Manchurian Candidate

I am completely obsessed with spicy food, especially ma la spicy food but I hate sour and spicy such as buffalo wings. Blech. Although I love spicy food, I haven’t really found any specific Szechuan restaurant in Hong Kong. This may be because not everyone can do spicy so I have less of an opportunity to explore the selection of Szechuan eateries. I’ve recently heard really good things about Chili Figara but unfortunately it was booked full on the night I wanted to go. But I actually went there last week and will have a review soon! Since Chili was full I searched on openrice for another Szechuan option and found Manchurian Candidate. It is located in a building smack in the middle of Lan Kwai Fong. The building is quite ghetto and A and I were a little bit apprehensive when we stepped into the lobby. A thought I was trying to kidnap him or something haha! The restaurant is a private kitchen and the atmosphere is very plain and homey. The owners were very welcoming and extremely friendly which made the dining experience more enjoyable. Overall the food was quite good; it really did feel like you were eating at someone’s home. The price is also very reasonable so I would definitely consider returning again but I do feel that Chili Figara was better!

Pork Dumplings in Chili Oil

These spicy dumplings are one of my favorites and I will always order then if I see them on the menu. These were unfortunately a disappointment as the skin of the dumpling was way too soft and was barely holding the filling together. It was overcooked and mushy. The filling was normal, it would be better if it was meatier. The sauce was also a little bland as it felt like they did not strain the dumplings properly therefore everything became diluted. 

Dan Dan Mian

The dan dan mian is another one of my favorites but also sadly missed the mark. The soup did not have that fragrant peanutty flavor that I love so much but was instead watery and tasted like very normal noodle soup broth. The noodles were very mushy and overcooked. Do not order this!

Spicy Eggplant

Yay after two disappointing dishes, this dish was a lovely surprise. The eggplant was tender and was infused with flavor. The sauce was not too oily and was very tasty. We felt that it was not spicy enough though so told the kitchen that we were able to take the heat and to show us what they’ve got! This dish went very well with plain rice. Yum!

Pork Stir-fry with Cabbage and Chili

This dish was another winner. The pork was not too fatty and the cabbage was nice and crunchy. The seasoning was also done well and this was at the right spice level although it could be even spicier! The spice slowly grows on you though, initially you don’t really realize it and then you find out your mouth is numb. This was also a great dish to go with plain rice. 

Salt and Pepper Calamari

The calamari was crispy and the batter was not too thick. This dish was fine but nothing spectacular, just your regular plate of fried calamari. It tasted better when I dipped it in the sauce of the eggplant dish. 

The restaurant serves homey down to earth Szechuan food. The people are super friendly and warm and that made the dining experience much more enjoyable. The surroundings are not fancy, but it adds to this family style dining style. If you are looking for a reasonably priced, home style, spicy meal, definitely check out Manchurian Candidate! 

Manchurian Candidate

5/F

Winner Building

37 D'Aguilar Street

Lan Kwai Fong

Central

Hong Kong

Mark One

I was completely ecstatic when I discovered Oyster C, a place with delicious oysters and BYOB? Yes please! So just imagine my glee when someone introduced me to Mark One, whose prices seem even more competitive than Oyster C AND they have a scallop and crab roe risotto with truffle. I’m salivating just thinking about that rice. Mark One is also located in Tin Hau (where Oyster C is) and is a little less grungey than Oyster C. Service is decent but we did have to wait a while before our server emerged to take our order.

Scampi Sashimi

The scampi was of very decent size and was very fresh. The meat was bouncy, juicy, and had a nice bite to it. Although this was quite good, I thought the scampi at Oyster C was sweeter!

Uni

The uni portion was very generous and it came with a cup of nori for you to wrap it up with and devour. The uni was very fresh and sweet and had a strong flavor. This was definitely a crowd pleaser and was destroyed in seconds. I usually don’t like uni on its own as it lacks texture but the piece of crunchy nori was a perfect accompaniment to the creamy and flavorful uni. 

Oyster Platter

The oyster prices were some of the most affordable I’ve seen! Unfortunately they had run out of a number of oysters that night but the ones we had were still very juicy and fresh. 

Deep Fried Scampi Heads

These were the heads and claws of the scampi that we had as sashimi earlier. The heads were lightly battered and deep fried, resulting in a delectably crispy morsel. One complaint is that the claws were definitely way too hard to be eaten and I almost broke my tooth trying to test this. It would be better if they just ripped off the claws and only served the heads with the thinner legs. 

Beef Carpaccio 

The beef Carpaccio had great presentation and was well made. The slices of beef were of the right thickness and the arugula and parmesan were a great balance of textures and flavors. I did not care for the onions as it was slightly overpowering.

Scallop and Crab Roe Risotto with Truffle

Ta-da! The infamous scallop and crab roe risotto with truffle. The rice is served in the crab shell which ups its presentation and you can instantly smell the truffle once it is put in front of you. The risotto is perfectly al dente and the sauce to rice ratio is perfect, not too dry, not too runny. The crab roe taste is very rich but not over powering, the truffle also doesn’t mask the richness of the crab roe as both are quite heavy flavors. This dish is decadent, creamy, and oh so good. Despite how delicious it is, it would be a good idea to share this with some people as it is quite heavy and you don’t want to be too greedy and end up feeling like you ate a village. A must order! 

Mark One serves up some drool worthy food at very reasonable prices in a comfortable atmosphere. It is also BYOB so bring your bottles of wine and be ready for a very solid meal! 

Mark One

Shop 3 and 5

Jupiter Tower

9 Jupiter Street

Tin Hau

Hong Kong

Peak Lookout

We decided to have a Sunday Funday and went to the peak for lunch! Well "lunch" as it was already 3 pm but we all went out the night before so it made sense! Our plans to visit a puppy event failed as it was from 2-5 pm but by the time we all crawled out of bed it was already 3 something. The Peak Lookout is a famous and established tourist attraction in Hong Kong but I don't think I have ever been! The restaurant has been serving diners for over 50 years but it seems to be one of those places where the food is mediocre but just one of those place you "should" eat at at least once because of the history and the ambience. The environment really was quite nice and we sat by the windows which opened out to a lovely outdoor area. I can see how this restaurant could be incredibly enjoyable when the weather agreeable and I actually would not mind coming again. We ended up getting a good amount of wine and started off the day right :)

Mango and Chicken Salad
This salad was very subpar. The mango was quite sweet and the greens were decently fresh but the chicken was drowning in mayonnaise. Not good.

Spaghetti with Prawns in a Spicy Tomato Sauce
The spaghetti was cooked al dente and the tomato sauce was spicy and tangy. It was not incredibly flavorful but it was decent. 

Calamari
The serving of this dish was very very generous, it was a complete mountain of calamari. The batter coating was thin and crispy and it was flavored well. 

Garlic Naan
The naan was a bit too oily and a little too dense for my liking. My favorite naan is still the one from the food coat at Jockey Club!

Thai Prawn Cakes
The prawn cakes were also generously sized and the panko breading was very crispy. I felt that the flavor was lacking a little and we had to use a good amount of the sweet and sour chili sauce to up the flavor a bit but overall this dish was satisfying. 

Baby back ribs
This was the most disappointing dish of all. The ribs were dry and tough. Very very bad. The only good thing about this dish was that it came with some decent fries. 

Overall, the food was quite normal. Nothing spectacular but not terrible either. It is a nice choice for a casual meal though and I really did enjoy the atmosphere.

The Peak Lookout

121 Peak Road

The Peak

Hong Kong

Frites

I haven't been to Frites in ages and the last time I came it was for lunch. I never even tried the mussels which they are famous for and therefore suggested it as the dinner destination for Friday before a night out. Frites is a bustling cozy Belgium Beer House that serves European food and has an extensive selection of beers. The restaurant was very full and was filled with the chatting of diners. I saw a couple people standing around waiting for tables so reservations are definitely recommended.

Frites House Mussels - Diced Tomatoes, Garlic, Onion, Light Cream, and Fresh Chives
The mussels were were meaty and was nice and plump. Although the texture and size was pleasing, the flavor was mediocre and not super flavorful. It didn't taste bad, but it was not bursting with freshness and seafood sweetness either. The sauce was disappointingly bland, usually I would soak up all the sauce and juices with the bread but this did not compel me to do so at all.

Frites and bread that came with the mussels
The bread was quite mediocre, the fries were crispy and the insides were fluffy. I personally prefer skinnier fries but these were quite good. They also came with mayo which is a major plus! 

Steak Tartare
The steak tartare came with all the trimmings for you to mix yourself. The steak tartare had a lovely burst of tangy and robust flavors and was very very good. The color was very attractive and the plate was wiped clean in no time. The only small complaint is that there could be slightly less of the sauce as when we mixed it all together with the egg it became a little runny. But I am just picking at straws I would definitely eat this again! 

Laksa - Coconut Cream and Kaffir Lime in an Aromatic Curry Sauce
The mussels were the same quality as the previous pot, but this time the sauce was much better. The laksa was very rich and flavorful taste and I enjoyed this much more. 

The Good Wife Sausage
I thought the name of this dish was quite amusing, and was even more amused when the waiter asked if we would actually want the Husband Sausage as it was thicker. Yes we are very mature but honestly what can you expect with such an offer? The sausage was very meaty (haha!) and was flavored decently. But it was definitely not the best sausage I've had (okay I'll stop) it wasn't bland but I prefer very juicy and flavorful sausages. It was a bit soft and didn't have a nice bite to it. I like sausages with a crisp skin that breaks to reveal the juicy meaty filling below. The sauce was very comforting and savory with a lot of lovely soft onions and this went well with the soft cushiony mash potatoes. Ok enough with this ridiculous dish.

Linguine De Fruits De Mer - Assorted Seafood and Braised Leeks in a Rich Tarragon Cream Sauce
I was quite stuffed at this point. The pasta was a little bit harder than al dente which may be a bit too undercooked for some but it was perfect for me. The sauce was creamy and infused with the flavors of the seafood. I didn't eat any of the mussels but the salmon was decent and went well with the linguine and cream. This dish was quite good but not something I would be craving to order again. 

All in all, Frites was an enjoyable dining experience and I would return again. This isn't something I would want to eat all the time but it is definitely a fun atmosphere to go with a bunch of friends to eat some solid quality food and giggle over how you can't pronounce the beer names. 

Frites

1/F

Queen's Place

74 Queen's Road

Central

Hong Kong

Hot Pot Instinct 火鍋本色

Met a bunch of friends for drinks after work and before we knew it it was already pass 9 pm. We were all famished but was very indecisive about where to eat. We wandered around Causeway Bay and saw that Hot Pot Instinct had a great deal where if you eat after 9:30 you got 40% off! Everything was quite good and we got a Szechuan soup base and a satay beef soup base. I thought Heem Kee was still better but this was a good choice for a casual spontaneous dinner. We were all completely stuffed and was slowly falling into a severe food coma after this meal and our pot was still filled with food :( The ventilation can be improved a bit. Service was friendly and brisk.

Spiccyyyyyyy overload. Fav.

Handcut Fatty Beef
The beef had good flavor and I liked how it was cut thickly. These were very popular and you best hurry and eat up before it all vanishes! R was also a beef stealer and tried to take your beef from the pot. Sneaky. 

Deep fried fish skin
This was a bit disappointing as the fish skin was obviously not fresh and stale. It was not crispy enough and a bit hard.

Oink.

Hot Pot Instinct 火鍋本色 

52 Tang Lung Street

Causeway Bay

Hong Kong

TBLS

Private kitchens with inventive and exciting tasting menus have been all the rage in Hong Kong. I'm sure you all remember my review where I raved about how Liberty Private Works blew my mind. TBLS got a ton of buzz when it first opened 2 years ago, and getting reservations is still very difficult and people have to book months in advanced. I was really excited when my friend told me she had a reservation for dinner one night but a number of people told me it really was not too impressive and to not have my expectations too high. The reviews on openrice as also very mediocre but I was not going to make up my mind until I get a taste myself. The space was very small and we were seated outdoors. Although there were big fans it was still a bit hot. The servers were polite and knowledgable of the dishes.

Soup & Sandwich
Cauliflower and Parmesan Vichyssoise with Truffle Oil 
Crab Cake Sandwich with Garlic Aioli and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes 
The first course was a great start to the meal. The crab cake had generous chunks of fresh crab meat and had a crispy coating. The roasted tomatoes had a lovely smokey flavor and provided a perfect tangy kick in contrast with the cream fragrant garlic aioli. The bun was lightly toasted and was buttery and soft. I thought it would be better if it was slightly more crusty. The soap was cold and very refreshing. The flavors were very fresh and the truffle flavor was quite light. The soup went very well with the sandwich and this course all came together very well. 

Goat Cheese Panna Cotta 
Roasted Beet Root, Fried Fennel, Balsamic Gastric, Mizuna, Pancetta, and Lychee 
This dish in concept was ok, but it turned out to be very confused. The goat cheese panna cotta had a nice creamy texture and the flavor of the goat cheese was nice. But all the other components of the dish just seemed a bit random. I felt that chef wanted to make a dish that combined a rich array of textures but the result was a bit of a mess. The dish didn't taste terrible, but the fried fennel, along with the creamy panna cotta, the crunchy pearl onions, and the beet room just didn't seem to work together to create a satisfying united bite. 

Hamachi Tartare
Cucumber Jelly, Smoked Pineapple, Tatsoi, Salmon Roe, Avocado, Yuzu-tamari Soy Vinaigrette
The first thing I did was scoop off all that parsley. Yuck. The hamachi was flavored well and had a nice firm texture. The fleshy chunks of fish went very well with the creamy avocado underneath and the salmon roe provided little bursts of savory goodness. It was a decent dish and had a spicy kick to it (although it was a tad too spicy). I enjoy spicy food a lot but it just was a bit too peppery for this type of dish because I felt it should be more refreshing. This was done well, but nothing to celebrate over. 

Spice Rubbed Chicken and Fried Chicken
Deviled Egg, Baby Spinach, Sesame and Maple Vinaigrette
The spice rubbed chicken was flavored well and the meat was tender. The skin had a nice char to it but it was not very crispy either. The fried chicken had a thick crispy outer shell and was very mediocre. The deviled egg, pepper, and onion mixture under the egg provided a nice crunchy accompaniment to the heavier chicken component but overall I did not enjoy this as it was a bit like a strange fruit salad of sorts. This dish was fine but not particularly memorable. 

Jasmine Tea Milk Chocolate Bar
Rice Crispy Treat, Chocolate Pearls, Shaved Chocolate, Strawberry Anglaise 
This dessert was a slight redemption to the dishes that failed to impress. The chocolate was rich and creamy and the rich crispy was crunchy and sinfully sweet. The chocolate pearls added an extra bite of crunch and the strawberry and orange components went very well with the chocolate and rice crispy. 

Creamsicle Macaroon Sandwich
Vanilla Ice Cream, Calamansi Marmalade, Macaroons
This dish was a disappointment. The macaroon was very tough and chewy. The ice cream was normal and where was the Calamansi Marmalade? The chocolate drawing on the plate was cute, but nothing compared to the art created at LPW. 

All in all, it is concluded that although some dishes were good, TBLS has been overhyped and I would not pay the price for this type of food. TBLS's concept is to reinvent classic comfort foods and I think that is a interesting concept, yet for the price paid I don't think it is worth it. The reinvention is not inspired enough and is merely a slight modification that did not allow the diners to experience the dish in a exciting and innovative way. Some dishes were enjoyable, yet if LPW is only $100 more, I would most definitely sprint over to LPW over TBLS any day.

TBLS 

7th Floor

31 Hollywood Road

Central

Hong Kong

Brickhouse

No one can deny that Hong Kong is a mecca of amazing foods from all around the world, but there always seemed like there were not a lot of quality mexican to choose from. I've tried iCaramba! in soho for lunch and the food was decent. I actually really enjoy Coyotes in Wanchai, its such a fun spot and the food was actually really good! Other than that, I have not heard of many other yummy mexican spots to hit up...until Brickhouse came along. Brickhouse is located in a tiny alley in the middle of Lan Kwai Fong that many would walk by without even knowing that alley even existed. But once you venture into that dark little slit between the buildings, you discover a bustling restaurant filled with happy customers chatting away while munching on scrumptious mexican fare. Brickhouse has been getting A TON of buzz recently and we all know how much Hong Kong people care about buzz. They also don't take reservations so obviously its filled to the brim all the time (to the likes of Butao and Yardbird). C and I went on a Tuesday night around 7-8 and was delighted to find out that the wait would only be around 5-10 minutes. The seating is not exactly comfortable but it fits well with its hip and rustic decor and atmosphere. The hostess was quite friendly and came over periodically to check up on us. We felt that the feel and ambience of the restaurant was very similar to Yardbird, very hip, friendly, and laid back. But we did conclude that although the service was fine, Yardbird's service is still number 1. The waiters are just so charismatic and effortlessly make you feel so welcomed.

I actually forgot the name of the cocktails. But they were quite interesting but could use a bit more of alcohol! And this is not just coming from me (quite the alcohol lover), but C also thought her drink was a tad weak. 

Mexican Style Street Corn - sweet corn, chili, mayo, lime, queso 
The corn was quite sweet and it was covered with mayo and cheese. The chili flavor was not very strong and luckily neither was the flavor of the cilantro as I hate cilantro. The queso had a pretty strong flavor and went well with the sweetness of the corn. C commented that the corn at Cafe Habana in New York was definitely better. I unfortunately have not had Cafe Habana so was unable to make a comparison :( The corn was not bad, but I don't think I would get it again next time as it was not particularly memorable either. 

Back to Life Ceviche - shrimp, grilled tomato, smoked chilis, horseradish, citrus
Our server asked if if we preferred spicy or not and we quickly said that we loved spicy so she suggested we try the "Back to Life" ceviche. This ceviche was definitely aptly named! The dish may not look too appetizing... but the flavors and textures were spot on. One scoop of this ceviche with the crispy tortilla chips instantly woke up your taste buds. The smoked chilis provided a complex dance of flavors that did not overwhelm with the spice. The entire mixture was tangy, spicy, and oh so refreshing. The texture of the shrimp was very interesting and had the perfect balance of bite and softness. The zucchini and avocado furthermore provided a tasty crunchiness and a decadent creaminess to the entire already yummy mixture. The flavor of coriander was actually quite prominent but this actually worked very well with the entire dish and I happily devoured it all up (god forbid!). A definite must try! 

Tortillas Platter
The choice of tortillas are not on the menu and are instead written on the blackboard on the wall. We wanted to have a bite of everything so we got the tortillas platter. Our hostess was very nice and told us she could cut each tortilla into half for us. The pork tortilla was the first one we sunk our teeth into and boy was it good. The pork was bursting with flavor and you could tell it has been marinating for a long long time to soak in all those different spices. To counter the robust flavor the pork tortilla had a creamy dressing along with chunks of avocado. Great start! The fish tortilla was our next victim and the flavors were very different to that of the pork. It was much more delicate and refreshing with a creamy dressing and some crunchy purple cabbage. The fish was coated with batter and deep fried which made it crunchy and this went well with the soft tortilla. Once complaint was that the size of the fish was simply too small! The next one was the ox tongue tortilla which was also very yummy. The ox tongue had a gamey flavor and was quite tender. The slab of meat was thick and juicy and was paired with a spicy dressing and some sprinkling of crunchy onions. We happily gobbled this down as well. The fourth tortilla was unfortunately a miss. C really liked the chicken tortilla and while I agree that the flavors were fine the chicken was very dry and stringy. This could be a good choice for those who like cleaner and more mellow flavors - but hello you are eating mexican food :). The last was the ribeye which was also disappointing. The rib eye was very mushy and just tasted a bit strange. It would have been much much better if it were thick juicy slabs of medium rare ribeye smothered with robust flavorings. But unfortunately this was not the case, the meat seemed overcooked (but not in that tender beef stew way) and the other components of the tortilla did not provide any type of textural contrast either.

Home Beet Fries/Betabel Fritas - deep fried roasted beets, sweet chilli mayo, green onions
Mmmm these were soooooo good. Beets are delicious on their own, but coated with a thin crispy batter and dipped into a creamy spicy mayo is just gastronomical bliss. The beets are juicy and sweet. The coating is not greasy and perfectly crispy. I could eat a bucket of these!

Brickhouse was definitely an enjoyable dining experience. There were some misses with the food but I can definitely see the passion and thought put into the dishes and would definitely love to come again to try some of the other items on the menu. The bartenders were also extremely friendly and C and I stayed behind to take part in some serious shot taking. This is a very exciting addition to the Mexican dining scene in Hong Kong and I look forward to coming again!

Brickhouse

20A D'Aguilar Street

Central 

Hong Kong