The Mahjong

Chinese

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.

The shop has a traditional feel to it. Green wooden window frames on the wall are reminiscent of old-time Hong Kong. Dumplings are handmade daily and only the freshest ingredients are used in the fillings. Try their most-ordered item lamb and Peking scallion dumplings. Or surprise yourself with the specialty, such as mackerel dumplings and cuttlefish dumplings. Shandong roast lamb and meat pie are also recommended.

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.

Thanks to his considerable experience and skilfully executed dishes, the head chef has been enticing diners back here for over a decade. Named after the owner, the signature Ah Yung abalone is slowly braised in a secret sauce for up to 20 hours. Fried hump-head garoupa served in a claypot is perfumed with ginger, garlic, scallion and cilantro and boasts bouncy skin and crisp tasty meat. The dining room feels elegant and relaxing.

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.