[Review 1774 ] Chomp chomp yummy pickled Chinese radish @ 劉森記麵家 Lau Sum Kee Noodle

17/09/2012
劉森記麵家 Lau Sum Kee Noodle
深水埗桂林街48號地下
G/F, 48 Kweilin Street, Sham Shui Po
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/chomp-chomp-yummy-pickled-chinese-radish-e2258420

Apart from Wai Kee’s this is another famous place for noodles in Sham Shui Po, they are famous for noodles with dried shrimp roe sprinkled on top served with black ox tripe.
As well as the noodles they are famous for the pickled white radish too.
I am not fond of ox tripes so I ordered the noodles with beef tendons.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Soup:
Tasted like MSG soup!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Noodles with beef tendons sprinkled with prawn roe:
The noodles were lovely and soft and adhered lots of sauce and dried shrimp roes so it was delicious.
However there was lard in the mixture so I had to eat them fast because when they cooled down, you can smell the lard.
The soup that was included was useful for rinsing off the lard if you did not like it.
The beef tendons were soft and gelatinous and full of flavour.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pickles:

I really loved chomping these chunky Chinese white radishes because they were lightly pickled and there was still some raw radish taste in it.
They were really refreshing and balanced out the lard from the noodles.
Although they were pickled with chili’s the radish was not spicy.
The jars of pickled Chinese white radishes were passed round the tables because they did not seem to have enough jars for every table.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
In my opinion not many places in Hong Kong serves noodles with shrimp roe for this price hence this place stands out because it offers it and does not taste too bad.
The last decent noodle shop I tried with dried shrimp roe was 楊記麵家 Yeung's Noodle in Wan Chai, which was also cheap.

My review @ Yeung’s
http://www.openrice.com/restaurant/commentdetail.htm?commentid=1987629

Next time I will come back and try the noodles in soy sauce.

[Review 1773] Pandanmania and a cheap fix in general @ 健盈坊 Kin Ying Fong

17/09/2012
健盈坊 Kin Ying Fong
北角馬寶道41-47號華寶商業中心地下5號舖
Shop 5, G/F, Workingberg Commercial Building, 41-47 Marble Road, North Point
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/pandanmania-and-a-cheap-fix-in-general-e2258369

Went past this dessert shop and noticed they had quite a few items with pandan so decided to go in, however they were sold out so I had to come another day.
These pandan items must be a popular item or they only make a few portions because they are not often ordered.

Came back another day just to try the dumplings, I also ordered the rice rolls because eating sweet items on an empty stomach doesnt feel that good.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Rice Rolls:
The rice rolls were quite firm and the smell of rice flour was very strong.
The sauces were all on the table including sesame as well.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pandan glutinous dumplings with green tea stuffing in ginger soup:

There were five dumplings served in ginger soup.
This was my favourite, the filling inside was slightly starchy however the pandan taste was really light.
If the pandan flavouring was stronger it would taste better.
The sweetness of the ginger soup was just right and not too sweet which was really impressive.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pandan sago, black glutinous rice and coconut jelly:
Again, the sweetness was just right but the pandan flavouring again was too light and the milky taste in the pudding was so much more prominent than the pandan.
The rice at the bottom was nice and chewy and not too sweet.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
To Try next time:
Dragonfruit jelly
Pandan dumplings in sweet almond soup

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Nice and neat inside:

Cutlery nicely held in a glass tumbler
Anyway, this joint is located on Marble Road where North Point street market is located.
Even though the market stalls start closing around 7, this dessert joint closes at 11pm at night, and their desserts are really cheap.
When I paid for the bill I was so surprised the amount came to $28 only!!!!!!!!!!

[Review 1772] Tofu and pork blood curd stew @ 小辣椒 Little Chilli

15/09/2012
小辣椒 Little Chilli
北角北角道33號
No. 33, North Point Road, North Point
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/tofu-and-pork-blood-curd-stew-little-chili-e2257882

Close to City Garden Hotel, this place is a popular place for Mainlanders who like spicy foods and they can pay using the RMB with a 20% discount as well.
The restaurant was cramped and extremely noisy.
I came here especially to try the tofu and pork blood stew because it looked good in the previous reviews.
Interesting plate they used for the bowls:
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Stir fried Sour pickled vegetables and duck breast:
I was really disappointed with this dish, if I had known it was those processed smoked ducks breasts I would not have ordered it, the smoked aroma did not go well with the pickled vegetables.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Ham and Chicken Fried Rice:
I should have picked plain rice, the plain rice would have gone better with the dishes.
Anyway, it had the oily odour from the metal pan which I do not like.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Tofu and pork blood curds:
I came here especially for this but it was tasteless, both the tofu and blood curds just tasted like unseasoned tofu and blood curds.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 1771] Weird Hainan style chicken served with fried rice! @ 家樂小廚

15/09/2012
家樂小廚 (已結業)
將軍澳尚德商場2樓207舖
Shop 207, Sheung Tak Centre, Sheung Tak Estate, Tseung Kwan O
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/weird-hainan-style-chicken-served-with-fried-rice-e2257880

I was not expecting extremely authentic Hainan style chicken but I was really not expecting fried rice to go with it!!!
The soup to start off with was Chinese style, there were lots of black eye beans in it.
For the chicken, it was very old and didnt seem fresh because the chicken meat was brownish.
Although it was not authentic, the pickles tasted quite nice.
As for the rice I would have preferred plain rice if they didnt have the rice in chicken oil.

[Review 1770] Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah I want your super ra men

14/09/2012
rasupermen (已結業)
銅鑼灣軒尼詩道500號希慎廣場12樓1203號舖
Shop 1203, 12/F, Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/rah-rah-ah-ah-ah-i-want-your-super-ra-men-e2257796

I was attracted by this ramen joint purely because of the design and décor and the artisan noodles they serve on the ceramic spoon.
However the type of noodles they serve are not the ones I like so I did not have any expectations for the noodles but just the soup and beef consommé jelly.

They have a factsheet about their noodles and various diameters with the higher the number the thinner the noodles.
I am not sure if my understanding is correct but my interpretation of the description is that the dough is 3cm thick, depth not mentioned and they can cut 26 strands from it which is the thinnest.

So if the dough is 3cm (30mm) ie 30/26= 1.2mm so that’s 1.2mm per strand?? Am I right??
Even for the thickest noodle at 18 strands per 3cm, it is still quite thin if you calculate it.

Anyway, regardless of the calculation, it would be good if you can choose the thickness of the noodle but the article does not mention that so it is probably there for fun.
The numbers remind me of catheter diameters, which are measured by the French scale, or French gauge.

The staff at the joint wear these specially designed trousers that are quite nice, I wouldn't mind having a pair too.

There is a drawer in the table with chopsticks and wet tissues, there was also a rester for the chopsticks which was like a piece of burnt charcoal.

They also had electricity sockets on the floor which I forgot to take a picture.
I was expecting the joint to be big, but inside it is much smaller.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Karamiso:

I really liked the chopped chives on top (not be confused with garlic chives [gaau choi]).
The broth had a strong miso taste too.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Cold ramen salad with beef consommé jelly:

The jelly was really cooling and not oily, and there were thinly shredded pieces of guava which were refreshing, and one piece of okra.
The noodles for the cold ramen were too al-dente.
The taste of beef in the consomme was really light that you cannot taste it, but the piece of beef which was similar to corned beef was delicious.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
If I do come here next time I would order the noodles with olive oil.

[Review 1769] Eat Kung Fu dimsum to practice Kung Fu on a fly @ 功夫點心 Kung Fu Dim Sum

14/09/2012
功夫點心  Kung Fu Dim Sum
北角渣華道98號地下1&2號舖
Shop 1, G/F, 98 Java Road, North Point
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/eat-kung-fu-dimsum-to-practice-kung-fu-on-a-fly-e2257789

Upon entering the restaurant, it was nice, clean and modern.
After I sat down, they put those glass bowls with hot water for you to clean the bowls, chopsticks and cups.
I was not expecting that in a modern looking dim sum restaurant or perhaps it was not so modern.

Anyway I generally avoid going to dim sum restaurants where you need to wash the cups because to me it means they were not prewashed before or they are dirty.

While I was looking at the menu I saw a black fly walking on the rims of a bowl so I think it was a wise choice to wash the bowls and chopsticks!!!!

Did'nt have much appetite after that so just ordered the Coconut layered pudding.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Coconut layered pudding:

I was not expecting this to be steamed but it was hot.
Instead of a fragrant coconut smell, there was a foul smell, so I strongly advise do not order this.
The smell was really weird, it was so artificial.
The texture of the jelly was really tough and sticky and on the top the pudding it had some weird white sauce which made it look revolting, it looks like some weird milky discharge.
The pudding which should have been four pieces was not cut properly into four pieces.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 1768] Sweet purple rice dumplings and pearls @ 松記糖水店 Chung Kee Dessert

14/09/2012
松記糖水店 Chung Kee Dessert
將軍澳貿業路8號新都城中心3期地下G11號舖
Shop G11, G/F, MCP Discovery, 8 Mau Yip Road, Tseung Kwan O
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/sweet-purple-rice-dumplings-and-pearls-%E6%9D%BE%E8%A8%98%E7%B3%96%E6%B0%B4-e2257772

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Purple rice dumplings in sweet ginger soup:

Overall these were quite good, the skin was chewy and the custard filling inside was nice.
However the size of these dumplings seemed smaller than the previous visit.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pearls and grass jelly:

They put too much syrup so it was too sweet.
The pearls were al-dente and the grass jelly had the herbal taste it is expected to have.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★