Zozzona (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

Inspired by Tokyo's neighborhood pasta bars, Zozzona is a recently opened Japanese-Italian pasta joint nestled between Jordan and Tsim Sha Tsui that has quickly gained popularity among the younger generation of diners. This modern bistro specializes in fresh, handmade pasta, served in a casual vibe perfect for sharing among larger groups.

Zozzona opens at 5:00pm for dinner service, and I wasted no time getting the first seating to satisfy my craving for handcrafted pasta dishes. Not surprisingly, I was the first to arrive.

The industrial-vibe space blends elements of a Japanese izakaya and an Italian bistro harmoniously. It serves a daily omakase menu as well as an à la carte menu. Interestingly, the starters, like Kagoshima hiramasa crudo and Akami tuna tataki, caught my eye before I even glanced at the pasta dishes.

Pappardelle wagyu beef ragù ($178) — It was a little early for a full dinner (starter + pasta or main), so I faced a dilemma in choosing between a simple pasta and a starter. In the end, I realized that it was inevitable for me to choose a pasta dish while visiting a pasta bar for the first time.

The pappardelle wasn't bad, but it didn't have the same freshness as the handmade pasta from my neighborhood pasta bar, Pici. That said, I did enjoy the generous portion of wagyu beef, the lone bright spot of the dish.

Tiramisu ($78) — After slurping up the flat white tiramisu at Page Common Coffee House less than an hour ago, it was time to check in on another tiramisu. This one was made with a more classic recipe.

Zozzona's tiramisu was supposed to be scooped from a ceramic container onto guests' plate but since I ordered it to go, I had to recreate the scene on my plate. I really enjoyed the larger proportion of creamy mascarpone and rich Marsala sabayon here with a smaller portion of ladyfinger biscuits. It was light, fluffy and full of flavors reminding me of some of the best tiramisu I've tasted on the streets of Rome (There was this place in Rome called Ristorante Alla Rampa that had the perfect "Lift Me Up"). 

Food Rating: 6.3/10

Price: $$$

Address: Flat A, G/F 29-31 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Jordan

Tel: +852 7073-8825

Website: https://www.zozzona.com/

Opening Hours: 5:00pm - 10:00pm daily

Page Common Coffee House (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

While I am not a coffee enthusiast myself, I do my occasional café hopping from time to time and indulgence on desserts has become part of the experience. Last week, I came across a list of the best tiramisu in Hong Kong, where the author praised Page Common Coffee House for its delectable version of the classic Italian dessert. Of course, I couldn’t wait to find out more myself.

Tucked away from the hustle bustle of Jordan/Tsim Sha Tsui district, Page Common Coffee House is a coffee shop hidden on the ground floor of boutique hotel Page 148 (晉致酒店). 

I decided to drop by for a quick treat, not realizing that the coffee shop shares its space with the hotel lobby. Due to the limited real estate, I found it impossible to find a vacant seat on this busy afternoon.

Eventually, I settled at a table right next to the counter for returned trays, plates, and glasses. It wasn’t the most comfortable setting, but I made the best of it. This was when I spotted this afternoon tea set featuring a dessert and a drink for $85 only. Not a bad deal at all.

Matcha latte — A pretty decent start.

Homemade tiramisu — Known for its signature flat white tiramisu, Page Common's version of the Italian classic features a lighter, more creamy mascarpone texture and a delicate cocoa finish. The dessert was well-balanced, soft, and not too heavy.

I didn’t know much about a flat white tiramisu so I went onto the internet to dig a little deeper. Then, I realized it is a modern twist on the classic Italian dessert that incorporates the components of a flat white coffee — typically strong espresso and silky, creamy milk into the mascarpone layers and biscuit soak. Thanks to the use of white chocolate, cold brew coffee, or specially crafted creamy espresso mixtures, this rendition offers a smoother, less bitter flavor profile.

This was evident in its appearance: the tiramisu had a notably whiter color (perhaps no egg yolk?) and a noticeably softer, wobbly texture. While I liked this mouthfeel, I found myself not enjoying the flavors as much due to the lack of complexity in its flavors. The usual eggy taste, sweetness, and bitterness were somewhat absent, making it a more "laid-back" version of the dessert.

I still have one more stop on my gastronomic journey today — an early dinner at Zozzona, a pasta bar gaining serious attention on social media. I’m looking forward to this!

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: $$$

Address: G/F Page 148 Hotel, 148 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Jordan

Tel: +852 3844-8899

Website: https://pagecommon.pagehotels.com/page148-coffeehousehk/

Opening Hours: 8:00am - 6:00pm daily

Daap (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

I am going back to Sheung Wan this afternoon to scratch an itch which has been bothering me for more than a year. Daap, helmed by chef Luke Chan, has been wowing guests with his fusion dishes for a few years now. I had the pleasure of visiting this hidden gem in Sheung wan twice in 2024 but never quite found the time for a return trip in 2025. Today, all the stars are finally aligned.

As usual, I found a quiet corner at the counter table where I can enjoy watching the chef at work.

Roasted chestnut soup — The soup was, once again, silky smooth with a wonderful, delicate chestnut flavor. Its thickness reminded me of a traditional Chinese chestnut sweet soup, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The only part of the soup that didn't quite hit the mark was the pan-fried morel mushrooms, which were slightly on the hard side today.

150-days grain fed M4+ oyster blade steak — My first time having anything other than the chef’s great pasta dish. The steak from Australia was really tender, and meltingly juicy.

I liked the buttery black bean beurre blanc but I thought the black bean could have been a little more pronounced to make it stand out more.

So happy to finally scratch this itch at last. I am taking the afternoon off from work so I have all the time in the world to explore the old streets in SoHo. I heard there have been many exciting changes lately.

Food Rating: 6.4/10

Price: $$$

Address: G/F, Wai Hing Commercial Building, 20 Wing Kut Street, Central, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Sheung Wan

Tel: +852 9680-7456

Website: www.instagram.com/daap.hk/?hl=en

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 3:00pm, 6:00pm - 10:00pm (Tue - Fri), 10:30am - 4:00pm, 6:00pm - 10:00pm (Sat - Sun)