Sassy Mama scopes out Hong Kong’s newest eateries
Because Hong Kong’s dining scene is ever changing, we want to give you a head’s up on all the latest restaurants that have opened in our beloved city. From speakeasy escapes to Vietnamese delights, here’s what’s new in the 852.
Cô Thành
Opening this month is the much-anticipated Cô Thành (whose owner, Nguyen Thi Thành, has been dubbed, “The Lunch Lady”). Bringing Vietnamese deliciousness to our vibrant town, Thi Thành, will delight us with ingredients sourced directly from Vietnam. Signature noodle soups, including bún bò huế, a beef satay noodle soup; bún mam, a type of seafood gumbo made with three kinds of preserved fish and shrimp paste; and bánh canh cua, a dense soup made with crab, pork, mushrooms and tapioca noodles.
Cô Thành, G/F, 2-4 Kau U Fong, Central, Hong Kong, phone and website coming soon
LILYA Moroccan Lounge And Bar
Step straight into the vibrant and sexy world of Marrakesh and you’ll know you’re in LILYA. Moroccan inspo can be seen everywhere – from traditionally colourful Babouche slippers hanging on the wall, to the lush couches and poufs. Head Chef Ahmed Boulalam is offering up a menu of mouth-watering Moroccan cuisine all made by using traditional cooking styles such as Agadir tagines and Tangeroise baking (a 14-hour slow cook, together with spices from Mellah including cardamom, cumin, nutmeg, saffron and ginger). Some of the items include Harira Beef Tenderloin soup with chickpeas and black truffle, Sardines marinated in a tomato and garlic sauce, Fishermen’s Pastilla with lobster and pink royal pageot, scallops and walnuts along with the classic Saddle of Lamb.
LILYA Moroccan Lounge and Bar: 2/F, 77 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong, www.facebook.com/Lilya.Moroccan
Imperial Treasure
The Singaporean Michelin-starred Chinese fine dining restaurant has just opened its doors at the One Peking complex in Tsim Sha Tsui. Imperial Treasure features traditional Chinese fine dining in a tasteful and sleek setting. Among the authentic and iconic Cantonese delicacies on the menu (chopsticks at the ready!), the restaurant also offers a selection of wines and champagnes to pair perfectly with the menu dishes. Get ready to salivate because the menu includes Baked Lobster and the Chilled Australian Abalone, which has been harvested by hand in Australia and steam-cooked in the shell, as well as Roasted Boneless Suckling Pig with Glutinous Rice.
Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine, 10/F One Peking, 1 Peking Road,
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, www.imperialtreasure.com/hk
Coming soon to: 21F Crowne Plaza, No. 8 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Sushi Masataka
Executive Chef Masataka Fujisawa leads the charge at his eponymously named restaurant (formerly Rozan). Treat yourself to an authentic Japanese omakase experience. The menu will be seasonal, offering freshly sourced ingredients from all over Japan, including the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. One of three Japanese concepts by Lai Sun Dining, including Takumi by Daisuke Mori and the soon-to-reopen Kaiseki Den by Saotome, Sushi Masataka is the second to undergo a complete transformation, and we’re excited to see the reveal.
Sushi Masataka, Shop 2, G/F, The Oakhill, 18 Wood Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, www.sushirozan.com
Takumi by Daisuke Mori
Wagyu Takumi is the second Lai Sun restaurant to be completely transformed. Marked by a new name, Takumi by Daisuke Mori is being pitched as the new and improved “French x Japanese private dining experience” in the 852. Combining the best of both cultures, Executive Chef Daisuke Mori’s standout dish is the Wagyu beef, which he slowly cooks at a consistent heat of 70-75 degrees over binchotan coals to first melt the savoury fat off the marbling, before placing on a hot grill to sear to perfection. Our mouths are watering at just the thought!
Takumi by Daisuke Mori, Shop 1, The Oakhill, 16 Wood Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, www.facebook.com/takumibydaisukemori
Kaiseki Den by Saotome
Scheduled to open early May, we can’t wait to try Kaiseki Den by Saotome for ourselves! The third of three new Lai Sun restaurants, Kaiseki Den is being touted as an exclusive high-end Japanese restaurant specialising in Kaiseki cuisine. Its Kaiseki menu menu includes unique personal touches by Executive Chef Hiroyuki Saotome who will meticulously prepare the food using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Sign us up!
Kaiseki Den by Saotome, 32-38 Cross Lane, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, www.facebook.com/wagyukaisekiden
Employees Only
We here at Sassy love a good speakeasy, so when we found out this cool vibe hangout was coming to the 852, we made notes in our diaries to get there as soon as it opens! Set to open its doors this June, we are anticipating what Employees Only is renowned for in NYC: a fun bar and restaurant to spend your whole night, from happy hour through dinner and into the late night with great cocktails. Cheers!
Employees Only, G/F, 17-22 Lan Kwai Fong, Central.
*Set to open in June
UMI
Minimalist and intimate, this elegant sushi restaurant is great for date night. With only two seatings per evening (one at 6:30pm and one at 8:30pm), Chef Yukio Kimijima serves up traditional Edomae sushi (freshly caught fish served with ingredients from surrounding waters). Reminiscent of sophisticated sushi bars in Tokyo, UMI serves up an omakase menu (every dish is the chef’s choice). Chef Kimijima curates a unique menu every week with whatever is in season and imported straight from Japan. He uses a variety of garnishes and combinations of flavours to really let the star of the show – the sushi – shine.
UMI, 163 Hollywood Rd, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, www.lecomptoir.hk/#/umi
The Cheesecake Factory
America’s sweetheart has made its way to Hong Kong – The Cheesecake Factory opens its doors on Monday, 1 May at Gateway in Tsim Sha Tsui! If you’ve never been to a Cheesecake Factory before, let me set the stage for you. Think generous American-sized portions of fresh, bright and heaping salads (you have to try the Luau Salad – a Hawaiian style option), sumptuous pastas, delectable mains and the star of the show, the cheesecakes. Oh, the cheesecakes! There are 25 varieties to choose from… yes, 25! From the classic variety to the indulgent ones (hello, Caramel Pecan Turtle Cheesecake!), the perfect-for-sharing-slices will satisfy every sweet tooth. Don’t forget to put on your stretchy pants before heading out to The Cheesecake Factory with the gang!
The Cheesecake Factory, Shop G102, G/F, Harbour City, Gateway Arcade, 25 Canton Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, www.facebook.com/thecheesecakefactoryHK
Read more: Food News Flash: The Cheesecake Factory Opens in Hong Kong
Café 15
Camlux Hotel celebrated its soft-opening in a converted factory with the launch of its cosy and contemporary Café 15. Located near Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and Kowloon Bay International Trade and Exhibition Centre (KITEC), the neighbourhood café is the signature ground floor dining venue of the pioneering hotel. We are totally into its all-day breakfast option, and we can’t wait to try the club sandwiches (piled so high!), Italian lunch platter, baked potatoes, herb scallop linguine and other mouthwatering delights on offer!
Café 15, 15 Wang Kwong Road, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, www.camluxhotel.com/experience