Ten Jaku on Tang Lung Street

As you would expect, there are several tiers of Japanese restaurants in Hong Kong. There are ones for the masses, usually offering average-quality sushi along carousel / conveyor belts such as Genki Sushi (元気寿司). Quality is consistent but selection, especially on different types of raw fishes, is limited.

Then there are restaurants that are beyond my usual budget such as Nadaman in Shangri-la, where they apparently serve HKD 1,900 eel (unagi) rice set. Go figure!

And then there are ones lodged somewhere in the middle, where its neither cheap or expensive (depending on what and how you eat). For good authentic Japanese food in Hong Kong, there are usually two places I would visit:

• Tomokazu Japanese Restaurant (友和日本料理) on Lockhart Road in Causeway Bay; and
• Ten Jaku (天勺日本料理) on Tang Lung Street also in Causeway Bay.

And today for lunch, I had cravings for Ten Jaku. I don’t usually go there for lunch, so I was pleasantly surprised to find out they offer lunch sets at very reasonable prices. The one I ordered cost me only HKD 110, and here’s what I got:

Sushi Lunch Set at Ten Jaku for HKD 110

• small salad
• miso soup
• steamed egg
• a tofu-skin wrapped sushi
• a piece of California roll
• 5 pieces of sushi
• a bowl of diced sashimi on rice
• 2 pieces of watermelon as dessert

And the quality was good too!

I suppose their lunch menu is nothing to be impressed with, but visit the restaurant during dinner and you’ll find the vast selection of seasonal seafood they have. Then again, expect to pay about HKD 500 to 800 per head for a decent dinner.

Also, if you Google Ten Jaku, you’ll find that there’s already been lots of favourable reviews written about this dig. Afterall, they’ve been around for over 10 years!

Bon appetit!

Ten Jaku
3/F., Circle Tower, 28 Tang Lung Street
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2833 5337

Final Note on Shanghai Trip

Alas, the trip was far too short and due to circumstances, I wasn’t able to choose restaurants I would like to go to. I went to Bali Laguna for their Thai food and Element Fresh for their relatively healthy alternative – where I saw Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard (they were in town for some friendly matches before making their way to Beijing for the Games), but neither visits deserved a post. Actually, the service as Bali Laguna was horrible.

The list of restaurants I had wanted to try for the first time, or restaurants which I would like to go back remains long … very long.

Just off the top of my head, restaurant I would like to go back includes: South Beauty, Yu Xin Chuan Cai, Moon River, Laris, M on the Bund, Jean Georges, MoonSha, Jia Jia Tang Bao (the best xiao long bao in town), Jade on 36, Pingchuan, Fu 1039, 1221, Haiku, Karaku (TEMPURA!!!) and the list goes on and on …

Restaurant I would like to try? Well, don’t even get my started!

The point is Shanghai is becoming a city with an increasing number of world-class, quality restaurants that deserves some write-up. The restaurants are also developing at lightning speed; pace so fast it’s hard to play catch up. Lucky for us, Zagat even came up with a Shanghai Restaurants Guide. While it may not be as comprehensive as one for New York, Tokyo or Paris, don’t be surprised to find one of that calibre for Shanghai in the next couple of years.

Stay tuned for more about Shanghai here at Siu Yeh! If you’re making a visit to Shanghai and would like some recommendations on where to go for food or fun, drop me a message!

Enoteca on Anfu Road

August 8 – Day 8
Lunch @ 1:00PM

Here’s an excerpt from That’s Shanghai magazine of the wine bar:

“With many affordable options and an accessible menu, Enoteca is the perfect pre-dinner destination for both novice and expert aficionados”.

That may be so, but they’ve forgotten to mention the most interesting aspect of the bar. After sipping a particular wine you like, you can walk into their wine boutique and purchase the wine (the one you just drank) at retail prices – what an interesting concept.

However reasonable it may be, the wine is still cheaper in Hong Kong, thanks to its non-existent wine tax. But if you’re a resident of Shanghai, perhaps that is a good option for you.

Enoteca Lunch Set for RMB 78

A Glass of Ampakama Viognier from Argentina

3 Salmon Panani at Enoteca

Chocolate Mousse at Enoteca

Enoteca
53-57 Anfu Road (near Wulumuqi Road)
Tel: +86 21 5404 0050

Vue at Hyatt on the Bund – A Breathtaking Vue Indeed

August 7 – Day 7
Drinks @ 10:00PM

Finished my week-long Shanghai visit at Vue at Hyatt on the Bund, which has only been in operation for about a year.

In terms of view, you get the best of both worlds – a breathtaking view of Lujiazui, arguable China’s main financial district and the Bund, a strip of buildings from the Colonial era. There are 2 floors to the bar and if you want THE VIEW, walk up the stairs and try the balcony where they have queen size beds for you to lie on.

If you would like to hold some sort of private gatherings, you’ll need to book the entire floor which will set you back RMB 75,000 for the night, which includes open bar (bottomless champagne maybe?) and finger food.

Vue at Hyatt on the Bund

The Lujiazui Financial District from Vue

Hyatt on the Bund from Vue Bar

By the way, there’s a jacuzzi-style pool right in the center of the patio for those who want to skinny-dip during the party. And if you do, please invite me.

Vue – Restaurant, Private Dining, Bar
Hyatt on the Bund
199 Huangpu Road, Shanghai
China 200080
Tel: +86 21 6393 2288
Website: dubdubdub shanghai dot bund dot hyatt dot com

Lisboa Yum Yum Pot (葡京煲煲好)- Quite “Yum Yum” Indeed

August 7 – Day 7
Dinner @ 7:00PM

From the people who brought you everything under the Macau Regency brand such as Taipan Massage / Spa, and Lisboa Restaurant (葡京茶餐厅), Lisboa Yum Yum Pot is a new concept which focuses on dishes offer on (what else?) POTS.

Usually, these clay pots are heated until very hot, then they throw in all the flavours and ingredients like onions and garlic, etc. and then the main … stuff. In this case, we had (in order of the following photos), mushroom, frogs and fishhead. That last photo was a beef belly and is a signature dish at the restaurant. Whenever you order a signature dish there, the employees come with a gong and with hit it to let everyone in the restaurant know you’re having their recommended dishes. What a funny (and sometimes annoying) marketing ploy.

Mushroom Pot at Lisboa Yum Yum Pot

Frogs in Pot (田蛙) at Lisboa Yum Yum Pot

Fishhead in Pot at Lisboa Yum Yum Pot

Signature Beef Dish at Lisboa Yum Yum Pot

Lisboa Yum Yum Pot (葡京煲煲好) – Xujiahui Branch
No. 323 Tian Yao Chao Road, 2/F.
Xujiahui District, Shanghai
Tel: +86 21 6375 6277
Website: dubdubdub lisboayumyumpot dot com (but doesn’t seem to work right now)

Ji Heng Mian Guan (吉亨面馆) – Authentic Taiwanese Noodle in Shanghai

August 6 – Day 6
Lunch @ 1:00PM

Had a quick lunch at Ji Heng Mian Guan, which is located in Hongqiao / Gubei district (I’m not sure why the address is Changning, well I suppose it is still part of Changning … anyway)

The Hongqiao / Gubei area is a popular residential district for Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese expats working in Shanghai and so you’re find an abundance of the similar authentic cuisines in that area. Sort of like how you’ll find very good Korean food near Fudan University because of a big Korean student population in that area.

Anyway, the Taiwanese noodle was great and so were the side dishes – we had tofu with garlic and hot sauce and a cow stomach appetizer dish. I don’t have any photos to show you … I guess you just have to believe me 🙂

Ji Heng Mian Guan (吉亨面馆)
No. 433 Guyang Road
Changning District, China
Tel: +86 21 2809 6088

A Future Perfect?

August 5 – Day 5
Dinner @ 7:00PM

While I’m not sure what to think about the name, I’ve heard many praises about the restaurant since I’ve been living in Shanghai some 2 years ago.

I was finally able to visit the restaurant and ordered myself a steak called something along the lines of T800 Sirloin Steak – reminds me of Terminator. My friend order a dish called “Mary’s Lamb” HAR HAR … looks like they like to play around with the names of their dishes.

Anyway, here’s what I had – I keep forgetting to take a photo before I dig in, sorry!

In the end, the dish wasn’t bad, but wasn’t as good as I expected. I didn’t think the service was any good though. I only had a main course and it set me back RMB 138 plus 10%. Hmm, not cheap relative to Shanghai standards … well, I suppose its not too bad compared to similar restaurants along the Bund.

All in all, I didn’t get a feeling their future as perfect as it seems. Sorry.

A Future Perfect
No. 16, Lane 351
Huashan Road, Shanghai
Tel: +86 21 6248 8020
Website: dubdubdub afuturepefect dot com dot cn

Shanghai Cui Ting Xuan Restaurant

August 4 – Day Four
Dinner @ 6:30PM

A friend from Shanghai was treating us to dinner and brought us to Cui Ting Xuan Restaurant. To be honest, I have no clue what kind of Chinese cuisine it was – its unmistakenly Chinese alright. It might’ve been “Chinese fusion cuisine”.

My friend even ordered abalone as appetizers! It was really quite good – I’ll let the photos do the talking.

Abolone in Soy Sauce Marinate as Appetizers

Veggies in Ice Appetizers

Sweet Preserved Vegetable and Braised Pork Belly in Bun

Mushroom Hotpot

Foie Gras – Chinese Style

Average Sheng Jian Bao

Ended the meal with average Sheng Jian Bao’s – during this trip, I wasn’t able to visit Wujiang Road’s (吴江路) Xiao Yang Sheng Jian (小杨生煎). Those remain the best fried pork buns I’ve ever had!

Shanghai Cui Ting Xuan Restaurant
No. 88 Dapu Road, Shanghai
China 200023
Tel: +86 21 5302 6700

Crystal Jade Restaurant at Xintiandi

August 3 – Day Three
Lunch @ 2:00PM

I suppose this is nothing special to write about, since there are plenty of Crystal Jade’s in Hong Kong. When I was working in Shanghai for 2 years, this is where I usually visit if I want good dim sum that reminds me of home.

Their food is not bad, but I seem to remember they were better. This time ‘round, I got a feeling the portions have become smaller (increase in food prices due to inflation? I think so). Their service wasn’t particularly great; definitely not as attentive as Din Tai Fung. I got one of those stereotypical China restaurant treatments, where there’d be an abundance of waiters/waitresses standing around, and when you wave to them, they’d turn a blind eye and pretend they didn’t see you in hope that somebody else would serve you.

Although I was disappointed at the service, the noodle I had was everything I had hoped for. Afterall, Crystal Jade is known for their la mian!

Dam Dam Meen @ Crystal Jade

Deep Fried Eel Covered in Honey

Radish Strips Pastries

Crystal Jade at Xintiandi
2/F., Shop 12A, Xintiandi
Shanghai, China
Tel: +86 21 6385 8752

Din Tai Fung at Xintiandi

August 2 – Day Two
Dinner @ 8:00PM

On the way to Din Tai Fung for dinner at 8PM, we decided we needn’t call to make a reservation. Then I realized, you can’t make reservations at the restaurant (I don’t think). When we got there, we had to wait a good 20 minutes for our table. After we were done with the meal at 9:30PM, the queue was pretty much the same as before. I had underestimated how popular the restaurant is with tourist in the 10 months I’ve been away!

With restaurants in 16 locations globally, 7 of these locations are in Japan – the country with the most Michelin Star-rated restaurants and a country with people who are serious (I mean, very serious) about their food. That alone is a testament to Din Tai Fung’s quality and service.

For a relatively inexpensive meal (RMB 250), we were served top grade delicacies (great service included). We had:

• chopped cucumbers served in a bit of spicy oil
• cow stomach
• steamed chicken noodle soup
• noodle mixed with sesame and peanut sauce or “dam dam meen”
• steamed pork dumplings or Xiao Long Bao
• shrimp and pork xiao mai (or shao mai if you’re Taiwanese)

Appetizers at Din Tai Fung in Xintiandi

Steamed Chicken Noodle Soup

Dam Dam Noodle (Noodle in Sesame & Peanut Sauce)

Famous Din Tai Fung Pork Dumplings

Shrimp Xiao Mai’s at Din Tai Fung

The Decor at Din Tai Fung, Xintiandi

Did I mention Din Tai Fung was rated Top 10 Restaurants globally by New York Times (or was it Forbes)?

Din Tai Fung at Xintiandi
2/F., Shop 11 Xintiandi,
No. 123 Xing Ye Road
Shanghai, China
Tel:+86 21 6385 8378