jason.bonvivant's Profile
One lunch and dinner in Taipei
for something fun, you should stop by Dazzling Cafe which has many outlets around Taipei. Treat this as a ... afternoon tea / snack time. One of their famous items are the honey toast box. http://www.dazzlingdazzling.com/#home.php or you can check out my last visit here >> http://www.jasonbonvivant.com/2011/09/travel-taipei-aug-2011-day-1-4.html
Another good spot for afternoon tea (wonderful scones and sandwiches) is Smith & Hsu. Many outlets as well so do check out their website here > http://www.smithandhsu.com/ our my blog here > http://www.jasonbonvivant.com/2011/09/travel-taipei-aug-2011-day-2-4.html
true that my picks are not really ... Asian but those are places where you can relax yet experience how the Taiwanese take such cuisines to the next level.
For lunch or dinner, maybe check out one of Mitsui Japanese > http://www.mitsuitaipei.com.tw/
Din Tai Fung in Hong Kong
yeah, HK vs Taipei DTF does taste slightly different. I just returned from Taipei and visited the DTF Tian Mu (SOGO) location and it was good! (and less ppl waiting too) ... I find that not only the meat were more finely chopped, the size of the XLBs seem to be smaller in size compared with HK's branch which is good IMO.
I think it is very important to have a good ratio of dough / meat / juice to created a balance taste + texture. Too much dough will create bigger XLB and it will fall flat easily soon after being served. I like to pick the XLB up by its tip and swing it around to check on its meat juice before putting the whole thing into my mouth :)
late hong kong dining
yeah! 730pm is not late at all, plenty of time for you to even explore your hotel area as well. A more specific mention of the area would be nice as mentioned by PeterL so we can give you a better recommendation. ie: TST? MongKok? ShaTin? ...
Free meal in Hong Kong where to go?
@big_apple_ken: if you are considering Caprice or Pierre, I have a new one for you. It is my new found love of 2009! I mean a true love this time perhaps! lolz ... it took me much courage to SHARE my love haha .... it is "one thirtyone" that you might want to try if you haven't ... I spent the whole nite writing the review haha
Needs recs for HK please! Leaving on Thursday!
Most of the choices listed above are towards the high-ends and they are all worth trying indeed. Really depends on your budgets and how long you are going to stay i guess. For 4 days, limited choices but plenty to let you gain a few lbs :)
(1) For Peking Duck, try Spring Deer (book in advance, very old decor but pretty okay duck)
http://www.openrice.com/english/restaurant/sr2.htm?shopid=3249
(2) For unique old fashion HK style resto, try Tai Ping Koon
http://www.openrice.com/english/restaurant/sr2.htm?shopid=3467
(3) Hong Zhou Restaurant 杭州酒家 (but make sure you book in advance since that have 1 star now
http://www.openrice.com/english/restaurant/sr2.htm?shopid=13683
(4) Caprice (3 star resto) @ Four Season if you have time and can get a table, worth trying for LUNCH ... i guess. Beats Canoe Restaurant or North 44 in Toronto for sure. Then again, many places in HK beat those haha
(5) Sushi Hiro would be a nice and SAFE choice for Japanese. (of course there are many you can try but this one I like to go myself once in a while for a nice cozy Sushi dinner)
http://www.openrice.com/english/restaurant/sr2.htm?shopid=15255
Best Clay Pot Rice (煲仔飯) in Hong Kong?
yeah Kwan Kee is one of the best in my opinion but you can give 新翠華茶餐廳 (New Tsui Wah Restaurant) a try behind Times Square CWB. Pretty famous I guess but dun expect comfortable sitting or service.
New Tsui Wah Restaurant 新翠華茶餐廳
http://www.openrice.com/english/restaurant/sr2.htm?shopid=10566
Best BUFFET restaurant in Hong Kong?
I would not pick Window Cafe as one of the best, Cafe Too & Cafe Kool are above average. It really depends on what you are looking for in buffet IMO. Cafe Too, Cafe Kool & the Harbourside @ InterCon is to awe you with the sheer amount of food / seafood selection. If you want a wide variety of food, the above would be your pick. However, if you are looking for the environment as well as the quality of food, Conrad, JW Marriott or perhaps Kitchen @ W Hotel would be a nice pick as well. And if you are looking for something more unique as in on-demand items ordering, give Yamm @ the Mira a try. All of the above are about the same price range which is HKD 480 - 580 perhaps. As Jin mentioned below, different buffet offer a different style of buffet, hard to say which is the best. Also, better check before hand and ask if there are any special items not being served.
Mainstream Buffet (with the complete deal)
- Kitchen @ W Hotel
- Cafe Too
- Cafe Kool
- Harbourside @ InterCon
- Conrad
- JW Marriott
Slightly Unique
- Yamm @ the Mira
- Sabatini
- The Grill @ Grand Hyatt (meatttttt)
- Sheraton (for its Sunday brunch @ the Oysters and Wine Bar) - my favorite for now! don't expect a huge selection of food, it is for the relaxing experience over free flowing wine / champagne while overlooking the Victoria harbor and enjoying oysters at 2pm Sunday afternoon.
These are some of the more memorable ones I have been to and I personally prefer the slightly unique category because the mainstream one I found myself often in the middle of a battle because somehow people would fight you over food as if that's the last meal!
Italian besides Da Domenico, Gaia maybe??
how about La Taverna @ TST? I actually think the place has pretty decent pasta as well.
Best private kitchens in Hong Kong?
great write up! I have just jotted down this place on my soon-to-visit restaurants!
Anyone eaten at Magnolia in Hong Kong? Help!
now that you mentioned it I think I passed by it before, it is near the Hospital right? The exterior / decor is pretty modern if I recall correctly. There is one review on WOM Guide only. (http://www.womguide.com/restaurants/restaurant-listings/m/magnolia#tab=reviews) Maybe you should give it a go and let us know ^^
Where is the location of this unique restaurant? :)
I think it is the HUGE size of the bowl that makes this place so unique ... I want to give it a try too !
Looking for good beef pho in Hong Kong
o o o thanks for your support and encouragement big_apple_ken!! I had the Golden Bull's beef pho a long while ago but I can still remember it being offered so I think it was alright when I had it., LOL ... Honestly, I haven't really had great beef pho in Hong Kong thus far, I always find that small locally / family run Vietnam restaurants overseas are able to prepare way better beef pho (especially the soup base) better than many Hong Kong "pho" restaurants.I am yet to find a really good beef pho in Hong Kong! (maybe it is time to start a little "pho" quest around town! yeah! ...)
Looking for good beef pho in Hong Kong
Talking about pricey beef pho, you can give Golden Bull Vietnamese Cuisine @ Ocean Terminal a try. It uses Australian Wagyu Beef for its "beef pho" and carry a price tag of around $100 (including 10% service charge if I recall correctly). Note: that is the ONLY beef pho available there, no other option as in normal beef.
Killing Time in Hong Kong Solo!
there are so many choices in HK indeed, maybe you can do what I do sometimes, just walk / wander around and go in whichever restaurants spark your sudden craving ... but just a note of caution, you might end up eating many meals within a time span of a few hours ... :) ... a truly food quest
