat Harbour View Restaurant
Address: Shop 2902, 29/F, iSQUARE International Plaza, 63 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Lunch: HK$198/person + 10% service charge
Dinner: HK$438/person + 10% service charge
As a restaurant that once earned a Michelin star, their usual per capita price is upwards of 1200HKD. This time, the restaurant week lunch is only 198HKD per person, and dinner is 438HKD per person. This is definitely a steal!
Located in the city center on the 29th floor of iSQUARE International Plaza in Tsim Sha Tsui, the restaurant offers unparalleled views of Victoria Harbour.
The restaurant was founded by Chan Chi Ho, the apprentice of Mr. Yeung Koon Yat, in December 2009. With stunning sea views and an abalone specialty shop personally authorized by a master chef, this place is definitely worth the price.
Both lunch and dinner consist of a seven-course meal.
The lunch appetizers include crab roe siu mai/pan-fried turnip cake/duck and taro spring rolls, honey-glazed barbecued pork and five-spice vegetarian goose, corn fish maw soup, shrimp toast with thousand island dressing, braised oyster sauce vegetables, with the main dish being braised chicken and kale pasta, ending with a fragrant sesame soup. Not only is the selection abundant and the ingredients high-quality, but it also only costs 198HKD per person. Need I say more about the value?
However, I prefer the dinner, where you can enjoy the entire night view of Victoria Harbour from your seat. If you arrive early, you can even catch the sunset. Make sure to book a window seat in advance.
Dinner is also very sumptuous.
Tender honey-glazed barbecued pork, a clear palate cleanser of braised Chinese cabbage with fish maw and conpoy, and my favorite, whole pineapple shrimp balls. The fried shrimp balls are wrapped in salad dressing and paired with sweet and sour pineapples, making them a tantalizing treat.
The red wine braised oxtail is also worth mentioning. Cooked in a clay pot, the oxtail absorbs all the flavors of the repeatedly simmered red wine, with the alcohol evaporating, so there’s no worry of getting drunk.
The portion is really large, with a bright red exterior. A piece in your mouth bursts with a rich aroma, leaving a lasting impression. The finale of mango pomelo sago is also spectacular, showcasing the pinnacle of Hong Kong-style desserts, and the portion is quite generous.
The Lounge & Bar, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
Address: 102/F, International Commerce Centre, Hong Kong
Dinner: HK$658 + 10% service charge
This time, The Lounge & Bar at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong has joined the Restaurant Week lineup. Although Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou also have it, trust me, Hong Kong’s version is definitely more worth it.
Firstly, the hotel’s location is in the International Commerce Centre (ICC) in Hong Kong, a new landmark of the city’s commercial culture. It’s very close to M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum. We spent our afternoon viewing Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition and then walked to The Ritz-Carlton for dinner.
The Ritz-Carlton was once the highest hotel in the world, and the restaurant is on the 102nd floor, nearly 500 meters high. The glass windows offer a breathtaking view of the Hong Kong metropolis. Just for this view alone, the price is worth it.
The hotel only offers dinner service at a price of HK$658 + 10% service charge. To be honest, the dinner experience is the best, with dim lighting and the view outside the window creating an unbeatable atmosphere.
The menu for Restaurant Week is a three-course set, including an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert, with two options for each course. Two people can go together and order one of each, so you can try everything.
The appetizers are Kale Salad and Grilled Octopus.
The Grilled Octopus is first blanched, then slow-cooked at a low temperature, and lightly charred afterwards, served with Spanish chili sauce and lime sauce. The octopus is quite tender and has a bouncy texture.
The lime sauce is more tangy and sweet, making it refreshing; the Spanish chili sauce has a sweet and spicy flavor, offering a very intriguing taste.
The main courses are Red Wine-Braised Beef Cheek and Miso-Marinated Cod.
Both dishes use top-quality ingredients. The beef cheek, braised in red wine for a long time, is incredibly tender and melts in your mouth.
The Miso-Marinated Cod is another dish, esteemed even by Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro. The cod, rich in fatty oils, is marinated in miso and grilled to make it even more tender.
The final dessert is The Ritz-Carlton’s signature Orange Liqueur Chocolate. The rich chocolate coupled with the orange liqueur emits a faint fragrance of alcohol, making the chocolate velvety and offering a rich taste experience.
Another option is the Lemon Tart with Meringue and Crisps. Its golden and crispy shell encases a sweet filling, melting in your mouth with each bite.
U IZAKAYA
Address: 10/F, ZING, 38 Yiu Wah Street, Causeway Bay
Lunch: HK$198/person + 10% service charge
Dinner: HK$438/person + 10% service charge
In Hong Kong, there are quite a few Japanese izakayas, but not many that make people want to return again and again. A good izakaya has a unique charm, allowing people to feel relieved after a hard day’s work. U IZAKAYA is one that I highly recommend.
Its location is quite hidden, tucked away on the 10th floor of the ZING shopping mall on Yiu Wah Street in Causeway Bay.
Compared to other izakayas, IZA gives off a more modern vibe with its Western-style bar, open-air scenic seating, and small private rooms. It’s a perfect spot for a small gathering with friends or a weekend date.
Most of the ingredients in the store are directly imported from Japan. There are over ten locations across Hong Kong, each specializing in different dishes. For example, the Causeway Bay location I visited specializes in sea urchin, featuring many Western fusion dishes.
My favorite was the bamboo charcoal bread with sea urchin sauce, which turned the pre-meal bread into something incredibly delicious. The toasted bamboo charcoal bread paired with the smooth texture of the yellow sea urchin sauce was amazing. The sea urchin melts in your mouth with a rich and sweet flavor.
Classic chicken liver skewers and chicken and leek skewers are also must-have items when visiting a Japanese izakaya.
Cuttlefish ink squid pasta is another highlight. This dish appears pitch black due to the added cuttlefish ink, giving the ordinary pasta a unique flair with layers of umami flavor.
However, be sure to eat the pasta right after taking photos, as it can become clumpy, which would greatly affect its texture. Additionally, their lunch menu offers rich chicken soup, wild vegetable salad, seafood chawanmushi, and black garlic Brussels sprouts. It’s quite a lavish spread, with high-quality ingredients that speak for themselves.
The price is 198HKD + 10% service charge per person, which is quite a bargain for a high-standard Japanese izakaya meal in Hong Kong.
Moreover, over 200 restaurants are participating in this Restaurant Week, so feel free to explore your options.