Covid-19 didn’t stop these 7 new Hong Kong restaurants and menu launches in Wan Chai – try fancy avocado toast at Gregoire Michaud’s Bakehouse or Spanish tapas at 22 Ships

Dec 19 , 2020

New tapas dishes at 22 Ships – one of seven new openings and menus on offer in Hong Kong’s thriving Wan Chai neighbourhood. Photo: Handout

Chef Antonio Oviedo’s Michelin-starred background shines through in his new offerings at 22 Ships while Gunpowder – by the owners of legendary Gaylord – presents intriguing Indian street food meets dim sum, or ‘IndiSum’

New openings, new menus and new chefs all combine with established favourites to lend an international buzz to Hong Kong’s busy Wan Chai district this winter. Here’s seven foodie news nuggets you should know about.

22 Ships

The food has always been good at 22 Ships but now, with chef Antonio Oviedo at the helm, it is outstanding. Oviedo presents a blackboard menu of classic Spanish fare that changes daily, elevated to a new level with modern presentation and techniques. Each dish is visually stunning, with the wow factor extending to the taste, highlighting Oviedo’s background in Michelin-starred restaurants.

Favourites included the rusa and sea urchin on toast, a play on a traditional tapas, with potato salad on crispbread dressed with mayonnaise and a generous topping of Hokkaido sea urchin, and ajoblanco and sardines with grapes – a sublime combination. Carabineros prawns, salmorreta paella and the slow-cooked roasted suckling pig are among the flavoursome dishes. The burnt basque cheesecake and made-to-order sangria are both contenders for best in town.

22 Ship Street, Wan Chai, 2555 0722

Gunpowder Indian RestoBar

Colonel’s Scotch eggs featuring spiced lamb and a shot of whisky, served at Gunpowder. Photo: Handout

From the owners of legendary Gaylord comes Gunpowder, serving traditional authentic Indian flavours in a modern, playful way; for example, its tasty IndiSum options, where Indian street food meets dim sum. The signature dish is the Gunpowder chicken – crunchy fried chicken marinated in Gunpowder spice served with Gunpowder dipping sauce. Popular in southern India, the milagai podi (spice powder) is a blend of roasted lentils, chillies, curry leaves and sesame seeds (pair this with a Gunpowder Negroni).