I was in Hong Kong for a meeting and was looking for a place for a quick lunch when I chanced upon this little cafe. I found it unique cos the shop is actually located underground of a building in TST.
View from the outsideSignage
Then I saw that they are being featured for the best 15 cafes in Hong Kong, then I know I’m at the right place.
Features on various medias
Then I went in and found a table at a very nice corner. As I usually eat late, hence the place was empty.
Service countersSeating on the rightGuys working behind the counters
I ordered my lunch like most Hong Kongers do, the sets are usually value for money. Hence I ordered the set of soup, spaghetti and latte for HKD$70.
Cream of MushroomSpaghetti with salmonLatte art of a bear
The soup to be honest are similar to Campbell’s but the spaghetti is pretty good. Looks simple and plain but taste ok. Most importantly, the salmon didn’t stink. Latte is pretty good, nutty flavour, medium bold and served at the temperature of my liking… hot.
The cafe do have sets for afternoon teas as well.
Afternoon tea sets available… time to change their menus, so old.
For HKD$70 (SGD$11), definitely worth it and even cheaper than Singapore. If you’re around that area you can pop by and check this place out!
Never been to this place as it is quite new. Opened by native Thais but of course they speak Cantonese having been in Hong Kong for some time I reckon. Come to think of it, there is a big community of Thais and Indonesians in Yuen Long area! This place is usually packed during dinner times, worse on weekends. But my friends and I were lucky, didn’t have to wait.
Restaurant frontTom Yum Soup – Yummy and nice.Thai Fish Cake – Nice and fluffy.Sugar Cane Prawn Stick – Quite big portioning per stick.Pineapple Fried Rice – Very tastyFried Pomfret – Very nice especially with the abundant fried garlic on top of it. Yums!Fried Springrolls – This one is ok only.Fried Morning Glory – Our kangkong lah, nice.Free dessert of water chestnut agar agar and almond jelly.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5. Total bill for 5 pax came up to around HKD$600+ which is pretty affordable. All the serving staff were friendly and mostly are Thais.
Yeah I’m gonna write a series of good food in Yuen Long again. This shop has been there for decades and it’s located right in the middle of the whole Yuen Long town. Of course they are great for their balls especially fish, beef and cuttlefish balls. I have never tried their beef brisket though, hence I decided to try that this time. Check out my previous post 4 years ago http://wp.me/pCcuC-hB.
Overall Rating: 5/5. They are still offering prices around HKD$28 range and the freshness of the food here is amazing. Beef brisket melts in your mouth and very chunky! Writing this makes me wanna go back there soon! Awesome small air-conditioned place!
When I was told about this place 3 things ran across my mind:
Got so nice meh?
Damn, it’s blardy far!
ABC… hmmm…
But, for goodness food’s sake, I decided to check the place out with my HK friends. Found out the 2 chef owners were from M At the Fridge started this place about 4 years ago and are famous for their Roast Suckling Pig. ABC Kitchen actually means A Better Cooking Kitchen… dunno what gave them the idea but it’s easy to remember I guess?
When we arrived at the quiet neighbourhood of Sheung Wan district, I was looking around for a restaurant that shouts ‘ABC Kitchen’ but there wasn’t… Then my friend led me up an escalator…
Entrance to the food marketInside the food market
When I entered the food market, I was thinking, “Wah really like our hawker centres in Singapore…” except that it was airconditioned. That was the best factor that took my mind off the food market ambience. 🙂 But then again, it wasn’t that bad, except that it was a little crampy. ABC has 2 stalls there. One stall is basically to store their wine and supplies while the other one is their kitchen and serving counter.
This is where the small kitchen is, inside the stall…Where they store their wine and supplies
In this food market, it is territorial. If you’re there for ABC, then can only sit at tables with the red checkered table clothed tables. Other stalls are also opened so when you enter the food market, head straight to the stall of your choice and tell them you have reservations. After we sat down, we were served by a guy who spoke pretty good English and showed us a simple menu. Simple it seems but from the looks of it, there are a lot of preparation for most of the food on it.
Menu
We quickly placed our orders as we were famish and there came our serving of herb buns with french butter. The buns were piping hot and fluffy and great with the butter.
Herb buns – On the house
Soon after came the salad we ordered. We decided to try something different which was the Pear, Blue Cheese and Caramelized Walnuts Salad (what a mouthful to order it!) and it was really nice. The combination of the pear, the pungency from the blue cheese and the sweetness from the walnuts together with olive oil and vinegar made this salad a real good appetizer!
Pear, Blue Cheese & Caramelized Walnuts Salad – HK$88
We order the Blue Mussels in White Wine Sauce as well and I can’t describe how amazing the sauce was. It was so tantalising and so tasty that I could have bought a baguette and dip in the sauce for dinner! Just so awesome!
Blue Mussel In White Wine Sauce – HK$128
After waiting for around 20-30 minutes, our Roast Suckling Pig finally came. The long wait is because of limited facilities in the small kitchen and many orders that night we were there. Anyways, we tucked in and tried the dish. Knife into the skin and it cracks, into the meat, you know it’s cooked to perfection. The taste in your mouth, crispy skin and melting meat, heavenly! Coupled with sugar blanched beets and mashed potato… I have just erased all the fuss on the long journey and crampy seating, and telling you guys here that this dish is a MUST-ORDER!
Roast Suckling Pig – HK$168Succulent & juicy!
After that excellent entree, one of our desserts came. This Raspberry Mille Feuille is actually crispy instead of the usual puff pastry. The custard in between the pastry layers are to die for! I believe it is damn fattening but who cares, we’re sharing! 🙂
Raspberry Mille Feuille – HK$48
The Chocolate Souffle took a very long time to serve and I believe we waited more than 30 mins after our dessert above. Their oven inside must be awfully small. Time to move to a bigger place perhaps? Anyways, I find the souffle is okay only. Nothing to shout about. It’s spongy and soft like it is suppose to, but don’t have the ooomph for me.
Chocolate Souffle – HK$48
Anyways it was an awesome meal, not very cheap but it was good. Definitely worth the try at least once. Address and contacts below or you can check out their website at http://www.abckitchen.com.hk. Reservations are a must!
Chanced upon this little traditional HK bakery cafe while I was nearby to shop for some guitar picks. What drew me to this place is the display of yummilicious buns that were shouting to my friend and me to get in and indulge! And that’s what we did. Haha… The place I tell you, is really very small. So small that I really give all the credits to the person who laid out the tables and chairs to sit around 36 pax! Kudos to him/her! Anyways, check out the pics below:
Cafe frontSize of shop…Check out the layout…See how I squeeze…Hot Yuen Yang (milk coffee with tea)Freshly baked polo buns with a slab of butter! Really fluffy and fragrant! Love it when you sink your teeth into the softness… melts in your mouth!Display of all the traditional pastries and buns!
Rating: 4/5.
Taste: 4/5. Buns were excellent. Beverage is normal. But seems like a lot of people were there having noodle soup and luncheon meat egg sandwiches. Typical staples in HK. We couldn’t try cos we had lunch!
Portion: Average
Service: 5/5. Unlike most of the other Cha Can Ting (HK Cafes), the waiting staff here are nice and friendly! Maybe they like big cute guys hahahaha ;P
Ambience: 3/5. This one no choice have to give mid rating. Very crampy and ventilation not good if they do frying inside the kitchen. BUT, they have aircon so add 1 hence 4/5!
Price: If I remember the set of bun and beverage is around HK28. Not expensive in the middle of TST!
