David Ramen 舞心拉麵

Ramen fever as officially reached Hong Kong! I remember C and I would always complain about how Hong Kong lacked amazing ramen places but now there are ramen shops popping up left and right. David Ramen has been getting some buzz lately so I decided to head over and see how it is. It was lunchtime on a weekday and we had to wait for around 10-15 minutes before getting a table. The weather was super hot so waiting was not enjoyable but luckily it was not for long. They served iced genmaicha which I loved.

"Red" ramen - spicy miso tonkatsu broth 
The broth was quite tasty and flavorful but it was definitely too spicy. I love spicy food and can take a lot of spice but I didn't think the level of spiciness was right for ramen. When I first took a sip I almost choked and C was sniffling next to me as she ate her bowl. The bamboo shoots were crunchy and very tasty. The egg was actually better here than the one I had at Butao. The cha siu was tender and fatty. The noodles were firm and was of the thin variety. Overall the ramen was good, but I am not dying to return. Butao is still number 1! 

Too much noodles... no more pork or egg :( 

David Ramen 

39 Tang Lung Street

Causeway Bay 

Hong Kong 

Burgeroom

Summer is coming and it's time to get into that fit mindset again but it has been some time since I've sunk my teeth into a glorious burger so I decided to kick the diet to the curb (just for today!) and indulge. Burgeroom has been said to serve some of the best burgers in Hong Kong and obviously I would not let that statement go unchecked. Burgeroom not only serves juicy delicious classic burgers but also have an impressive array of unique burgers such as soft shell crab burgers, deep fried oysters burgers, and burgers with foie gras! Tucked away on a small street in Causeway Bay, Burgeroom was sunny and inviting. The servers were really friendly and although the place was bustling, it was not hard to get a table and seating was comfortable.

Bacon cheeseburger with thick cut fries combo
Such. a. good. burger. The bun was soft and a little big soggy (in a good way) from the juices of the beef patty and the thousand island sauce. There was a generous amount of cheese that was perfectly melted and oozing all over the beef. The patty was beefy heaven. It was super thick, bursting with meaty juices, and seasoned very well. The tomatoes were super sweet and the lettuce was crispy and fresh. The only thing that I was not pleased with was the bacon, I could barely tell that there was bacon there! It would have been ideal if there was more smokey bacon that was fried to a crisp. The burger was quite big, but not so ridiculously huge that I had to unhinge my jaw to devour it. 

Thick cut fries
During lunch there is a great combo deal where you add $20 to any burger purchase to get a small drink and fries. The fries were well done, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. 

Bikini's can wait for a little 

Onion rings
Yum yum yum I love onion rings. These were good but nothing spectacular. Batter a tad too thick and crispy but still good. I asked for tartare sauce which I prefer over ketchup for this :) 

Soft shell crab burger 
This actually looks a bit scary haha but it was really good! I think this is such a brilliant idea for a burger. This is probably one of the biggest soft shell crabs I have ever seen. The batter was light and crispy. The body of the crab was super meaty and had a lovely buttery seafood taste. The legs were crunchy and was a nice contrast to the rich meaty middle. 

Pure gold

My friend and I decided that Burgeroom was amazing. But we also decided that we would only come here once a month because anymore than that and we would be completely obese. I can't wait to come back to try the other burgers but for now I am lazing on a couch still full from lunch :)

Burgeroom

7 Caroline Hill Road

Causeway Bay 

Hong Kong

Beirut

Everyone knows Beirut for its drinks and shisha, but did you also know that Beirut serves some of Hong Kong best Lebanese cuisine? C raved about her meal there and I finally got to savor the delicious and authentic food in the upstairs dining area away from the bustling downstairs where people are downing drinks and chatting it up. The waiters were super friendly and funny and the food did not disappoint.

Baba ganoush 
The baba ganoush came with a generous serving of piping hot pita bread. The dip itself had great texture and flavor although there were a bit too much tahini sauce. It still tasted great but it was a little overpowering. I still enjoyed it though and would get it again. The little chunks of tomatoes went so well with the dip. Yum.

Grilled halloumi cheese
Halloumi cheese is a cheese made with a mixture of goat's and sheep's milk popular in the Middle East, Greece, and Cyprus. This was the one dish that I was not too crazy about out of everything. The cheese was a bit too hard and the aftertaste was quite interesting but one slice was enough for me. The flavor of the cheese was very milky, but you had to chew it a bit before achieving that taste. 

Falafel
I loved these falafels. It was fried perfectly with a crunchy crust and a soft and filling middle. The flavors were robust and bold. Unfortunately one falafel was already quite filling but I wish I had some now. 

Mixed lamb and chicken shawarma plate
Shawarma is a special type of meat preparation method where meat such as chicken or lamb is placed on a spit and roasted for as long as a day. It is similar to the preparation done in making doner kebabs or gyros. The lamb and chicken were both really tender and had great meat flavor. The outsides had a nice char and the meat was juicy and delicious. The meat came with a delicious garlic sauce that I happily smothered over my meat White Chicks style. Yum yum yum!!! 

Beirut

27-39 D'Aguilar Street

Lan Kwai Fong 

Central

Hong Kong 

Yu 渝酸辣粉

Yu is a little restaurant located in the bustling Causeway Bay specializing in spicy Szechuan noodles. Spicy food is always a win with me so I couldn't wait to slurp down these yummy noodles. The reviews on openrice were pretty good and it was also a rainy day = perfect for a steaming chewy bowl of spicy noodles. The food was excellent and cheap, will definitely come back!

Potato noodles in spicy broth 
The noodles were chewy and bouncy, the broth was sour and spicy, one whiff and your appetite is perked up. Super comforting and it was quite spicy but not SO spicy that you can't think of anything else. A perfect balance of flavors and textures. 

Szechuan "Saliva" chicken 口水雞
Our lunch set came with this famous szechuan dish, it was a generous portion and the chicken was lean and had good chicken flavor. The skin was not too fatty and was perfectly gelatinous. The flavoring was also well done, it was not too spicy but had a great kick. 

Dan dan mian 
I was a bit surprised that this dan dan mian did not come with soup but this was still really good! It was numbingly spicy but like the previous bowl still maintained its flavor and taste. The noodles were firm and the peanuts and scallions were crunchy and delicious. Bravo! 

Yu 渝酸辣粉

4 Yiu Wah Street

Causeway Bay

Hong Kong 

永康牛肉麵 Yong Kang Beef Noodle Soup

Yong Kang Beef Noodle Shop was another "must eat" on Taipei's foodie list. Luckily when my parents and I went it was not crowded and all and we were able to grab a table right away. You can also buy beef jerky to bring back for your friends or for yourself :) I bought a pack for my bestie C as a souvenir.

The menu 

The famous beef and tendon noodles 
The tendons and beef was melt in your mouth tender and had good flavor. The noodles were firm but I would have wanted them to be a bit more chewy and for the soup to be stronger and richer. Overall a good bowl of noodles but the hype and fame made me have higher expectations. 

Spicy dumplings
I've had this dish in many different places and even though this dish is not the famous dish here I thought it was super delicious! The spicy and nutty sauce was bursting with flavor and the dumpling had nice thin firm skin with a juicy meaty filling. 

Mmmmm super tender beef 

永康牛肉麵 Yong Kang Beef Noodle Soup

No. 17, Lane 31, Section 2

Jinshan South Road

Taipei

Taiwan

Ay Chung Flour Rice Noodle

When my dad first described what a bowl of Ay Chung flour rice noodle was like, my mom and I were not that keen on trying it at all. He said that it was a bowl of overcooked noodles that was slimy and very soft, but really yummy. It definitely did not sound too appealing, but my dad insisted that it was delicious and a must try in Taipei. The headquarters of Ay Chung is located in the popular Xi Meng Ding and has been in operation since 1975. So I guess it really must have some secret charm if it has been so popular for this amount of time. My dad came back with a steaming bowl of the noodles and we all started slurping it up with our plastic spoons. The store has no tables and no chairs, everyone just stands around slurping this bowl of runny noodles up.

Everyone standing around with their bowls 

Flour rice noodles 
Although it sounds strange, I now understand what my dad means. Overcooked slimy noodles are not ones usual idea of delicious, but it was actually quite good in its own special way. The soup was slimy and tasty, with a nice vinegary tang to it. The noodles were really smooth and soft. I think this would be a great post drinking snack. 

Ay Chung Flour Rice Noodle (Headquarters)

No. 8-1

Enmei Street

Wanhua District 

Taipei City

Taiwan

Tutto Bello

Sorry for the hiatus! After being on a roll on updating I had to take a break and concentrate on job hunting and interviews. Back in the game now! My friends were amazing and gave me amazing lists of places to eat at when I told them I was going to Taipei, one name that kept popping up was Tutto Bello, an italian restaurant. I was not too keen on eating italian food in Taiwan since I felt that that was something I could have in Hong Kong. Thank goodness I tried Tutto Bello because it was absolutely MIND BLOWINGLY GOOD. The food was just incredible, both my parents and I could not stop raving about it. The chef came out to speak to us after and was smothered with praises. Like Gordon Ramsay likes to say, "Absolutely amazing". Unfortunately the lighting in the restaurant was very dim so I had to use flash for some of the photos which resulted in not the best quality photos as the plate reflected the light too much. I unfortunately also don't remember all the names of the dishes but will do my best! The meal started with bread and truffle butter, which is a GREAT start.

Seared foie gras 
Beautiful plating, highest quality foie gras with amazing richness and flavor, seared perfectly. 

Highest quality salmon with caviar 

Frogs legs 
The execution of this dish was absolutely impeccable. The mini bites of heaven were tender, crispy, and flavored perfectly. The plating was also once again a joy to look at. 

Pasta with mixed mushrooms 
This dish may sound simple, but the pasta was cooked perfectly and the selection of mushrooms were top notch. The chef was able to bring out the best flavors of the mushrooms, it was earthy and incredibly rich. The texture of each type of mushroom was a joy to bite into. This truly revealed the skill of the chef and the quality of the ingredients. 

Iberico and black truffle pasta 
Once again, pasta is cooked perfectly and covered in a black truffle mixture. I actually am not 100% sure but it does look like truffle to me. All I remember was that it was delicious. So so delicious. Sorry not being helpful here. 

Prime fillet steak with seared foie gras and duck liver jus 
The beef was a perfect medium rare and had great flavor. But it was just like any other piece of great steak I've had. The duck liver was once again delicious. I really love the plating of every dish. The placement, the colors, the little flowers, the small sprinkles of garnishes, the pop of colors, beautiful! 

Overall, it was an unforgettable meal. The food was impeccable and service was attentive and polite. The atmosphere is sophisticated and not overly stuffy. Definitely can't wait to come back to this gem of a restaurant.

Tutto Bello

Shuang Cheng Street

Lane 25, Number 15

Taipei 104, Taiwan