Lin Heung Lau Tsim Sha Tsui 蓮香樓 尖沙咀店 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

S and his family are back in town for two weeks. Unfortunately, with a lot on both my work and personal schedule, I only had a handful of dates I could meet up with him during that 14-day span. Thankfully, my good friend from high school was more than accommodating, and we managed to coordinate our plans with ease.

I decided to take him to Lin Heung Lau (蓮香樓) in Tsim Sha Tsui, a place I have never gone for dinner before.

According to social media, Lin Heung Lau has become a real hotspot during World Cup month. But it seems like that business was strong even beyond the hype. In fact, the place was surprisingly bustling on a Monday night, which was really great to see.

Roast goose triple plate (燒鵝三拼) — S spotted this on a poster and it got both of us drooling a little.

To our pleasant surprise, the roast goose, char siu, and roast pork belly were every bit as good as advertised. The goose was juicy and incredibly meaty. I also really liked the barbecued pork. Just the right balance of fat and meat, perfectly charred, and finished with a lovely honey glaze on the outside. I was impressed.

Mini boiled winter melon soup (迷你冬瓜盅) — Our server came by a couple of times to recommend their winter melon soup, so to prevent her from pitching it to us a third time, we happily ordered one.

As always, it was a lovely, refreshing summer soup. The portion was also perfect for two people.

Baked tapioca pudding with lotus seed paste (蓮蓉西米焗布甸) — No meal at Lin Heung Lau would be complete without a sweet ending. And their signature baked tapioca pudding with lotus seed paste didn’t disappoint. S and I happily shared one together, and it was one of the best baked tapioca puddings I’ve had in years. In fact, I don’t think many Chinese restaurants still make this anymore.

The dinner ended up being a long one. We talked almost nonstop for three hours. It was really nice to hear that two of his three kids are now in university, and that their family is enjoying life in North America. I couldn’t be happier for my dear friend.

Food Rating: 6.7/10

Price: $$$

Address: 1/F-2/F, Cheung Lee Commercial Building, 25 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Tsim Sha Tsui

Tel: +852 2320-1318

Opening Hours: Open 24 hours daily