When I got back from Hong Kong (the trip I took with my mom), people would ask me about the food and whether it was like Monterey Park. I would immediately say no, but for the most part I could tell most did not believe me. There is something different about food in Hong Kong, but I have to say that San Gabriel Valley really provides an array of Asian cuisine and it comes close…yet Hong Kong is still better. Even Taro didn’t quite believe me and I was quite sure that dim sum overseas surpassed restaurants close to home. The closest I have come to finding a stellar dim sum place was Triumphal Palace, now known as Lunasia Chinese Cuisine, in Alhambra (which I have not gone to since the name change). There are no carts and you order off a menu; the food seems to taste fresher and the quality is just that notch more. So I had to show Taro that Hong Kong is a place to eat and to get great dim sum.
I figured the best place to go was the dim sum restaurant my mom took me to. I had to dig back in my brain and trace the steps – literally, the steps from the hotel my mom and I stayed at and recalling the landmarks because that is how I find my way around sometimes – and I also used the power of the internet. By some magic, I was able to recall nearly everything – One Peking and the way there. However, I could not recall the name of the restaurant so Taro and I went to every single one and I poked my head out of the elevator. However, I then realized the restaurant changed! Isn’t that so typical of an Asian restaurant? One minute it is…oh, let’s say, Triumphal Palace, and the next it is…Lunasia! Despite the name change, we decided to try the restaurant (which was on the same floor as the one my mom and I went to) anyways.
The view from Prince Restaurant is great because you can see the bay, the buildings on Hong Kong Island, and the cargo ships and boats that pass by. You can witness the start of the day and the busy city life of Hong Kong. This is just one aspect of Prince Restaurant that stands out. The most important element, though, is their food. The dim sum was nothing short of superb; everything was just so fresh and cooked perfectly. Both Taro and I thought the har gow, sui mai, char sui bao (barbeque pork in a steamed bun), beef cheung fun (rice noodle rolls) and fried lo bak goh (turnip) were one of the best that we have had – and really just that notch above the rest.
I was bummed that I did not have room for don tot (egg custard tart). Regardless, we both thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Prince Restaurant and hopefully, when we return back to Hong Kong, it will still be there…or perhaps a restaurant equal to it.
While we were in Japan, we constantly saw Mos Burger and I asked Taro if the hamburgers in Japan are good. He commented yes, but at the same time, he had not tried a burger for over ten years. So of course I was curious to try it – Japan’s chain version of a fast food joint – but we just didn’t get a chance to since we were either constantly running around and having a meal with family or we were just stuffed beyond belief. I was sad that a burger was within my reach, but missed out on the opportunity…until we discovered that Hong Kong also had Mos Burger! We actually stumbled upon it the first night we were there at Mong Kok in a gigantic shopping plaza. I promised Taro that if we went all the way to the top and walked down, we could enjoy some burgers together.
Taro ordered the Fresh Burger while I decided to stick with the Mos Burger. The burgers have a very distinct taste, unlike any that I have tried before. There is definitely a Japanese twist to it, especially with what appeared to be bolognese sauce. The burger was satisfying, but smaller than a typical American burger. We almost considered getting another one, but decided that we should instead enjoy street food if we were hungry later.
It turned out we had Mos Burger again the next day just because the menu is pretty extensive. We were at Sha Tin this time and after hours of shopping, Taro just wanted the satisfaction of a burger. He ordered a Sakusaku Chicken Burger and initially, I wasn’t going to get anything until I saw a man eating an Unagi Rice Burger next to me. I love unagi so I just had to try it. There were pieces of unagi and seaweed sandwiched in between two rice “buns.” I have to admit, it was pretty tasty, resembling a giant rice ball. Taro described the Sakusaku Chicken Burger as light and crispy with a piece of dark chicken. If we are in Asia again anytime soon, we definitely will swing by Mos Burger to try a different burger.
Mos Burger has inspired Taro to think outside of the box when it comes to making hamburgers. Who knows what he may come up with at our next barbeque. But for now, we will miss Mos, Mos, Mos (the slogan I came up with).
Mos Burger (left) and Fresh Burger (right):
Unagi Rice Burger and Sakusaku Chicken Burger:
A sightseeing attraction that Taro had not seen before was the giant Tian Tan Buddha in Hong Kong. When I saw this with my mom a few years ago, I thought it was quite memorable. It is the world’s largest outdoor bronze Buddha, weighing over 250 tons. In order to reach it, you have to climb 268 stairs, which, in the middle of the summer when I came with my mom, is quite a trek up in immense humidity and sweat. Luckily, the weather was manageable and even cool when Taro and I visited it. The first time I came, I had to take a dreaded bus that went through the winds and turns of the mountainside. By the time I reached Po Lin Monastery, I was carsick and had no interest in the vegetarian lunch offered there. However, the cable car to Ngong Ping was finally fixed and this was the method we took to the village.
The cable car is such an easy ride – 25 minutes – and gives you a view of South China Sea, the city including Hong Kong International Airport, the mountainous terrain of Lantau Island, a view of the statue, and a 360 degree view of Ngong Ping Plateau. We chose to ride the crystal cabin cable car, which has a glass bottom. It wasn’t too bad when we were over water – since the bottom itself had a bluish tint – but once we were over land, I could feel my stomach drop a little bit. Luckily, it didn’t feel like we were too high, plus I was pretty distracted snapping away photos.
Ngong Ping Village has changed so much since I last visited. The shops are busier and there were more visitors and tourists in general. And despite it being foggy initially, it cleared up and we had a great view of the Tian Tan Buddha. In my opinion, it still is a magnificient sight to see, especially as you roll over the hilltops in the cable car and it just sits in the distance. The walk up the stairs was not as difficult this time – I wasn’t drenched in sweat – and we were able to enjoy the beauty, surroundings, and the serenity that the Buddha is suppose to invoke.
Afterward we headed over to Po Lin Monastery and this time, I was able to have the vegetarian lunch. To be honest, I had a vision of what this luncheon would include – the chanting of monks, sitting on the floor with a bowl and chopsticks, and a monk handing over a bowl of rice and me accepting it with two hands. Taro’s vision was that we would be under a canopy of green flora with a view of the hills. Sadly, neither one was true; instead, we were sitting in a restaurant. However, there was an abundance of food (photography was not allowed) and we enjoyed soup, tofu, bok choy, and other vegetables.
Even though it was my second time visiting, it was a great experience sharing a first time Buddha visit with Taro. And this time around, I had a camera that could handle the magnitude of the Tian Tan Buddha.
The view of the Buddha, covered in a layer of fog, from the cable car:
There were a couple fascinating things in Ngong Ping Village. First, everyone was buying cotton candy because they were swirled so large that it was bigger than your head! Second, Taro saw a monk sitting/meditating outside a coffee shop. I love the photo.
Po Lin Monastery:
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