TaKorea

A new "KoMex" (Korean Mexican) kind of place. Nearly hidden basement joint near the intersection of Wellington St and Pottinger St. Seating limited to 25-30 people or so, and still ironing out wrinkles. Big lunch crowd and staff quick to say food might take some time (staff estimate of 25 - 30 minutes, food showed up in 15). 

Ordered beef tacos, chicken tacos and Kimchi fries with beef. Beef in tacos was well marinated and tender and was accompanied by ample sliced garlic and significant amounts of sliced spicy green chilies on a bed of mixed greens, all of which masked the beef or deadened the flavor. Need some kind of sauce to spruce it up, over reliance on green chilies for strong flavor. Chicken tacos better, consisted of small pieces of Korean Fried Chicken in a sauce, with sliced green chilies and mixed greens. Better, but more chicken would have been welcome for taste and texture. So why am I posting? Well, the Kimchi fries (pictured below) were incredible. Fries perfectly cooked, crisp, and topped with cheese, sour cream, sliced green chilies (notice a pattern?), Korean chili sauce (think bibimbap red sauce), kimchi and with marinated cubes of beef (same flavor as in the beef tacos). Best to see if you can order the fries without the beef or beef without the fries. Both tasty but don't mix well. Ate each separately (moving beef to the side) and was one happy camper.

Cash and Octopus accepted
HKD 100 - HKD 150 per person 
B/F, 55 Wellington Street, Central
中環威靈頓街55號地庫
2362 1999

Djiboutii

Name is not a typo. Newly opened and hidden down a tiny alley off of Landale Street in Wanchai. Intimate, cozy cocktail bar serving some interesting and tasty, interesting cocktails as well as some great food. Run by some amiable Italians. Food menu is small and Mediterranean influenced with some salads, kebab skewers, rotisserie chicken and sides such as grilled haloumi and dips such as hummus/baba ganoush with zaatar flatbread.

Grilled haloumi, "Djiboutii Naan" and mixed grill platter were sampled.  Haloumi grilled perfectly, soft but chewy in texture mixed beautifully with tomato jam and naan bread. Definitely wanted seconds. "Djiboutii Naan" (1st picture) was the same bread as served with the haloumi, but stuffed with a beautifully spiced onion and potato filling. Was finished in minutes. Skewers (second picture) sadly inconsistent (2/3 were good). Beef skewer was overcooked and dry buy fried fish cutlet was fried beautifully, crispy on outside, soft, moist and flavorful on the inside. Chicken, taken from rotisserie, was soft and juicy, with crispy skin. Accompanying salad was crisp with nice dressing. Accompanied by some dips including a sweet tomato sauce and a capsicum dip. Latter was impressive.

 

Cash, Credit Cards accepted (V/MC)
HKD 100 - HKD 200 per person 

G/F., 2A Landale Street, Wan Chai
灣仔蘭杜街2號地下A舖

9449 0777

http://www.djiboutii.squarespace.com/