iclub To Kwa Wan Hotel (formerly iclub Ma Tau Wai Hotel)

Chinese

This intimate 15-seater yakitori shop is the brainchild of a Japanese engineer, now the chef, and his wife, now the maître d'. For over a decade, they’ve been feeding hungry diners in the neighbourhood with quality grilled food, with some ingredients flown in from Japan. Rare cuts such as chicken heart and hatsumoto (artery) are definitely worth a try. Pair them with their selection of sake or home-brewed umeshu. Reservations are accepted the day before.

Originally a run-down shop in a squatter village, this eatery moved here in 2000. But one thing has never changed – the food is as delicious and affordably priced as ever. The signature Dan Dan noodles come in two versions: one with ground pork and one without, and can be paired with a spicy or mild broth. Whole mandarin fish is prepared in Sichuan Shuizhu style or in a sweet and sour sauce. The portions are big enough for sharing.

Comfort and luxury partly explain the popularity of this firm favourite with foodies, thanks to plush fabrics, beautifully dressed tables and Chinese art, but the skill and experience of the kitchen team also play a role. Their soups made with top-notch ingredients win the hearts of countless connoisseurs. Double-boiled Silkie chicken soup with dried scallop and abalone stands out with deep, complex umami. Other specialities include Peking duck and baked stuffed crab shell.

Chinese

This elegant restaurant has been a reliable favourite for Cantonese classics for over 40 years. Chandeliers and Sung-style paintings create a stunning backdrop for the refined cooking, prepared meticulously by the seasoned chef. Seafood is cooked in myriad ways, so it never gets tired. Leopard coral grouper can be steamed with ginger and scallion, shredded pork and mushrooms, or deboned and sautéed with dried tangerine peel and olive-pickled mustard leaves.

Chef Kin’s stints at famous sushi-ya in Hong Kong and Japan explain his exceptional sushi making skills and artistry. According to the oiliness of each fish, he pairs it with rice dressed in one of his two vinegar blends. A single omakase menu is served, composed entirely of ingredients flown in from Japan, such as umami-laden kuruma prawn that is perfectly cooked and boasts bouncy, juicy flesh. The lunchtime menu is a bargain. By reservation only.