Boss Cheung, MBChB student and self-proclaimed food connoisseur, takes us on a tour of some his favourite local restaurants and cafes.
Classic Hong Kong dishes
Let’s begin on Buccleuch Street at Tong Pak Fu, an Asian desserts and street food cafe situated just a few minutes’ walk from the main library – providing you a good excuse to get away from studying and tuck into a traditional Hong Kong classic. Growing up with parents from Hong Kong who worked in the food industry, I was surrounded with Cantonese culture with a heavy emphasis on food. Hence, being in an environment which emulated a traditional Hong Kong cha chaan teng really brought back childhood memories and a nostalgia for a Cantonese classic.
My visit to Tong Pak Fu was made with a few friends for a relaxing lunch after a hectic morning of lectures and meetings. After skimming through their extensive menu which ranges from a savoury bolo bao (pineapple bun) to their iconic milk and tofu puddings, I made a beeline for my personal favourite – douhua or tofu pudding. Douhua is a traditional Chinese dish dating all the way back to the Han dynasty and throughout its long 2000-year history, the recipe has been adapted in many ways from sweet to savoury depending on the taste of the region.
Tong Pak Fu likes to take a more modern approach to the humble tofu pudding by adding a medley of toppings like sweet red beans, tapioca pearls and even a whole caramel pudding. It elevates the simple silken tofu with brown sugar ginger syrup into a full-bodied meal. Out of their extensive menu, I went for their SST which consisted of tofu pudding topped with sweet red beans, glutinous rice balls, brown sugar boba pearls, taro balls and mashed taro all for the price of £9.80 – which I wouldn’t say is bad for a decently filling meal in Edinburgh!
Just 10 minutes after ordering, a bowl of pure comfort was placed in front of me and after one bite it reminded me exactly of the many times I’ve had tofu pudding in my life. The tofu was soft and slightly sweet, accompanied by a molasses like and spiced syrup but what really made the dish unique compared to a traditional pudding was the toppings. The taro added to the beautifully custard-like texture of the dish whilst adding hints of vanilla and sweet potato, the red beans added a deep nuttiness and the boba pearls created a stark contrast to add diversity to the texture. I would say that the modern rendition of tofu pudding is a nice contrast to the traditional variety yet keeps the core elements with the toppings enhancing the dish rather than retracting away from it. Overall, I would highly recommend checking out Tong Pak Fu for not just a quick sweet treat but as a gateway into exploring a culture with rich history.
Stockbridge charm
Moving to the other side of town, we find ourselves in Stockbridge, a charming historic district of Edinburgh located north of the city centre. The perfect day to experience the area was a Sunday afternoon in March where the warmer weather matches perfectly with a nice lunch but also with a stroll through the Sunday market. One Sunday afternoon, me and a few friends stumbled upon S&B Brunch Bar, better known as Sip and Bark Brunch Bar.
As the name suggests, this cozy cafe is friendly for dogs big and small with even an elaborate menu for your little furry friends! For us humans – they offered a refined menu ranging from their iconic melting dipping toasties to their unique take on an eggs benedict, which is on a croffle. Although the croffle sounded good – seeing the table behind me with a toastie oozing with cheese, I settled on their beef and mustard mayo brioche toastie.
Whilst waiting we even got a little preview at their doggie offerings, with the dog next to us receiving a paw-print type patty. This was my first time in an establishment that allowed dogs and a menu specifically catered towards them and I found that the staff’s hospitality didn’t just reach us but to the many dogs in the space.
After a short wait, the melting toastie was placed in front of me, a soft yet crunchy exterior filled with a savoury medley of roasted beef, cheese and mustard mayo blended together to offer a very satisfying bite and cheese pull. Overall, a very satisfying brunch in the heart of Stockbridge – especially if you’re accompanied by a furry friend.
New town pizza
If somewhere more modern with glimpses of history throughout is more your vibe look no further than Edinburgh’s New Town. Just behind Princes Street, you’ll find George Street which hosts some of Edinburgh’s best shops and stops for food – including Edinburgh’s own branch of Paesano Pizza!
This Glasgow staple recently landed in Edinburgh and started off with a bang as it took part in Edinburgh’s Eat Out March. Eat Out March is an initiative run in-coordination with many local restaurants and eateries to provide a discounted menu or a set menu to encourage eating out locally and to aid our desolate wallets after the Christmas period. I decided to give my wallet a break and try Paesano Pizza during their deal as it was only £10 for any of their pizza’s including any of their toppings.
And what better way to test the vibe and ambiance of a restaurant than taking a cheeky wee date. After simply booking a time slot online for 1pm and selecting the Eat Out Edinburgh Deal the day before – all we had to do when we arrived was mention our reservation and the deal was already put into place on our order!
From the outside, the restaurant seemed quite calm and quiet but as soon as our server took us further back the space opened up into a large area complete with an open kitchen where we could see the pizza ovens and the chefs preparing our pizzas. The ambiance was a very chill and relaxed especially with their open kitchen concept, with the tables ranging from large picnic style tables to tables for just two.
Moving onto their menu which ranged from an Italian classic with a Neapolitan to their monthly specials like garlic, cream and burrata, I chose their Tuscan fennel sausage. My date chose the classic Neapolitan. The staff there were brilliant: there was no need to rush to order, and I felt like I could be at ease with my date and that we could take time with it.
The first thing I noticed was that these pizzas were massive – the crust of the pizza was actually hanging off the edges of the plate. We were both shocked at the massive portion size, but it made for the perfect amount to take bites from and continue our conversation. For my pizza, it was a thin based crust slathered with a base of their tomato sauce, topped with the perfect amount of fior di latte mozzarella and basil and finally their signature Tuscan fennel sausage. Although my date’s pizza was a classic Neapolitan – there was nothing simple about it as it allowed the brightness of Italian tomatoes and indulgently creamy mozzarella to shine through as there was no distraction from any other toppings. Paesano Pizza gets a high recommendation from me as it wasn’t only the great value for money for such a satisfying pizza, but the atmosphere brought around by the restaurant’s set-up and staff.
Gelato treats
If you know me well, then you know a meal is not complete without dessert and when you’re out and about near Princes Street, there’s only one place that has captured both my attention and the money in my wallet time and time again: Basement Gelato on Queensferry Street. I have been a loyal customer since my first sundae here in September 2024! For £6.50, you can get a sundae with three scoops of a different (or the same) flavour, with one topping, one sauce and you cannot forget the dollop of whipped cream on top.
This indulgent pot of gelato is everything you want on a hot summer’s day or even as a pick me up during a long working week. Hence, after a long hour of GP placement in Stockbridge, I made a dash for Basement Gelato as I saw they had a sticky toffee pudding flavour. So, there I was – standing in front of the counter seeing all the flavours they had on offer from the classic milk to the intriguing condensed milk and cherry flavour. But I already had a game plan in mind and that included my all-time favourite brown butter ice cream as my first scoop, cereal milk and Oreo as my second layer and finally the limited-edition guest I was most looking forwards to – the sticky toffee pudding.
They drizzled chocolate sauce and crumbled Oreos between each and every layer of gelato, making this simple three scoop cup into an indulgent treat that I could almost eat every day. Finally, the sundae is completed with the signature dollop of whipped cream – providing a light texture and taste compared to the dense and deep complexity of the gelato. The sticky toffee pudding gelato had pieces of treacle cake embedded throughout as well as toffee swirls to give you that unmistakable flavour, while the cereal milk and Oreo gelato gives you that nostalgic taste of drinking the milk that was left after eating a bowl of cereal. And last but not least, brown butter gelato, my all-time favourite flavour as it elevates your classic vanilla by adding in notes of a caramelised nuttiness to an extremely creamy vanilla base. Without a doubt, Basement Gelato is a must-visit especially if you find yourself craving a sweet treat or a post-dinner palate cleanser.
Sunday lunch at Bruntsfield
Montpelier is a bar and brasserie established three decades ago and very much a local favourite for Sunday lunch. As we entered, we were met with a very open plan restaurant with a lot of lighting letting in the sun and creating a homely community vibe.
Although we went on a very busy day, we were quickly seated and given an extensive and intriguing menu. Included in their menu is an all-day set menu which included three courses for £23.50 which was quite enticing. However, my eyes locked in on one sentence: “Apple Pie French Toast”. My anticipation during our short wait really built up and as our meals approached the table, a grin started to grow on my face as I saw the two pieces of French toast covered in an apple pie filling, shortbread crumbs and whipped cream.
The apple pie filling had that soft yet subtle bite to its texture alongside its sweet brown sugar and cinnamon syrup – these really complemented the soft brioche and whipped cream and overall, it did emulate a warm apple pie but in French toast form. I would recommend Montpeliers if you’re looking for a solid lunch place with a great local community.
