Halloween themed dim sum

Yum Cha is well known for their creatively cute novelty dimsums.

I went there for lunch and they were serving some scary treats because it was Halloween.


There was a long queue but food came relatively fast.

Here was what we had:

Steamed shrimp dumplings:

The shimps were springy and it was just shrimps inside so you won't get any nasty fatty pork and lard.

+++++++++++
Flying bats wonton:

This was my favourite because I like fried things and inside it was delicious prawns.
+++++++++++++
BBQ pork finger puffs:

This was on the sweet side and it was made with shortcrust which made it crumbly.


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Steamed mummy sausage buns:

This was a bit different from the usual buns because it had a sweet preserved sausage in the middle.
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For dessert we finished with these cute pumpkins filled with starchy red beans.


https://www.facebook.com/yumchacentral

Delicious crispy beancurd prawn rolls at 蒸飯館

Discovered this place because I was having a drink at Vuong's French Sandwich in West Hong Kong.
The name of this place intrigued me because they seem to specialize in steamed rice so I asked them what type of steamed rice it was and they said it was steamed rice in a ceramic pot and not the metal bowls.

Anyway, went to West Hong Kong again just to try this place out.

I only ordered a few dishes to test the waters.

Ordered the steamed rice to see if it was really that good.
To be fair, it was good but the rice was to soft and not as good as this secret place in Hong Kong.
The chicken feet tasted strange.

++++
Ricerolls were better than most restaurants in Hong Kong but not as good as the one in Prince Edwards.

++++
The crispy prawn beancurd rolls were amazing that I ordered them twice and they only cost $18 per portion.

First round:

Second round:

++++
蒸飯館:
Shop L, G/F, Chong Yip Centre Block C, 425 Queen's Road West, Western District

[LoYe DimSum] DimSum just like China Town

Although Hong Kong is famous for dimsum, a good majority are not as good as the dimsums in UK because the dumpling skin is weak, the quality of the fillings are not fresh and they are oily and spiked with too much MSG.
I was attracted to this place because one of the reviews showed these cute dimsums and I don’t mind paying more if it is good.
They offer traditional dimsums as well but I was more interested in the modern dimsums.
The restaurant décor was really nice, it had a Western Oriental touch to it with nice wallpapers and window frames.

Visible kitchen:

Nice chopsticks and bowls:

They were playing old Chinese music that people listen to in the UK.

Tried both the traditional and modern dimsum and personally I liked the modern whereas the traditional dimsums are more suited to local tastes.
I think expats will like this place but a better English menu is needed.

Here was what we had:
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Black pepper wagyu puffs:

Light and delicate pastry filled with beef in rich black pepper gravy.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Goldfish dumplings:

Flawless prawn dumplings.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Buns:

These were buns with a cavity in the middle when you turn them over to put the delicious spicy and salty pickles in the middle.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Crispy duck English style:

This is how duck is served in UK, the duck is fried but it is still soft and silky in the middle with crispy skin on the outside.
Overall, it was nice but it would be perfect if they came with pancakes.
Ironically, Charlie's place a few doors away also had this duck but the owners have gone back to UK and now this place has popped up.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Black and white prawn toast:

Creative prawn toasts with the use of black and white sesame together but I wasn't keen because there was processed cheese in the middle.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Black garlic and spring onion oil fried rice:

When it came, it looked like green tea fried rice with red beans but it was actually grounded spring onion that gave it the green colour with pieces of black garlic.
The taste was interesting because it reminded me of the spring onion and ginger oil that you get with roast chicken.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Crispy pork knuckle:

A nice pork knuckle with crispy skin and pork that was not too salty.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Beef Short Rib:

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Custard dumplings:

Sago dumplings filled with custard.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
I can't wait to come again for dimsum and duck.

[LoYe DimSum 老爺點心]
Man Hee Mansion, 4 Landale St, Wan Chai
Phone: 2328 8938

Bursting Chinese French toasts‏

Chinese French toasts are not my cup of tea but I went here because they were filled with runny fillings.
Came here in early May so I don't know how the current queuing situation stands.



Anyway ordered both versions, one with molten salty egg yolk and the other with molten taro.
There was black sesame as well but I don't like sesame.

When I sliced both of them, sauce flowed out.
As expected, there was lots of sauce.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Chinese French toast with molten Salted egg yolk custard filling:

The molten egg custard tasted really nice because it was sweet with starchy bits of egg yolk in it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Chinese French toast with molten taro filling:


The taro had a natrual taste that was not too sweet so I expect th steamed bun version to taste good.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Hope to dine there again when the queue has died down.

◎ⓢⓤⓟⓔⓡⓢⓤⓟⓔⓡⓖⓘⓡⓛ◎
Chau Kee:
Shop H1, G/F, Tung Lee Mansion, Water Street, Sai Ying Pun, Western District

Affordable dim sum at Winner Dimsum Workshop

Usually dim sum is eaten during the day but here it is served all day and the prices are very reasonable.

There are traditional choices and modern style dim sums available.
Some dim sums come in twos which makes it easier to share between two people and you can order other dim sums as well.

Here was what we had:
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
steamed prawn dumplings $16:

The prawns inside were springy and the dumpling skin was not too oily.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
steamed rice rolls with pork floss:

The steamed rice rolls with sweet pork floss topping tastes nice but the doughstick in the middle was a little hard.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
steamed pork dumpling with crab roe $14:


Another dim sum classic, huge pork dumplings loaded with silky minced pork and fragrant Chinese mushrooms topped with crab roe.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pan fried radish cake in XO sauce:

In general, everyone who tried it said the XO sauce was very spicy.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Baked chicken tart $24:

A modern chicken tart which was liked by everyone because it had pieces of creamy chicken on a buttery crisp tart base.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Fruit salad with shrimp $24:

A nice dim sum for summer and kids to eat because the sweet fruit salad is served on a crispy base with a prawn on top.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pan fried glutinous rice with egg $30:

This was chicken sandwiched in between two layers of glutinous rice coated in egg and pan fried resulting in a crispy and chewy texture with flavourful chicken in the middle.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Dessert platter $32:

Finished with a cute dessert platter of mango pudding, creme brulee, guava pudding and chocolate mousse.
My favourite was the chocolate mousse which had a strong chocolate taste with a velvety texture.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

A modern Chinese social dinner

It's not that I don't eat Chinese food but the environment is often noisy with piercing ceramics clinking together but here the atmosphere was so modern and chic.

After you sit down, you just order and eat, they won't give you bowls of tea to rinse your chopsticks.

However, there is a sense of humour on their plates which features plate art, some are decorated with flies and some are decorated with ants.

In the middle of the restaurant, there is a table tennis table where people can play before they have food and when they have large groups of people, the table can be used as a normal dining table.

We were pretty hungry so here was what we had:
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Double-boiled clear soup:
4hrs daily double-boiled soup - Silkie chicken soup boiled with cordyceps flower- $78

The broth was strong with a sweet chicken flavour.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
signature chicken soup in young coconut $78

The broth was clear with a fragrant sweet coconut taste.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
dragon beard kale $79

The kale was artistically sliced hence it was curly like a dragon beard.

I found it quite difficult to pick up with chopsticks but other than that it had a nice gingery taste.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
spicy 1,000yrs duck eggs and tofu $48

This was a nice appetizer of silky smooth tofu covered in delicious gravy which was blended with sichuan peppercorns.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
spicy 1,000yrs duck eggs $48

The preserved eggs were elegantly presented in the shape of goldfishes.

It was a pleasure to eat them.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
signature roasted white king pigeon: 

The pigeon skin was crispy and tasty and the pigeon meat was soft and supple.

It tasted like a baby goose with crisp skin that was not fat.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
aged balsamic chicken wings (4pcs) $78

The chicken wings are definitely recommended because they have an extremely light crispy coating, eat bite was fulfilling because the sauce was sweet and sour.

The wings have been ripped inside out with a bone removed to make it easier to eat.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
golden jumbo tiger prawns $268

These were prawns cooked in Laksa broth, each was one springy and spicy with a strong creamy coconut flavour.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
slow-braised chicken feet $89

The chicken feet were sticky and sweet and I liked the way the bright green peas gave it a nice colour contrast.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
crispy beef roll w/ spicy dip $99

The beef was coated in batter served with a bowl of curry sauce.

It was tender beef in the middle with a crispy coating complimented by the delicious thick curry sauce.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
double-boiled pear+aged mandarin peel $59

For desserts we had the double boiled pear which was a sweet finish.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Will come back soon for the dim sums.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Social Place, 

2/F, The L. Place, 

No. 139 Queen's Road Central (next to The Centre), 

Central District, Hong Kong,

Tel:  3568 9666, 

www.socialplace.hk