Amazing beef brisket and Middle Eastern flavours in Hong Kong: a travel writer’s restaurant picks
- Kam Ling has worked as a travel writer for the past 20 years, and enjoys off-the-beaten-track restaurants on her travels
- She shares her favourite restaurant for going on a journey without leaving your seat, her go-to for beef brisket, and a bargain spot for quality Cantonese food
Hongkonger Kam Ling has been a travel writer for 20 years and has published more than 50 books. Her latest is about learning to tango in Argentina. She spoke to Andrew Sun.
Travel writing is not business class jets and luxurious hotels eating Michelin-starred feasts, nor is it a nine-to-five job. The itinerary usually involves multiple flights, predawn wake-up calls (to capture a sunrise) followed by full days of touring, photos and notes. It can be exhausting, but I love it.
Some people write their masterpiece hunched over their desks; I like cafes. And there’s nothing better than writing in a restaurant. Some people are terrified to eat alone, but for me it’s a chance to let someone else cook while I relax and inhabit my travel stories.
Some of my favourite eateries are quite off the beaten path, just like my travels. Lonely Paisley (182A Fuk Wa Street, Sham Shui Po, tel: 9889 0250) was opened by backpackers stuck in Hong Kong because of the pandemic.
This travel-themed restaurant combines ethnic Middle Eastern and South Asian style. The Turkish breakfast is its signature, consisting of a simit (circular Turkish bread topped with sesame seeds), eggs and sausages, three types of cheese imported from Türkiye, four type of jams and honey, and a glass of Turkish tea. Also, try their cocktails, mocktails and craft beers.
I’m not a big fan of rice. I’d rather have noodles for lunch. The clear broth beef brisket at So Gor (Shop S036, Building 8W, 8 Science and Technology Avenue West, Sha Tin, tel: 2663 3902) is always my first choice.
