2018 has been quite the ride for the health and wellness scene in Hong Kong. There are even more vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based menu options, and sustainability is well and truly on everyone’s radar.
Now that the holidays are behind us, it’s time to take a break from rich, wintery foods and look ahead to enjoying lighter fare. I’ve listed a few of my favourites and hope you enjoy trying them out. Let me know what you think! Remember, lighter food can still be nutrient-dense, and conscious eating is a mindful practice too! Make the right choices and savour each bite. Here’s to a new year full of everything that’s good, vibrant and healthy for us!
BRUT!
I’ve written two articles on BRUT! over the past year at Foodie. This intimate restaurant in Sai Ying Pun has a neighborhood “hang-out” vibe with its new world biodynamic wines and farm-to-table small plates. And before you ask, no, it’s not a Spanish wine bar. BRUT! serves some of the most innovative vegetarian dishes, which can be whipped up by the kitchen in advance. Known for their experimental and artistic creations, some of my favorites such as the eggplant miso and citrus watermelon, buffalo mozzarella salad are colorful, delicate, and full of wonderful flavours and textures.
HAKU
Created by renowned chefs Hideaki Matsuo and Agustin Balbi, Haku is rated one of Hong Kong’s top restaurants, serving cuisine strongly influenced by Japanese seasonal ingredients. They introduced a plant-based menu option at the end of last summer, adding a delicious alternative to our local fine dining scene. This can be requested in advance with a choice of 6 or 8 course tasting menu.
Kind Kitchen
Kind Kitchen by Green Common is a great place to grab a quick bite in Central. The Asian-influenced, plant-based menu has been grabbing the attention of foodies this year, being the first place to serve omni-pork. The ingredient launch aims to promote sustainability and awareness that animal consumption is at an all-time high in Asia, and that omni-pork is a great vegan meat-substitute. The burger and ramen noodles were homey and delicious. I suggest going with a group to try the variety of dishes such as the gyoza and salads offered.
Bejuiced
Be-Juiced is a Hong Kong favourite, famous for freshly pressed juices and acai smoothie bowls, which I love grabbing, pre and post barre. I have a soft spot for sugary treats during the week, and while I load my acai bowl up with fruit and granola, my base is the unsweetened acai in attempts to curb my sugar consumption. The café has a variety of juices, nut milks, salads-to-go, and hot drinks. For nut milks, one of my favorites is the Black Sesame.
Sweetpea Cafe
Known for their dreamy, gluten-free and daily vegan cakes, Sweetpea in Sheung Wan has added a savoury side to their menu. They are all about transforming organic ingredients into comfort food. I’ve been looking to try the burger for a while, and for breakfast, I love the avocado with scrambled fluffy eggs and smoked salmon. The savory menu has vegan/vegetarian choices to accommodate all café goers and changes seasonally.
Confusion Kitchen
Opened last May 2018, Confusion Kitchen’s goal is to eliminate confusion and change people’s perspectives on plant-based cuisine. That it is more than just salads and raw food, and there are valid and good reasons to make more conscious decisions on what to put on your plate. They serve a variety of wholesome soups, plant-based burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and delicious vegan cakes.
OVO Cafe
If you’re near the Wan Chai wet market and need a quiet moment, escape to OVO for a wonderful vegetarian meal. Their menu of Chinese influenced dishes has offerings like the Niçoise Lotus Root Salad, and ‘Tom Yummy’ Wheat Noodles, which is a delicious coconutty heaven. They are also famous for their All-Day Breakfast and Impossible Burger. The burger patty is entirely plant based.
Author: Ashley Tang
Other than spending time at the barre, Ashley is also passionate about travel and food, and shares her interest writing for @destinationdeluxe and @afoodieworld. 🤤 During her free time, not only does she enjoy challenging herself with a variety of classes, the kind-hearted #barrebabe also volunteers at Hong Kong Dog Rescue Centre 🐕 make sure you follow her at @ashley.tang
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