Culture Clash: The latest venture by Hong Kong’s Pirata Group, Chifa is a real clash of cultures. Classic Cantonese dishes have been given a thoroughly modern makeover with Peruvian flavors in a casual space in Central.

Look & Feel: Created by design studio Charlie & Rose, this is a relaxed, cozy space. Or rather, two spaces. The small “Bamboo Room” features a small bar at the entrance, while the bigger “Dumpling Room” has plenty of space for bigger tables. Both are decked out in light wood furnishings, and big windows make for perfect people-watching on Peel Street.

On the Menu: It’s called a dumpling house, so expect lots of dumplings, along with baos, rice and noodles. You’ll vaguely recognize the dishes on offer, but they certainly won’t taste like anything you’ve had before. Start with the turnip cakes and truffle dumplings, both of which burst with unexpectedly rich flavors; the grilled tofu open baos are a nice vegetarian twist on the classic. For something heftier, try the suckling pig or lo mien noodles.

Jeng: The clash of cultures that have created the dishes make this a unique, fun dumpling dishes. It’s a nice break from the run-of-the-mill har gao, char sui bao and sui mai you find everywhere else in Hong Kong.

Not so jeng: Our table was a little small. As soon as we had more than one dish, things got a little cramped.

FYI: Because it’s on Peel Street, this is a popular spot. Limited reservations are available, but your best bet is to show up early to score a table.

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This writeup was based on a complimentary media tasting. The Loop HK doesn’t guarantee/sell restaurant review coverage. See our editorial policy here.