LE SOLEIL

The Hong Kong outpost of the award-winning San Francisco restaurant makes an instant impression: perched on the hotel’s third floor mezzanine overlooking lush foliage and water fountains, accompanied by the melodies of a live pianist, the ambiance sets the tone for the Vietnamese-European feast that is to come. The newly-updated menu still offers staples such as the steamed rice flour pouches with minced pork and dried shrimp, pan-seared marble goby and beef noodle soup, but the star of the show can only be now ordered off-menu: the baked rice with crab and garlic in Ho Chi Min style is a truly stunning dish—the sizeable, fresh and deliciously meaty Vietnamese live crab is deep-fried and garlic seasoned, injecting the already flavourful rice with a zesty tang. Le Soleil also excels when it comes to the quintessential Vietnamese classic of deep-fried fresh shrimp cake, striking the sweet spot between fluffy, light and meaty. The sweet and sour sauce adds a delicious depth of flavour. The cocktails lack the same oomph, unfortunately, but the Vietnamese style coffee is a foolproof favourite. Service is attentive, patient and knowledgeable, adding to the overall lavish dining experience.