by Aude
I love dim sum. I do very much. It’s actually one of the first thing I miss when back in France (funny to see how I’m craving foie gras, baguette and cheese when I’m in Hong Kong and how I start dreaming of dim sum, dumplings and Vietnamese pho after spending a few days in France). But I don’t know much about it and pretty much always order the same ones: Xiao Long Bao, Shaomai, Barbecued pork buns. All pork based as you can see. I didn’t even know vegetarian dim-sum was a thing until, I heard of Pure Veggie House, one of Hong Kong’s pioneer vegetarian restaurant (opened in 2007) and most celebrated one.
Not that I am a veggie or plan on being one anytime soon, never say never but at the moment my love for foie gras and rare fillet-mignon is unconditional, but I do love having the option of going veggie if I want to. Some days I feel like eating meat, some days I don’t feel like it. That’s simple. Plus, I’m always in for a new culinary experience. And also know that some of you might be vegetarians and would love to hear about such a place.
The venue isn’t the easiest one to access and you’ll have to go up the hill for its lunchtime dim sum ranked among Hong Kong’s best vegetarian dim sum by CNN Travel. The atmosphere is quite rustic and it can be noisy but hey, it feels authentic for sure! Not to mention I was probably one of the only gweilo in the room.
On the menu today? A very veggie feast. Hope you guys like mushrooms, they are kind of the house signature … lucky me, I absolutely love them!
Kicking off w/ Porcini Mushroom Dumplings(HKD 38). Ok, nothing stounding so far. Actually, found them a little tasteless and felt like dipping them in the sauce was def needed.Netted Spring Rolls (HKD 39) were more of a surprise to me. Full of vegetables and super yummy just as the next dish, the Kale & Porcini Mushroom Griddlecake(HKD 78). God this little thing is addictive! Oupsie, might have had more than my share!
Was very surprised by the Tea Pot Steamed Morel Soup(HKD 168). I was instructed to first opened the pot and eat the vegetables and mushrooms inside. Which I didn’t like. So decided to do it my way and just have the vegetables and mushrooms infused inside the tea-pot and only drink the soup. So tasty, so yummy!
Hong Kong Madame fav: the Spicy Stew Bamboo Pith(HKD 168). Careful, it’s spicy! Like Sichuan spicy if you see what I mean. But it’s good, oh yes it’s good. Didn’t know what to expect with the bamboo pith and actually loved the texture, not too squishy, not too hard, just soft and mellow.
Who says a vegetarian meal can’t be tasty?
Pure Veggie House
3/F, Coda Plaza, 51 Garden Road – Mid-Levels
I love dim sum. I do very much. It’s actually one of the first thing I miss when back in France (funny to see how I’m craving foie gras, baguette and cheese when I’m in Hong Kong and how I start dreaming of dim sum, dumplings and Vietnamese pho after spending a few days in France). But I don’t know much about it and pretty much always order the same ones: Xiao Long Bao, Shaomai, Barbecued pork buns. All pork based as you can see. I didn’t even know vegetarian dim-sum was a thing until, I heard of Pure Veggie House, one of Hong Kong’s pioneer vegetarian restaurant (opened in 2007) and most celebrated one.
Not that I am a veggie or plan on being one anytime soon, never say never but at the moment my love for foie gras and rare fillet-mignon is unconditional, but I do love having the option of going veggie if I want to. Some days I feel like eating meat, some days I don’t feel like it. That’s simple. Plus, I’m always in for a new culinary experience. And also know that some of you might be vegetarians and would love to hear about such a place.
The venue isn’t the easiest one to access and you’ll have to go up the hill for its lunchtime dim sum ranked among Hong Kong’s best vegetarian dim sum by CNN Travel. The atmosphere is quite rustic and it can be noisy but hey, it feels authentic for sure! Not to mention I was probably one of the only gweilo in the room.
On the menu today? A very veggie feast. Hope you guys like mushrooms, they are kind of the house signature … lucky me, I absolutely love them!
Kicking off w/ Porcini Mushroom Dumplings(HKD 38). Ok, nothing stounding so far. Actually, found them a little tasteless and felt like dipping them in the sauce was def needed.Netted Spring Rolls (HKD 39) were more of a surprise to me. Full of vegetables and super yummy just as the next dish, the Kale & Porcini Mushroom Griddlecake(HKD 78). God this little thing is addictive! Oupsie, might have had more than my share!
Was very surprised by the Tea Pot Steamed Morel Soup(HKD 168). I was instructed to first opened the pot and eat the vegetables and mushrooms inside. Which I didn’t like. So decided to do it my way and just have the vegetables and mushrooms infused inside the tea-pot and only drink the soup. So tasty, so yummy!
Hong Kong Madame fav: the Spicy Stew Bamboo Pith(HKD 168). Careful, it’s spicy! Like Sichuan spicy if you see what I mean. But it’s good, oh yes it’s good. Didn’t know what to expect with the bamboo pith and actually loved the texture, not too squishy, not too hard, just soft and mellow.
Who says a vegetarian meal can’t be tasty?
Pure Veggie House
3/F, Coda Plaza, 51 Garden Road – Mid-Levels