Legit tonkotsu broth - Hakata Gensuke

Ever since the super popoular ramen chain Hakata Gensuke has landed Perth, the queue outside the entrance has been constantly long. Now that the hype has cooled down a bit, I went there to see if their ramen lives up to the good reviews.

Arrived at Hakata at around 11:15 am and there was already a queue. Luckily we made it to be the very first batch of customers so we got in almost right after it opened.

It’s a lively little ramen spot with simple décor and bright red and white painted walls. Loved how it was so well lit too as it’s way easier to take photos that way :p

There are four kinds of broth, which are original tonkotsu, Black tonkotsu (with black sesame paste and fried garlic), shio tonkotsu and god fire in 4 levels of spiciness of your choice.

Asian fusion light meals – The Don

The Don used to be a pop up restaurant back in 2015 and their ramen burger was a great hit. Great news to all food lovers in Perth as they have finally found a permanent spot to continue making their goodies. Thanks to my friend who missed their ramen burgers super badly, I paid a visit two days after their grand opening to see what the hype is about.

Yet another restaurant which has super simple décor, with white painting everywhere and black tables and chairs (which is something unique in Perth LOL).

There are also a few tables out in the courtyard if you feel like some sunshine.

Korean food by the water - Goong Korean BBQ restaurant

Korean food still rules, no matter where you are. I constantly have a craving for it too so I finally visited Goong Korean BBQ restaurant which is one of the more popular ones with loads of positive reviews in Perth.

Located by the Victoria Gardens, it has a stunning waterfront view and a promenade just outside the restaurant, which make Goong an excellent date night venue for Korean food lovers (don’t forget that odour you will get after having a scrumptious BBQ meal though).

Besides the better-than-usual décor, their menu game is incredibly strong too. All the flatlays on the menu made the food looked really tempting.

Perth’s most talked about dinner buffet – Epicurean Crown Towers

Have heard so much good about Epicurean that it has been on my to-eat list since I came to Perth and of course, the plan was never realized as I am scared off by the average price of a whopping AUD$90 per person too. A couple weeks ago I got super lucky to have had the chance to dine at Epicurean though, thanks to my amazing manager and bosses (yea seriously, you guys are phenomenal to have chosen this place for staff Christmas party :p).

It was like a dream come true for me and also a golden opportunity to blog about this place since it is like Perth’s La La Land. Alrighty, no BS, let’s get straight down to the environment and food.

Epicurean is definitely one of the most visually pleasing venues I’ve ever dined at. Every single bit looks remarkably elegant and classy, even the décor itself is a feast to the eyes. What is also worth noting is that even though the patrons are super dressed up, the ambience is still rather casual, which I like a lot. Afterall we were there to eat till we drop (LOL).

Unbeatable brisket benedict - tbsp.

Australia is always known for its unique coffee/café culture and it’s a shame that I still haven’t blogged about any cafes in Perth yet. Here you go a review for tbsp. – one that’s recommended not only by many prestigious online media but also my food lover friends.

Went there on a Saturday afternoon and man it was really packed for a café of that size. Luckily my friend and I managed to secure the last two spots on a long shared table.

Loved that well lit environment (trust me, many restaurants in Perth don’t even have proper lighting, let alone proper décor) and scientific yet cute chalk drawing of a tablespoon (I guess?)

New drink alert: Coca-cola with coffee no sugar

Coca-Cola is so popular in my home town that most of us Hongkongers consider that a local soft drink. As part of my family tradition to have it during dinner, I certainly had drank quite a lot since my childhood until high school era because at some point I got more health-conscious (oh well, more like I wanted to have room to devour all those amazing desserts out there).

Having quitted for 5+ years and being a coffee lover, the idea of their new coca-cola with these magical beans fascinated me and I just had to try it out so I bought the most classic ones (those in glass bottles) for this short review.

Evil dessert pizzas - Theo and Co. Pizzeria

Theo and Co. Pizzeria has always been a popular spot in Vic Park area – the place is constantly super packed inside with a long queue outside so I went there with my housemates to see if it’s worth the hype.

We arrived at 5ish in the evening just to avoid the peak-hour crowd and were seated immediately. Thank god we didn’t have to wait for a whole hour for this.
It’s a casual restaurant full of long tables and loud music playing in the background. A great place to chill, hang out and eat like a beast with your friends.

Fusion without confusion - Hermosa Cantina

Haven’t been dining out that much these days, particularly for dinner, partly because I don’t drive and my previous experience in quite a few overhyped and overpriced restaurants in Perth. 

Things changed when the food photos from Hermosa Cantina caught my eye, as well as personally meeting Chef Kenny Tse. Having worked in a few upscale restaurants in Hong Kong, he is passionate about cooking and bringing the best culinary experience to connoiseurs out there.

Not really that oishii - Oishii Ramen

Haven’t updated my blog for a while since I got to Perth. Just too many things going on and haven’t been eating out that much so I joined my friends who were to visit this ramen place in Myaree today. 

We got there at around 10:45am and the restaurant was already super packed. Had to wait for around 15 minutes to get in and I was super glad that we came early even though I am not used to having ramen as my breakfast LOL.

With quite a small place that can only fit around 15-18 pax, it kind of explained the long queue at an off-peak time. The noodle bar resembles those authentic Japanese noodle carts and the décor is pretty simple and cozy.

Sometimes chain restaurants can be great (just sometimes) - Kikusan

Choosing a restaurant for dinner gathering bothers me very much as everyone has different preferences and expectations. Was looking for somewhere not too pricey but also cozy and comfy to catch up with friends. Kikusan is a place I would recommend, despite that fact that it’s under Maxim’s group (no offence but I am sure most foodies out there are more keen on trying independent eateries).

It’s such a classy entrance that I always thought it’s an high-end Japanese restaurant whenever I passed by!

The inside is just as elegant as the outside, the kind of décor irresistible to girls.

Seldom do I visit chain restaurants but clearly much thought has been put into every detail. Even the menu looked really stylish and cool.

Japanese BBQ for lazybones - Woo Tung Yakiniku Dining Bar

To a food lover like me, there is never too much Japanese BBQ and this place has always been on my list since ages ago because of all the positive comments despite being a low-profile restaurant. What’s more, you can simply sit back, relax, and enjoy your food as everything will be handled by the waiting staff (yes, including the fun yet challenging cooking part).

So I finally went all the way to Sheung Wan with my friend to check out what this place and their food are like. Turned out it’s a tiny cosy place adorned with some artsy paintings.

Not quite there yet - Fat Duck Den Chinese Cuisine

It’s time for another mother-and-daughter date and I have picked the newly opened Fat Duck Den Chinese Cuisine for our most recent culinary adventure.

I got attracted to this place partly because of their classy and elegant interior. The vibe that most office ladies and teenage girls would love.

My new favourite KFC joint - Bingo & Cook

Apparently the hype for Korean food or whatever Korean stuff is still here and is going to be with us for the next couple of years so just suck it up even if you are not into it (I am neutral as long as the food is good, by the way). Having heard so much good and seen so many mouthwatering photos on Instagram, I had to pay a visit with my friend who is a fried chicken lover.

The interior is well lit with simple yet comfy decor. Quite a spacious restaurant considered it is located in the heart of Causeway Bay.

The menu was rather small but it’s the quality of food that matters. The Korean chicken set with fried, braised and baked chicken seemed very tempting but too bad we had to give it a pass because of the gigantic portion.

All you can eat weekend brunch - One Minden Tapas Kitchen

Was here for their Christmas festive set a couple months ago and I knew I had to come back for their brunch. Priced at $278 per person, customers can enjoy an all you can eat meal from a menu of nearly 20 tapas for 2 hours in the 11:30 – 15:30 time slot. What a deal!!

So my friend and I were here to take up the challenge on a Sunday afternoon. We decided to conquer the whole menu 2 to 3 tapas at a time and had some classic egg dishes to start with.

Before I forget, OM’s signature cocktail was exceptionally photogenic and yummy so we had 1 to share.

Colourful soup dumplings - Paradise Dynasty

Mom was craving for soup dumplings the other day so we decided to try out Paradise Dynasty that has their own twist on this dish.

The restaurant was incredibly spacious and to my surprise, the décor was very elegant for it’s casual vibe.

Specialty Dynasty xiao long bao ($98) - original, cheese, Szechuan, garlic, ginseng, crab roe, black truffle, foie gras

Always loved this Shanghaiese specialty but never have I ever tried flavours other than the original one. In PD, you got 7 other groundbreaking flavours to devour! The colorful dumplings themselves were a feast for the eyes with the different flavours pretty well-executed. The ones I have tasted (ranked in descending order of preference) were garlic, Szechuan, black truffle, foie gras and cheese. Afterall it’s the traditional Chinese ingredients that worked best with this soup dumpling.