[Review 2875]Musubi paradise @ 華御結 Hana-Musubi

03/10/2013
華御結 Hana-Musubi
灣仔軒尼詩道302 至308集成中心地下 G7
Shop G7, G/F, C.C. Wu Building, 302-308 Henessey Road, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/musubi-paradise-e2323697

Before this tasting, I have already been to Hana-musubi numerous times.
It has become my one of my regular meals each week when I crave for flavoured rice.

Hana-Musubi introduces the latest "Nutritionally Balanced" sets. Customers can follow their preferences and appetites to make their own combination. "Nutritionally Balanced" sets consist of two omusubis, a selection of soup, and options of other dishes or salads.


All of their omusubis and side dishes are labelled with a clear indication of calories for the health conscious.

Mr. Muneo Nishida, the Director of Hyakunousha International Limited, arrived in Hong Kong three years ago to devote himself to establishing Hana-Musubi as a specialty retail business that promotes Japanese food culture by serving genuine omusubi made with Japanese rice.

Within two years of opening its first store in 2011, the brand has launched a chain of shops in the heart of the city’s commercial districts to provide busy workers with more healthy food choices.

Situated in another prime location in C C Wu Building, Wan Chai, the ninth Hana-Musubi outlet is surrounded by a densely built-up area of office buildings, schools and residential blocks. It offers people from all walks of life the chance to enjoy its healthy, delicious and authentic omusubi.


The Omusubi expert – Hana-Musubi carefully selects only the finest ingredients for its more than 50 varieties of omusubi. The company therefore uses only freshly milled Niigata Koshihikari rice, the most famous in Japan, which contains a high water content. This type of rice cannot easily be bought in Hong Kong supermarkets.

Hana-Musubi travels around Japan to select assorted delicious ingredients from Hokkaido to Okinawa to make the best omusubi with health benefits.
These include Hokkaido kombu (seaweed), Hakata mentaiko (spicy cod roes, an indispensable item in Japanese family dining), and Kishu umeboshi (pickled plums) to help overcome tiredness and combat ageing.

There are two types of omusubi, one with seaweed wrap and one without.
The one without is mixed with ingredients to make it tastier to suit Hong Kong people and it is convenient for children who can just dig in by tearing open the bag and using a spoon.

The other omusubi can also be opened easily without getting your fingers dirty if you know how.
I finally learnt the art of opening the omusubi at the tasting.


Here was what we tried:

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Satsuma-age fish cake:


The fish cake was nicely complemented by the light sauce drizzled on top.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Simmered chicken & veg "Chikuzen-Ni":

This was surprisingly nice because it was packed with lots of vegetables, the balls are mini taros which had a nice slimy texture.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Teriyaki chicken:


The chicken was nice and tender with delicious julienne cabbage beneath it and the Teriyaki sauce was not too sweet.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Japanese style tomato pork curry:

The pork was nice and tender with delicious tomato and curry sauce.
If you like this, there is also a main dish which is Japanese style tomato curry that has roast potatoes with it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
For Yukuri (akajiso – purple perilla) musubi, Mentaiko musubi, Wasabi octopus musubi, Scallop in vinegar musubi, Soybean, chicken meatball collagen Soup, Brown sugar warabi.
Please see:
http://www.openrice.com/english/restaurant/commentdetail.htm?commentid=2221219
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
For Konbu musubi, Tazukuri musubi and Octopus salad please see:
http://www.openrice.com/english/restaurant/commentdetail.htm?commentid=2308119
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
For miso chicken musubi, and salad with choice of sauce see:
http://www.openrice.com/restaurant/commentdetail.htm?commentid=2314339
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
For Pizza musubi, please see <>'s review
http://www.openrice.com/restaurant/commentdetail.htm?commentid=2217080
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

I would love to see them opening more branches at the MTR stations so I could just grab one for breakfast and another good suggestion by Food and Crits is that they should label the vegetarian ones to make it clearer for them.
It would be great if there was more variety because there are 50 different types of musubi but I keep seeing the same ones.
The ones I would like to see again are: Pizza musubi, Curry musubi, minced chicken, Yukuri (akajiso – purple perilla) musubi

[Review 2874] The best Hot Wraps @ Pret A Manger

02/10/2013
Pret A Manger
灣仔皇后大道東1號太古廣場三座B3樓1-2號舖
Shop 1-2, B3/F, Three Pacific Place, 1 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/the-best-hot-wraps-e2323562

I wish I knew about these Hot Wraps before because they were friggin delicious.
There is a narrow heated cabinet with these hot wraps which is why I didn't really notice them before.

There are four flavours in Hong Kong:
Barbecue Pulled Pork Hot Wrap
Salmon Fish Cake Hot Wrap
Sweet Potato Falafel Hot Wrap
Pret's Meatball Hot Wrap

In UK they have:
BBQ Pulled Pork Hot Wrap
Swedish Meatball Hot Wrap

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Sweet Potato Falafel Hot Wrap:
(Falafel, emmenthal, pepper, onion, chili tomato sauce)
These wraps are seriously hot when you take them from the tray.
After unwrapping it, the smell was gorgeous, it smelt of Tex Mex chili con carne.
The wrap was slightly crispy and chewy and the filling was deliciously hot with starchy beans and falafel.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Salmon Fish Cake Hot Wrap:
(salmon, potato mash, soya bean, emmenthal, red onions, honey mustard mayo)

This wrap was also impressive because there was delicious creamy mashed potatoes in the middle with stringy emmenthal cheese.
Along with that, there were chunks of flakey salmon.
Each bite was delicious because the tangy honey mustard sauce complemented the salmon and balanced the creamy mash perfectly.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Both of the wraps above are irritatingly delicious and addictive!

[Review 2873] Rice wrap PORK! @ 麥當勞 McDonald's

02/10/2013
麥當勞 McDonald's
灣仔軒尼詩道302-308號集成中心地下G11-17號舖
Shop G11-17, G/F, CC Wu Building, 302-308 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai\
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/rice-wrap-pork-e2323529\

After a tasting, I was determined to try this because this is one of the designated places that serve the rice wrap with pork cutlet in it.
They have the Tonkotsu rice wrap or the pork cutlet with curry sauce and rice.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Tonkotsu rice wrap:
The taste of this was ok, but not as delicious as the chicken or beef version because the pork was a bit dry.
The pork tasted nice with the cucumbers, lettuce and mayonnaise.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

For the designated branches, please phone McDonalds who forgot to call me back after I left my number so you may have to call twice.

[Review 2872] Come for Curry if you're in a hurry @ Curries Inc

02/10/2013
Curries Inc
銅鑼灣希雲街1-5號禮信大廈地下17號舖
Shop 17, G/F., Leishun Court, 1-5 Haven Street, Causeway Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/come-for-curry-if-youre-in-a-hurry-e2323527

Thanks to Little Burro for being closed or I would not have come to this shop for delicious curry.
It is a neat little curry joint serving ready to go International curries and fishballs.
There is a bar table at the side for people to dine which it is slightly uncomfortable because the table is too high.
They also sell spices and a few selection of drinks.
They have a Pakistani brand of drinks called Shezan with Lychee or Lemon Barley.

They have EIGHT different curries on the menu.

1) Beef brisket curry (yellow curry with beef brisket, potato & onion, a HK favorite $48)
2) beef massaman curry (massaman curry with beef, cinnamon stick, coconut milk, onion, peanut, potato & tamarind $53)
3) beef red curry (red curry with beef, eggplant, pea, cauliflower, pineapple, baby corn, mushroom & coconut milk $54)
4) Chicken korma (northern Indian curry with chicken, ground almond, saffron & yoghurt
$45)
5) chick pea vegetable curry (vegetarian yellow curry with chick pea, tomato, bell pepper & onion $40)
6) chicken malaysian curry (onion, kaffir line leaves, cinnamon stick, star anise & coconut milk $43)
7) chicken thai green curry (green curry with chicken, eggplant, pea, cauliflower, broccoli, coconut milk, coriander & mushroom $44)
8 curry in a hurry (cayenne pepper with chicken, onion, clove, golden raisin, tomato, chopped fresh cilantro & yoghurt $44)

If they had chicken korma, that would have been my first choice but that day they had beef brisket, red curry, thai chicken curry and beef massaman so I ordered the beef massaman.

I felt that they should offer small samples of the curry sauce so that people can try and see which curry is the best and avoid the ones that are too spicy for them because if it is not your cup of tea, then your stuffed and I doubt that it would be a good review too.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Beef massaman:


To be honest, this was my breakfast so as a breakfast it tasted really nice, but for lunch or dinner, I would have probably liked the taste to be stronger.
The curry was lovely and sweet, and it was not even spicy which was nice and gentle for an empty stomach.
The beef was amazingly soft and tender and there were so many pieces in this bowl.
The peanuts in the curry were soft and nutty and the curry sauce went well with their fluffy rice which was quite a big bowl too.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Lemon barley:

For $9 it was really cheap, but unfortunately it was too sweet.
It would probably taste nice if it was diluted.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2871] Bing style apple pie @ 老金煎餅 Mr. Bing

01/10/2013
老金煎餅 Mr. Bing
中環威靈頓街83號地下及地庫
LG & G/F, 83 Wellington Street, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/bing-style-apple-pie-e2323305

Shortly after making their Bings cheaper, they now offer breakfast bings and bings for the afternoon.
I was attracted to the apple and cinnamon so got it right away.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
New bings:
For breakfast, they have cheese, egg and ham or cheese, egg and sausage.

For the afternoon they have the new nutella or apple and cinnamon.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Apple and cinnamon bing being made:
Basically they make it the same way as the savoury bings.
Kaya is added on to the bing.
Then the slices of apple, crisp and then cinnamon powder are added.

The cinnamon powder that they use is contained in a nice golden container and surprisingly it is a local brand because it looks quite American.


After all the elements are added, it is folded into a crepe shape.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Apple and cinnamon bing:

Had to wait for the Bing too cool down because it was too hot initially to hold or eat it.
Once it cooled down I took a bite.
All the elements in the Bing tasted delicious.
It tasted like McDonald's apple pie because of the crispy bits which acted like the outside of the pie and the Kaya, fresh apple slices and strong cinnamon were just like the filling in the pie.
I would prefer less of the Kaya because the Kaya can be quite sweet.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2870] Back for more delicious nougat @ ABC餅屋 ABC Bakery

30/09/2013
ABC餅屋 ABC Bakery
中環結志街1號地下
G/F, 1 Gage Street, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/back-for-more-delicious-nougat-e2323248

Thanks to Mjqueen7e or I would not have known about these gorgeous nougats.
I was nearby so got a box.
They also had these cute swan choux puffs which I did not try them.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Nougats:

The nougats were so nice and addictive that I could not stop eating them.
The sweetness was just right and it tastes like a satisfying SNICKERs bar without the chocolate and caramel.
Each nougat is wrapped in edible rice paper and crammed with tons of peanuts.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2869] Vieil homme chinois aime le poulet rôti @ La Rotisserie

30/09/2013
La Rotisserie
灣仔廈門街19號地下
G/F, 19 Amoy Street, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/vieil-homme-chinois-aime-le-poulet-roti-e2323175

Just as much as I love Roast chicken! I discovered that OLD Chinese men love it too!
When I was at the Sai ying pun branch of La Rotisserie, an old man got his roast chicken.
At the new branch in Wan Chai, there was another old man getting roast Chicken.

The layout of the Wan Chai and Sai Ying Pun branch are pretty much the same, selling pates, candies but there is a bar table at the Wan Chai branch.

I went there during the first few days it opened because they were doing a lunch deal for $50.

It was so crowded on the first day that I gave up getting some chicken.

I sneaked out earlier on the second day before the crowd and got my chicken fast.

As well as that, I tried the croque poulet and forgot to take a photo of the actual thing.
The knife and fork they give you is decent and rigid so you can eat your chicken properly.
I went to this other roast chicken place and they gave me weak plastic cutlery which snapped half way through (GREAT!).

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Roast chicken and potatoes:

Delicious juicy chicken with rosemary herbs.
Tried the the thigh part and the white meat which were great and fully flavoured right through.
There was lots of chicken juice in the box too which tasted great with the potatoes.
The potatoes were soft on the inside with a delicious chewy skin.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Croque poulet:

The croque poulet is basically the same as the croque monsieur but it has chicken in it which is why it is called poulet.
It was a bit too buttery and the chicken sauce was a bit too creamy but the onions in it balanced it out nicely.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

On my next visit, I will get my favourite quiches and lemon tarts.