Chinese Belly series: Shanghai in HK

I have come to the conclusion that I am not really able to differentiate between Cantonese and Shanghainese food. We went to a Shanghainese restaurant tonight but the food seemed rather Cantonese to me. Or perhaps being a Shanghainese restaurant in Hong Kong, it is inevitable that Cantonese food is also served, and not all the food in a Shanghai restaurant is Shanghainese.

Pork with black fungus.

Stir-fried Spinach.

Steamed buns or xiao long pau

Fried crispy beancurd skin with filling on the inside. This was a little too oily.

The food was so-so but the service was similar to service in other Hong Kong restaurants, which could be improved. If the service was better, I am quite sure the food would also taste better.

Thank you, P, A and J, for bringing me around. Next time, I will visit when it is not a long weekend in Hong Kong and I will remember to bring a list of must try food with me.

Golden Shanghai Cuisine Restaurant, Shop no. 119, L1, Citygate Outlets, Tung Chung, Hong Kong.

Chinese Belly series: King at the top!

This was truly the best place for us to have a meal and catch up at The Peak. The peak was foggy which meant we could not walk around that much. We found a good seat and both of us liked Burger King, so that worked out well. This is one of the few Burger King outlets in Hong Kong that is hugely popular because of its location. With the theme, Taste is King, well, it certainly was a good place to eat, at The Peak.

I liked the pictures here, which I have not really seen in Burger King restaurants elsewhere.

Hot chocolate. This was just so-so.

The location was great!

This outlet is very popular and many of the items were already sold out when we came in just after noon. We still managed to get our whopper (what else, right?) and a drink and generally had a great time without paying an arm and a leg, considering the location. I would definitely come here again if I ever visit The Peak in Hong Kong again.

Burger King, Shop 1, Level 1, The Peak Tower, 128 Peak Road, The Peak. Tel: +852 2849 2275
山頂山頂道128號凌霄閣1樓1號舖

Chinese Belly series: Chinese food

Tonight we went to Crystal Jade for dinner. This chain of restaurants is from Singapore. I have not eaten at this chain in Singapore for a while due to the change in chefs. The quality of their food suffered as a result. The last time I went was Chinese New Year in 2013, so it has been more than a year now since I last visited. The restaurant serves Cantonese and Shanghainese food.

The food in Hong Kong was fine but the service could have been improved.

Steamed kalian. I liked the nice crunchy stems of the blanched kalian.

Pork ribs. I liked that it was small, bite-sized and sufficiently tasty without the meat being tough. I would have preferred it to be less overcooked but considering the size of the meat portion and the fact that most people would want the taste to get into the meat, it would have been hard not to overcook it.

Fried rice flour cake. This turned out to be rather filling. We ordered this instead of rice.

The taste of the food seems better in Hong Kong than in Singapore. I sure hope the chefs in Singapore are good again.

Crystal Jade, Shop 310, Tai Yau Plaza, 181 Johnston Road, Wan Chai.

Chinese Belly series: Sweet and Sweeter

This is what happens when the friend who is bringing you around has a sweet tooth. We end up with an overdose of sweets! So far, we have had three different kinds of desserts over two days.

The lights are switched off momentarily as the dessert is lit so everyone can enjoy the ‘show’.

Bomb Alaska is served, looking stiff and pretty.

Souffle. Talk about a load of hot air. Nice and light.

Did I mention it was crowded as well and we had to queue?

Dessert Garden, Shop 117, 1/F, Horizon Plaza Podium, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong. Tel: +852 3115 2821

Chinese Belly series: Sweets

Like I said before, I love Hong Kong desserts, this time, it’s the Chinese kind. We went to another crowded place for dessert; the crowds are indicative of the taste of the food in the shop.

Double-boiled papaya with fungus.

This is known by many names in different countries; ah balling, mochi, or simply glutinous rice balls with sweet fillings.

Durian and black glutinous rice dessert. Talk about rich!

Baked sago pudding with yam paste.

Mango pomelo

Honeymoon Dessert (Sai Kung), G/F, 10A, B, C Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, Hong Kong.

Chinese Belly series: HK seafood

This must have been one of the most filling meals I have ever had in my life. It was a lot of food for four ladies, thanks to my generous friends. The restaurant was really busy and even with a booking, we had to wait. I have come to expect this in Hong Kong, since it was a long weekend, and there were many visitors to the country.

Fancy some pickled garlic (middle) along with peanuts (left) and chilli sauce (right), anyone? I have not seen garlic being served in this way for a while.

Cooked drunken prawns to die for! They were really fresh.

This fried tofu dish was delicious as well.

This was a large portion of really chewy cuttlefish. We could have done with half of this portion. It was nice but just really chewy. Again, it was fresh.

Small clams cooked into a broth with vermicelli.

Loved the steamed fish as well.

Bowls of healthy, wholesome seafood soup goodness for our already overful bellies!

The restaurant we went to.

The food was really fresh and the crowdedness of the place shows how well it was doing.

Chinese Belly series: Cheese cakes

I love Hong Kong desserts, including their western ones. This place, like so many in HK, was very crowded and we were truly fortunate to get seats.

The cakes were delightful, especially the smooth tofu cheesecake. The pu er (a kind of tea) cheesecake was a novelty for me. The tea could have been a tad stronger to better bring out its flavour. I thought it was quite creative of them to mix tofu and tea, two Chinese-type ingredients into their cheesecake which is western.

Tofu cheesecake which was quite smooth.

Pu Er cheesecake which would have been better with a little more tea in it.

Front of the shop.

The place is supposed to serve good coffee. I am used to good coffee served in Japanese or western cafes. I ordered a cup of Sumatra Mandheling and I cannot say that I would order it again. Hong Kong has a lot of good food and drinks. Coffee just isn’t one of them. Tea may have been a much better choice, if only I had realised it then.

Colour Brown is located here.