On The Menu | August 4, 2017

Don’t waste your lunch hour deciding where to munch! Here’s a list of our favourite restaurants for you to hop by for an easy (and pretty affordable!) lunch. Save even more time and skip the line by booking a table ahead with Chope, and earn yourself 2X Chope-Dollars with code TASTYBLOG.

Tango Elements

Bold. Assertive. Sexy. Just like its namesake, this mainstay in Tsim Sha Tsui produces fantastic fare and absolutely alluring hospitality. Get your lunch hour going with their delish Pumpkin Soup or the succulent Salmon with quinoa salad, or Milanesa (breaded beef, and provolone)! We’d definitely recommend the Truffle Fries, and their Panqueques is to die for – crepes with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. What’s not to love? Head over to experience a truly fun, vibrant meal!

Find it at Shop R008, 3/F, Rooftop Garden, Civic Square, Elements, 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Book a table at Tango Elements and earn 2X-Chope Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

Bao Bei

Located in the heart of Central, Bao Bei (meaning “babe”), serves up wallet-friendly, Asian-themed comfort food. Start your midday meal off with some starters, such as a Cream of Tofu Soup that’s served with preserved vegetables and Jin Hua ham that’s perfect for warming your tummy up on cold days. Spaghetti alla Soy with Chicken, Char Siu Pork and Egg Rice Burger, and Chinese Cured Pork Belly and Sausage Risotto are just a few delectable dishes showcasing the ingenious yet playful twist towards Chinese culture. Another hot favourite is their Homemade Vitasoy Ice Cream with fresh berries – now that’s a truly innovative move!

Find it at B1/F, 75-77 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong
Book a table at Bao Bei and earn 2X-Chope Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

Barg

Lunch Sets at Barg start out at a wallet-friendly $78, so be sure to make a booking ahead of the lunch hour rush to skip the queue! Dishing out fine European nosh, this restaurant located in the heart of Causeway Bay is modern, hip, and uses only the finest ingredients sourced both locally and internationally. Featuring a large variety of finely-executed dishes, the menu here is fashioned to please. Get cosy with their Porcini Mushroom Spaghetti, Scallop Risotto with Saffron Cream Sauce, Slow Cook Duck Breast with Balsamic Reduction, and many more. They also have a list of Chef’s Recommendations, so just ask them to get the lowdown!

Find it at 1/F, Bartlock Centre, 3 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay
Book a table at Barg and earn 2X-Chope Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

CHIC by The Oyster House

It’s the cosy elegance, delectable western fare, and warm ambient lighting that makes this restaurant by The Oyster House so CHIC (pun intended!). If you’re looking for something lighter on the wallet, then opt for their Set Lunch Menu with prices not exceeding $200. Highlights on the menu include Sous-vide Chicken Breast with Brussels Sprout and Bacon, Tiger Prawn Linguine, Grilled Sirloin Steak with Asparagus, and Sautéed Potato with Mushroom Sauce. Beautifully presented and served on sleek Italian plates, the dishes here complement the restaurant’s romantic interior. If you’re looking for something to end your meal with, then go for their Lemon Cheesecake, a decadent slice of heaven that’ll leave you clamoring for more.

Find it at 2/F, The Cameron, 33 Cameron Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Book a table at CHIC and earn 2X-Chope Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

Chi Chi Cham

It’s all excitement and adventure at Chi Chi Cham! With Chinese umbrellas hanging from the ceilings, this funky hideout exudes an old-world charm. As for the menu, expect toothsome Japanese Fusion nosh and a comprehensive beverage list featuring crazy Happy Hour deals and a wide array of inventive cocktails, sakes, beers, and wine. Deal-seekers will love their Lunch Bento sets, featuring choices such as American Angus Beef Sliced Beef with Egg Yolk and a Whole Grilled Eel, starting from $48. And, while you’re here, don’t forget to order a serving of Chi Chi Cham Oysters, known to be some of the freshest oysters in town!

Find it at 53 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong
Book a table at Chi Chi Cham and earn 2X-Chope Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

Chico Chica

With their fun and quirky exterior complete with a sleek al fresco seating area, it’s not difficult to spot Chico Chica from afar. Nestled in one of Hong Kong’s oldest areas, this Spanish-style tapas restaurant at Sai Ying Pun dishes out tantalizing tapas dishes made with a contemporary Asian twist. From their a la carte menu, you’ll find classic Spanish dishes such as Burrata Rolls, Pumpkin Croquetas, Octopus, and Eel Toast. As for the mains, you’ll find a selection of indulgent dishes, such as Roasted Spanish Suckling Pig and Iberico Bellota Pork Ribs. Fried to a beautiful golden brown and then coated with a generous dose of cinnamon sugar, the Churros here will end your meal on a sweet note.

Find it at Shop J, G/F, 70 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun, Western District, Hong Kong
Book a table at Chico Chica and earn 2X-Chope Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

MEXUS

MEXUS is where Mexico meets USA, and MEXUS aims to bring an ultimate Latin-American culinary fiesta to Hongkongers! Set in a beautiful space, the interior features an open kitchen, where diners can feast their eyes on some live cooking action. Their delectable Set Lunch Menu offers a huge range of starter options, such as Watermelon Salad, BBQ Chicken Cobb, and Fish Tacos. Don’t miss out on their signature mains, such as a mouthwatering King Kong Burger, Sirloin Steak, and Rigatoni pasta tossed with San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, and topped with basil and black pepper. For post-meal tipples, head up to the 1960’s Havana inspired drinking cantina on the 6th floor!

Find it at 5-6/F, 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong
Book a table at MEXUS and earn 2X-Chope Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

It’s August, and we’re welcoming a brand new month with 9 new restaurants, hot off the press! From heritage cuisine reflecting Singapore’s multicultural heritage to bespoke cocktails infused with Asian herbs and spices, this month’s gonna be an egg-citing one!

COMO Cuisine

Part of the complex under Singapore luxury hotel group COMO Dempsey, COMO Cuisine is a new restaurant concept presenting signature cuisines from COMO Hotels and Resorts properties around the world. Boasting a clean, elegant, and relaxed ambience, the space is designed by world-renowned architect and designer, Paola Navone, and reflects the essence of COMO Cuisine’s offerings.

Here, you’ll get exposed to a myriad of contemporary flavours. The restaurant’s menu brings a light touch to the big flavours of the region, reflecting Singapore’s heritage as a culinary melting pot. Generous in flavour and quality, the refined and modern fare amalgamates ingredients and techniques from different regions to produce something new and unexpected.

After a hearty meal at COMO Cuisine, head over to the other stores located in the same compound – indulge in retail therapy at world-renowned retail concept store Dover Street Market or down some after meal tipples at The Dempsey Cookhouse & Bar, opened by acclaimed Michelin chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Find it at Block 18A Dempsey Road, Singapore 249677

Provisions

Also located in the hip and trendy Dempsey enclave is Provisions, a 1,600 sq ft space serving up comfort food on skewers, claypot rice, and bespoke Asian-inspired cocktails. Set in an industrial-chic space with high metal chairs, wooden fixtures, and low-hanging warm fluorescent bulbs, the ambience here will remind you of the charms of yesteryear.

Provisions is an ideal dining destination for groups as communal dining is encouraged here; it was his love for bonding with family and friends over food that sparked Singaporean Chef/ Owner Justin Foo to open this place.

While they serve humble, local dishes, the chefs at Provisions are certainly not taking their craft lightly. A great amount of emphasis is placed on the origins and quality of the ingredients, with a majority hailing from the Southeast Asian region. Menu highlights include the Seafood Rice and a decadent Oyster & Uni Rice, which brings to the table two of the most amazing and rich flavours of the sea. Finally, finish your meal with tipples from their well-tended cocktail bar; the inventive cocktails are tailored to your tastes and preferences, and infuse a blend of Asian herbs and spices.

Find it at 7 Dempsey Road, Singapore 249671

Nouri

Former Executive Chef of Michelin-starred restaurant Bacchanalia Ivan Brehm is creating waves in the dining scene yet again with the opening of Nouri, a restaurant serving up ‘crossroads cooking’. Inspired by the shared common traits of different cultures across the world, the fare here aims to build community through a shared experience – dining communally and connecting with the chef and other diners.

Nouri will be open for both lunch and dinner, offering a Teishoku-style a la carte menu and a quick service 5-course tasting menu ideal for work lunches. For dinner, there are two tasting menus, priced at S$140 for 5 courses, and S$170 for 7 courses.

If you’re looking to up your knowledge about booze, then the restaurant’s adjacent bar’s beverage programme will stand you in good stead. A certified sake sommelier and a trained bartender, Matthew will be conducting programmes which will expose enthusiasts to an extensive sake list and Asian-inspired cocktails, created to reflect the unique heritage of our region.

Find it at 72 Amoy Street, Singapore 0698891
Book a table at Nouri and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

Panko

With an ambience that’s casual yet energetic and chic, Panko, Haji Lane’s new kid on the block, is Singapore’s first Japanese Kushikatsu Restaurant and Bar. Kushikatsu, also known as Kushiage, is an entire cuisine of deep-fried skewered meat and vegetables. There’s a stunning simplicity in meat, seafood, and vegetables skewered onto bamboo sticks, coated in a special egg batter, dipped in fine panko bread crumbs, and fried to a beautiful golden brown. Mmmmm.

Not only can you find a wide range of Kushikatsu here, Panko also offers diners an extensive Japanese menu to complement your skewers – sushi, sashimi, donburi, noodles, and more. Prices start from S$2 per skewer, and they also have lunch sets starting from S$17 including soup, pickles, and dessert.

Find it at 33 Arab Street, Singapore 199732
Book a table at Panko and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

Blue Lotus Chinese Grill House

If you’re looking for an interactive and immersive dining experience that has both Western and Chinese influences, then Blue Lotus Chinese Grill House is your best bet.

Part of Blue Lotus Concepts International that launched the award-winning flagship Blue Lotus Chinese Eating House in 2013, this Grill House is a high-energy dining establishment which doles out dynamic, avant-garde Chinese cuisine marrying traditional Chinese flavours and essences with Western culinary techniques. Here, you’ll find remixed presentations of classic comfort foods such as a Chicken Rice Paella, Pomelo Chilli Crab La Mian, and a Hot Stone Truffle Pork Lard Rice, all cooked sans added MSG.

As for the space, this sprawling 2,133 square-feet establishment has an open kitchen, and a signature 6-seater chef’s table to play host to regular happenings such as a “Chef for a Day” experience. Patrons will get to work with the Grill House team on a theme dinner in which the organizer plays host and cooks up three dishes with the help of the full kitchen, as does the restaurant’s team for a full table of friends.

Find it at 5 Wallich Street, #01-13, Tanjong Pagar Centre, Singapore 078883
Book a table at Blue Lotus Chinese Grill House and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

Amò

Gather your friends and head to Amò – short for “amore”, a colloquial term of endearment used in Italy – for some antipasti, big plates, and hearty pizzas. Opened by established restaurateur-chef Beppe De Vito of the ilLido Group, this smart-casual Italian eatery located along Hong Kong Street also has a relaxed bar with a beverage list boasting an all-Italian selection of wines, beers, and spirit-forward cocktails.

The menu here features a feast of reimagined Italian classics inspired by seasonality, tradition, and produce. Pasta lovers shouldn’t miss out on their homemade pastas freshly made with eggs and semolina, and crafted with traditional bronze die. If you’re coming with a group, the pizzas here are great for sharing. Choose from classic Neopolitan style pizzas such as the Margherita DOP ($26), to signature pizzas like the Bone Marrow, Wild Garlic Pesto and Anchovy Salsa Verde ($29) and Stracciatella, Prosciutto, Rucola and Fig Vincotto ($29).

Find it at 33 Hongkong Street, Singapore 059672
Book a table at Amò and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

CHIKIN Bar

Translated to “chicken” in colloquial Japanese, CHIKIN is an Asian restaurant-bar specializing in Szechuan Yakitori and Cocktail Infusions. As its name suggests, the menu offers grilled skewers from different parts of the chicken (priced from S$3 to S$4.50 nett per stick) – thigh, skin, liver, heart, gizzard, cartilage, and more, marinated with a punchy Szechuan Peppercorn sauce. Additionally, they also have grilled beef, pork, foie gras, and vegetables, along with a variety of Izakaya style dishes to complete your dining experience.

CHIKIN spans over 3 floors of a conservation shophouse, with a long bar and open kitchen on the ground floor, group seating on the second floor, and private room on the third for hosting small gatherings. They offer a comprehensive range of tipples – cocktails, beer, sake, wine, and more. For the bolder ones, give “CHIKIN’s Challenge” a shot; it’s a Szechuan Bloody Mary with 5 levels of spiciness. Go big or go home, as they say!

Find it at 6 Bukit Pasoh Road Singapore 089820
Book a table at CHIKIN and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

Folklore

Dining at Folklore will be a blast to the past. Dishing up nostalgic flavours, Folklore aims to tell stories of Singapore’s heritage through food. The chefs at Folklore take pride in their craft; each dish is meticulously prepared, whether it’s mortar and pestle or just elegant knifework, everything that leaves the kitchen shows the love and attention.

The cuisine at Folklore reflects Singapore’s multi-ethnic culture and heritage, where dishes like a Sambal Buah Keluak Fried Rice, Babi Assam, Garang Assam, and Sweet Potato Leaves with Prawns line the menu. As for desserts, indulge in old-school sweet treats such as Kueh Kosui, Sago Gula Melaka, Pulot Hitam with Dried Longan, and more.

Find it at 700 Beach Road, Level 2, Destination Singapore Beach Road, Singapore 199598
Book a table at Folklore and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

Gaig

Located on Stanley Street between Telok Ayer Street and Cecil Street, Gaig, opened by award-winning chef Carles Gaig serves up classic Catalan fare. Washed in white, the restaurant boasts a contemporary, calm ambience that’s great for a casual meal.

Lining the menu are Spanish classics such as an assortment of Bites, Tapas, Paellas, to Fish and Meat-based dishes such as Pig Trotter Catalan style with Turnips. As for desserts, diners with a sweet tooth can sup on an Orange Ice-cream Souffle while cheese connoisseurs can sample a variety of cheeses from their Cheese Platter.

Those working around the area can kick back and enjoy their Set Lunches available from 12pm – 2pm everyday. Two set meals are available – your choice of 3 tapas dishes + 1 main priced at $38, or top up $7 for an additional dessert of your choice.

Find it at 16 Stanley Street, Singapore 068735
Book a table at Gaig and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG