Whole of Life noodles (Clams and Hokkaido scallops).Tomato C Hing
G/F, 255 Ki Lung Street
Sham Shui Po
Tel: 9462 1567
Grub: Hong Kong style
Vibe: The restaurant is small but neat and clean, and unlike the crowded surrounding Sham Shui Po neighbourhood, not too tightly packed – there’s still space between seats.
Liu Liang San in Tsim Sha Tsui serves up authentic classic Taiwanese food
The owner is very friendly, genuine and willing to talk about his food. You get a sense of being welcome and cared for.
Who to bring: Friends who love tomatoes – as the name suggests, most of the dishes are tomato-based – and who want to eat cheaply.
What’s hot: If you are a fan of tomatoes, you will love the food here. The main dishes all feature noodles with different proteins, served in a strongly-flavoured tomato broth. There is also a choice of noodles – udon, ramen, rice noodles, and Shanghai noodles. We found that the udon best soaked up the broth.
The two side dishes on offer aren’t tomato-based – spicy and sweet chicken wings, and 78-degree satay pork belly. Both are cooked by the sous vide methode, in which food is vacuum sealed in plastic, and cooked slowly in water kept at a constant temperature. We tried the wings, which were pleasantly spicy.
Other non-themed dishes include a range of fried food, including cuttlefish balls, tofu skin and fish slices. We tried the latter, and found them fresh-tasting and al dente.
Bakehouse is fresh, chic and will surprise you in pleasant ways
The drinks list is interesting, and features unique offerings concocted by the owner. The lemon and pear drink has a good ratio of sweetness to sourness, while the cold-brew honey Xinyang Maojian tea is refreshing and, according to the owner has a lower caffeine content due to the way it’s prepared. For an extra HK$5 you can take the signature drink bottle home.
What’s not: The menu is small, and if you’re not into tomatoes, there is even less choice.
Cost: Noodles range from HK$48 to HK$88, and tomato broth is HK$28. Sous vide snacks are HK$28 and fried dishes are HK$24. All drinks are HK$18. No service charge.