• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Tiny Urban Kitchen
  • About Me
  • Travel
  • Recipes
  • Michelin
  • Subscribe
  • Taiwanese
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About Me
  • Travel
  • Recipes
  • Michelin
  • Subscribe
  • Taiwanese
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About Me
    • Travel
    • Recipes
    • Michelin
    • Subscribe
    • Taiwanese
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » World Travel

    Arbor Hong Kong

    Published: May 25, 2022 by Jennifer Che

    Arbor Hong Kong

    How does one celebrate after an arduous three-week quarantine in a hotel?

    Bryan and I flew back to Hong Kong after spending close to three months outside of Hong Kong. At that point, it had been 1.5 years since we had seen our families in the U.S. Bryan’s sister had pushed back her wedding (originally planned for 2020) back a whole year. We decided to fly to the US to attend the wedding, despite knowing we would need to quarantine upon returning to Hong Kong, who was (and is still!) pursuing a dynamic zero Covid policy.

    Three weeks in a hotel room is tough, but we are thankful that we were able to quarantine together. After 3 weeks, it was so freeing to finally be able to walk around Hong Kong, and even venture out to eat at restaurants.

    We were ”released” on the morning of December 23rd, just two days before Christmas. On Christmas day, we visited Arbor for the first time and enjoyed their special Christmas meal.

    We absolutely loved our meal there. The food was elegant, exquisitely executed, and just very, very good in so many different ways. It’s hard to believe we waited this long to try it. Chef-owner Eric Räty, who hails from Finland, is expressing one of my favorite styles of cuisines: Japanese ingredients, French technique, and a Nordic focus on bringing out the flavors of natural ingredients.

    Little did we know that Omicron was lurking around the corner, and in just a few weeks the open life of enjoying dinners at restaurants would stop completely for many, many months. We’re so thankful we had the opportunity to enjoy a few really nice dinners out in Hong Kong before the multi-month period of restrictions that followed.

    Bread + Small Bites

    Arbor Hong Kong
    Arbor Hong Kong
    brioche w/ mentaiko chili butter
    Arbor Hong Kong
    Arbor Hong Kong
    We began with Krug Grand Cuvee (champagne) paired with a crispy tart topped with sushi rice, an egg yolk, spring onion, and caviar. Certainly reminded us of sushi, yet it was so surprising, creative, and different. Loved the different textures and flavors all in that one bite.
    Arbor Hong Kong
    Shima aji (horse mackeral), tartare and three “dollops” of horseradish cream, sweet bread cream, and crème fraîche cream. On the side, a few pieces of thinly sliced pickled cucumber.
    Arbor Hong Kong
    Smoked king crab, fukuoka fruit tomato, and apple vinegar jelly.
    Arbor Hong Kong
    Chestnut and foie gras "cappuccino" was a velvety chestnut soup topped with a toasted buckwheat hojicha crispy rice.
    Arbor Hong Kong
    On the side was a foie gras mousse with a quince jelly on the bottom and a thin layer of apple jelly on top. The flavors were deep, complex, and the two parts worked really well together. This was one of my favorite courses.
    Arbor Hong Kong
    "Sansho sausage" - a tiny sansho and jalapeño pepper sausage served with apple and celeriac pickle and daikon.

    Seafood

    Arbor Hong Kong
    Seared scallop, parsnip puree, and what they call a “chinese artichoke”, a curious white, spiral root-like vegetable that reminded me a bit of sunchokes in its flavor.
    Arbor Hong Kong
    Monkfish with smoked hay cream, Perigord black truffles, and cauliflower

    Signature Dish: Wagyu Beef

    Arbor Hong Kong
    Their signature dish consists A4 Wagyu Beef served with an intensely flavored curry and beef jus. On top, sliced black truffles and garlic chips on the side. Although at first we weren’t sure if we would want curry, this is not anything like normal curry. The deep intense beef jus pairs beautifully with the curry they use, and the black truffles and garlic chip accentuate the overall dish very nicely.

    Palate Cleanser + Dessert

    Arbor Hong Kong
    Our first dessert: "Snowball" - yuzu marshmallow, yogurt, Japanese “Calpis”, pomelo, orange, and crispy rice.
    Arbor Hong Kong
    Digestif of very old armagnac.
    Arbor Hong Kong
    Arbor Hong Kong
    Freshly baked lemon madeleines
    Arbor Hong Kong
    Sweet potato ”noodles” with silver leaf and vanilla + chocolate “crispies”
    Arbor Hong Kong
    Gingerbread "Alfajore"

    Christmas at Arbor in Hong Kong

    Arbor Hong Kong
    Arbor Hong Kong

    The last time we saw our families in-person during Christmas was 2019. In 2020 the whole world was in lockdown. We were very, very thankful that we could finally see our families in the fall of 2021, even though we could not stay in the US all the way to Christmas. Still, Bryan and I were very thankful that we were able to be together, both for the 3-week quarantine and for the holidays. We are also especially grateful to all the people who worked so hard on a holiday in order to allow us to enjoy such a nice meal.

    The two Michelin stars that this restaurant holds is well deserved.

    Can’t wait to go back.

    Arbor Hong Kong
    25/F, H Queen's, 80 Queen's Road
    Central, Hong Kong

    More World Travel

    • La Salita Valencia Spain
    • El Poblet Valencia Spain -2 Michelin Stars
    • MercatBar by Quique Dacosta - Valencia
    • La Pepica Waterfront Paella - Valencia

    Recent Posts

    • La Salita Valencia Spain January 16, 2023
    • El Poblet Valencia Spain -2 Michelin Stars December 29, 2022
    • MercatBar by Quique Dacosta - Valencia December 9, 2022
    • La Pepica Waterfront Paella - Valencia December 5, 2022
    • Llisa Negra Valencia Spain December 1, 2022
    • Central Bar by Ricard Camarena - Valencia Spain November 29, 2022
    • Casa Ripoll Valencia - Beachside Paella November 27, 2022
    • Valencia Spain Trip Report - Itinerary November 23, 2022

    Primary Sidebar

    Jennifer Che Tiny Urban Kitchen
    Jennifer Che Tiny Urban Kitchen

    Hi, my name's Jen and welcome to my cooking, eating, and travel site! I am an expat who moved from Boston to Hong Kong 5 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. Feel free to explore away, maybe starting with the Recipe Index or one of the travel pages! I hope you enjoy this site!

    More about me →

    Explore

    • Recipe
    • Restaurant
    • US Travel
    • World Travel

    Popular Posts

    • Llisa Negra Valencia Spain
    • Central Bar by Ricard Camarena - Valencia Spain
    • Casa Ripoll Valencia - Beachside Paella
    • Valencia Spain Trip Report - Itinerary

    Recipes

    • Appetizer
    • Snacks
    • Meat
    • Vegetables
    • Soup
    • Salad
    • Seafood
    • Noodles

    Recently Traveled

    • Hong Kong
    • France
    • Belgium
    • Boston
    • California
    • United Kingdom
    • Germany
    • Spain

    Support Us

    Recognition


    Featured on the front page
    of the FOOD Section: 2015

    Best Food Blog Awards:
    Restaurant & Dining 2012

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • My Equipment
    • In the Press
    • Project Food Blog
    • Privacy Policy

    Eating Guides!

    Eating & Travel Guides
    Trip Reports
    "Kawaii" (Cute Foods)
    Around the World

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Mail
    • RSS Feed

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Shop at Amazon

    Copyright © 2022 Tiny Urban Kitchen