• 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 » 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

    • chocolate
      La Dame de Pic - Paris France
    • Mono HK
      Mono Hong Kong
    • Five Guys Hong  Kong
      Nostalgic Reminders of Home: Five Guys Hong Kong
    • Divino Restaurant
      Divino Patio Hong Kong

    Recent Posts

    • Les Enfants du Marche Paris March 18, 2023
    • Wong Kee Restaurant 旺記打冷小菜館 March 14, 2023
    • Frenchie Wine Bar (Frenchie Bar à Vins) March 13, 2023
    • Dublin Ireland Trip Report March 12, 2023
    • Palazzo Parigi Milan, Italy March 9, 2023
    • Ricard Camarena Valencia Spain February 28, 2023
    • chez Alain Miam Miam - Best sandwich in Paris France February 15, 2023
    • La Salita Valencia Spain January 16, 2023

    Reader Interactions

    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

    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

    • Les Enfants du Marche Paris
    • Wong Kee Restaurant 旺記打冷小菜館
    • Frenchie Wine Bar (Frenchie Bar à Vins)
    • Ireland
      Dublin Ireland Trip Report

    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