Chautari Restaurant

The Queen’s Rd Cooked Food Centre is somewhat of an institution on Hong Kong Island. It is one of the few cooked food places that has menus in English, and is a fun place to get that ‘dai pai dong‘ vibe, even though you are inside. Packed with locals and ex-pats alike, there are around ten stalls to choose from, and the other night we decided to check out Chautari Restaurant.

Specialising in Indian and Nepalese cuisine, these guys make some really good food! They started us off with complimentary papadums, always a winner, especially when served with that delicious mint chutney. Their samosas were phenomenal, packed full of the usual ingredients with the addition of cashew nuts and loads of cinnamon, nyummy!

I was in the mood for something light, so ordered fish tikka. I was really happy with the sizzling platter I received. There was a giant portion of fresh, light, white fish all perfectly infused with fresh herbs and lemon – divine.

My partner in crime had chicken makhani with colorful Indian rice, which he really enjoyed. And we both liked the fluffy garlic naan, even though it could have done with lashing more garlic (but then we are gluttons for the garlic!)

All of this set up back around $100HKD each, which is super reasonable. I was so full I had to go for a wee walk after to recover.

Chautari Restaurant

Queen’s Rd Cooked Food Centre

1 Queen’s Rd

Sheung Wan

Hong Kong

 

mymy!!

If you know me, or having been reading my blog, you will know that customer service is very important to me. I’m the kind of girl who grew up with a Father who always kept the lemonade topped up for us kids on special occasions. I also spent a number of years working in hospitality, so I know what it’s like on the other side of the coffee machine. The basic fact is, if you give great service, then people will be back – it doesn’t even matter if your product is not the best in town, if people feel a connection with the staff they will become regulars.

Now HK is not known for it’s great customer service skills, which makes it all the more exciting when you find a jewel – and that’s what mymy caffe is!

This joint is hole-in-the-wall coffee at it’s best. The space is tiny, with room for only two or three people at the bar. Of course you can get take away, but if you have the time you should stay and have a chat with owners Connie and Josephine.

From the moment we walked in they were so welcoming and friendly. We discussed the type of Italian coffee that they use and were served two beautiful looking Americano‘s (they are more like a New Zealand long black) with a gorgeous looking unbroken crema on the top (finally!). The coffee was great. I actually think it’s the best that I have had in Hong Kong and was only about $30HKD each.

Behind the counter is a bevy of photos, pictures and paraphernalia which gives the place a real homely touch. They have little snacks for sale too, but the real draw card here is that AMAZING coffee and the fantastic service.

When we left they gave us some chocolate covered coffee beans to set us up for the rest of the days adventure, and I thought that was really sweet.

I can not say enough about this place, so go and find them on Cleverly St – STAT!

p.s. you will know them by the cute bike outside – too much!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/mymy-caff%C3%A8/141944502533020

mymy Caffe

Shop C, G/F

8 Cleverly St

Sheung Wan

K-Roll

I’ve been a little disappointed with the state of the Korean joints that I have eaten at since I arrived in Hong Kong and that’s the reason that none of them appear on the blog….until now! K-Roll NOMU JOA-HAEYO!

I have been hearing about this place for a while now and with my penchant for Korean food have been reluctant to try it in case it didn’t live up to the hype. But I wasn’t disappointed with my first foray in to K-Roll, and will definitely be back to sample more.

The restaurant itself is tiny, so I expect that they predominantly do take out, but it has a nice modern interior, with brightly colored seating, an often changing blackboard menu and k-pop playing on the t.v. screen.

As we were just snacking, my food-friend and I ordered a chamchi gimbap (like a tuna sushi roll) and ttok beoki. Both of these were really good and were reminiscent of real Korean food. The gimbap was packed full of tuna and veges and I’m pretty sure I could even taste some ggaennip (sesame leaf) in the mix. The ttok beoki was nice too, with just the right mix of spicy sauce, rice cakes and odang (pressed fish cake). Each of these dishes cost around $48HKD, which is reasonable for the portions and excellent flavor. To get the most out of these two snacks, I highly recommend dipping the gimbap in to the spicy took beoki sauce – it’s a whole double-rainbow kind of experience.

K-Roll offers other Korean specialities like Bibimbap and also their own Korrito’s, which are like giant gimbap‘s with more filling.

Be sure to check them out if you’re in Sheung Wan, if you are a Korean food fan like me, you will be a happy little chappy! Kamsahamnida K-Roll!

Shop 6A, G/F, Sen Fat Building, 6 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan

2234 5505 / 2234 5506

 

SHOW ME THE STREET ART!

Ok, ok. So I know that Hong Kong is not exactly known internationally as an artistic hub.

Finance – yes

Food – yes

Shopping – yes

but art and design?

I kind of have this notion that every big city has an underground bevy of artists who make social and political statements through street art. Having been here for a few months now I really haven’t seen much. That was until my recent exploration of Sheung Wan. Littered around the cafe’s and restaurants close to New Street are a bunch of alleyways that are loaded with art. Some of them free-hand, whilst others stencilled – the different colors and design made for a refreshing Tuesday morning jaunt.  Go have a look and see what’s newly plastered.

 

Visa Run (or sail, as the case may be)

There comes a time in every travelling girl’s life where one finds themselves doing a visa run to the closest place just to get that stamp in the passport. In Korea, it was generally Fukuoka, but here in Hong Kong it’s Macau.

Luckily, getting there and back is super easy and convenient, especially if you don’t have much time to spend at the other end. From start to finish, I think the whole journey took about 4 hours, which included an hour or two of casino gazing.

From Hong Kong Island, take the MTR to Sheung Wan and take exit D. Here you come out in a plaza and you go up a few floors to the ferry terminal (don’t worry, it’s all sign posted). There are two different companies running services every 15 minutes, so you don’t have to pre-book anything. I went with Turbojet because they were the closest and also, their signage is red – hot! They also have a terminal on the Kowloon side in TST, with the same fares and journey time.

The ticket to Macau was $159HKD one way (economy class), on the weekend it’s $172HKD. The ferry itself was comfortable, but I had to laugh when the man asked me to put on my seatbelt and there wasn’t one attached! They have an excellent in-flight magazine called Horizon, which covers happenings in Hong Kong, Macau and the rest of the world, but that’s the only entertainment you receive. You can buy food and drink on some of the ferries, it depends what type of boat it is. On the way back I was on the Tricat and this looked a lot newer and had a bar area. Also, on the return voyage the fare was slightly cheaper, only $148HKD, I don’t know why?

The journey takes about 1 hour each way and on reaching Macau it’s an easy walk to the Fisherman’s Wharf where there are some casino’s and beautifully colored Portuguese architecture to have a look at. Don’t miss out on the Ancient ruins too, people would be hard pressed to tell that you weren’t in Europe, if it wasn’t for the tuktuk parked next to the Colosseum!

All and all an easy way to make me a fully-fledged employed person here in HK. Next time however, I’m ditching the ferry and totally taking the helicopter – now that’s my kind of visa run!

You can find Turbojet’s website here:

http://www.turbojet.com.hk/en/routing-sailing-schedule/hong-kong-macau/sailing-schedule-fares.aspx