Hong Kong has a long list of internationally praised restaurants with world-class food. The only problem? The prohibitive price tags. Thankfully, some of the city’s fanciest restaurants offer more reasonably priced lunch sets, meaning you can sample the menu without breaking the bank. The are the best fancy restaurants with affordable lunch-sets:
NOBU
One of the most critically acclaimed Japanese restaurants in the city, NOBU is not exactly pocket-friendly — but its lunch options are worth looking into. Expect world-class sashimi, sushi and other Japanese signatures in the premium set lunch, while a bento box features five dishes: sashimi salad; assorted sushi; spring chicken pepper teriyaki; black cod saikyo yaki; and rock shrimp tempura.
How much? Signature bento box, $378; premium set lunch, $658.
2/F, InterContinental Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2313-2323.
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
French celebrity chef Joël Robuchon’s signature restaurant L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon has been around for ten years, and is still going strong. You’ll find modern French cuisine at this three-Michelin-starred spot, but thankfully, not every trip to L’Atelier has to cost an arm and a leg. The restaurant is divided into two areas, L’Atelier and Le Jardin — and the latter offers three choices of set lunches. Even at lunch hour, exquisite dishes await — think sea bream carpaccio with sea urchin (add $30); fine scampi bouillon; semi-cooked Scottish salmon; roasted Iberico pork pluma.
How much? Three courses, $598; four courses, $698; five courses, $858.
Shop 401, 4/F, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central, 2166-9000
Blue Butcher
Steakhouse Blue Butcher is known for its delicious steaks, which are dry-aged in house. Take advantage of its set lunch, featuring a cold starter buffet, dry-aged black angus burger or aged grain-fed USDA rib eye, plus free-flow fries. Leave room for sea salt caramel ice cream or mango and passionfruit sorbet.
How much? $198.
108 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, 2613-9286.
WHISK
Over in Tsim Sha Tsui, WHISK offers a sophisticated surf ‘n’ turf lunch set so you can treat yourself any day of the week. experience. The menu offerings rotate regularly, featuring the likes of Hervey Bay scallops, Australian beef, Yamato pork chops, Chilean sea bass and Hokkaido sea urchin. And for dessert? A selection of Fruit Rouge with raspberry sorbet; chocolate ganache with caramelized banana; or a selection of cheese with homemade marmalade. If you can slack off/sleep the rest of the day, ask about the wine pairing options.
How much? Two courses for $268; Three courses, $318; four courses, $398.
5/F, The Mira Hong Kong, 118 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 6273-3588.
Aberdeen Street Social
British food with modern flair makes Aberdeen Street Social right for just about any occasion — including a classy lunch. A joint venture between restaurateur Yenn Wong and UK celebrity chef Jason Atherton, Aberdeen Street Social stands out with a great-value lunch menu. Starters include ham hock terrine with pickled veg; choose from mains like roast chicken or potato gnocchi with Jerusalem artichoke, served with black truffle and trompette mushrooms.
How much? Two courses, $238; three courses, $288.
G/F, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, 2866-0300.
Amber
Consistently deemed one of the best restaurants in Asia, fine-dining establishment Amber serves up classic French fare with innovative touches. Known for its painstaking attention to detail, the restaurant is helmed by chef Richard Ekkebus. Typically, a meal at the two-Michelin-starred restaurant will set you back over $1,000, but a set lunch menu shows off the best of Amber’s fresh, top-quality produce for a very decent price. For starters, choose from dishes like duck foie gras, wild yellowtail or Amber signature Hokkaido sea urchin (add $260) while mains feature the likes of line-caught whiting steamed with white wine or line-caught renkodai yellow sea bream. Finish up your meal with tempting, fruit-based desserts served with ice cream.
How much? Weekdays: three courses, $598; four courses, $988. Weekend wine lunch: $928 (six courses, including wine pairing).
7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, 15 Queen’s Road Central, 2132-0066.
Seasons by Olivier Elzer
Olivier Elzer used to be executive chef at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon before opening up his own French restaurant, Seasons by Olivier Elzer, at Lee Gardens. If you’re concerned about dozing off in the office in the afternoon after a huge lunch, worry not — the dishes here aren’t too heavy. For lunch, choose from dishes like white asparagus salad or prawn and avocado with lobster jelly and romaine leaves, escargots, and pan-seared salmon.
How much? Three courses, $318; four courses, $398; five courses, $478.
Shop 308, 3/F, Phase 2, Lee Gardens Two, 2-38 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay, 2505-6228.
ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge
Southern Europe and Mediterranean dishes take center stage at ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge, helmed by chef Philippe Orrico. Most dishes, especially the mains, are pretty substantial so you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth. At lunch, choose from a two- or three-course set menu. Starters include traditional pork terrine and 63-degree egg with Comte cheese risotto, and the mains section boasts dishes like oxtail beef parmentier or Atlantic hake served with cauliflower puree. The dessert offerings are tempting: there’s a cheese platter or green tea panna cotta to choose from, among others.
How much? Two courses, $348; three courses, $388.
29/F, 18 On Lan Street, Central, 2174-8100.
Bo Innovation
Serving “X-treme Chinese cuisine,” Bo Innovation is run by the “Demon Chef”, Alvin Leung. Forget typical Chinese fare — everything here is an eccentric take on traditional dishes in ways you have never seen. For example, Bo Innovation’s most famous dish, the molecular xiao long bao, sees broth encapsulated into an egg-yolk-like shape, eaten in a mouthful. The set lunch has dishes like pigeon with shiitake mushroom cake.
How much? Three courses, $480.
60 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, 2850-8371.
