The sun is shining, the weather is warm (apart from the occasional typhoon…), but those summer vibes aren’t slowing down the Hong Kong restaurant scene! It’s full speed ahead with plenty more restaurant openings and a host of new summer menus and promotions. See all the latest foodie news for June below in our Food News Flash!

NEW OPENINGS

School Food
This cute, street-food inspired Korean restaurant has just opened up two new locations in Mongkok and Tuen Mun! The quirky restaurant interiors combine funky modern touches with traditional Korean accents, and the food showcases the delicious flavours of Seoul. Stop buy these new branches to try out some brand new dishes too like Bacon and Garlic Mari and Bulgogi Sambap.

School Food: Shop No. 453, Level 4, MOKO, 193 Prince Edward Road West, Mong Kok, Kowloon; Shop 3226, 3/F, Phase 1, Tuen Mun Town Plaza, 1 Tuen Shing Street, Tuen Mun, New Territories. See all other School Food locations in Hong Kong here, www.facebook.com/schoolfoodhk

Atelier Vivanda
Fans of two Michelin star Chef Akrame Benallal will be pleased to know that he’s now launched a more affordable French cafe right next to his renowned restaurant on Ship Street. Atelier Vivander is a contemporary French bistro with a beautiful yet relaxing interior. Expect high quality ingredients in distinctly Parisian sharing dishes and hearty mains, such as Duck Leg Terrine with Vinegar and Baby Onions, 30 months aged Pata Negra Bellota Pure Origins Iberian and 24 months aged Old Comté. 

Atelier Vivanda, G/F, 9A Ship Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, www.ateliervivanda.com.hk

Jamie’s Italian TST
Beloved British chef, Jamie Oliver, is expanding his restaurant empire in Hong Kong with the launch of another Jamie’s Italian in TST. Expect the same reliably tasty, simple Italian fare in a laid-back yet cool environment. 

Jamie’s Italian, 4/F, Harbour City, Shop 412, Ocean Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, www.jamieoliver.com/italian/hongkong

Hotshot
Repulse Bay is the place to be this summer, especially with the opening of super cool new resto, Hotshot. Brought to us by the people behind Bibo, Hotshot is a casual skate and surf style diner, serving up classic American comfort food by the beach. With a relaxed, California beach shack vibe, delicious milkshakes and a fresh summer menu, we couldn’t think of a better reason to hit The Pulse!

Hotshot, G/F, Shop 114-115, The Pulse, Repulse Bay, Hong Kong, www.hotshot.hk

Ethos
Located on Hill Road in Kennedy Town, Ethos is a lifestyle concept with a keen focus on aesthetics, creativity and craftsmanship. The cool setting is filled with art work and houses chic home decor and apparel for you to buy. If you’re more interested in grabbing a bite to eat though, expect the same standard of presentation with their simple, easy cafe dishes. A great place for a coffee…

Ethos, 93/97/99 Hill Road, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong, www.ethosstores.com

KOKON
Love sushi? Then you’ve got to try Kokon! This quaint and quirky Japanese restaurant has recently relocated from TST to Kwun Tong. The space is slightly bigger, offering more space for the vintage-esque furnishings and for plenty more hungry customers. Expect delicious and creative sushi rolls (could it be the best in Hong Kong?!) and fun desserts.

KOKON, shop B, 1/F, Phase 4, Kwun Tong Industrial Centre, No. 436-446 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon (Kwun Tong MTR Station Exit 4), www.facebook.com/kokon1010

NEW MENUS AND PROMOTIONS

Flight of Fancy
Sip on artisan French beers paired with mussels and frites at French Window Brasserie and Bar with their special tasting flight menu, available through the end of June. They’ve teamed up with Kronenbourg 1664 to prepare this special menu, which features mussels in two different styles paired with two fantastic French beers. The scrumptious combo is available for $268, for lunch or dinner.

French Window Brasserie and Bar, 3101, Podium Level 3, ifc mall, Central, Hong Kong, 2393 3812, www.miradining.com/french-window

Scrumptious Steak Sides
In the mood for meat? La Vache! is offering a range of new items on their menu this summer, from specialty cocktails to new desserts with a Parisian twist, and of course, their famed Entrecôtes! Pair your hefty cut of steak with a refreshing and chic cocktail, such as the cooling Piscine ($98), or a generous glass of French sparkling wine served over ice with a sprig of mint. When it’s time to feed the sweet tooth, take advantage of seasonal summer fruits in the restaurants new Cherry Clafoutis ($98) custard and the classic Peach Melba ($98) with plump peaches and raspberry sauce.

La Vache!, 48 Peel St, Central, Hong Kong, 2880 0248, www.lavache.com.hk

Summer at Metropolitain
The French takeover continues with all new offerings from Metropolitain, one of our favourite places to be whisked off to the City of Love! Dig into their new Beef Carpaccio with Rocket Salad and Parmesan Flakes ($118), featuring thin slices of raw beef topped with a rocket salad and Parmesan flakes. The French White Asparagus Salad with Ossau Iraty Cheese & Grapefruit ($128) has us dreaming of the French countryside, with grilled white asparagus, slices of pink grapefruit and ossau iraty flakes (a French sheeps milk cheese from Pays Basque). If you want to stay ultra-light, order the Seabass Ceviche with Lime & Nyon Olive Oil ($88) – fresh raw seabass marinated in citrus juices with lime, Nyon Olive Oil, dill and coriander.

Metropolitain, G/F, 46 High street, Sai Ying Pun, 6271 6102, www.french-creations.com/metropolitain

Fish & Meat 
We can always count on Fish & Meat for a scrumptious and satisfying meal, and we can’t wait to pop by to check out their summer specials. With a focus on quality local ingredients, the menu at Fish & Meat is updated daily, reflecting the freshest handpicked ingredients. This summer, expect to see beautiful zucchini flowers and purple artichokes – sounds enticing!

Fish & Meat, 1 & 2/F, 32 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2565 6788, www.fishandmeat.hk

Beauty-lover’s Tea 
Mark your diaries for next month, mamas! Aberdeen Street Social and NARS are teaming up to host the perfect British summer afternoon tea, available all through the month of June. This unique collaboration sees pastry chef Jessica Wu using NARS latest limited edition of neon and nude cosmetics as inspiration for an all-British menu of scones, eclairs, gold truffle lollipops, finger sandwiches and more. Priced at $288 for two, the afternoon tea set is accompanied by a selection of world-class teas, coffees and one of Aberdeen’s signature cakes.

Aberdeen Street Social, PMQ, JPC G/Floor, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong (entrance at Hollywood Road intersection of Aberdeen Street), 2866 0300, www.aberdeenstreetsocial.hk

Rain Rain, Come Again
There’s a reason to cheer up when the next typhoon comes pouring in… 1/2 priced wines at Chôm Chôm! Launching a creative “Wet Weather Wine Promotion”, our favourite Vietnamese joint is making the most of monsoon season with a fabulous offer for guests to enjoy a glass of wine while waiting out the rain. Chôm Chôm’s wine list offers a range of reds handpicked to stand up to Asian ingredients, along with a selection of paler pink and white wines that can help temper the spice of some of their specialty dishes.

Chôm Chôm, 58 Peel Street, Soho, Central, Hong Kong, 2810 0850, www.chomchom.hk

Family-Style Feast 
Chef Stefano Rossi is keeping busy at popular Italian eatery Pirata with all-new light and summery dishes that can be enjoyed family-style. The new seasonal lunch, brunch and a la carte menus feature a selection of delicious seafood such as sea bass, octopus, lobster and crab. Dig into the tastes of summer with the Tuscanian seabass carpaccio (280) or the home-made passion fruit vinaigrette ice cream. Pirata also plenty of vegetarian options, so bring along the whole meal for a family-style Italian feast.

Pirata, 29/30F, 239 Hennessy Rd, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, www.pirata.hk

Getting Ritzy at the Ritz
Savour Sunday brunch in style this summer at the Ritz-Carlton, with a special Sunday brunch in collaboration with Dom Pérignon. Enjoy a complimentary flow of champagne from the world-renowned Dom Pérignon at Ozone while you savour delectable treats from Chef Rafael Gil and soak in spectacular views of the harbour. You’ll feel on top of the world (literally!) as you wine and dine to your heart’s content.

Ritz-Carlton, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2263 2080, www.ritzcarlton.com