This famous restaurant is located on 4/F of Mira Place, and has been in business for 55 years. The specialty is definitely the shark’s fin soup, but in the last decade the general public has a much better understanding of the cruelty in getting the shark's fin, and the restaurant has also downplayed that in its name and marketing.
Arriving sharp at our booking time in the evening, we are seated at the booth, which are good for more private conversations. The decoration is stylish and luxurious. Having visited here a few times already, we decide to try the newer Sun Tung Lok Special Menu ($2,038 each), instead of the Michelin menu we have enjoyed before.
The first course is Ark Shell Meat and Green Salad in Mustard Dressing 赤貝肉翠蔬沙律伴芥末汁. The chef has carved out the inside of cucumber sections and then stuffed with shredded cucumber, with some chickpeas as well. On top is the fresh ark shell meat, with some mustard dressing to season, and a piece of tomato and parsley. Combining Chinese, Western and Japanese elements together, a nice starter.
The second course is Shark’s fin in Superior Soup 紅燒海虎翅. The signature of the restaurant, with the prized shark’s fin very thick in diameter, served in a superior soup that is pure umami and flavours, obviously prepared for a long process using many ingredients. Served on a sizzling hot clay pot, there is no need to add any vinegar, with the restaurant thoughtfully providing some additional Chinese ham extracts on additional saltiness if needed. But to me the original flavours are already fantastic.
The third course is Braised Australian Greenlip Abalone and Garoupa Filet 澳洲四頭青邊鮑魚配海斑扒. The abalone is perfectly cooked, very tender and the knife can slice through it easily, while retaining a wonderful bite, seeping with amazing flavours on each bite. The vegetable on the bottom allows me to savour the last drop of the beautiful sauce. The fish filet is seasoned well, with a thin batter and not feeling oily on the mouth.
The fourth course is Steamed prawn with Fried Conpoy 脆瑤柱豆腐蓉蒸海蝦球配紅蝦籽汁. The minced bean curd reminds me of the pipa tofu but this is steamed instead of deep-fried, with a large prawn on top, scattered with some fried conpoy to add some contrast in texture and flavours. There is also a red shrimp roe sauce which has wonderful umami taste and integrates the different elements of the whole dish together perfectly.
The fifth course is Spanish Pork Loin and Deep-Fried Daikon 西班牙橡果豬柳伴脆大根. The pork loin is very tender, with lots of flavours, having the right amount of lean and fat, not feeling greasy at all. The sauce used to pan-fry has a complex and delicious taste, and the chef has creatively prepared some deep-fried turnip on the side, which are sweet and without fibres, plus some salad vegetables underneath, to cleverly balance the rich flavours of the pork.
The sixth course is Bird’s Nest and Sago in Iced Honeydew 茶盅燕窩蜜瓜西米露 and Deep-Fried Glutinous Ball stuffed with Custard 忌廉奶皇芝麻煎堆. The sago dessert has a refreshing melon note and not too sweet, with the bird’s nest placed at the bottom. For sure it is a lady’s favourite. For me I like the glutinous ball better, with a nice chewy texture and coated with sesames to give a wonderful fragrance, while the custard stuffing is runny and also appropriate in sweetness.
Coming here one can still feel some reminders of the glorious period in HK. Apart from the shark’s fin and premium ingredients, the restaurant is still using the authentic ivory chopsticks which has a long history, and are no longer available because of the global ivory ban. Service is good, but like almost all local Chinese restaurants they can do better job in explaining the dishes. The bill on the night is $4,605.
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