About Me
I am Jen, an expat who moved from Boston to Hong Kong 7 years ago. Born and raised in Ohio to Taiwanese immigrant parents, I am a chemistry nerd, patent attorney by day, blogger by night, church musician on weekends, and food enthusiast always.
I've eaten at over 800 restaurants, developed close to 350 recipes, and have traveled to over 50 cities spanning 20+ countries and 5 continents. Have a look around, and enjoy!
Latest Articles
- Noodles and Dumplings at Hwangsaengga Kalguksu Seoul Korea
Ah, who doesn't love handmade dumplings? Dumplings are showcased front and center at Hwangsaengga Kalguksu, a super famous (Michelin Bib Gourmand) dumpling and noodle shop not too far from Gyeongbokgung Palace. A team of dumpling chefs methodically wrap these HUGE wang mandu (jumbo dumplings) right near the front entrance of the restaurant. You can't miss... - Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup at Tosokchon Samgyetang (土俗村蔘雞湯)
Tosokchon Samgyetang is one of the most famous restaurants in Seoul for traditional Korean ginseng chicken soup, known as "samgyetang" (蔘雞湯). Tosokchon Samgyetang is great for tourists because it's located near Gyeongbokgung Palace. The restaurant itself is also charming, located in a beautiful, large, traditional Korean "hanok" house with wooden beams and multiple rooms. Tourists... - Alla Prima Seoul Korea - 2-Michelin Stars
Alla Prima is the creative brainchild of Chef Kim Jin‑hyuk, a Korean chef who trained in Japan before coming back to Korea, launching his own concept in 2015. His style blends international influences, not only Japanese, but also French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and a lot of his own wild creativity. The resultant tasting menus... - Born and Bred Seoul Korea (Hanwoo beef)
We’d heard a lot about Korea’s famous Han Woo beef. Hardly exported outside of Korea, the beef is - according to some - even better than Wagyu from Japan; yet, it's hard to get, and can only be access mostly within Korea. Our friends highly recommended that we try Born & Bred when they found... - Gyeongbokgung Palace Seoul Korea
Hello cherry blossoms! and Hello Korea! If you're visiting Seoul for the first time (like me!), Gyeongbokgung Palace is a must-see. One of five (!) palaces in the area, Gyeongbokgung Palace is the biggest and (some would argue) the most beautiful. The palace was originally built in 1395 and served as the main royal residence... - A Week in London in Pictures 2025
London. Ah what a luxury to spend a week in this amazing city. It's been years, honestly, since I've been able to enjoy this city a bit more deeply. In the past several years, my time in London was more like this 36-hour trip to London or two separate jaunts during the spring of 2022....
Michelin Stars
Recipes by Category
GLOBETROTTER
I travel A LOT, and I always do extensive research about food before going to a new location. Therefore, if you’re planning on visiting a new place, definitely check out the places I’ve visited and written about in these locations when you’re planning your trip.
United States
I grew up in Ohio (where I ate mostly my mom's cooking - see recipes above!), but spent 20+ years living in Cambridge, a college city right next to Boston. I've spent a lot of time trying food all over the US. There are certain places I visit almost annually, and thus know especially well, such as New York, Las Vegas, and both Northern and Southern California.
Latest US Articles
- Bottega + Ottimo Yountville
- Ciccio Yountville
- Charter Oak St. Helena Napa Valley California
- Cole's Chop House Napa California
- Compline Restaurant + Wine Shop Napa
- Thomas Keller's La Calenda: A Tribute {Now Closed}
- Thomas Keller Ad Hoc + Addendum + Bouchon Bakery
- Mandalay San Francisco (Burmese Food)
- Boulette Larder (Ferry Building) San Francisco
- Bodega SF (Modern Vietnamese)
- Tselogs (Filipino food) Daly City California
- Jen's Top Restaurants to visit in Boston - 2023 Update
See more US travel posts
North / South America
Aside from the US, I did grow up only an hour from Canada, so we would often drive to Windsor for dim sum and Chinese groceries! I've only been to South America (Argentina) once, but it was a fascinating experience!
Asia
I have lived in Hong Kong for the past 5 years and thus have traveled quite a bit around the region (heh, until the pandemic came). Hong Kong and Japan are both magnificent food cities. One could spend a lifetime just exploring those two places alone. Taiwan is the place of my roots, and I have nostalgic memories visiting it with my family. Finally, these past several years I’ve been able to taste my way through numerous cities in Mainland China, as well as explored many locations throughout Southeast Asia.
Latest Hong Kong Articles
- Ta Vie Hong Kong 旅 (3 Michelin Stars)
- Pleka IFC Hong Kong - Italian Japanese fusion
- Po Toi Island and Stanley Hong Kong
- Wakaran Wan Chai
- Godenya Hong Kong (revisited)
- The Chairman Hong Kong (1 Michelin Star)
- Hanu (Korean Beef) Wan Chai
- Always Joy Hong Kong
- Daai Zaak Mira Moon Causeway Bay Hong Kong
- Amber Revisited
- No. 9 SBI Canteen 9號軟庫飯堂 - Softbank Private Kitchen
- Testina Hong Kong
See more Hong Kong travel posts
Europe
I love Europe's rich history, stunning architecture, breathtaking landscapes, and incredible food. There's a sense of familiarity, perhaps because I spent so much time in Boston, a most "European-like" city in the US. Through the years I've had unique opportunities to explore many parts of this continent, both for work and pleasure. I never tire of it.
Latest Europe Articles
- A Week in London in Pictures 2025
- Barrafina London (Spanish Tapas)
- Moro Exmouth Market London
- Bancone London
- Sola Soho London - Theatre Tasting Menu
- Trivet London - 2 Michelin Stars
- Bibi London - Michelin Indian Food
- Planque London: Tasting the Unexpected
- Sunday Brunch at Bala Baya London
- Vienna Austria Trip Report
- Steirereck Vienna Austria
- Meierei im Stadtpark Vienna Austria
See more travel guides!→
Most Popular Posts
Most popular posts is purely based on the number of hits using Google Analytics.
