Spanish restaurant review: La Paloma in Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
Wonderful pops of flavour at this 'sexy tapas' restaurant
In the heart of Sai Ying Pun is a charmingly colourful Spanish restaurant. Since 2015, La Paloma has been keeping Hong Kongers happy with its tasty, accessible brand of “sexy tapas.” We’re not exactly sure what makes them sexy, but we are sure the food is consistently delicious and affordable. This summer, the team are mixing things up and introducing some new goodies to their menu. We recently had the opportunity to samples these during an evening where founding Chef Willy Trullas Moreno himself was in the kitchen along with Head Chef Jose Antonio Navarro.
Spanish Blue Fin Tuna Explosives ($40 per piece)
Slightly charred, thick slices of tuna were sat atop a crisp popper filled with a tangy spicy mayo-like sauce. These were rich but not overwhelming, and absolutely delicious.
Crispy Baby Prawn Crackers with Crab Salad ($55 per piece)
These crackers were beautiful and not too oily. The creamy, fresh crab salad matched the salty cracker without causing sogginess. While the flavour was wonderful, we found these a bit difficult to eat as the crackers were delicate, like pieces of lace.
Tomato Salad with Homemade Fresh Cheese, Anchovies and Crispy Bread ($168)
Swirls of homemade ricotta were topped with salty anchovies, fresh tomatoes, olive oil and crisp yet chewy bread. All the ingredients were extremely fresh, and each ingredient shone without overpowering the other. This could be a light yet satisfying summer dinner on its own.
Marinated Tuna Tataki, Garlic and Almond Cream, Grapes and Carrot Chips ($188)
The chunks of tuna were very fresh and delicious, and the garlic almond cream and grapes gave this dish a unique and refreshing twist for summer.
Mini Oxtail Tacos, Okra and Smoked Cream ($138)
Surprisingly, these generously topped mini tacos were easy to eat. The smoked cream was addictive and the oxtail was tender, moist and sweetly marinated.
Jason Licker’s Catalan Cream Profiteroles ($45)
This new dessert is named after its creator, Iron Chef Thailand winner Jason Licker who is a friend of La Paloma. Both of the profiteroles were good, but we especially liked the sinful cronut-like one with lemon sauce, cream and a raspberry.
Look out for the new summer menu in two weeks time.
189 Queen's Rd W, Sai Ying Pun, 2291 6161
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