Heavenly cuisines: foodies find paradise in Quarry Bay
Between Tong Chong Street and its side streets, and neighbouring Cityplaza mall, dining choices are varied, with cuisines of every kind to choose from
Opening earlier in the year, Bib n Hops serves its take on Korean Street food, as seen through the eyes of the creative chef Alvin Leung (Bo Innovation) and passionate head chef Yong Soo-do. Yukhoe, or Korean steak tartare, is a fabulous dish that shows their joint cuisine vision. Traditionally, the beef is cut while frozen and eaten chilled, and served with fresh pear, and egg yolk.
Here, the chilled element comes from pear sorbet, which when mixed and eaten together with the umami bomb of seasoned beef, truffle and soy aioli, pine nuts, Parmesan crisp and cured salty duck yolk, takes on layers of flavour and balance. The surprisingly complex mung bean pancakes are excellent, as are the colourful bib n baps, a Korean street-food mixed rice, meat and vegetable dish inspired by bibimbap. The staff are fantastic.
SHIRO
A stylish interior sets the tone of this contemporary Japanese restaurant that focuses on six cuisine styles. The restaurant describes its sushi as innovative, and one example of this is the crystal sushi - sushi topped with a delicate clear jelly. In the case of the creamy deluxe scallop sushi, it is topped with a sake and fish stock jelly with hints of sweetness from rose petals, finished with caviar. The jelly, which melts on the tongue, almost acts as a sauce and creates an interesting extra dimension. The bento boxes are a popular lunch option, as are the sushi and sashimi platters. For a wow dessert, thanks in part to the dry ice presentation, try the matcha tofu panna cotta.
