Hong Kong - Al Pasha

Hi Hong Kong! I'm so excited to see you! Let's go eat....Middle Eastern?

Yeah, I know strange choice, but I was with a group of 30 young adults from around South East Asia for an amazing event and this place was chosen by a local.

After multiple, rather squishy elevator rides later, we found ourselves cautiously stepping through the dimly lit entryway of Al Pasha, bewildered by the patterns, the lighting, the sounds! Belly dancer coin sashes, wrapped around the hips of the waiters, nosily chiming away. Are men supposed to wear those things...? We were guided to one long table inside, and two large square seating areas outside, decked out with cushions, making me feel like I was in a harem...

The food came out promptly, I apologise for not correctly and fully naming everything, I was going to sneak away a copy of the menu that was on our tables but naturally, forgot to. I know you all forget to do things when you're socializing with 30 other people!

We started with a lovely fresh arugula salad, with cherry tomatoes, which I absolutely adored, so juicy, and some gorgeous candied walnuts on top. I loved the sweetness it added and the crunch, I love a bit of texture in my food.

Following this we had a selection of pastry parcels, one filled with vegetables (I apologise again for the vagueness), one filled with ox tail and something....which was my favourite and another with chicken (I'm pretty sure anyway). The filo pastry used was so thin, light and crusty, not too oily at all. I also recall the ox tail being oddly sweet, odd, but very nice.

Lamb and chicken kebabs with some sort of pepper....but whatever it was, delicious! Although to be honest since they weren't served on sticks they didn't really seem like kebabs to me...I guess they were probably cooked on the sticks. Shame they couldn't do more with the presentation. However! The chicken and lamb were cooked perfectly and the pepper added so much flavour! Terribly, terribly moorish! The pepper did add some spicyness, but not enough to be burning the mouth (which let me continue to stuff my face until the mains came out...)

I don't remember eating this! However, I do remember everyone around me liked it.

Chicken! The flavours of this reminded me of sweet and sour pork honestly, quite sweet, although without the thick batter you tend to find on sweet and sour pork.

Minced duck, this was one of my favourite dishes of the night, the duck was so flavoursome, there were so many onions and pinenuts in it. Again, texture, texture and flavour! I assumed it was supposed to be eaten with the sesame bread thing on the side there, but it was so lacking in flavour and really bland. I suppose it might compliment the duck, but I ended up just taking my spoon and dunking it into the serving plate and eating straight from that!

At some point in the night, at the point where everyone has their food, their drink, is well fed and flushed red with wine or beer or spirits...or whatever your poison may be, the music turns up.....

And the belly dancers come out to bust a move. It's an absolute hoot to watch them sashay their hips about, their hands making delicate, fluid gestures, with great big smiles on their faces. They circle around the room, trying to pull whoever is game, or has had too much to drink, to join them in the middle of the room and try to pick up a hip shake or two.

As I said prior, it's absolutely hilarious. Especially when the boys get up, don the chiming coins and shake what their momma gave em!

So for a fun night out, whilst it may not have been what I was craving upon first arriving in Hong Kong, with a group of fun friends, Al Pasha is so much fun. The food's pretty awesome too.

Al Pasha

Shop 401, Level 4, K11

18 Hanoi Road

Tsimshatsui

Hong Kong