As we edge closer to the final quarter of the year, there seems to be an uptick in restaurant openings in Hong Kong despite dismal reports about the food and drink scene and some recent high-profile closures.
We remain hopeful, with this month’s batch of openings including a high-profile Michelin-star Japanese sushi restaurant, the expansion of a beloved Chiu Chow specialist restaurant, and the fifth branch of an independent vegetarian favourite.
1. Golden Blossoms
Four genres of Chinese food come together under one roof at Golden Blossoms, a new restaurant serving Zhejiang, Beijing, Shanghai and Cantonese cuisine.
More familiar dishes include Peking duck and barbecued pork, but less well-known regional specialities such as Zhejiang’s steamed dried hairtail fish with salted pork, and an assorted Shaoxing casserole, are worth trying.
Shop 401, 4/F, K11 Musea, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
2. Hung’s Delicacies
Freshly relocated from Kwun Tong to Causeway Bay, long-standing Chiu Chow restaurant Hung’s Delicacies will still serve its popular marinated dishes while adding new Cantonese wok-fried plates and small dishes to the mix.
Diners can look forward to new creations such as Chiu Chow-style cold four finger threadfin to join its classic pan-fried semi-dried version, as well as rainbow fried rice layered with egg fried rice and seafood.
To celebrate the new opening, the restaurant is offering parties of four a complimentary appetiser of tossed crispy shredded pig ear; the offer is available until September 30 and is on a first-come first-served basis.
Shop B01, Tower 535, 535 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay
3. Udatsu Sushi
One-Michelin-star Udatsu Sushi, in Tokyo’s Nakameguro neighbourhood, has opened its first international outpost in Hong Kong’s FWD House 1881 in Tsim Sha Tsui. It takes over the spot formerly housing Araki.
Chef Hisashi Udatsu has assigned his long-time sous chef Hiroki Nakamura (who worked with him in Tokyo for 13 years) to head up the counter in Hong Kong, which will serve not only nigiri but also a procession of small plates.
Stable Block, FWD House 1881, 2A Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
4. Here With Years
From humble beginnings in 2019, Hong Kong vegetarian spot Years has blossomed into a thriving ecosystem of restaurants and cafes.
The latest, Here With Years, is the fifth to open (they also have a retail shop located in Sham Shui Po) in the last five years. The Taikoo branch has been pushing its colourful breakfast plate featuring 19 different local vegetables and mushrooms.
Shop G517, Ko On Mansion. 9 Tai Yue Avenue, Tai Koo Shing
5. Green Tea Restaurant
This popular Hangzhou chain that has more than 400 branches across mainland China has finally opened its first location in Hong Kong, with Chinese celebrity chef Eric Yu Bin consulting on the menu.
Exclusive dishes for the Hong Kong branch include boiled fish balls with slippery water shield, minced pork pancakes, and Dongbo beef.
Shop 1202, 12/F, Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay
6. 22 Ships
After 12 years on Ship Street, this bustling tapas bar served its last sangria on 21 August and is set for a soft opening in Central’s PMQ on 6 September.
It takes over the space previously occupied by Sake Central, which suggests it may seat more than the tiny Wan Chai venue.
S109-S113, Block A, PMQ, Central (entrance on Staunton Street)
7. Vission Nine
After teasing their latest opening over the summer, the team behind Vission Bakery (of the long queues in SoHo) has finally launched their follow-up shop right next door – this time, instead of pastries and doughnuts, they focus on cakes and pies.
A hero item on the menu is the tiramisu karpatka cake, a blend of the Italian dessert and the traditional Polish-style cream pie. They promise more than 20 different items for those with a sweet tooth.
LGF, 9 Staunton Street, Central
8. Parkside@Nina
Situated next to the green landscape known as Nina Park, a space housing more than 100 pieces of fossilised wood collected by the late Nina Wang, Parkside is a 110-seat restaurant and cafe that is open all day.
The extensive menu features options from light bites to larger sharing plates, desserts, photogenic mixed drinks and coffee courtesy of NOC Coffee. The restaurant highlights specialities such as the “Wood Fossil” beef carpaccio, and the mushroom risotto with porcini, portobello confit and arugula.
Shop 201, 2/F, Nina Mall 1, 8 Yeung Uk Road, Tsuen Wan
9. Menya New-Old
The newest ramen venture is brought to you by the same team behind popular noodle joints Zagin Soba and Maru de Sankaku, both a short distance away.
At this particular ramen-ya, the speciality is shoyu ramen as well as kombusui tsukemen; the latter features a slightly sticky sea kelp broth with noodles for dipping, a style that has been trending in Japan all summer.
9 Gough Street, Central, Hong Kong
10. Thai Pai Dong
With a name that is a twist on the term dai pai dong, you can expect a buzzing and convivial atmosphere, flavour-packed cooking and plenty of chilled beers to go around.
Among Thai Pai Dong’s signature dishes are Wagyu beef boat noodles – word has it one of their chefs used to work at Samsen – as well as plenty of stir-fries, grilled skewers and punchy salads.
24 Man Yuen Street, Jordan
11. JOM
Modern Singaporean restaurant JOM has opened a second branch in Sheung Wan and offers a fresh take on classic dishes.
Signature items include the chilli crab bun, and wat tan hor – stir-fried flat rice noodles smothered in thick egg gravy and topped with seafood. Seafood lovers can indulge in the salted egg softshell crab or the sambal halibut.
JOM’s menu captures the essence of Singaporean street food, reimagined for Hong Kong.
81 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan
12. Casa Maquista
For those who want a reason to stick around longer at the scenic Taipa Houses in Macau, Casa Maquista has opened inside one of the heritage houses.
It offers the distinctive Portuguese-Macanese cuisine, with ingredients and seasonings collected from Europe, South America, Africa and Southeast Asia and added to Chinese dishes.
Estrada de Cacilhas, Macau
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