Lai Yuen Restaurant 荔園流金歲月 Cuisine 1949 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

In the days where video games and smartphones weren't even invented, going to the amusement park (sorry no Disneyland at that time too!) was one of the few ways to get kids excited. When I was little, my dad used to bring me to Lai Yuen (荔園), the only amusement park in town because of its proximity to where we live. 

While Lai Yuen is long gone (opened in 1949 but closed in 1997), someone decided to take over the branding and opened Lai Yuen Restaurant (荔園流金歲月 Cuisine 1949), a Chinese restaurant at D2 Place Two in its name. What a great way to bring back a part of our wonderful past as a tribune to Hong Kong's first-ever theme park!

They have a very spacious venue here that also includes a private dining room. Perfect for birthday parties and special events!

And what would an old-school Chinese restaurant be without an old-school food menu, right?

Stirred noodles with beef briskets (牛腩撈麵) - This was pretty good. The traditional flat noodles were working well with the braised beef briskets. I like this dish that's made a little saucey and that was exactly the case.

Steamed rice rolls with mixed sauces (路邊混醬腸) - I used to eat this a lot with my mom while accompanying her in her grocery shopping at the market. They did it the traditional way by serving the rice rolls on a flat bowl topped with paper. That's how it's done in the market. Very nostalgic.

Pineapple buns with barbecued pork (烏龜菠蘿包) - From here on, the wheels began to fall off. I think they need someone who can really do a Chinese pastry right.

The pineapple buns were supposed to be in a turtle shape but honestly, I couldn't tell. And there's got to be more barbecued pork and sauce there to be considered a barbecued pork bun right?

Deep-fried taro cakes (荔蓉天鵝酥) - This was served on a ferris wheel kind of "container". The kids here love it~

But like the barbecued pork buns, the pastries just weren't done right. And the taro puree was very hard.

Baked pudding with chestnut (甘栗焗布甸) - Something from the good old days. Not many Chinese restaurants do this dessert anymore

The sago pudding wasn't bad and it came with a very nice runny filling of chestnut mousse. I can eat this all day.

This is probably not the best dim sum one could find in Kowloon or even Lai Chi Kok for that matters, but I think I will be back sometime because I love nostalgic stuff.


Food Rating: 3.5/10
Price: $$
Address: Shops 211-216, 2/F D2 Place Two, 15 Cheung Shun Street, Lai Chi Kok, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Lai Chi Kok
Tel: +852 3619-1128