8th December 2021 – (Hong Kong) Hutong, one of Hong Kong’s most iconic Chinese restaurants for nearly two decades under the Aqua Restaurant Group, moves to a new alluring space on the 18th floor of the new H Zentre on Middle Road in TST.
The new restaurant which is located on the penthouse floor of the building offers its famous Northern Chinese cuisine. Diners can enjoy pre-dinner cocktails at its open-air balcony before enjoying their dinner against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s panoramic skyline at night.
Whisked to the penthouse floor, guests step into Hutong’s world of old Peking with intricate handcrafted wood panels and doors, glowing red silk lanterns and the traditional wishing tree. Hutong draws its name from Beijing’s renown but fast disappearing alleys lined with traditional courtyard houses. Guests feel immediately at home and will notice glamorous new details – beautiful hand-carved wood panels bathed in blue and lilac coloured lighting, an infinity wall of glowing Chinese red silk lanterns, and grand handcrafted lanterns with richly coloured ornate silk tassels like those in the Imperial Palace of The Forbidden City. “We wanted to capture a feeling of old Peking and the essence of Hutong which people know and love, but at the same time give it a beautiful fresh makeover with some more contemporary touches,” said David Yeo, founder of Aqua Restaurant Group and designer of Hutong’s new home.
Beautifully-presented new dishes and a bigger contemporary dim sum menu are available for lunch and dinner. Diners can also savour Hutong’s signature dishes such as ‘Red Lantern’ crispy soft-shell crab, thrice-cooked Crispy de-boned lamb ribs and Flaming Peking duck. Watching the chef setting fire to the Peking duck is a feast to the eyes.
Must try Dim Sum dishes include Pickled pepper har gau, seasonal vegetable & peach gum dumpling, steamed cod with black olive dumpling, Ma La Sichuan prawn dumpling. Diners must not miss the Charcoal yu xiang crispy pork dumplings served on a glamorous gold-ridged plate. Don’t be deceived by its black texture, the stuffing which is made of fish and pork has a well-balanced and not-too-salty flavour.
Other notable appetiser includes seared scallop Pi Xian spicy soba noodles with sesame peppercorn sauce. This dish is spicier than usual and it’s not for the faint-hearted. Other delectable new dishes include Wagyu beef stuffed with marinated purple cabbage and sumptuous Seared scallop Pi Xian spicy soba noodles served with sesame peppercorn sauce. Further favourites are the delightfully delicate Okra wrapped in mushroom lace in spicy chilled broth and an impressive sharing bowl of Mandarin fish in salted egg yolk broth with sizzling red and green pepper oil. For dessert, try Hutong’s unique Oolong ice cream and Homemade tofu panna cotta. We definitely recommend the Homemade tofu panna cotta if you must choose one.
The Apothecary Bar
Hutong’s resident mixologist Ryan Cheung helms the new Chinese apothecary bar overseeing the cocktail programme. Expect cocktails to change with the season, while classics can be enjoyed year round. Sip on the signature Comfortably Numb, made with vanilla vodka, lychee liqueur, Sichuan pepper honey and ruby red grapefruit. Dried Sichuan peppers coat the rim of the glass, creating a lip-tingling sensation on that first taste. For the new home, Ryan is presenting an extensive list of new cocktails, many incorporating Chinese botanicals and herbaceous influences. On the list is the spellbinding Lunar Quest crafted with chilli-infused Plantation 3 Stars rum, turmeric, coconut milk, pineapple and ginger topped with an ethereal scented bubble. Another new favourite is The Fortune Teller, presented in a fascinating sphere is made with botanical camomile-infused Two Moons dry gin, Oriental beauty tea, elderflower liqueur and apple.
Hutong, 18F HZentre, 15 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: 3428 8342 | www.hutong.com.hk | FB @hutonghk | IG @hutonghk