NY Bagels in Hong Kong

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The Hampton (Fresh Chicken Breast, Pesto, Camembert Cheese, Walnuts, Sun-dried Cranberries, Arugula, Toasted Peppercorns, Cream Cheese)

MTR pitch

“Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Des Voeux Rd Central, R&R Bagels is a cosy and welcoming cafe which feels like it could be under a New York skyscraper. The first thing that hits you is the smells of the scrumptious bagels being made to order. Think smoky bacon, fresh omelettes and slow roasted veggies.”

Rating 5/5

Price point $65-85

Break it down now

It might be a stereotypically American food obsession but R&R Bagels are seriously the bagels you didn’t know you needed right here in Central HK.

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Des Voeux Rd Central, R&R Bagels is a cosy and welcoming cafe which feels like it could be under a New York skyscraper. The first thing that hits you is the smells of the scrumptious bagels being made to order. Think smoky bacon, fresh omelettes and slow roasted veggies.

The menu is nice and simple. Create your own or pick any of the flavour combinations which have been hand-crafted to make your mouth water. Whether you pop in at lunch or for a brekkie, there will be a ‘set’ bagel to suit your needs. The breakfast bagels in particular are ALL delicious – a major post or pre-hike recommendation.

The best thing about these bagels is that you can change up any of the ingredients and play around with the composition of your bagel. There are several types of bagel bread to choose from; our personal favourites are the poppy seed and sesame bagels. It doesn’t stop there – you can even change up the type of cream cheese inside your bagel too. I know right! We love the Low Fat Plain and the Sundried Tomato (DIVINE).

Personally, we’re not a massive fan of the coffee but the coffeeshop-vibe is excellent. Bring a book, a laptop or a friend and spend hours chilling out.

Asian Pan likes…

  • The Hampton
  • The Gardener’s Breakfast
  • Smoked Salmon

Rummin’ Tings in Central

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Veggie Patties with Trini curry, spinach, okra & pumpkin

MTR pitch

“Rummin’ Tings just celebrated its 5 year anniversary. We can safely call this a Central HK establishment. Rummin’ is a Caribbean bar and restaurant whose menu includes all of the rum cocktails, yummy jerktastic grub and juicy cigars (ikr)! If you’re craving food & drink from Jamaica and Trinidad, look no further. Rummin’ will put a big smile on your face.”

Rating 5/5

Price point $65-85

Break it down now

From Hollywood Road, Rummin’ Tings looks like a small bar. But it’s so much more than that. Rummin’s menu includes Caribbean food, tasty drinks and even cigars. You can spend all evening in there (and night!).

As this is a food blog, we will focus mainly on reviewing the food however we cannot stress enough that Rummin’ runs some great daily events. There is no excuse not to pop in on any or every day of the week. We attended the Sunday night acoustic night and we LOVED the atmosphere. Upbeat live music and happy staff set us up just right for the following week.

The only reason Rummin’ does not get 5/5 is that the menu is a little small. WE WISH THERE WAS MORE TO TRY. Having said that, what foodstuff is there is super tasty and tickles your tastebuds in just the way you want it to. Take the Sazon Fries as a great example. Fries are simple right? Fries are the same everywhere right? WRONG. The Sazon Fries are so tasty we were fishing for more on our friends’ plates! We don’t know what the seasoning is on those potatoes but we loved it. Mild spice to make you lick your lips balanced with a sweet almost tamarind-zing to finish.

The meat dishes are also super succulent and coated with the just the right amount of sauce/glaze/seasoning. Honestly, just writing up this review is making me salivate. We tried the Jamrock Jerk Chicken and the Rummin’ Wings, which we inhaled without coming up for air. We took great delight in sucking our fingers clean afterwards. We want to come back for more, in particular the Sticky Island Ribs and the Jerk Chicken Burger.

The best thing about this food menu is that we get to sample some traditional street food delights from the Caribbean. Patties are a MUST TRY, available with either meat or vegetables. Next time, we will definitely try the other classic dish from the islands – Callaloo, which is a spinach and okra stew. Finally, the kitchen also serves up the legendary cornbread Raga Muffins. Never tried or heard of these dishes before? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? YEAH MAN!

Asian Pan likes…

  • Patties
  • Jamrock Jerk Chicken
  • Sazon Fries

11 Westside: the best tacos in Hong Kong

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Lover’s Beach Tacos


MTR pitch

“Find yourself craving lip-smacking cocktails and flavour-full tacos? You HAVE to experience 11 Westside. Start the meal right by ordering G.S.C (Guacamole, Salsa and Chips) – the guac is made in front of you and to your taste. There are a wide range of savoury dishes but the stars of the show are the tacos. Their flavour combinations zing in your mouth: garlic butter shrimp and mango; roasted pork and pineapple; battered sole and smoke chilli. Salivate mucho!”

Rating 5/5

Price point c. 50 HKD per taco

Break it down now

Almost everyone in Hong Kong has now heard of 11 Westside, a chic Mexican restaurant which serves up big flavours and cracking cocktails. We decided to drop by and see the hype for ourselves. 11 Westside did NOT disappoint.

We highly recommend booking a table for peak meal times but we were seated with no qualms for a late lunch. Once seated, start the meal right by ordering G.S.C (Guacamole, Salsa and Chips) – the guac is made in front of you and to your taste. More lime? No hay problema. A touch of chilli? No hay problema. It’s fresh, it’s creamy, it’s the perfect accompaniment to the tacos that will soon arrive at your table.

11 Westside has 8 different tacos to choose from. (FYI, there is only 1 choice for vegetarians but plenty of options for pescatarians.) We tried 7 out of 8 and every bite sent flavour-waves zinging through our mouths. Here are some of our favourites:

  • Al Pastor. Aciote and pineapple roasted pork, guacamole, salsa molcajete, cilantro and fresh pineapple. This taco strikes the perfect balance of fresh ingredients, naughty/sticky pork meat and hot spice. Could eat a whole plate of just these tbh. OUTSTANDING.
  • Mango shrimp. Garlic butter shrimp, chipotle aioli, pico de gallo, mango and avocado. You need fat juicy shrimp smothered in chipotle aioli in your life. Trust. This taco is creamy and juicy at the very same time. We ordered this twice people. We needed more.
  • Baja fish. Beer batter sole, smoke chilli mayo, shredded cabbage and pico de gallo. The sole in this taco is so soft it melts in your mouth, yet with plenty of bite from the crispy beer batter and shredded cabbage. It’s a perfect marriage of texture and flavour. Those fish tacos are the t*ts.
  • Lover’s Beach Taco. Tempura oyster, burnt jalapeño beurre blanc, santa barbara uni. Wow, wow, wow. Fine dining flavours in a Mexican taco!? This two-set of tacos is an absolutely triumph. We’ve never eaten tempura oyster before but it was luxurious.

Washing down these tacos with 11 Westside’s exceptional selection of cocktails went down soo well. The drinks menu comes in the form of a hip hop album (which we loved) and strong Mexican influence can be seen throughout. Salt-rimmed tequila cocktails with a twist are exactly what you need to accompany this very special meal. We would come back just for the drinks but we’d get serious taco-envy….

Asian Pan likes…

  • Al Pastor
  • Mango Shrimp
  • Baja Fish

Mama Malouf: With love from Lebanon

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Shish Tawook with Peppers and Toum

MTR pitch

“This unassuming neighbourhood hang-out in Kennedy Town took us completely by surprise. The menu is perfect for sharing and it was genuinely difficult to make a selection! Every item showcases the delicate flavour combinations of Lebanese cuisine and, praise the Lord, it was seeeeeriously tasty. We’ll be back to try every single dish on the menu AND MORE DONER CHIPS (did we mention it’s Lebanese with a modern twist!?)!!!”

Rating 5/5

Price point $65-85

Break it down now

Mama Malouf is a small, cosy eaterie which describes itself as a “modern Lebanese kitchen”. And that, it is indeed. Being able to see hot skewers being served up on the pass fills you with excitement for your own meal. The menu is varied and brimming with classic flavour combinations from the Middle East, but with a twist.

Chicken shawarma meat is served on chips smothered in tahini and harissa sauces. Mayonnaise made from creamy feta accompanies baked carrots and jewels of pomegranate. Baba ganoush, smooth like humus, packs a punch with roast chili. A real treat for Hong Kongers who otherwise struggle to get decent Middle Eastern food on the island.

The restaurant recommends sharing its dishes, which goes down well because portions are GENEROUS. We would encourage trying items from different sections of the menu. Especially the skewers. The shish tawouk in particular is an absolute delight. Succulent pieces of chicken that melt in the mouth with the warm heat of cinnamon, cumin and other spices. Just remembering the trickle of cheese melting down these skewers makes us salivate. As if that wasn’t enough, these skewers come with Toum which is the Lebanese (and far better) version of aïoli. Light and fluffy but oh so garlicky. Yummm.

Uncompromising with its flavours. Uncompromising with its cool take on classic formulas. Head over to K Town asap rocky and wash down Mama Malouf’s sensational plates with some Lebanese lager. You’ll want to come back for more and make this your go-to Middle Eastern restaurant in HK.

Asian Pan likes…

  • Burrata with Baked Eggplant, Heirloom Tomatoes & Mint
  • Shawarma Chicken Doner Chips
  • Shish Tawook
  • Everything on the menu tbh...

Free flow feast at Three Blind Mice

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12 Hour Overnight BBQ Ribs

MTR pitch

“Praise Cheesus. Three Blind Mice in Wan Chai has cracked the code for an impeccable feast of lip smacking grub, unlimited drinks and charming hospitality: a veritable free flow dinner. Book a table, select a variety of dishes, and sit back & relax as boards of scrumptious fodder arrive at your table. The staff REALLY look after you. Our glasses were never empty. “

Rating 5/5

Price point $65-85

Break it down now

Free flow lunch/dinner at Three Blind Mice for 2.5 hours costs just $580 per head. It’s worth every last penny; you really get your money’s worth. Each person at the table will be able to gorge on sharing platters of starters, mains, sides and desserts. When booking your table, simply tick off the food you want to eat and TBM take care of the rest.

We ate (and could barely finish):

  • Arancini Balls. The flavour of the balls will change seasonally but we LOVED the mushroom arancini we ate. Woody, creamy and full of flavour.
  • Tempura Vegetables. So much tempura you can’t finish the giant bowls. They reminded us of jumbo onion bhajis.
  • Calamari Rings. Large chunks of battered calamari served with zingy mayonnaise. Heaven from the sea.
  • Scotch Eggs. The chorizo jam on top was a bit too much for us but we really liked the scotch eggs (who doesn’t?). Gooey yolks too – yum!
  • Jalapeño Mac n’ Cheese. Hot skillets of creamy macaroni with a thick crust of melted cheese on top. TBM mac can be served vegetarian or non-veg; with jalapeños or truffles. So indulgent. A total crowd pleaser.
  • Haloumi Linguine Arrabbiata. Absolutely divine bowls of pasta packed with punchy flavours and little nuggets of crispy haloumi.
  • Chicken Quesadilla, Sour Cream, Guacamole, Salsa. Served up like little pizzas, these quesadillas went down really well.
  • Fries. TBM fries can be served as normal, sweet potato or with truffle (ikr).
  • 12 Hour Overnight BBQ Ribs. The star of the show. A triumph. See below.

We list our top dishes below but the star of the show definitely deserves a special mention. The 12 Hour Overnight BBQ Ribs were absolutely EXQUISITE. The meat was soft, melt-in-the-mouth and perfectly seasoned with sticky BBQ flavours and toasted almond flakes. Impressed is an under-statement. It was the perfect end to a wonderful evening in this quaint, little restaurant. We were stuffed.

This free flow is particularly special as the drinks are not limited to a small selection of drinks that nobody likes (or bottles of cheap and nasty prosecco). The choice of beverages includes beers, craft beers, prosecco, wine, spirits & mixers and soft drinks. The staff look after you well; they were constantly topping up our drinks and taking orders for more. We couldn’t have wished for anything more. Three Blind Mice should be proud of themselves.

Asian Pan likes…

  • Jalapeño Mac n’ Cheese
  • Arancini Balls
  • Calamari Rings
  • 12 Hour Overnight BBQ Ribs

Check in to the Hotal Colombo

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Masala dosa, sambhar, coconut chutney

MTR pitch

“Genuine flavours of Sri Lanka here in Hong Kong. Aren’t we lucky?! If you want to try something different and you’re craving some heat, Hotal Colombo is the place for you. This clever menu allows you to sample the variety of dishes one can find on the streets of Colombo.”

Rating 5/5

Price point $65-85

Break it down now

For those who have never sampled the delights of Sri Lankan cuisine before, you must visit Hotal Colombo. The waiting staff are ON IT and they can seriously explain exactly what all the dishes are (despite the funny teenage ninja turtle outfits which are trying to be ‘Sri Lankan/street’).

The real talent in the Hotal comes from the kitchen. If you are lucky enough to sit by the pass, you will have quite the show whilst eating your dinner and watching them. They serve comforting flavours from the Indian sub-continent that come hot and quick!

The restaurant is well-geared towards patrons who are new to Sri Lankan tastes (without compromising on the masala), as the clever menu lists a great selection of small taster/tapas size dishes. This allows you to try a bit of everything; and sharing is caring! You won’t regret it. EVERY DISH TASTES WILDLY DIFFERENT.

If you’re a complete virgin to this, we recommend the Idli and Dosa dishes which are served with the hug-in-soup-form sambhar. The Kothu dishes will also knock you for 6; the spice blend is authentic and, if you close your eyes, you can just imagine a street-vendor smashing the ingredients onto their hot plate. It’s like teppanyaki but sooo much better. To be honest, everything on the menu is an experience (even down to the rice which tastes and smells like the fat, wild rice you can feast on in Sri Lanka). Our bill was even served with a refreshing mocktail-shot. Nice touch. Palate cleansed.

So, what are you waiting for? Ah – actually – that reminds us. Hotal Colombo is busy so do go early, pop your name down on the list and come back after a pre-drink elsewhere. Trustttt, it’s worth it.

Asian Pan likes…

  • Chicken Kothu
  • Idli, sambhar, podi, coconut chutney
  • Devilled shrimps

Fried Chicken with Seoul (Bros)

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Sweet & Spicy Chicken Bento Box

MTR pitch

“Seoul Bros is a socially responsible fast food chain with hang out spots in Wan Chai and Central. It’s the perfect place for lunch – affordable, tasty and tapping into the current craze for Korean fried chicken. The king of lunch sets: Bibimbap (adorned with a layer of soft, fluffy eggs), fried chicken smothered in either a Sweet & Spicy or Sweet & Sour sauce and a BUCKET of iced tea. Now, you can have chicken as part of a Bento Box. SATISFRIED!!”

Rating 5/5

Price point $65-85

Break it down now

What a fantastic place for lunch! You will not be disappointed with Seoul Bros’ lunch sets or regular menu dishes. The service is quick and the portions are huge. To top it all off, the price point is considerably low for how cool the menu is. We put it up there with the likes of Little Bao.

The king of lunch sets: Bibimbap (adorned with a layer of soft, fluffy eggs), fried chicken smothered in either a Sweet & Spicy or Sweet & Sour sauce and a BUCKET of iced tea. The Bibimbap can be ordered as vegetarian with tofu or pescatarian with tuna. Beef seems to be the most popular option but we recommend the sweet pulled pork Bibimbap. It’s sooo pigging tasty.

Other menu items include Kimchi Fries (I know right – drool) and Tteokbokki (Korean spicy rice cake). New to the menu is the Bento Box; a smorgasbord of tasty treats from silken tofu and spicy corn salad to fluffy rice and sticky fried chicken. If you can’t decide what to get, just grab this.

The only reason Seoul Bros does not get 5/5 is that the restaurant doesn’t actually offer super authentic Korean flavours and dishes. It truly is more of a pan-Asian fast food place. The chicken isn’t like it would be in Seoul, the menu includes Banh Mi and the Bento Box is Japanese….. but if you look past these minor points, it’s DELISH and sometimes all you want at lunchtime is some light spice and Bibimbap rice 😉

Asian Pan likes…

  • Sweet & Spicy Chicken
  • Pulled Pork Bibimbap
  • Spicy Corn Salad

BEEF & LIBERTY, hold the beef

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  • Impossible Hamburger & Liberty Fries

MTR PITCH

“Passionate about both beef burgers and producing ethical, vegan alternatives, Beef & Liberty serves up juicy burgers and scrumptious fries. And that’s just the beginning. For a reliable burger experience every time, head down to any of their well-located restaurants.”

Rating  4/5

Price point  A little meaty but worth it

BREAK IT DOWN NOW

We have to get down to the patty and bun. Beef & Liberty burgers are some of the best I’ve tasted. The restaurant claims to nail the burger to bun ratio – they are not lying. Every bite is a delight. It’s surprising to find how much the experience is enhanced by (of course the warm and friendly staff) really good buns. Liberty buns are soft – akin to brioche buns – HOWEVER they do not disintegrate with the weight of the burger or the moisture from the toppings and sauces. It’s bread perfection.

The burger menu is a collection of classics and some flavour-sensations. It’s hard to make a decision. What’s more, every burger option can also be turned veg by replacing the patty for an Impossible Meat burger ($20). This is a revolution for vegans and vegetarians who normally have just one vegetarian burger option on a menu.

The menu also includes some non-Impossible options (Beetroot burger, Falafel burger) if Impossible is not your bag. Although I would encourage everyone to try an Impossible burger here, whether you’re a veggie or not. It’s a unique experience!! The waitress serving recommended it be cooked ‘medium’. It looks and bleeds like beef. The pinkish interior of the medium-done Impossible burger was cool but a little weird for me. In spite of this, at just 240 calories per Impossible patty the burger does not feel greasy or heavy at all. A great experience on the whole.

The unsung heroes? The Liberty Fries!!!! Never underestimate perfectly-cooked fries. Crispy on the outside and fluffy in the inside. Lip-smacking flavour without too much salt. You don’t even need sauce with it to get your mouth salivating but the unique sauce served with each burger certainly pairs really well with the fries. Bravo Beef & Liberty!

ASIAN PAN LIKES…

  • The Impossible Chorizo burger
  • Black Pepper burger
  • Chilli Cheese Fries (Impossible option also available!)
  • Lunch sets!

Mama San: an explosion of pan asian flavours

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  • “Dengdeng Balado” caramelised impossible meat

MTR pitch

“You go expecting only Balinese cuisine but the menu is teeming with exotic spice blends from Malaysian and Indian curries to Thai and Vietnamese fish dishes. Mama San cooks up an explosion of pan asian flavours to satisfy the palate. There is something for everyone.”

Rating 4/5

Price point Premium price for premium spice

Break it down now

Mama San is tucked away from busy Wyndham Street in Central, on the first floor of Winning Centre. Take the stairs and enter a large, chic dining area with the most welcoming waiters and bar stewards. It’s a great vibe – especially during happy hour (Monday to Thursday, 6-8pm).

The Balinese decor of the restaurant might have you believe that the menu will offer Balinese cuisine only. Oh, you’d be so wrong. It was a pleasant surprise to see an array of pan asian food listed on the menu. Alongside the mouth-watering Indonesian dishes, you will find curry snapper from Malaysia, red prawn curry from Thailand, okra and saag from India and tuna tataki from Japan (to name a few!). A feast for the soul. A journey for the tastebuds.

To make things even better, the restaurant has its own separate Vegetarian menu. It can be hard to find so many options in Hong Kong for a veggie but Mama San outdoes itself. Not only is the Vegetarian menu sizeable (covering starters, mains, sides and dessert), the main menu includes some absolutely divine “impossible” meat dishes in and amongst its regular meat options. I urge all diners, veggie or not, to try an “impossible” dish. My personal favourite is the crispy impossible meat, paired with a cold, refreshing coconut mojito.

N.B. The cocktails are delish! One hour of free flow sparkling wine is also available for $128 HKD, making Mama San a great place for drinks too.

My only criticism is that dinner can get pricey. Every dish adds up and it’s not cheap! Worth it? Yes, but one quick look at the prices may deter some. Only once I’d done my research and found out that Mama San was a Will Meyrick restaurant did I appreciate that every dollar spent is for a very special menu created by a world top chef. Hopefully, this nugget of knowledge may in fact encourage you to pay Mama San a visit!

Asian Pan likes…

  • Crispy impossible meat
  • Ayam Merah
  • Lamb Saag

You KNEAD to have lunch here

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Salad including whole grain fussili, goats cheese, sundried tomatoes and caramelised onions

MTR pitch

“Knead in Sheung Wan is my go-to spot for a wholesome, healthy lunch. You take a menu and tick exactly what you want in your salad or sandwich, just like a dim sum menu! Thanks to the delicious, fresh bread and toppings, I keep going back for more.”

Rating 5/5

Price point Reasonable (unless you go for alllll the toppingsss$$$)

Break it down now

Build-your-own salads and sandwiches. A simple concept which works so well, especially since the ingredients are to die for. Everything is seasoned to perfection. According to the menu, there are 500 million possible combinations. I will get round to trying them all… but for now, the stand-out toppings for me include the chicken schnitzel, creamy goats cheese, sweet caramelised onions, and the beetroot spread.

Knead is a great option if you are a vegan/vegetarian or suffer from a food allergy. Top tip: there are several ways in which you can get your intake of protein without ordering meat here.

Too much choice for you to handle? The menu board near the till suggests some great combinations such as the classic Greek salad and the Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwich. I recommend you take a loyalty card from the till area too so that you can reap the benefits of becoming a regular.

Knead also takes catering orders via their website. A much-kneaded option for the junk boat season.

Asian Pan likes…

  • Chicken schnitzel
  • Caramelised onions
  • Turkish bread