Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Lei Garden Restaurant 利苑酒家 @ West Kowloon, Hong Kong

Success doesn't always come easy, at least for the founder of Lei Garden, Mr. Chan Shu Kit. The once financially loss making restaurant has successfully transformed itself to become one of Hong Kong most reputable fine dining restaurant, with 10 branches all over Hong Kong, 2 in China, 1 in Macau and 2 in Singapore. We came here with high expectations and we were not disappointed. 
The combination of great service, elegant table setting and delicious cooking are the reasons why Lei Garden is still in business after 39 years. Its Mong Kok outlet was recently awarded two Michelin Stars, with the other 9 outlets being awarded 1 Michelin Star each. That's a whopping 11 Michelin Stars! 
Crispy Roasted Pork - Save the Char Siu for another day, Lei Garden is all about Siu Yok. This dish itself is worth a star. 
Steamed Beef Balls - Once you have properly stoked your appetite, dig into the beef balls, a platoon of delightfully fresh minced beef coupled with some fragrant scallions.
Pan Fried Turnip Cakes - Swipe these lovely square shaped turnip cakes with some chili sauce to take it up a few notches. 
Stir Fry Kailan - Simple hearty vegetables dotted with some shallots.
Braised Garoupa with Ginger and Scallions - Continue your parade with some piping hot Garoupa fish imbued with rich flavors.
Steamed Shanghai Xiao Long Pao - These packages were juicy, filled with lean pork meat. The soup was absolutely delicious!
Steamed flour rolls with green onions -  Meet the silky Chee Cheong Fun, it's so smooth that it might just slip through your chopsticks!
Lobster Broth Hand Made Noodles Soup - Pile of noodles flooded with a rich lobster broth. Just when we think it couldn't get any better. 
Crystal Dumplings - Steaming hot packets filled with diced vegetables, herbs and meat.
Salted Egg Custard Buns - A deceptively simple dish of sweet and savory.
Baked Mini Egg Tarts - These egg tarts were much eggier and less creamy than the English tarts.
Custard Layer Cake - Gallop away with some exceptionally flavorful warm custard layer cakes.  

VERDICT: TOTALLY SMITTEN

Smitten Dishes:
Crispy Roasted Pork
Steamed Shanghai Xiao Long Pao
Lobster Broth Hand Made Noodles Soup

Lei Garden Restaurant @ West Kowloon
Address: Shop Nos 2068-70, 2nd Level, Elements, No. 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Telephone: 852 2196 8133
Operating Hours: Mon to Sun - 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 1130pm

32 comments:

  1. the food is really marvelous ..
    and the siu yuk looks so good....
    how I wish that they will have a branch in Malaysia....

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    1. Hehehehe, maybe you can bring your wife down to Singapore for a short vacation and surprise her with some nice dim sum =)

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  2. I want the siu yuk, sinful it may be but this is my fav.

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    1. The siu yok was really really good. It was extremely moist, unlike any other siu yok i've tried before!

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  3. My eyes are fixed on the siu yok and egg tarts. Oh yummsss....

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  4. wah...the siu yoke is really something to die for...;p

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    1. Yea..from the photo you can tell that its something very special,the proportion of the fats and lean meat was perfect!

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  5. the Siew Yoke looked so perfectly cut and roasted! In fact, everything there seems to call out to me... no wonder so many Michelin stars... =)

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    1. Yea, I was really impressed by this place. I actually watched the CNCB interview with the founder. Below are the links.

      http://www.leigarden.hk/English/Media_detail.asp?id=73F67975-0627-4FF9-82F0-8E03B322E037

      http://www.leigarden.hk/English/Media_detail.asp?id=8DB2096A-023A-4D8C-9400-C19C7BCB579B

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  6. Pan fried turnip cakes and custard tarts! I want some.

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    1. Actually I prefer the pan fried turnip cakes and egg tarts at The Square. BUt these are much better than the one we have in KL. =)

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  7. The siew yoke and xiao long bao look perfect.

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  8. oh yes yes, let's petition for them to open a branch in KL! i'd order the lobster broth noodles for sure! :D

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    1. For now we can go down Singapore..hehhe , I wonder if they have the same menu.

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  9. This meal looks incredible! Might have to take a road trip :) Following your blog now!

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  10. Lots of goodies here, but the turnip cakes would be my first pic-yum!

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  11. the crispy roasted pork there looks so short and fat instead of those long and thin slices in malaysia ..

    Latest: Worst Shabu Ever

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    1. You are right! I think they use baby pig, thats why it's so good.

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    2. im craving for dim sum now, so im back to this post of yours. so awesome!

      Latest: Sinful Breads

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  12. The siew yok definitely to die for!

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  13. Oh my... Look at siew yok and Custard Layer Cake... *drools*

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    1. The siew yok will make you drool more ... heheh

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  14. Wow, Michelin star restaurant, the food definitely looks more than just mere 'good'! No words can do justice to describe the quality of the food!:)
    It must be expensive eh? I am totally smitten too; with the garoupa and the custard layer cake! Can't find custard cakes like these anywhere here; and I have only tried it at a wedding once in PJ!

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    1. It's cheaper than The Square but more expensive than the dim sum in KL.
      At least you tried once, its my 1st time tasting it. It was surprisingly good.

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  15. Your photos are always so incredible, they always make me drool!

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  16. these all look tasty! well done, esp the crystal dumplings and lobster broth noodles! yum ^^

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