Where a Hong Kong fintech entrepreneur gets his foodie fix, from claypot rice and Peking duck to egg tarts
After 12 years in Hong Kong, former banker Rajah Chaudhry knows good food. He tells us his go-to places to eat around the city, and where he takes out-of-town guests
Former banker Rajah Chaudhry has lived in Hong Kong for 12 years. He co-founded fintech start-ups Paycelerate and ChinaScope, and is the Asia head of travel company Luxury Escapes, which offers flash deals on luxury holiday experiences.
I don’t have a favourite cuisine. I like all foods, as long as it tastes good. I’m just as comfortable eating on the street as in a fancy restaurant. Ambience doesn’t much interest me.
Where a five-meals-a-day sports nut chows down in Hong Kong
I usually judge food by quality and value for money. I like a restaurant that specialises in a particular dish or cuisine. Hong Kong has such a great variety of cuisines.
I am a big fan of claypot rice, and love a very local place called Seung Hei (25 North Street, Kennedy Town, tel: 2819 6190). Their rice with local sausage is amazing. I took my parents there and they loved the sautéed eggplants. The restaurant is usually packed in the evenings.
My other favourite in Kennedy Town is Mangiare (45-55 Cadogan Street, tel: 2336 3375), a small hole-in-the-wall place with authentic Italian dishes.
For Sichuan food, I hit up San Xi Lou (7/F Coda Plaza, 51 Garden Road, Mid-Levels, tel: 2838 8811). I always order the signature poached fish in hot chilli oil with all the goodies at the bottom of the bowl.
For creativity that tastes great, I love what chef Max Levy at Okra (110 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun, tel: 2806 1038) and chef Taran Chadha of BlackSalt (14 Fuk Sau Lane, Sai Ying Pun, tel: 3702 1237) are doing.
I love a good steak. I head to Bistecca (2/F, Grand Progress Building, 15 Lan Kwai Fong tel: 2525 1308) or La Vache (48 Peel Street, SoHo, tel: 2880 0248) for great-value quality steaks.
I take visitors to either Mott 32 (Basement, Standard Chartered Bank Building, 4-4A Des Voeux Road Central, Central, tel: 2885 8688) or Peking Garden (various locations including Shop B1, Alexandra House, 16-20 Chater Road, Central, tel: 2526 6456). Both have great Peking duck. They are a bit expensive, but have a good vibe and make for a fun night out.
The next day I would suggest Fu Sing (two locations including 1/F-3/F, Sunshine Plaza, 353 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2893 0881) for dim sum. The fried tofu and baked char siu bao are great.
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For a special occasion, I would go to 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana (Shop 202, 2/F, Alexandra House, 16-20 Chater Road, Central, tel: 2537 8859). I often prefer to sit in the bar area. They have a fun happy hour and do amazing cocktails, and the food is always spot on.
I go to Winstons Coffee (213 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun, tel: 2559 5078) for great coffee and banana bread.
I am not much of a sweets person, but in Macau I do love egg tarts from Lord Stow’s Bakery (1 Rua do Tassara, Coloane Town Square, tel: +853 2888 2534).
