Rating: ★★★★☆

Address: G/F, Nexxus Building,41 Connaught Road Central, Central 中環干諾道中41號盈置大廈地下

Telephone: 2808 1086

moimoi.hk/

I am most pleased to find that the standard of Vietnamese food has been going up in Hong Kong these few years. Since I wrote about Peter Cuong’s Chôm Chôm in 2013 (review here), a number of outstanding Vietnamese joints have opened up in town, including Pho Bar, La Bo La, and, my personal favourite, Brass Spoon.

Moi Moi by Luke Nguyen is the first restaurant opened by Luke Nguyen, a Vietnamese-Australian celebrity chef who is also a cookbook author and TV host, who is also known for adding a contemporary spin on traditional Vietnamese cuisine. In collaboration with ZS Hospitality Group, the restaurant serves up a range of comforting, creative dishes that are inspired by Vietnamese street foods. “Moi” means “welcome” in Vietnamese, and we indeed find the bright, laid back decor and the informative staff very welcoming during our visit.

Pho is only served at lunch but not at dinner, so my fellow foodie S and I order some appetisers and mains to share.

(1) The chargrilled Hokkaido scallop ($68 each) offers a range of delightful flavours. The green mango gives a fruity touch and the garlic butter adds a nice tang.

(2) These Aunty 5’s rice cakes ($148) are not to be missed! The rice cakes are gorgeously crispy on the outside and nicely chewy on the inside, and go very well with the shredded pork.

(3) The lemongrass Wagyu beef ($148), rolled in  betel leaf and chargrilled, and juicy and tasty, and the rice vermicelli soak up the beef’s delicious flavours.

(4) The caramelized Kurobuta pork belly with 63°C egg ($198), which has been slow braised in young coconut water, is excitingly soft and tender. The sauce is sweet and alluring and the 63°C egg is the icing on the cake.

(5) Save some stomach space for these banana fritters ($98), which are coated with shredded coconut and are wonderfully crispy! They are served with some coconut ice cream which is super refreshing.