Old Town- Dixon St. Inspired by Hong Kong

How is it possible to have a mix of Asian cuisines including Arisun Korean fried chicken, nasi goreng at Delima, tempura gyoza at Kura and now a fairly new eating joint on the block,  Old Town Hong Kong Cuisine on one street? Dixon Street, off course.

The two levelled interior is downright fancy, setting back to the early 1920s blending with party light bulbs glowing across their ceiling to add an extra vibe to the restaurant. Be amazed as you walk past their conventional steaming kitchen corner on the left where a displayed Peking Duck or Char Siu is in between a soft white bun enclosed in a glass dome. It kind of represents a classic Disney Princess movie Beauty and the Beast, doesn’t it? The concept of transparency of the glass dome is exactly identical as the one that is represented in the movie. Obviously the difference is there is no floating red rose in this clear case however both objects represent the same meaning, which is unconditional, everlasting love- this is undeniable.

Since it was bright and sunny day we ordered HK Style Ice Milk Tea ($4.50) originated from Hong Kong, consisted strong black tea with condensed milk served with syrupy sugar and cubes of ice in a tall glass. There is a reason why this popular milk tea is well known; usually it’s because of a method that makes the tea, a “commercial secret”, which are pantyhose. You heard me “SILK STOCKINGS“! Some have argued whether this is the correct process to filter the tea leaves and I personally think as long as it creates a smooth, intense tea outcome, it doesn’t matter how it is made but as long as those pantyhose haven’t been worn. Teehee.

Now there’s a sophisticated individual who ordered Coke with Lemon ($4.50) – A slice of fresh lemon makes all the difference, try it next time when you have cans of Coca-Cola lying around and lemons that need to be used. It’s taking soda with lemon to the next level.

Their signature snack we have been eyeing since we entered the restaurant was the Peking Duck with Bun (2 Pieces $8). The buns disappeared without a trace as soon as it arrived at our table. So what happens when delicious lip-smacking buns vanish? You order it again! 😛

QUACK… THEM BUNS LOOK TASTY!

It’s not difficult to over order these buns, we just love how innovative it is to eat compared to the ordinary way of eating, which is Peking duck with thin pancakes.

This is BUN-LIEVABLE… WILL YOU EVER STOP LOOKING THIS MOUTH-WATERING? It’s one of their top bestselling starters! Shaped like a ducks mouth, the super soft warm steamed bun filled with juicy tender slices of Peking duck, strands of spring onions, sliced cucumber and a splash of hoi sin sauce. The ingredients together justify the flavour. Please note it is recommended to eat these buns as soon as it appears in front of you as I was told by my foodie friend the bun quickly loses its warmth after sitting there for a few sseconds.

Go for one of their interesting dishes – Soft Shell Crab Curry Congee– A spicy curry fragrant served in a generous portion of rice porridge.

Comes with a bowl of deconstructed crispy brittle Soft Shell Crabs. Tastes godly fantastic!

Another hype is their Pork Dumpling in Bird Nest ($13.80) served on a hot ordinary kitchen pan. I was impressed with the presentation as it was shaped like a birds nest. Crisp around the edges made it so easy for everyone to fight over it. After tasted the dumplings, it was shame they were just ordinary. Thankfully the crunchy nest made up for the ordinary taste of these dumplings otherwise it’s an incredible dish on its own.

Hmmm….crunchy….

How on Earth can this nest still be attached ?! Just look how delicate the edges are…

Amazed how the dumpling is still glued to the nest.

Not looking very spectacular the Wine Poached Chicken ($7.50) served cold was a flavoursome side dish, generally poached in water so it turns out to be succulent and tender in texture. Soon after it is then gently simmered or marinated in historic Chinese wine to create a deep flavour.

Shanghai Wonton with Noodle in Soup ($8.80) commonly found in every menu in Hong Kong serves its purpose by filling the bowl with large chopped shrimp filled wonton within thin silky noodles and pork broth to give it a distinct taste.

Durian, a fruit that has an unusual odour, filled with cream coloured squishy pulp that is edible and the flavour is indiscernible. My foodie lovers were a bit skeptical of me ordering Durian Pancakes (2 Per Serve $6.50) as it perfumes an odd odour. Luckily I listened to my instinct because the sweet dish itself was perfect. Normally pipped with thick cream and rich custard pieces of durian enveloped in a pancake. Every bite was luscious- soft, creamy and smooth.

We instantly fell in love with this place as soon as we looked at their displayed buns in a glass dome. This immediately reminded me of the movie Beauty and the Beast. Only downside about this Peking Duck in a Bun was the price. The rest of the dishes display an Authentic Hong Kong flavour, truly magnificent dishes. Overall, Old Town Hong Kong Cuisine is a never-ending popularity to the upper Dixon Street.

Photos by Vanny Tang

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