As far as dining goes, Soho (or SoHo – for “South of Hollywood Road”) district in Hong Kong brings a lot to the table. There are restaurants in historic buildings, others with elegant fit-outs, and plenty with a more low-key, street-side buzz. And the food and drink offerings are also truly global! They range from classic French to Bangladeshi, and Chinese and British staples. Here’s a list of 10 tasty places to keep in mind for your next Soho sojourn.
#1 Priyo Shaad
EL’s KATE WOODBURY reviews a Hong Kong rarity: a restaurant serving Bangladeshi cuisine.
Priyo Shaad translates as “memory of cherished tastes” and it’s Hong Kong’s only Bangladeshi restaurant – a gem that’s making its mark on Aberdeen Street. The interior is welcoming and cosy; we visited on a Sunday night to find the tables full with hungry diners.
The food is light and healthy without the traditional cream and ghee, yet packed with flavour. Time-honoured family recipes using quality ingredients and spices are fundamental to owner Rajeeb (an accredited health and wellness coach!).
The menu is concise but has plenty of choice for every diner. From the Street Food menu, we chose the sharing platter, laden with tasty, freshly cooked nibbles: Piyaju, onion and lentil fritters, Beguni, crispy slices of fried eggplant and Fuchka, chickpea shells served with crunchy cucumbers and two sauces – all were delicious. But the Aloo’r Chop was the star of the show; think a healthier, lighter version of Scotch Egg, with potato replacing sausage meat. What a treat!
Vegetable dishes are freshly cooked to order; we devoured Shobji Jhol, a fragrant and healthy veggie curry. In contrast, the meat curries are slow-cooked for up to five hours; the Kala Bhuna was a winner, with melt-in-your mouth beef served in a rich gravy and perfectly smooth mashed potatoes to balance the flavours. Rajeeb recommended the Rice of the Day, a fragrant and lightly spiced basmati dish which paired perfectly with our dishes. This is a special restaurant – highly recommended!
29 Aberdeen Street, Central
6737 4607 | book.bistrochat.com/priyo-shaad
#2 Chôm Chôm
Craving some big Vietnamese flavours? Look no further than Chôm Chôm, where zesty salads and traditional-style meat dishes can be paired with a couple of cold beers in trademark “bia hoi” style. Don’t miss the VFC – that’s Vietnamese fried chicken! As for drinks, if beer’s not your bag, go for a Phojito (yes, it’s a thing), or a Saigon Sour.
58-60 Peel Street
2810 0850 | chomchom.com.hk
#3 Louise
With a cool retro vibe, this restaurant in a heritage house in PMQ offers high-end dishes that are all about honest family cooking from France, courtesy of founder Julien Royer and executive chef Franckelie Laloum. There are brunches, weekday sets, signature dinners and other options; but, with a Michelin star to its name, Louise is unlikely to disappoint whenever you choose to visit.
PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street
2866 0300 | louise.hk
#4 Fini’s
This places has served more than a million meatballs in its time, so you know it’s doing something right! You can expect rustic Italian cuisine at Fini’s, from homemade pasta to house-cured meats, but also one of HK’s best New York-style pizzas. The location on the corner of Elgin and the Soho escalator is ideal for a bit of people-watching while you tuck into a slice or two!
49 Elgin Street
2387 6338 | finishk.com
#5 Jean-Pierre
Jean-Pierre is the newest opening in the Black Sheep Group, and it honours France’s much-loved bistro dining rooms. The restaurant’s courtyard on Bridges Street is a popular spot for a drink, while the spacious dining room is elegant, with dark mahogany furniture and velvet banquettes.
Among the many menu highlights are starters of Pâté de Foie de Volaille, slathered on warm toasted baguette, and Escargots de Bourgogne, tender snails served in garlicky butter with a hit of Pernod aniseed. Mains include Poulet de Simone, Hong Kong’s famed three-yellow chicken stuffed with mushroom duxelles, tarragon and spinach then roasted to succulent perfection and served with a rich chicken jus. And the Boeuf Bourguignon sees tender melt-in-the-mouth beef cheek slow cooked in a rich Burgundy pinot noir sauce. There’s a choice of eight classic bistro desserts – something for every sweet tooth. This is a great spot for superbly cooked bistro classics and fabulous French wines.
Read our full review of Jean-Pierre here.
9 Bridges Street, Central
2154 6101 | jean-pierre.com.hk
#6 The Chinese Library
As the name suggests, The Chinese Library in Tai Kwun offers cuisines from the diverse culinary regions of China – with a fusion twist for extra kick! Don’t miss the signature laksa-flavoured xiaolongbao or the classic pannacotta dessert, among other Cantonese, Shanghainese and Sichuan fare. An added bonus is the plush but welcoming setting.
Block 01, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road
2848 3088 | chineselibrary.com.hk
#7 The Globe
After years on Hollywood Road, this popular gastro pub continues to pump out homey British comfort food from its Graham Street location. The menu features Scotch eggs, pork and leek sausages, curries, burgers and more. And the drinks? In their own words, they have “more beer than you can shake a stick at”. It’s always worth a return visit to try the guest taps from HK and global breweries.
Garley Building, 45-53 Graham Street
2543 1941 | theglobe.com.hk
#8 The Dispensary
What’s being dispensed at The Dispensary? Masterful drinks, that’s what! Reflecting the theme of the Chinese and British aspects of Hong Kong’s heritage – fitting for its location in a Victorian-era barracks – the bar’s unique cocktail list sees the likes of oolong tea marrying with bourbon, and egg tarts with rum.
Shop 01-1/F, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road
2848 3000 | taikwun.hk
#9 Bouchon Bistro Français
Walking in to Bouchon’s softly lit restaurant interior, you’ll see tables adorned with steaming Moules Marinière, crispy frites and char-grilled steaks, and friendly and vigilant waiters buzzing around the tables. Among the starters are some classic dishes – French onion soup, oysters, baked camembert and charcuterie. The Assiette de Foie Gras ($168) is also a heavenly choice: rich foie gras terrine and seared foie gras comes with a toasted baguette and fig confit. Mains include the traditional trio of boeuf bourguignon, bouillabaisse and duck confit. There’s also Entrecôte Ribeye ($338), beautifully chargrilled with crisp frites and a creamy béarnaise, and Agneau Rôti ($338), a juicy lamb rack served with roasted fingerling potatoes. Befitting a French restaurant, you’ll also find a fabulous cheese selection on offer, and some tempting French desserts.
Read for our full review of Bouchon Bistro Français here.
49 Elgin Street, Central
2525 9300 | reservations@bouchon.com.hk
sandshospitality.com
#10 Dragonfly
Along with a majestic Instagrammable interior courtesy of designer Ashley Sutton, this Bohemian-style art nouveau cocktail lounge showcases a range of intriguing and colourful drinks. Buddha’s Best Sip, for example, is a tequila and Campari-based cocktail featuring redcurrant, kaffir leaves and Tabasco! You can accompany the beverages with bar bites like empanadas, olives and charcuterie platters.
Shop 10, G1, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road
2777 2633 | sandshospitality.com
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