Where to go for ‘real’ Italian, ‘funky’ Japanese in Hong Kong? This design shop CEO knows
Pak-man Lee of Hong Kong design shop Nuovo shares where he enjoys Japanese bites, real Italian dishes and Thai food on the beach
Pak-man Lee is the chief executive and creative director of design shop Nuovo in Hong Kong’s Central neighbourhood. He spoke to Andrew Sun.
I grew up eating a lot of Chinese food because my father, born and raised in Hong Kong, only ate Chinese food. Even when we were in Italy at the Milano Furniture Fair, he needed to have Chinese food almost every day.
For lunch, I often have sushi. I can still work after a bit of rice, fish and seafood, instead of having a food coma. Most days I just grab sushi takeaway from Oliver’s the Delicatessen (Shop 322-328, Landmark Prince’s, 10 Chater Road, Central. Tel: 2810 7710).
I also like Sushi Kami (12/F, 18 On Lan Street, Central. Tel: 2510 0045) for lunch. I usually get the Ginga special (a 12-piece sushi set), which features quite a generous portion.
I go to Spices (G/F, The Arcade, 109 Repulse Bay Road, Repulse Bay. Tel: 2292 2821) a lot. The Southeast Asian dishes are OK, and it is clean-tasting. I like to sit outdoors. It is not about being fancy, but the building itself has a good vibe.
I also love Italian culture and cuisine. I make carbonara more authentically than many Italian restaurants do, using only egg yolk and guanciale, not pancetta. Da Domenico (Guardian House, 32 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai. Tel: 2882 8013) is my top choice for real Italian food. The restaurant charges a lot, but it is worth it.