Malaysian Noodles for a Rainy Day at Katong Laksa Prawn Mee

Katong Laksa Prawn Mee

155 Jaffe Rd, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

+852 3168 2478 ‎

RATING: 7.5/10

PRICE: 50-80 HKD per noodle

Hong Kong's weather has been rather terrible lately. It seems to be an everlasting repetition of fog, humidity, rain and split second of sunshine that just mocks you in the morning. So after trying to beat the weather at Expresso Alchemy on a gloomy saturday day.... we thought we just had to, yes HAD to, end the day with some 'asian-style soul food' to literally warm our spirits.

By the time we left Quarry Bay, the morning-drizzle had turned into a full-on-rainstorm that completely rendered our tiny umbrellas useless. Anyone else in their right mind would have called it a day, but we took a cab all the way to Wanchai for what people had written in Openrice and numerous other forums and blogs as the most 'authentic' laksa and prawn mee in Hong Kong.

Thankfully it was relatively easy to find, and we arrived quickly enough to find the place totally deserted except for one other customer... Apparently not many people are eager enough to venture out through rain-storms for a bowl of laksa. 

Anyhow after quickly gazing at the photos of the dishes shown along the wall, we settled on shared bowl of Supreme Prawn Mee Noodle and Laksa with Squid Ball. They did have english menu and quite a few choices of Laksa and Prawn Mee Noodles as well as other Malay dishes! They seem to be quite popular too (judging by open-rice) and maybe one day if I can beat my love for Laksa, I'll get to try it before I leave Hong Kong.

Althouh I can't remember the LAST time I had Laksa, as a novice (and almost a fresh) laksa-taster, I could tell that this was one amazing bowl of laksa. I know, I know the ones in Malaysia are oh-so-much better, but still! I can't travel all the way to Malaysia for a bowl of Laksa on every rainy day! Plus, the soup was so rich and thick and full of flavours that it seemed genuine and authentic enough to warm and 'dry' my drenched physical and mental state.

Seriously though, the soup is amaaaazing! Plus the owner was really nice in that he allowed us to have 2-3 refills of the soup!! I can't remember the rest of the dish that well... (the noodle, the squid balls etc.) because all i really can remember IS the soup. Despite the colour, the soup wasn't spicy at all probably due to the coconut milk that made the whole dish become slightly sweeter and smoother in comparison to the chinese spicy noodles.

The Deluxe Prawn Mee Noodle (3.3/5)
After falling in love with the Laksa above, I guess I had an unreasonably high expectation for the Prawn Mee Noodle.. (especially.. since the restaurant's name includes the dish). It's not that it wasn't good! The noodles were thicker and chewier than the Laksa, and because we ordered the 'deluxe' version, we got lots of toppings which are always delicious to eat...

However, although I don't know if its meant to be, the soup was a little too fishy for my liking. Plus, in comparison to the 'heart-warming' laksa soup, it was rather bland and too ordinary to shine. We kept on refilling our bowl of Laksa for fresh soup rather than eating/drinking the prawn-mee one...

Maybe it's just that I'm much more of a Katong Laksa person than a Prawn Mee Noodle.. or maybe i'll just try it at another place once more! :)

Eel and Pigs Liver Congee in Congee King

Congee King
7 Heard Street, Wan Chai
(Oppposite the Capital Cafe)

Price: 70 HKD (specialty congee + donuts)

Rating: 7/10 

After waking up early and battling out the crowds in the MTR ... and then waiting in a never-ending queue infront of the Chinese Consulate for a Chinese Visa.. I was left insanely hungry, incredibly dissatisfied and in grave need of comfort food. Anyways this place came hihg

Unless you have friends that have the same "all-goes except celery" diet, it's really hard to find fellow enthusiasts who'd get excited over bowl of eel and pig's liver congee...

That being sad, this was the most delicious one I've tried here! THere's couple of other normal ones without intestines, livers etc. that is more suitable for 'western' taste!

The place is also quite packed, and you're silently (or sometimes even verbally) pushed to eat quickly and leave even quicker, so if you're looking for a 'nice' lunch look somewhere else!

The price was also 

Make sure to order a side-dish of chinese-doughnuts! (Unlike the name, it isn't sweet at all, just fried pastry in fact a little salty) You can dip them into the congee and eat it together! It's a MUST!

Italian Night at Divino Patio

Divino Patio

Shop 11, 1/F, Causeway Centre, No. 28 Harbour Road, Wanchai
+852 2877 3552

Rating: 8.3/10 

Price: Around 300-350 HKD per person (incl. glass of wine)

No matter which country, city, region I visit or live, there seems to be an excessive abundance of Italian Restaurants. Even in remotest village of China if there's one 'western' restaurant it is either a hamburger shop or a pizza parlor claiming to be Italian.

Maybe it's due to this abundance, that I'm usually reluctant and dubious to find 'real' and satisfying dish of Pasta or Pizza (even in Italy itself)..

Despite my lack of belief in finidng a proper italian restaurant, I've been dying for a slice of pizza (not thsoe icky buttery pizza-hut pizzas... but those over-flowing with ruccola, Parma ham and mozarella)

Anyhow, after doing some combined reserach in both Openrice and numerous food-blogs and magazines, I narrowed my choice down to Divino Patio.

It was more than a success, as we both agreed it was one of the nicest dinners we had in Hong Kong so far :) 

They have a lovely menu, thankfully not over-flowing with endless lists of pizzas and pastas but limited to 4-5 choices for each! The wine menu was also well designed and selected with lots of affordable Italian white and red wines to choose from!  

Our Order for Two:

Complimentary Bread Basket/Bag:

   This was amazing, they had a cute paper bag with selection of warm bread sticks, wheat bread and rolls to go with home-made dip or extra-virgin olive oil with balsamic vinegar! 

Italian Cherry Tomatoes Bruschetta with fresh basil and Garlic (88 HKD)

   Although it was nothing spectacular, the bread was lightly toasted and the tomato salsa was perfectly seasoned to be fresh and light!

12'' inch Hand Tossed Parma Pizza (195 HKD)

   This was heavenly! I mean look at how much parma and ruccola is on the pizza! Apart from the amazing toppings, the pizza-dough was just as impressive with its crispy and chewy texture and rich hearty taste :)

Penne "Jerome" style with Gorgonzola and Black Truffle Sauce (188HKD) 

   I usually don't like cream-pastas as after few bites you stop apprecaiting the richness of the dish but is quite overwhelmed by it.... but this lovely and perfectly portioned pasta tasted like an upscale and revamped macaroni-and-cheese that I could eat every other day! 

The pasta it self was also very well-cooked to Al dente, leaving no room for complaint for this lovely dish! :)

Oh and check out this sleek interior!

IT really is a great place for both the food and the ambiance  If you're ever in Wanchai and in a mood for a proper Italian, this is definitely the place to go to! 

Although the price-range is not low, so maybe next time ill check out the lunch-set menu during my immigration runs! It'll be a nice reward after the hassle