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.

Scrumptious Chinese New Year feast - Yum Cha

It’s CNY again! The time of the year where we do nothing except sleeping and eating for at least 3 days in a row. Well, many others do visit their relatives to give each other their blessings for the new year too so here’s a reunion dinner idea for you.

Similar to Dragon Noodles Academy, the interior is fancy and modern with a Chinese twist that is not old fashioned at all. A perfect meeting place for everyone, from young families to traditional families to couples.

Yum Cha is famous for their artisanal dim sum so we ordered a couple to kick start our meal.

Contemporary Chinese food for hipsters – Dragon Noodles Academy

Youngsters nowdays are often reluctant to have Chinese food as many restaurants are rather old-fashioned, plus the recipes remain almost unchanged for years. Thank God the founders of Urban Park and Yum Cha has introduced this super cool Kung Fu themed Dragon Noodles Academy to the cuilinary scene.

Really loved the way they incorporate conventional Chinese decorations and Wing Chun training equipments into this modern restaurant, which only makes everything undeniable.

A great hangout place for yakitori - Tori Izakaya

To most Hongkongers, it’s always about all you can eat, sushi and sashimi when it comes to Japanese cuisine but come on, izakaya style food also makes up a fair share of this East Asian cuilinary experience. Tori Izakaya is one that is worth trying out in groups of 3 to 4.

Conveniently located at the heart of Causeway Bay, it’s a lovely dinner venue to enjoy dinner and a few drinks with friends right after work. The inside was like most other typical izakayas, where the tables and chairs are quite small and packed together. It was also really dark that we had to turn on the flashlights while reading the menu (and taking photos, of course).

My friends knew what to order so all I needed to do was to sit back and relax.

Our dinner began with razor clams ($108@) that were covered with spring onions and chopped garlic. It was fresh and bouncy but just a bit more seasoning was needed to hit the spot.

Onsen egg with tofu salad ($88) came in large portion full of chilled lettuce, silky smooth tofu, tomato slices, an oozing onsen egg and loads of sesame dressing. A healthy and tasty salad to prepare ourselves for the fatty food to be eaten.

Festive Tasting menu - One Minden Tapas Kitchen

Final countdown to Christmas and let’s keep the joyful vibe going! To give this festival a little twist, One Minden has launched a dinner tasting menu with a list of their specialty Spanish dishes.

The restaurant is medium sized but the tables and chairs are quite well arranged, leaving some private space for each group of patrons to chit chat and have their own great time.

Oh my god OM should get a best design award for their drinks menu - one that made every single drink look super appealing. Would have had a hard time deciding what to order if OM was not a Spanish restaurant.

Traditional Christmas and New Year Dinner Set – Brick Lane

Ho Ho Ho! It’s only 3 more days to the best festival of the year and I have already had my very first Xmas dinner at Brick Lane the night before. Priced at only $388 per person, it’s a fulfilling and quality festive set that kept my tummy happy without hurting the wallet.

Their homey and cozy décor made a great place to hang out with friends. And don’t forget to explore the outdoor seating area with awesome night views!

An adorable little Spanish spot - Chico Chica

Always loved Spanish food for the wide variety of tapas that are in small portions with innovative combination of ingredients. Great for greedy foodies and girls like me who like trying out numerous dishes without getting too full. Sai Ying Pun folks, Chico Chica is my recent recommendation.

CC is a tiny little restaurant that fits around 20 customers. Quite a small one but I liked that intimacy (LOL) we had with the chefs. I really enjoyed watching them at work and knowing how my food was prepared.

CC’s version of Sangria ($65) was slightly sweet with a very special aftertaste and depth that differentiated itself from the others out there. The owner explained that rum and vodka were added besides the usual suspects and thus the multiple flavours.

Preview of J.Co Donuts & Coffee Hong Kong

Donut lovers attention please! J.Co, the donut and coffee concept store originated in Indonesia and hugely popular in the southeast Asian region is landing in Hong Kong this week! I'm here to show off (oh well, share to be precise) my preview of their offerings~

Conveniently located on Hennessy Road in Wan Chai, J.Co's decor is similar to all the chain coffee shops out there with a casual and relaxing vibe for customers to have sweet bites while chilling out.