Confusion: Putting Plant-Based Food on the Map for Vegans and Meat-Eaters Alike

Newly opened in Sheung Wan, Confusion serves up homemade and hearty plant-based meals, sure to please both vegans and meat-eaters!

District: Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Cuisine: Plant-based Asian and Western
How much: Mains range between $75 and $145
Must Order: Hedgehog Mushroom Karage
The Best For: A quick and healthy lunch
Sassy Tip: Ordering a platter and want to switch things up? The helpful staff will be more than happy to accommodate requests and swap out items for you, plus the lunch menu changes every week, so be sure to go back and try out new offerings.

With our offices situated in the Sheung Wan area, we’re always on the lookout for new local spots to try. And with lunchtimes taken very seriously in the Sassy office (discussions on what to have start at around 10am, daily), news of a new lunch option spreads like wild fire. Found on Jervois Street, we weren’t just drawn to the newly opened Confusion due to its close proximity to our office (although it does help!), but we were keen to try out its unique take on Asian and Western favourites, using only plant-based ingredients.

Helmed by Lisa Terauchi-D’Rozario, Confusion’s food is globally inspired, with everything you could possibly want featuring on the menu, from wraps and burgers, to Indian platters, spring rolls and 1,000 layer tofu. 100% vegan, dairy free, egg free, cruelty free, and as waste free and sustainable as possible, we were eager to test out some of the delicious sounding offerings.

For those that think that vegan food is all salads and raw food, think again. Confusion is making a plant-based diet appealing and accessible, with its range of healthy, yet hearty lunch offerings that will please even the most stead-fast carnivores. Skimming the menu upon arrival, we were immediately drawn to the mention of hedgehog mushrooms. These flavour-packed, meaty-textured mushrooms can be found at Confusion in the form of the Tandoori Hedgehog Mushroom Quesadilla, with Salsa and Guacamole ($80), and the Hedgehog Mushroom Karage ($75). Both plates were the perfect example of how plant-based dishes can be comforting and full of flavour. With the meaty texture of the mushrooms in the quesadilla, this could easily have been mistaken for pulled pork or chicken, and coupled with the melted vegan cheese, guac and salsa, many meat-eaters may be hard pushed to spot the difference. The Karage was the show-stopper for us. Traditionally a Japanese technique for frying chicken, the mushrooms here took the place of the protein, but did nothing to compromise the dish. The outer coating was thick, crunchy and well-seasoned, with the mushroom stepping up to the plate and also delivering on the flavor front – this dish could go head to head with many of the fried chicken offerings in the city and come out on top.

From the bigger plates on offer, we also couldn’t resist Confusion’s take on the Beyond Burger ($145). The patty was grilled and served on a toasted hand-crafted Rye Sourdough bun with Purple Onion, Heirloom Tomato, Dijon, Fermented Sauerkraut, Fermented Smoked Paprika Ketchup, Garlic Vegan Mayo and Vegan Cheddar Cheese, served with Tofu Fries. Many that have tried the Beyond Burger patties before will know that in appearance, texture and taste, it delivers, and in Confusion’s take, it’s toppings only worked to emphasis the bold flavours. The buns are provided by Mayse Artisan Bakery, based in Tao Po, and though the vegan Latvian bread looked a little dry, it was far from it, with the rye adding a good depth of flavour to the bun.

Confusion also serve six different plant-based wraps, which can be ordered with a soup or salad for an extra $10. And if you happen to drop by post-lunch, the restaurant also offers two tempting sweet treats, along with coffees and a range of teas by Oteas available. If you’re taking away, we were also more than happy to hear that all packaging used is biodegradable, and you’re also more than welcome to bring your own container!

Putting plant-based food on the map for vegans and meat-eaters alike, Confusion is a place that is accessible for all. As a meat-eater myself, though making a conscious effort to cut down on animal produce, I truly enjoyed everything on offer, the message it stands for, and the heart that goes into everything it does. It is restaurants like this that are opening the door and showing us all how easy it can be to eat less meat and animal produce, without feeling like you’re missing out on anything. A message we can definitely get behind.

Confusion, G/F, 103, Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, www.confusion.hk