I love Brazilian food and love Japanese food, why not marry the flavors like they do in Brazil? I…read moreadmit I've never had Brazilian/Japanese fusion before so I was really excited to try Uma Nota. Uma Nota is on Peel Street with a colorful mural of a woman painted on the outside. If it's too busy you can have a drink and wait on the tiered steps outside of the restaurant. They offer tapas style small dishes or heartier entrees. We ordered: Marinated pear salad(Fresh pears marinated in clementine sauce with hearts of palm, togarashi and green leaves): This was actually quite refreshing and light. The pears went well with the clementine sauce and spicy togarashi. Portobello Skewers (With red bell pepper chimichurri sauce): The beefy flavor of the portabello went well with the chimichurri sauce. Beef Skewers (With farofa) : Beef was tender and farofa (cassava flour) sprinkled on the dish made for good dipping which enhanced the beef flavor. Jaba com jerimum (Brazilian jerk beef with pumpkin, butter fried onions and sweet peppers): I've always loved jerk beef and this was really good with the onions and sweet peppers. Coxinhas de frango (Deep fried dumplings filled with chicken and okra): Normally I'm not a fan of okra, sometimes it can be slimy but these went well with the chicken. Perfectly fried teardrop shapes of happiness. I also ordered their Paulista cocktail (Sake, Aperol, lychee and pink berries pepper shrub): It was refreshing and not too sweet. It was definitely an enjoyable dinner, I wouldn't call this place "intimate" so you can have a private conversation but the lively atmosphere and amazing food made this a restaurant I want to come back to again and again.

We made an attempt to get into a restaurant nearby and after knowing it had a long hour wait,…read morebumped into this place. We were starving and so decided to walk-in without checking out their reviews. At 7:30 pm, this place was empty with 3 tables occupied. The four of us were seated right away. Brazilian Japanese Street food was a first-time cuisine experience for me, so I was excited to try out the different flavors. Their entire menu is for sharing, so we ordered a few appetizers and mains which included Ceviche Guayas ($175), Ceviche Nikkei ($175), Banana doce ($90), Porco crocante ($95), some skewers which included Octopus ($115), Beef ($115), Chicken ($95), Tuna ($115), and 2 large plates which included Robalo assado em folha de bananeira ($290), and Lombinho de porco ($250). We also ordered the Classic Caipirinha's ($95) for drinks. The drinks, food, and service were absolutely spot on. The food was very delicious with Tuna skewers being the most amazing, and the Lombinho de proco was out of this world. Our only issue with this place is that it's just too expensive. It cost us in excess of $2600 for that night... maybe that explained why the place was still not that busy when we left at around 9 pm.

The only Mexican joint I found in Hong Kong to fulfill my burrito crave during a short stay. Super…read moreover priced comparing to Chipotle or Moe's in the states. One chicken burrito rice bowl with guac added came out to be $96 and a soda is $28. And the quality was only acceptable. I wouldn't say it disappointed me but they can definitely do better on the chicken!

My office used to be a five minute walk from this location. I was a little skeptical at first but…read moreI had been craving a burrito coming from Arizona. Knowing this wouldn't be an authentic street food style Mexican cart burrito, I placed my expectations closer to a Chipotle. And basically if a bunch of Chinese So-cal surfing ninjas wanted to leave Venice Beach and start up a chain in Hong Kong selling burritos, this would be the place to get the spicy burrito fix for a global appetite. In the end, I ended up eating here at least twice a week for a year. Best ever fast food burrito chain in Central area.

The quesadillas at Cali-Mex SLAP. The portion is huge, so I usually split it with a coworker or…read morejust save half for another meal. You can also choose to get only half a quesadilla ($98 hkd) but it's cheaper to get a full one for $148 hkd. They have non-meat options for the quesadillas too. I actually got their fish sliders my first time here. Nice and crispy but terribly oily. I'd love to try their Mac and cheese the next time I'm back in hk! I also think their al fresco area is great considering the restaurant is near the ocean. The vibe is so chill and slow paced in this area of ktown.

Far from home recently, I found myself craving a salad for lunch. I wanted the crunch of fresh…read moreromaine, the juiciness of a ripe tomato, and any accoutrement that I could find -- olives and red onion for a Greek salad, hard boiled eggs and anchovies for a Nicoise . . . I wouldn't be picky! After striking out at my first place (they were out of salad), I happened upon Cali-Mex. Think of your typical Mexican grill in the US (Chipotle, Qdoba or Moe's) and you'll get the idea. There is an option to choose your base (taco, burrito, salad, quesadilla), too it with your choice of meat, then add any extras. I ordered a naked taco salad with original chicken. It comes with sour cream, guacamole is extra. After a brief (5 minute?) wait, my salad was ready for me to enjoy. Crunchy romaine, juicy tomatoes, and rotisseried chicken hit the spot. The flavors were milder than I expected and the sauce was sweeter than I expected, but it was a satisfying lunch nonetheless. This location has free Wi-Fi, in case you want to linger, and the staff all spoke English very well. Beers such as Corona are available a la carte. Add a slice of lime and you're miles away from ordinary!

The dining area is quite intimate in the evening, having dim lighting and having only a handful of…read moretables on this floor. This made the space quite comfortable yet elegant at the same time. Service was attentive without it being overbearing--helpful with the dish selection as well. We thought the dishes were great from start to finish. The burrata was creamy, complimented by the tart and sweet grilled peach while being cut by the savory cured meats. I ordered the lamb medium-rare and really enjoyed how it was prepared, and the pasta dishes similarly turned out delicious. We felt like the presentation of the dishes were very thoughtful on top of its great taste. Both desserts were a necessary closing of the meal--the creaminess of the tiramisu and panna cotta was not overbearing and helped highlight the respective flavors of coffee and fruit in these desserts!

It was my first time dining at Pirata and I enjoyed the vibrant and welcoming atmosphere…read more On this occasion, they were launching their weekly lunch buffet, which features a different selection of appetizers spread out beautifully. I am also big on dessert so the new tiramisu recipe was particularly noteworthy, standing out from others that I've tried. Kudos to Boris and Elle for their attentive service; they frequently checked in on us and ensured our comfort. Overall, my visit to Pirata was a delightful experience that I look forward to repeating. Thank you Pirata Group.

The seedier Lockhart Road gets, the more surprised I am to find places like Agave right in the…read morethick of it all. Despite it's wannabe Mexican flair, Agave is more of a place to knock back a few margaritas and tequila shots than it is a place for chocolate-y mole and handmade tortillas. The food doesn't win here, but it is one of the only places in Hong Kong that showcases excellent Spanish live music. For anyone who has been to their sister location in Central (https://www.yelp.com/biz/agave-tequila-y-comida-%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF-2), the Wanchai Agave feels remarkably different. Seedier than its LKF location, it is perched above ground with an open patio to people watch while sipping a drink. When it comes to the food, my inner Mexican self is not terribly impressed with the greasy execution and inflated pricetag. Much of the food is either over salted or over cheesed. The menu is comprised of mainly quesadillas, nachos, ensaladas, enchiladas, antojito appetizers, burritos, tacos and fajitas. There are also some classic items like cochinita pibil ($158HKD), chilaquiles de res ($118HKD). And there's even a few options for molcajetes (think Mexican bibimbap wtih stone bowls), which range from $150-220HKD. My sad enchiladas rojas ($164HKD) was drowned in sauce and caked in ranchero cheese. There wasn't much meat inside the tortillas, and even the accompanying rice and beans were skimpy portion wise. Even the tacos ($138-168 for 4) were teeny tiny, but loaded with salsa and fixins. At about $4-5 USD each, I was more disappointed at how bland my pork and chicken tacos were. Even the ground chorizo quesadilla ($128) was a blanket of wet cheese and grease. The bar is prominent and loaded with various tequilas and mezcals. Shots anyone? (The answer is always "Si.") The selection is pretty impressive, with slightly more obscure brands like El Tesoro ($98HKD) and Correlejo ($98HKD). All shots range from $68-428HKD, which is no joke price wise. Drastically cheaper are their other spirits in the house, which get even cheaper during their happy hour. One of their major highlights is Chris Polanco, their main squeeze for the live music. The man knows how to work a crowd and sings a hell of a rendition of all sorts of Mexican songs. It's easy to sit at the bar, rock a drink of some kind and just let Chris do his thing on the guitar.

Since moving to China, finding other types of cuisine in our local area is tough. So when we…read morevisiting HK for the weekend we were told to visit Agave. All four of us LOVE Mexican food. While it may not be the traditional flavors of Oaxaca or whatever, as a Tex-Mex place it cannot be beat! We've had other attempts at Mexican in China but they always lack the flavor and depth of the stuff back home. So when we came here we had limited expectations. Honestly, my quesadillas were amazing! The ground chorizo was my favorite because it was so damn tasty! The enchiladas were great and our friends really enjoyed their vegetarian fare. The quest fundidio was a favorite of all four of us. They have good margaritas and the decor takes you back home even if it's just for a couple hours. The service was good although my attempt at having two meats in my quesadilla was translated into two different ones. I can't complain because I was really hungry and they were both delicious. It is pricey since it's in HK and the area is populated by brothels. However, just take an Uber to and from and you will not be disappointed.

dined 10/4/14 A little late in reviewing, but it was so…read morepositive and enjoyable, that I had to share the good news. We arrived early for dinner, so had a choice of tables. Staff wanted to seat us in the open air part, close to the very front of the restaurant. Since it was hot, we asked for, and were accommodated at a table in the middle of the restaurant, under the needed air conditioning!! We started off with two tapas; the Padron Peppers, $87, and the White Anchovies, $74. While the pepper dish was ample in size, it was incredibly boring in taste. However, the large sardines were expertly seasoned and enjoyable. For our main, we shared a non-meat version of the Seafood Paella, $338. This was delicioso y mui excellante! For dessert, we shared a Date Pudding, $70. This too was excellent. See photos. All in all a very comfortable place to dine. Service was adequate, as the staff had an attitude, yet food was impressive, thus the rating of 4 stars.

If you like raw garlic (and to be fair, I do), then Iberico is the place for you. OK, so perhaps…read morenot the best way to draw you in, but bear with me, I am a fan - honest! Part of the Enoteca Group, Iberico is a Spanish and Portuguese tapas restaurant, located just off the esco below Elgin Street. Unlike it's older sister Enoteca, Iberico serves good food well, and has a pleasant and welcoming staff. The menu is primarily tapas, conveniently sectioned into veggie, seafood, and meats. But there are also mains (basically a variety of paellas), and an Iberico ham selection. For me and Mrs L, we always have the same things, and I believe this is testament to their good cooking. After all, why change something that's not broken? For us it's always; the pickled anchovies, a dozen quails eggs with salt and pepper, triple cooked patatas bravas, pan fried chorizo with duck egg, all rounded off with a seafood paella. They use liberal amounts of garlic, raw and cooked, so you better eat as much or as little as your date, otherwise there may be no special face time. The paella is great, lots of seafood, and just the right balance of rice. It always works out to just the right amount of each - no one wants a paella that's all rice and seafood now! The last cherry on top of the paella is the fact that the chef will happily make it without chorizo, since Mrs L doesn't eat things with faces, but also put the chorizo on a side dish for me, so I can mix it in myself. That is the mark of a true gentleman! To give an idea of costs, the seafood paella is HKD338, the veggie paella is HKD246, with the chicken one somewhere in between. Tapas dishes are around HKD100 each. Drinks are good; a decent selection of wine, and an even better selection of sangrias. I had no idea there were so many varieties! The staff there are great, always very welcoming and attentive. Even when it is rammed, they will try and squeeze in a walk in. They could do with updating their seating plans though, as the last time we went, we kept getting another tables food, and waving that much meat in fornt of Mrs L is not a good idea!

Rummin' Tings provides for me the very things I miss when I think about life back in the US,…read morenotably Caribbean fare with a soul food edge. The longing for these flavors was something I would have just ignored till I found some way to get back to America, but thanks to a quick search on Yelp, I now have an option. A tasty one at that. The place like so many others in HK is extremely small. Tallboy table tops line along the wall for groups, while the bar is a flurry of drink action from end to end. This creates very little space for people to move through, which is especially tight on the weekend when this place is packed to the gills. Hence, I find myself here more often on the weekday afternoons when there is some breathing room. From the "Lil' Tings" (appetizers / small bites) section, I've had some really good success with the Dutty Doubles, which consists of bara and chick pea curry. The Callaloo & Cassava Chips with lump crab meat are a special treat -- the spinach and okra stew make for a nice veggie option. The Jammin' Potato Salad is indeed jammin', while the potatoes are soft and just perfectly creamy. My favorite is the Macaroni Pie, which might not be as cheesy as I like, but the smoked cheddar and nutmeg make for a potent comfort food punch. I haven't had much luck with the Conch Salad, Beef (both veggie and meaty) Patties, or the Booyaka Cole Slaw. The Ragga Muffins (cornbread) has its moments, but it is more filling than it is tasty. I am really hoping to try the Saltfish Accra at some point, but I'll have to reserve that for a future visit. The main courses ("Tings") are an interesting mix of seafood and veggie options. The Jamrock Jerk Chicken is wonderfully spiced and is grilled quite well. Adding a nice kick to the juicy chicken is their tamarind aioli, which complements the dish nicely. I have also had their Puri Roti options a few times (eggplant, goat, and dahl versions) with great success. I would have skipped the Stuffed Sole had I known the portions were that small and the Stickly Island Ribs have been a hit with my friends for a long time. The other notoriety that Rummin' Tings is known for is their array of fantastic drinks. Their signature cocktails are worth checking out (Coco Libre is extremely refreshing and the Lawd Ah Mercy is remarkably potent) and the pitchers of rummy' drinks ranging from mojitos to punches are a great way to share the love in a group. And just as the name would suggest, their rum selection is excellent. Appleton Estate anyone? Service charge isn't included, so they're really pushing the tipping culture for better service. So far, I've experienced friendly faces and awesome bartenders. I give kudos to the wait staff for zipping through the narrow pathway and appreciate that they always have the AC on blast. And of course, when in doubt ask for Loretta. She's the engine that keeps this ship sailing smoothly.

On the quest for Jerk chicken in Asia I found this place and had to try it. The bar is small but…read morethey found me a stool quickly. It was trivia night and I was invited to stay, so I joined a team and helped us win third place! They make a mean mojito and my new friends really loved the punch. I didn't have the ribs but they sure looked good. The jerk chicken was disappointing because while it was cooked perfectly and tasted good, it didn't have any real jerk seasoning!! The fries were fine and the coleslaw lacked any punch in the flavor department. I did enjoy the beef patties. While they were different from what I am used to, they flavor was good and the sauce it comes with is amazing. The staff was super friendly and I would come back to try the ribs for sure.

This is a really good restaurant/bar right off of the escalator on Shelly Street. Look to you're…read moreleft and there it is. This restaurant offers a very good selection of Western and Asian Fusion food. I really like their burgers! Plus, they have the perfect output of Guinness Stout. ...Which is actually kind of rare in HK. For those of you who haven't been here, check out their lunch special. You can get whatever you want off of their menu, plus they give you a great complimentary bowl of potato cheese soup and a lemon tea on the house. Good stuff! Overall, good place. Check it out.

Very nice and lovely restaurant with extremely lovely staff (*winking @ Kipa from Nepal) and owner…read more We had a full Chicken (Frango in portuguese) with 4 sides and it was fantastic. Chicken meat was juicy and soft, it fell almost of the bone. Homemade Spicy and Piri Sauce was the icing of the cake. It was portuguese chicken at is best in Hongkong!