Lei Garden Restaurant Review, Hong Kong

Lei Garden is a well respected restaurant group with locations in Hong Kong, Singapore, China, and Macau. They opened location18 in Shanghai in 2010. We visited their location in the upscale IFC mall in Hong Kong for dinner in late 2008. This location earned one star in the 2009 Michelin guide but lost it in 2010.

In the summer of 2010 we dined at the one Michelin starred ‘mother location in Wanchai. This location is a long walk from the Wan chai MTR station and is located in the first floor of an office building. We also have a review of Lei Garden Beijing.

Other Hong Kong Reviews: 2010 Hong Kong Mini Restaurant Reviews, Lung King Heen, Lei Garden, Yung Kee, Chuen Kee Seafood, Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao, Conrad Nicolini’s Sunday Brunch Buffet, Harbourside Buffet.

Lei Garden specializes in traditional Cantonese Chinese food, and created XO sauce back in 1981. They have a very extensive menu with some dishes hitting US$375.

Decor, Vibe – Chinese Fine dining. Lei Garden IFC has a clean, modern, elegant decor with nice hanging dividers between tables. Mostly well dressed locals, business folks in their 30′s to 50′s were dining.  The Wanchai location is a large open room with retro circular lamps, velvety seats, modern Asian art, and seafood tanks by the entrance. Both locations easily surpass the decor of US Chinese restaurants.

Menu Pictures

Lei Garden has some specials that are on the Chinese only circular table menu. It was disconcerting that some items on their regular menu were not available or needed advanced ordering.

Lei Garden Full Image Set

Picks:

Braised Shark’s Fin with shredded Chicken in brown sauce (HK$198, HK$7.7 – US$1) had excellent flavor and was very smooth. This was the best version on our 2008 trip. We intentionally order only the cheapest ones on the menu.

Soup of the day – Chicken soup with Chinese grass aka Hakka vegetables (HK$68 half pot) was a very good long boiled soup that came with a plate full of soup contents. The unique vegetables were coconuty and possessed a buttery flavor.

Barbecued Delicacies Combo (HK$98 Small) had small portion of barbecued pork and roast goose. The pork was on the sweet side but very delicious although Lung King Heens is better. The goose was good, but had tons of bones and little meat.

A 2010 combo had Roast Pork that was very good with crispy skin and just a thin layer of fat.

Jellyfish (HK$78) was brownish in color, and bathed in a vinegar soy sauce. This was a new type of food that we have not previously encountered. The waiters stated that this was a natural color of the jellyfish cannot do two dyes. In any case it was very crunchy and fresh.

Lotus root (HK $38) had several fresh slices of crunchy lotus root with sesame seeds in a light dressing.

Crispy Pigeon (HK$98) was 2 small squabs with very crispy skin and tender meat. Much better than ones we have in the US.

Steamed Chicken (HK$130) was super flavorful, tender, and very tasty. Highly recommended.

Deep-fried King grab deshelled (HK$168 each) with stir fried sprouts was very good, crunchy, and artery clogging. We got two orders which was a bit too much. The crab meat was fresh and as they say in Chinese, sweet.

Salt and pepper mantis prawn or Li Niu Ha (HK$298) was a dish that we were looking forward to after having the a great version in Sai Kung. Lei Garden’s version was more deep-fried and possessed of spicy kick that really wasn’t necessary. We got a very large prawn that was full of roe, something the locals love, but we could do without. The purity of fresh prawn isn’t shown off with this cooking style. Next time we will have to go back to Sai Kung.

Fish Special (HK$298) was a light fish and came on a bed of snap peas. Good quantity and very good cooking style.

Deep Fried Chinese Fritter with syrup (HK$28) was deep fried to crunchy perfection and drizzled with honey. A delicious dessert.

Double boiled Birds Nest with Coconut Juice (HK$198) was great. Heavy coconut flavor and smooth tender birds nest.

Homemade Almond Sweetener (HK $22) dessert soup had some strong almond flavors and was very smooth and rich. They had mentioned that they grinded the almonds in-house.

Sweet dumplings with sesame filling (HK $18 for 3) were excellent and hot out of the kitchen. They possessed a tender texture and had a nice peanut crumble applied to the top.

OK:

Sauteed Gai Lan (HK$98) were pretty standard issue vegetables. Fresh and cooked correctly.

Roast duck (HK $82) was a solid and a very large dish for just half a duck. This dish could have been juicier and a little more tender.

Pans:

Daquiri (HK$28) was pretty watery and tasteless. We tried it because it was so cheap.

Lei Garden had very good service, making us wish we would have this level of service in a Chinese restaurant back in the US. We easily added to our orders, had tea refilled, dishes cleared. In 2010 our service  started well, but deteriorated as the place got busier.

We have no reservations recommending Lei Garden and would come back if we were in town, which we did in 2010. There is a lot on the menu that we would want to explore. The atmosphere was relaxed, professional, and clearly Hong Kong fine dining. 10% service charge.

Check out our other Hong Kong Reviews: Lung King Heen, Lei Garden, Yung Kee, Conrad Nicolini’s Sunday Brunch Buffet, Chuen Kee Seafood, Harbourside Buffet, and Hong Kong mini reviews.

Also at:

Wanchai Lei Garden Restaurant
1/F., CNT Tower, 338 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel.NO. : (852) 2892 0333

Tsim Sha Tsui Lei Garden Restaurant
B-2, Houston Centre, Tsimshatsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong （MAP）
Tel.NO. : (852) 2722 1636

Mong Kok Lei Garden Restaurant
Address : 121 Sai Yee Street, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong （MAP）
Tel.NO. : (852) 2392 5184

North Point Lei Garden Restaurant
Address : Lei Garden Restaurant, North Point.（MAP）
Tel. No.: (852) 2806 0008

West Kowloon Lei Garden Restaurant
Address : Shop Nos. 2068-70, Second Level, Elements, No.1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel.NO. ：(852) 2196 8133

Kwun Tong Lei Garden Restaurant
Address : Shop No. L5-8 on Level 5, APM Millennium City 5, 418 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong（MAP）
Tel.NO. ：(852) 2365 3238

Shatin Lei Garden Restaurant
Address : 6/F., New Town Plaza, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong （MAP）
Tel.NO. : (852) 2698 9111

Telford Plaza Lei Garden Restaurant
Address : Shop F2, 2/F, Telford Plaza,Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong
Tel.NO. :(852) 2331 3306

$25 Dining Certificate for $5

Lei Garden Overall Rating: (Super 3.5)

Come Back?

Food Rating:	(Super)
Service Rating:	(Very Good)
Atmosphere Rating:	(Excellent)
Value Rating:	(Good)

Guide: 0 = poor, 1 = Below/Average, 2 = Good, 2.5 = Very Good, 3 = Excellent , 4 = Extraordinary

Alcohol:	Full Bar
Attire:	Dressy
Hours:	Mon-Sat 1130am-3pm, 6-1130pm, Sun 11am-3pm, 6-1130pm
Parking:	Paid Valet
Reservations:	Yes
Prices:	HK$22 - HK$2888