Spanish Food is experiencing a resurgence in order of interest, and although I haven’t tried all openings ranging from modernised so-called Spanish tapas to the overseas imported brands, I have gotten the chance to eat at the more established places multiple times over lately. Excuse the photos as it is very dark inside here, but despite the spades of openings and some are trying to reinvent the wheel - I still firmly believe that Ole makes one of the better tasting Spanish foods in Hong Kong. If only the Paella and Salted Baked fish were as good as the Tapas and Raciones dishes...
Potato Salad and Olives with EVOO -
Provided here by default..
Bread is served in all styles of Spanish Cuisines -
They are intricately linked.
Red Sangria -
I personally don’t drink Sangria with my meals, as it is more of a party drink.
But it is approachable and always well accepted. The one here was fine tonight at least. ~ 7/10
Grilled Green Asparagus with Romesco Sauce and Iberico Ham bits – $60
This was nicely done. Can’t be faulted. ~ 8/10
5J Iberico de Bellota – $110
Hand sliced and quite decent, just not as oily nor meaty tasty as I had experienced elsewhere. This is not bad to be fair. ~ 6.9/10
Tortilla Espanola – $35
I like the version here as it is eggy, with properly baked potatoes and it’s soft and warm. ~ 7/10
Baby Anchovies Fritters – $70
Nicely done and so traditional. ~ 8/10
Morcilla on Bread & Chorizo Paste - $55
This has quite a smoky paprika taste but is sadly not available on the current menu.
Please bring it back! ~ 7/10
Baby Squids Stuffed with Shrimps & Almonds in Squid Ink Sauce – $80
This is one of the must-order tapas here, but you can also order a bigger Raciones size still. It has real seafood squid ink taste and the prawn and almond stuffing is usually decent, depending on visit. ~ 9/10
Jamon Croquetas – $60
These are ok and I like the Jamon ham version than the Salted Cod Fish version which is too diluted in taste. Could be quenelled better though! ~ 7/10
Gambas al Ajillo – $65
Another one of the must orders here, as it comes in a bubbly garlic and olive oil with burnt garlic. A lot of shops make a weak and mild version and what’s the point? Here you want to dip the bread into that hot oil. It’s decadently good. ~ 10/10
Lubina a la Sal, Seabass Baked in Rock Salt – $460
Had high hopes for this but it turned out not to be. The fish was overly-baked cooked, but a staff said this dish is hard to perfect each time and usually by the time it’s ready it squeals out with steam to make a sound!
After Deboning, this is one of the 2 Plates included in the $460 -
The portion is huge and decent. The dish was lacking some salt and seasoning or herbs tonight, it was a bit dense. One diner has had this same dish here before and experienced better on other nights… Let’s give it benefit of the doubts ~ 6/10
Cochinillo Sergovian Roasted Suckling Pig - $280
This is and still is one of the best Spanish roasted Suckling Pigs in Hong Kong, the skin is re-basted with the pig oil and it usually has crispy skin and flavourful tender meat. On this occasion, the meat taste was weaker, but we found you needed to swirl the meat around the plate to absorb back up more the jus. The skin also wasn’t as wafer thin crispy than before but still ok. ~ 7/10
Paella Mariscos – $420
Seafood Paella, seemed a bit too soft and lacking crustacean and shellfish essence, it was definitely one of the other disappointments. It could do with more Saffron and Seafood essence. We had a tremendously better version at Fadango (but the tapas and selections aren’t too good there), and Boqueria HK had a better tasting version too if they could just make it more crustacean-like orange and having more saffron flavour.. 5/10
Churros with Chocolate – $80
The Hot Chocolate was as expected outside of Spain given as a tiny dip only, rather than as a real Drinking Chocolate as it should in most parts of Spain. The churros were quite slender, althoughoverly fried to be hard-ish. ~ 6/10
There are a lot of disappointing Spanish places in town, some of them try to attempt running before they have learned to walk and they offter the . But these new openings could potentially be a turn-around for Spanish Cuisine in HK. But if everyone is re-inventing the wheel and borrowing on the concept of any small appetizers as being a Tapa, I also believe that Cantonese Dim Sums are also so Tapas like too... Therefore, should I start doing Chinese Tapas as an alternative as Spanish Cuisine? Let's go to Lung King Heen for tapas tomorrow.. To me, Tapas are only Tapas when they still retain a Spanish spirit. Just like Stuzzichini remain Italian, Dim Sums still taste Cantonese.
Price: HKD $500 Per Person
Ease of Access: 3/5 (Hidden and Up in the Hills. Better check GPS.)
Food: ♕♕♕ 1/2 - ♕♕♕♕♕
Opening Hours -
Open until 2am to 3am usually.
Address: 中環雪廠街24-30號順豪商業大廈1樓
1/F, Shun Ho Tower, 24-30 Ice House Street,, Central
Ph: 2523 8624
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