Rakuzen Japanese Restaurant in Sri Hartamas, Malaysia

Address: Lot P17 Plaza Ground Floor, Hartamas Shopping Centre, 60 Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel : 03-6201 2060

Today I went to one of the restaurants recommended by friends. The food turn out to be quite nice, however quite expensive for M'sia standard. It cost us RM140 for 2 person. The crab meat salad was really nice. Sashimi was OK only, not very fresh. Handroll was OK too, cawanmushi was nice but expensive, RM20 per bowl.

Victoria Garden Chinese New Year Flower Market - 12 Feb 2010

My company gave 1/2 day off today, since CNY is on Sun, 14 Feb 2010. I went to Victoria Garden Flower Market to have a look, and not wait till Sat/Sun to avoid the crowd. It's always nice to have a look at those variety of stalls when it is so cold (about 14 C), from cute stuff, unnecessary stuff (waste of money stuff, you will not need it if you don't see it), food and flowers especially plum blossom flowers. As usual, I ended up buying cure stuff eg doll pillow, home slippers, tissue box and some household items.

Mandarin Oriental Clipper Lounge Chocolate Buffet 6 February 2010

I saw from openrice that Mandarin Oriental is now having chocolate buffet high tea. The pictures looks so nice, so I went to have a try. Price was reasonable, HK$415 for 2 person. I thought I can eat a lot, since I am used to eating a lot of chocolates. However, I only managed to try about 10 different chocolates. I felt so full and don't feel like eating anymore after just trying a few different chocolates. I suspect they added some special "ingredient" to make you have the full feeling. The chocolates are not that nice too, looks nice only. But it was worth a try, although I will not go for a second time.

My Recommended Restaurant In Hong Kong - Central

Those in green font are those restaurant that I really like to visit, not merely because of the food, maybe also because of its value for money.

1) 勝香園 (shēng xiāng yuán)

A place (tai phai tong) for nice and cheap food. I have been there a few times, every time there will be long queue, so expect to wait. A few must order items:

Tomato soup mee

奶油脆脆 or 檸密脆脆 (toasted bread with condensed milk, Lemon Honey Crispy Crispy)

Address: 2 Mei Lun Street, Central (中環美輪街2號排檔)

Tel : 2544 8368

Opening hours : Mon to Sat: 08:00-17:30; Sun: 休息

2) 泰昌餅家 Tai Cheong Bakery

Very famous for its egg tarts, a must try item, recommended by ex-governor of Hong Kong.

Address: G/F, 35 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central (中環擺花街35號地下)

3) Tsim Chai Kee Noodle 沾仔記

I think this place is OK only, but I think I would recommend it as it is really value for money. A bowl of Wanton noodle only cost HK$16, which is very cheap for Hong Kong Standard. My brother thinks that the Wanton noodle is very nice though.

Address : Shop B, G/F Jade Centre, 98 Wellington Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central (中環蘭桂坊威靈頓街98號地下)

4) Wing Lok Yuen Restaurant 永樂園餐廳

I think this place is popular for its hot dog (熱狗王), I think not really because it tastes extremely nice, but value for money. 1 hot dog only cost aboutHK$12 (around there) and just imagine having lunch at this price in Central! Worth trying.

Address : G/F, 19 Chiu Lung Street,, Central (中環昭隆街 19 號地下)

5) Tsui Wah Restaurant 翠華餐廳

I like this restaurant as it has a lot of chinese style food to choose from and it tastes good. I don’t understand why a lot of Hong Kong people do not like this restaurant.

Address : G-2/F, 15-19 Wellington Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central (中環蘭桂坊威靈頓街15-19 號地下至二樓)

6) Sapporo Japanese Restaurant 札幌元祖北海道拉麵

I think the ramen here is really nice, comparable to the ones I tried in Japan. But I have to admit that it is pricey (about HK$85 per bowl). But it is worth it as long as it tastes good.

Address : The Forum, 8 Connaught Place, Central (中環康樂廣場8號交易廣場富臨閣1樓11至12號)

Tel : 2140 6883

7) 吉壽日本料理 Kichi Jyu Japanese Restaurant

Have not tried this but seems to have a lot of good reviews and the dinner buffet is cheap at only HK$178. The recommended items are 銀鱈魚定食 (cod fish) and 北海道牛奶海鮮鍋

Address : 7/F, The Loop, 33 Wellington Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central

(中環蘭桂坊威靈頓街33號The Loop 7樓)

Tel : 3586 3773 / 3586 3775

8) Clipper Lounge 快船廊

Have not tried this, but from the picture it seems that buffet has large crab legs, my favourite and the price per person is only HK$330, does not seem expensive though. They also seemed to have chocolate high tea at HK$230. I need to enquire and try soon!

Address : M/F, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Road Central, Central

(中環干諾道中5號香港文華東方酒店閣樓)

Tel : 2825 4007

9) Law Fu Kee 羅富記粥麵專家

A lot of colleagues like this shop, it is supposingly popular for porridge, I find it ok only. However I have to admit it is cheap for Central standard.

Address : G/F, 142 Queen's Rd C, Central (中環皇后大道中144號金利商業大廈地下)

10) The Flying Pan

Good choice of American style food, I like the smoked salmon with cheese omelets, and I usually go for brunch. Quite expensive though, about HK$80 per person.

Address : G/F, 9 Old Bailey Street, SOHO, Central (中環蘇豪奧卑利街9號地下)

Tel : 2140 6333

11) Tsukiji 築地日本料理

I have not tried this restaurant, but based on the pictures, the seafood ramen (海鮮拉麵) and cold crab (雪場蟹) looks delicious. Should try this one day.

Address : G/F, 46 Gage Street, Central (中環結志街46號地下)

Tel : 2542 3802

12 ) Flower Trump Restaurant 花滿樓京川滬菜

This Shanghai restaurant is good. The lunch set is really worth it. Favorite dishes includes 雞絲粉皮 (kai si fan pei), “si zi kau”, 松子魚塊/ 松子桂魚 (chung ji yu) and “shanghai dumpling” and 雲吞雞.

Address : Shop 1, G/F, Car Po Commercial Building, 18-20 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central (中環擺花街18-20號嘉寶商業大廈地下1號舖)

Tel : 2126 7265

13) Pearl Vietnamese Restaurant 明珠越南餐廳

I really hate Vietnam food, hence I have not tried a lot of Vietnamese restaurant. Among those I tried, this is the best and it’s cheap. I like the shredded chicken noodle and spring roll best.

Address : G/F, 7 Wo On Lane, Lan Kwai Fong, Central (中環蘭桂坊和安里七號地下)

Tel : 2522 4223

14 ) Peking Garden Restaurant 北京樓

I like this restaurant, it serves good Chinese food. The most popular should be Peking Duck, but it is rather expensive. 2 person will cost about HK$700.

Address : Alexandra House, Central (中環歷山大廈)

Tel : 2526-6456

13) Honolulu Coffee Shop 檀島咖啡餅店

Another place to buy nice egg tarts. Recommended.

Address : G/F, 33 Stanley St, Central (中環士丹利街33號地下)

14) Lian 蓮

The food here is quite nice, and very nice ambience but very expensive. Not really value for money and I won’t visit if there’s no one insisting. The pamelo salad and glutinous coconut mango desert is nice.

Address : Shop No.2004, 2/F, IFC Mall,No.1 Harbour View Street, Central (中環港景街1號國際金融中心商場Level2 2004號舖)

Tel : 2521 1117

15 ) The Square 翠玉軒

I tried the food here once with my client. The food was good, but again, very expensive. Will try again if there is any occasion.

Address : 4/F, Exchange Square II,, Central (中環交易廣場第二座4樓)

Tel : 2525 1163

16) The Annexx

The set lunch is worth it, HK$129+ for 3 courses. Been here a few times. The salmon salad is really nice. The cheese cake is excellent too.

Address: 中環蘭桂坊德己立街34-36號加州美樂大廈4樓

Tel : 2877 9779

17) 中國餸 Zhong Guo Song

Has a variety of nice chinese home cooked food, and nice soup too. I frequently go for lunch here when I was working in Central.

Address: 中環蘭桂坊和安里6號地下

Tel : 2810 4040

My Tit Bits

This entry is to demonstrate how crazy I am. I bought all these snacks last weekend and realised I finished all these snacks in a few days. I think I must be beyond cure!

All these junks are my enemies if I want to go on diet.... After spending few months to lose 8kg, I have now gained 4 kg in just few weeks. Wonder why I feel like eating so much especially so much junk food in winter....

I must not go to the supermarket so often anymore ....and must go on diet after Chinese New Year! (hopefully I will be motivated to keep this resolution)