Bubble tea shop founder’s Hong Kong food recommendations, from roast goose to fine dining

Po Chen is the founder of vegan bubble tea brand Mother Pearl, launched in 2020. She spoke to Andrew Sun.

When it comes to dining, I place a lot of importance on the environment and service. My husband always says I don’t care about the food, just the atmosphere. I admit that I like to sit comfortably and have a pleasant experience.

Some of my choices for delicious and affordable food include Kin Kao (3 Tai Wong East, Wan Chai. Tel: 2529 3806), which means “eat rice” in Thai. It’s one of my favorite places for authentic, casual Thai cuisine. Conveniently located opposite my Wan Chai shop, this is my go-to spot for a quick lunch.

I like the papaya salad, the whole steamed fish, the garlic cabbage and the fresh coconut water. My kids love the boat noodles.

Embla (11 Upper Station Street, Sheung Wan. Tel: 2559 8508) is an outstanding Nordic restaurant known for its exquisite dishes, exclusive ambience and the innovative cooking of Chef Jim Löfdahl. His attention to detail and hidden location create an aura of exclusivity.

Embla is a sophisticated destination that combines talent, creativity and care to create a unique culinary journey.

Artemis and Apollo (9-11 Moon Street, Wan Chai. Tel: 2818 8681) is our weekend haunt, especially with the kids. They can’t get enough of the lamb chops and pita with hummus.

What I appreciate most is that, even when it’s very busy, they always accommodate us. The team is fantastic, the food is always delicious – definitely a favorite for us.

Roganic (Shop 8, UG/F, Sino Plaza, 255 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay. Tel: 2817 8383 – closing on 15 September due to relocation to a new undisclosed location) has won my heart with its authentic farm-to-table concept and menu.

Although my children are too young for the large dining room, we always have a private space for the multi-course tasting menu. Seeing my children appreciate food preparation is a joy and a valuable lesson in nutrition awareness. Teaching them healthy eating from an early age is vital for our future and the food industry.

For visitors I bring them to Yat Lok (34-38 Stanley Street, Central. Tel: 2524 3882) for lunch. The roast goose is a must in the Hong Kong scene. For dinner we went to Let’s pot (1st Floor, David House, 37-39 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai. Tel: 9130 8899) You can’t visit Hong Kong without trying hotpot.

I lived in New York for more than 10 years and recently returned with my family. The city is still so vibrant and full of energy. I have always loved it Restaurant Daniel (60 East 65th Street, New York. Tel: +1 212 288 0033) and The Bernardine (155 West 51st Street, New York. Tel: +1 212 554 1515).

This time I explored Brooklyn and Aska (47 South 5th Street, Brooklyn, Tel: +1 929 337 6792) is a new Nordic gem that I discovered. It’s really great to see creativity and elegance coming to this neighborhood that has changed so much since I was there 20 years ago.