Wineshark HK Restaurant Review - Yau Wok Hei 有鑊氣

This modest restaurant is located at Tai Chuen Street in Tai Kok Tsui, and its name highlights the skills of the chef, in preparing dishes with ‘wok hei’, the energy from a smoking wok and the fast-stir-frying process to bring forward the best flavours of the ingredients.

Arriving early evening the small restaurant was quite full already, and we managed to get a table near the entrance. The décor was simple, living true to the neighbourhood style, with the emphasis on the food than the dining ambience. The staff recommended us several of their signature dishes on the night.

The first was Jiangnan Four Snacks 江南四小拼 ($138), including four different snacks to start as appetizers. Mouth-Watering Chicken was spicy but very appetizing, making me continue despite sweating profusely. Marinated Turnip had a crunchy texture and good balance of salty and sweetness. Jellyfish-Head was a bit tough on the bite, while the Spicy Ginger Trotters were flavourful. A good starter for sharing.

Next came the signature Sichuan Pepper Seabass 老壇酸菜魚 ($298). The fish fillet was tender, with the soup having a wonderful spicy and sourness that was pleasant and making one want to continue for more. With bean sprouts and glass noodles, the portion was big and would require 3-4 people to finish.

Then came Marinated Goose 乾隆鹽水鵝皇 ($138), another of their signatures. The goose was deep in flavours, with the marinade not too salty to over-dominate the taste. The goose had a nice chew, with firm meat texture, but only a thin layer of fat. Note the portion was big, and this would be best enjoyed with more people.

The final course was Black Diamond Crispy Tofu 黑鑽脆豆腐 ($88). The tofu was coated with a thin black batter before deep-frying, making a crisp skin while the tofu inside remained silky soft. With some spicy garlic dusted to season, it was very tasty particular with icy cold beer. Even though we were full we finished all of them.

Service was good, with the staff friendly and nice in providing us recommendations. The bill on the night was $712 which was fantastic considering the portion and quality of the food. Considering the overall dining experience, I would rate them a Good 68 points, worth trying.