Tiny Urban Kitchen

Exploring Food from Boston to Hong Kong and Beyond

  • 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
  • ×
    • Wakaran Hong Kong
      Wakaran Wan Chai
    • Godenya Hong Kong
      Godenya Hong Kong (revisited)
    • The Chairman Hong Kong
      The Chairman Hong Kong (1 Michelin Star)
    • Hanu Wan Chai Hong Kong
      Hanu (Korean Beef) Wan Chai
    • Always Joy Hong Kong
      Always Joy Hong Kong
    • Michael Chiarelli Ottimo Yountville California
      Bottega + Ottimo Yountville
    • Ciccio Yountville California
      Ciccio Yountville
    • Charter Oak St. Helena Napa Valley California
      Charter Oak St. Helena Napa Valley California
    • Cole’s Chop House Napa California
      Cole's Chop House Napa California
    • Compline Restaurant Napa California
      Compline Restaurant + Wine Shop Napa
    • Napa, California
      Thomas Keller's La Calenda: A Tribute {Now Closed}
    • Ad Hoc Thomas Keller Brunch Yountville California
      Thomas Keller Ad Hoc + Addendum + Bouchon Bakery
    Home » Restaurant

    Mercato by Jean Georges Hong Kong { Mercato Hong Kong }

    Published: Oct 31, 2018 by Jennifer Che

    Mercato by Jean Georges Hong Kong

    Mercato Hong Kong

    Mercato means market in Italian.

    Mercato is also the name of Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's wildly successful Italian restaurant in Lan Kwai Fong (Central). The restaurant embodies the heart and soul of a traditional market in Italy --  seasonal ingredients, fresh produce, artisanal products, and a sense of community. The menus reflect Jean-Georges's cooking philosophy: executing a lighter style that avoids heavy meat-stock and cream-based sauces, but focuses more on vegetable and fruit essences, light broths, and herbal vinaigrettes.

    The first location opened in Shanghai in 2012. The second location opened in Hong Kong in 2016. A third one has opened up in Guangzhou, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's planning additional ones.

    I've visited Mercato Hong Kong twice now and I've loved it both times. The food is excellent (up there with the best Italian in Hong Kong, which is a high standard!). The atmosphere is warm and relaxed. I like how a lot of the dishes feel reasonably healthy and light, yet they are still packed with so much flavor.

    Here's a look at some dishes we've tried.Mercato by Jean Georges Hong Kong Mercato Hong Kong
    I loved this vibrant green salad made with kale, fresh peas, mint, and a poached egg. The mint added a lovely refreshing zip to the salad.
    Mercato by Jean Georges Hong Kong Mercato Hong Kong
    This is the dish that made me fall in love with the restaurant. The Warm Seafood Salad [HKD 218] is phenomenal. Various types of lightly poached seafood (squid, clams, shrimp, etc) tossed with avocado, lemon, parsley, and olive oil. It's simple in some ways, but so easy to do poorly. The seafood texture here was outstanding, and the balance of flavors was perfect. It reminded me of the only other seafood salad I've ever had of this calibre - the one from New York's famously impossible-to-get-into Rao's (I ate at their other location in Las Vegas).

    Definitely one of my favorite dishes at Mercato.
    Mercato by Jean Georges Hong Kong
    Arancini, deep fried "risotto" balls.
    Mercato by Jean Georges Hong Kong Mercato Hong Kong
    They have a pretty serious wood burning Italian oven which they use to make all their pizzas. The pizza dough is made in house with Italian semolina flour, and the pizza has quite a thin, chewy crust.
    Mercato by Jean Georges Hong Kong Mercato Hong Kong
    Pretty decent underbelly char.
    Mercato by Jean Georges Hong Kong Mercato Hong Kong
    Here's a fun pizza: black truffle, three cheese, and a farm egg (HKD 318).
    Mercato by Jean Georges Hong Kong Mercato Hong Kong
    The house made pastas are also delicious. Pictured: capellini with shrimp and chili in an aglio e olio sauce topped with fresh herbs. I love the freshness from the herbs.
    Mercato by Jean Georges Hong Kong
    Prosciutto-wrapped pork loin with glazed mushroom and sage[HKD 348] was very good. The pork was still a bit pink in the middle, which made it super juicy.
    Mercato by Jean Georges Hong Kong Mercato Hong Kong Mercato by Jean Georges Hong Kong Mercato Hong Kong
    The restaurant is also open for lunch and brunch. We once went during weekend brunch and ordered a lovely fried chicken sandwich, which was quite good. They offer a nice weekly set lunch (two courses, HKD 228; three courses HKD 278) which seems to be a pretty good value. Choose an appetizer, main, and optionally sides and desserts. I've never been there for lunch, but if I worked close by I would totally consider it.
    Mercado by Jean Georges Hong Kong | Mercato Hong Kong

    Mercato Hong Kong - General Thoughts

    Despite the intense competition in Hong Kong from many excellent Italian restaurants, I can see why this place still continues to do so well. The food is excellent and the restaurant is really well-run. I really like how the dishes do not rely as much on rich, meaty ingredients, but instead make use of fresh vegetables and lots of herbs to provide flavor. Many of the dishes are actually quite simple, yet they shine because they use high quality ingredients and are executed with finesse.

    The pizzas are quite good and the pastas are great. What's not to love?

    All in all, I really like Mercato and would happily come back again (and again).

    Mercato Hong Kong
    8/F,California Tower
    No.32D' Aguilar Street
    Central, Hong Kong

    This is the tenth post in the updated #50Postsin50Days - Take 2 Challenge. Other posts in this series will be added to the bottom of the original post.

    More Restaurant

    • Forbidden Duck Causeway Bay
      Forbidden Duck Causeway Bay
    • Kunming China
      Kardia Cafe Kunming China 從心開始
    • 凹糟管 Aozao Restaurant
      Aozao Guan 凹糟館 - Modern Yunnan Cuisine in Kunming, China
    • chocolate
      La Dame de Pic - Paris France

    Recent Posts

    • Wakaran Wan Chai June 15, 2025
    • Godenya Hong Kong (revisited) June 12, 2025
    • The Chairman Hong Kong (1 Michelin Star) June 6, 2025
    • Hanu (Korean Beef) Wan Chai June 2, 2025
    • Always Joy Hong Kong May 29, 2025
    • Bottega + Ottimo Yountville May 14, 2025
    • Ciccio Yountville May 11, 2025
    • Charter Oak St. Helena Napa Valley California May 8, 2025

    Trackbacks

    1. 50 Posts in 50 Days - Take 2! Exploring Hong Kong in 2018 - Tiny Urban Kitchen says:
      November 7, 2018 at 11:53 am

      […] Bhavan (Indian) Mott32 (Peking duck) ICHU (Peruvian) Tsukiji Yamataka Seafood Market (Sushi) Mercato Hong Kong (Italian) Tsukado Nojo (Japanese beauty hot pot) Santorini Hong Kong (Greek) Day Trip to Tai O […]

      Log in to Reply
    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 →

    logo
    Food Advertisements by

    Explore

    • Recipe
    • Restaurant
    • US Travel
    • World Travel

    Popular Posts

    • Mandalay San Francisco
      Mandalay San Francisco (Burmese Food)
    • Boulettes Larder Ferry Building San Francisco
      Boulette Larder (Ferry Building) San Francisco
    • Bodega SF California (Vietnamese)
      Bodega SF (Modern Vietnamese)
    • Tselog Daly City California
      Tselogs (Filipino food) Daly City California

    Recipes

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

    Recently Traveled

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

    Support Us

    Support Tiny Urban Kitchen by making purchases on Amazon through our affiliate link:

    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 © 2024 Tiny Urban Kitchen