Last night was a spectacular fusion of tastes and artfully presented Japanese Tapas…read more The Kirin Ichiban was ice cold and the service was excellent. I'll definitely be back next time in HK. Order the grilled black cod and enjoy the surprise.

3.5 Stars Just…read morearound the corner from Via Tokyo, a quiet cul-de-sac awaits with hidden gem eateries like cafes, dessert shops and now a Japanese yakitori bar comically named Bilibala. Why is the name comical? Well "bilibala" is supposedly what loud chatters sound like in Cantonese and thus the name is aptly suited then for a bar serving drinks and yakitori which is perfect for a night out chit chatting with friends. Some of the things we tried were: Cold Japanese Tomato with Black Truffle ($58) - the black truffle was quite aromatic while the sweet and fresh tomatoes made for a very refreshing snack. Japanese Fish Ball with Wasabi ($48) - I was pleasantly surprised by this unique combination as the chewy fish balls went perfectly with the spicy wasabi. Tamagoyaki ($58) - the tamagoyaki was well executed with the many soft layers of sweet egg. Lychee with Bacon ($32) - whoever thought of this combination of lychee with bacon is pure genius. The sweetness of the lychee balanced the saltiness of the meat perfectly. Just be careful when eating this as the lychee may still be quite hot and may burn your mouth. Ox Tongue ($40) - the ox tongue was a bit average as the tongue could be thicker and bouncier in texture but the array of sauces for the yakitori were a nice touch. Fresh Eel ($88) - Loved the crispiness of the skin and the tenderness of the eel! Tsukune ($48) - the ever classic minced chicken meatball was delicious to eat as bits of chewy cartilage had been incorporated into the meatball so it was crunchy-licious! Grilled Rice Roll ($38 each) - in 3 flavors: cod fish roe, pickled plum, and bonito flakes. The rice rolls were quite crunchy to eat while I especially liked the spiciness of the cod fish roe and the tartness of the pickled plum. Japanese Mochi with Cheese ($28) - finally we ended the night perfectly with these scrumptiously soft and chewy mochi filled with melting cheese that were just heavenly to eat. Verdict - the affordable price tags and great quality of food at Bilibala make it a great spot for happy hour with friends to eat and drink the night away.

Having a Flu is no fun! Especially, when you are travelling!…read more After bedridden for almost 3 days, I finally, had the energy to get out and get some fresh air and some decent food!! Driving out to Stanley is always a treat, and on the 4th day of Chinese New Year, some of the shops are still closed. So when I got to Stanley Plaza and found that they are all open, it really made my day! After parking at the plaza, we walked along the promenade line with eateries and pubs, we decided on Pickled Pelican! This is a traditional English type pub serving mostly pub food with a focus on their burgers. Since, I just recovered I thought I would reserve the Burgers for a later date!! ( Yes, as they were paraded in front of me, I tell myself to make a point to come back for their burgers, they all looked so good especially when you cannot have it!!) So the healthy choice: Grilled Chicken Caesar it is...and sometimes your body will tell you what is good for you and what is not and I have to say, the whole order of Caesar would have been a perfect meal for anyone recovering from cold or flu, it consist of very very fresh Romaine Lettuce, cherry tomatoes, avocados, hard boiled eggs, air dried parma ham, anchovies and more! With a tall class of Ginger Ale, I felt rejuvenated and refreshed!! To add on the the festive mood, during our meal, the Loin Dance was performed at the restaurant to bring everyone Good Luck and added a bit of extra cheer for all!! So, thank Pickled Pelican! Thanks for the great salad and also the extra joy you have brought me during this Festive Season!

This lunch put the cherry on top of a lovely holiday for us. She had a good beer and wings and…read moreloved every bit of them. I had the burger, fries, and a 7-up and strangely (for me) consumed every bit. It was all hot, fast, and of a high quality. Service was fast and friendly as well. We sat on the street and watched the many multi-national tourists walking by with their kids and dogs heading to and from the beach and other restaurants and thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience. When we return to HK a stay in Stanley will definitely be on our list to break up the noise, hustle, and bustle of the city. DEFINITELY give Stanley a try, you won't regret the 38 minute bus ride from Happy Valley.

Cassio is a high end Spanish restaurant located in Lan Kwai Fung. Like most places in LKF the…read moreprices are high even for Hong Kong. Upon sitting down our waiter was very open about the portions being on the small side. My rating is based on the following: Food: 4 stars Environment: 5 stars Service: 4.5 stars Value: 2 stars Recommended: iberico pork ribs, churros, onsen egg daily special I have read quite a few negative reviews on the service here and I was surprised to read that. I found the wait staff to be very attentive and professional. There was some push towards ordering more things but I think it was done in the right way. Overall the food here is good. I wasn't blown away by any one dish but I enjoyed everything I ordered. One fair criticism here is the price. For the portion size the food pricing is really high. Looking at some of the older reviews the price of the food has actually gone up over the years, which to me is crazy. Expect to pay north of a 1200 hkd for a table of two. We ordered 3 small plates, 2 mains, and a dessert. 1) beet root salad (88 hkd) - I love me some beetroot salad. This version had beetroot with a vinaigrette, green onions, and some greens. This is missing some cheese and if there was a nice monchego on top this dish would have been great. 2) Spanish omelette/iberico sobrassada (98hkd) - I see this dish being shared on instagram all the time. They use a Japanese egg which runs out when you cut into the omelette. They suggest eating this with bread to soak up the yolk. I opted not to do this given that the bread isn't free and we are trying to go light on the carbs. I was a bit disappointed with this dish. It tasted good but it wasn't amazing. I probably wouldn't order it again. 3) Onsen egg over potato purée and (158 hkd)- this is really a rich dish and was very delicious. Probably my favorite dish of the evening. It is a special and not on the menu every night. The creaminess from the purée really paired well with the egg and sausage. 4) Iberico pork ribs (208 hkd)- the ribs are slow cooked for 15 hours and it showed. The meat is fall off the bone tender. The dish is paired with peppers and tomatoes. I would have said this dish was excellent if the sauce on the pork was better. However this is still a B+ dish. 5) Spanish Carbinero (268 hkd)- The dish is one large red prawn. The sauce on the prawn is really excellent. However, the meat of the prawn itself wasn't plump indicating that the prawn itself wasn't super fresh. It's also paired with toasted bread squares which make for some good dipping into the sauce. I really don't think it's worth the price and wouldn't order this again. 6) churros (88 hkd) - The churros here are very good. Simple dish but executed really well. Everything that I want from a Churro. Freshly fried, crispy with a nice warm chocolate sauce. You also have a choice of vanilla or chocolate ice cream. I had a glass of wine with my meal and didn't try any cocktails. The bar here is gorgeous and will likely come back again to try the happy hour.

Went there to grab some "late" drinks . Liked their outdoor space. Solid drinks, good crowd, great…read morevibe.

I came for the cheese fondue and was greatly disappointed. It was strong in garlic and the flavor…read morewas off. The staff were nice.

This restaurant @swisschalethongkong is perfect for a cosy shared dinner especially if you order…read morefondue. The cheese was great. Bubbly, melty, gooey cheese served with potatoes and bread. The bread wasn't warm or freshly baked but it's not that big of a deal when covering it with cheese! While not necessarily what you think of when you have Swiss food, the lamb was cooked to perfection. Perfectly pink and tender in the middle with a good sear on the outside. The service wasn't particularly great. The servers seemed disinterested and lacked enthusiasm. Taste: *** Service: ** Ambiance: *** ------------------------------ The Swiss Chalet 8 Hart Ave, Tsim Sha Tsui ------------------------------

My husband and I took the ferry over from Central to buzz around Discovery Bay and grab a bite to…read moreeat. Zak's seemed like the best of the food options, so we showed up around 11:30 or so on a Sunday. It was buzzing and busy with loads of caucasian families and kids (can be good or really bad on if caucasian families and kids are your thing or your worst nightmare). Lots of seating inside and out. Service was good and attentive. The staff was hustling and accommodating/ Despite our high expectations because the menu is some welcoming and full of variety, the food and drinks were really bad. There are lots of options from burgers to salads, but in our order of a Bloody Mary, coffee shake, nachos, clam chowder and the kale & quinoa salad, absolutely everything was a bust with the exception of the kale & quinoa salad (salad was fresh, really big and quite good!). Clearly catering to the westerns that live out in Discovery Bay, they are doing their best to deliver a wide variety of westernized options, but all were sub-par. The Bloody Mary was watery, the nachos had cheese that was barely melted and looked like had been melted in microwave, clam chowder was watery too. So if you are not from westernized countries, you might not realize how bad the food is by westernized standards, so what you don't know, you don't know! Zak's gets credit for having a air of a relaxing spot to chill and enjoy the camaraderie of friends and family, but know the food is not worth the trip. We will not be back.

The menu has a bit of everything from burgers and pizzas to curries and salads. Usually too much…read morevariety across cuisines isn't a good thing, but so far they haven't disappointed! (Or maybe my standards for this type of "international food" restaurant have subsided recently...) Well, it's hard not to find at least a few dishes that sound appealing. The pepperoni pizza (with the thick crust option) is a must every time I go. Someday when I'm trying to be a bit more healthy I'll even try a couple of the salads that sound pretty good.

Falling in love in Hong Kong will always play back in NEON RED for me. Fade in Ping Pong 129…read moreGintonería. One of my favorite bars in the world. Also locally known as Ping Pong City. It used to be a store selling ping pong stuff back in the 60s when ping pong was a big deal in Hong Kong. You will find it in the Sai Ying Pun neighborhood, beyond a red door, down a long flight of stairs, encased in exposed concrete, bathed in neon red light. I won't post a photo of the street door. It shouldn't be hard to find and you should want the adventure. We walked, but it's right at a taxi drop off. Delicious and cleverly crafted beverages, but especially or only if you enjoy gin, specifically gin & tonics. That's the menu: all G&Ts. Lots of Spanish gin. It's a Spanish influenced gin bar after all. Spanish tapas also to seal the theme. Fantastic service and music choices. This must be underground magic. Dreamy cement bunker city romance if it ever were a thing. It gets crowded and full with locals and expats alike and you might be told to come back another time. Do it, enjoy the scenes and trendy girls exemplifying HK's nightlife. Te amo!

After being around for a while, I finally made it out to trying Ping Pong. Hidden behind a single…read morered door, Ping Pong is an underground bar with high ceilings and a bright neon sign. It can feel spacious yet crowded at the same time. Although I'm not an expert on gin, I decided to go for the classic gin & tonic (Half Crown). I wish they had more seasonal flavors in their menu, maybe like a summery peach, lychee twist, or mangosteen punch, just something besides the classic citrus-flavor profiles. It was a solid G&T, but a bit pricy for HK$130. A few friends in the group ordered some food, but the verdict was just so-so. Someone in my group had accidentally knocked my half-empty glass over, causing it to spill and break into pieces on the floor. The staff were quick to react, clean up and carefully remove any glass residue on the floor.

Heard they have good whiskeys here so went and tried. It was full when I walked in so the floor…read morestaff asked me to leave my number and they will contact me when there's available seat. I seated in the outdoor area first which is not bad and not longer than 10 mins I was seated back inside the bar. It's a busy Friday night with regular patrons I believe so everybody knows everybody and it's getting a little too loud. Ordered lowland ghost 19 years whiskey $279HKD ($35USD) for a shot... Ot was sweet and fruity and strong. Not long after it blurs out the noise around me and ordered another shot while listening to the band. Other than people being loud, it's a nice bar and lived the outdoor seating. Will come back again.

I have been a customer there for more than 10 years. Tonight I was treated like a drunk customer…read morearguing on the number of served beers which I knew for sure it was the staff's fault. The lady manager at the bar was rude and refuse to listen. I told the lady manager that it is not about the money but the respect she treat customers.

The first sake-only bar in Hong Kong is quickly becoming the hottest after work chill drink venue…read more I always see it as the sake equivalent of Executive Bar in Causeway Bay due to the two equally knowledgable owners. Bar owner Ayuchi Momose (or Momo) is a certified sake samurai who is dedicated to promoting sake to the world. With many years of experience as a sake sommelier in NYC's Sakagura under her belt, Momo knows her sakes and is well connected in Japan's sake world. Her humble upstairs bar in Lan Kwai Fong is stocked with over 100 varieties of sake. Not sure what to order? Momo is able to recommend a sake just by hearing out your preference. Alternatively, the sake menu is coded by taste so you can select what you like. Still not sure? Order a tasting trio which Momo has paired together for an oenoic adventure. Momo also has a chef that creates Japanese tapas to line the stomach. Food for me is not memorable but many a drunken night I have discovered a new sake that is my new favorite.