The best seafood by the ocean and street-style dining in Hong Kong, plus Japanese hidden gems: a former fast food promoter’s picks
- Having grown up in a traditional Chinese family and lived in Sydney, Copenhagen and London, technology consultant Bessie Ng has a well-travelled palate
- Her Hong Kong favourites include a Lamma seafood restaurant where the owner is the de facto sommelier, and steak omakase restaurant Pheromone
Bessie Ng is a technology consultant and former fast food advertising professional, who used to promote fried chicken and burgers – but her own taste is a bit more elevated. She spoke to Andrew Sun.
Growing up in Hong Kong, fine dining wasn’t a thing. My family’s quite traditional, so dim sum Sunday was the routine. I had Dutch and Filipino friends, I spent time in Sydney, studied in Copenhagen and worked in London. I remember my Dutch friend’s mum would make me chocolate sprinkles sandwiches, so that makes you a lot more open-minded.
Instead of chasing new openings, what’s more interesting to me is to follow chefs and see how they shift and evolve in their signature and style.
A friend introduced me to the cute hidden gem Kyoto Oden Masa (shop 1103, 11/F, United Success Commercial Centre, 508 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay, tel: 2891 1530). The oden is just the most comforting thing ever.
The menu is small. I’m a big fan of sardines, and the last time I went, they did this iwashi ball. It looks simple, but it takes two days to debone and chop up the fish.
I like small businesses. I like things with a personality. And I like the personal touch.
