Chachawan — Restaurant in Hong Kong Island

My friend and I had wanted to try out Chachawan before the third wave of COVID-19 hit, and finally we got our chance after the social gathering ban was slightly lifted.

One thing I like about trying out different restaurant is that, I got to learn about the food culture in different part of the world. This time it’s about Isaan food. I know what Thai food is like, but this is the first time I heard about Isaan food, and I fell in love with it after having a lunch in Chachawan.

We ordered three dishes to share. Seasonal offer always catches our attention. And that’s why this Seafood Tom Yum Soup Noodles was the first dish we ordered.

The Tom Yum soup base was a legit sour and spicy one, so delicious! And the toppings definitely gave us a nice surprise! The egg was a soft boiled egg with runny egg yolk! There were generous amount of shrimp, crab, squid, and fish balls. The piece of crunch was superb too! The noodles were quite grassy yet sticky though.

We were craving for some meat, and thought a chicken skewer would be nice. And this Gai Yung — chicken thigh marinated for 24 hours in garlic, pepper, coriander and served with jhim jeaw — seemed to be the right choice. However, we were genuinely taken aback when the dish was served. The two chicken thigh pieces were enormous!!! And what fascinated us most was that, these pieces of thick and huge chicken thigh were perfectly grilled with a crispy skin! How amazing is that! The jhim jeaw on the side made a great dressing for the skewer. A surprising, filling and delicious dish.

We almost passed this tasty Kai Jiaw, as we were quite full after the bowl of Tom Yum Soup Noodles and (gigantic) chicken skewer. Luckily we did not, as this dish was a gem. Kai Jiaw — Thai omelet of crab, spring onions and sriracha sauce — was a pancake like omelet stuffed with lots of crab meat. It made a really delicious and filling dish without making you feeling stuffed. Highly recommend this dish to you!

We were too full for dessert this time. Definitely visiting again for more great dishes...

Specializing in the vibrant and raw flavors of the Isaan region in northeastern Thailand, @chachawanhkg offers unique menu and dining experience that is hard to find elsewhere. To complement the distinctive and wholesome Isaan-style dishes, the bar boasts an impressive selection of beers and refreshing Asian-inspired cocktails. Guests can immerse in the lively atmosphere and savor the bold flavors that Chachawan has to offer.

✧ 𝙂𝙖𝙞 𝙔𝙖𝙣𝙜 – 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙞 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙣, $168 (8/10) Tender chicken thighs are infused with intense flavors from the 24-hour marinade before being charred on the grill. The crisp exterior gives way to juicy meat, complemented by the cool and spicy jhim jeaw dipping sauce. Definitely a crowd pleaser that left us craving for more!

✧ 𝙆𝙝𝙖𝙤 𝙋𝙖𝙙 – 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙞 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙗 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙚, $168 (7/10) While it boasts generous portions of crab meat, the overall flavor falls short. Thankfully the sauce comes to the rescue with its bold taste, although caution is advised to avoid making it overly salty.

✧ 𝙋𝙡𝙖 𝙋𝙝𝙖𝙤 𝙂𝙡𝙪𝙖 – 𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙩-𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙨, $328 (7/10) The dish delivers moist and tender fish cooked to perfection. However, the aromatics stuffed inside felt understated, with less potency of lemongrass, pandan and lime than expected. The chili dipping sauce is a flavor bomb though, more than making up for the fish's subtlety.

✧ 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙞 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙠 𝙏𝙚𝙖 𝘽𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨𝙪, $88 (8/10) A heavenly treat! With its intense and luscious Thai milk tea flavor and delightful boba, it's a must-try for any dessert lover!

✧ 𝙄𝙘𝙚-𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙂𝙪𝙩𝙞, $88 (7.5/10) What a tropical delight. With fresh young coconut, it brings a creamy and refreshing flavor. The combination of toasted peanuts and sweet corn adds extra crunch. A perfect one to end the meal.

𝙲𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚜 𝚠𝚎 𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 -

✧ 𝙇𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙨, $98 ✧ 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙖 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙝, $98 ✧ 𝘾𝙤𝙘𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤...

🇭🇰🇹🇭 Chachawan has been on my list for sooo long and i'm truly happy to finally get a table there! personally, i think they strike a fair lunch deal with great flavours, would recommend if you’re hoping to try some authentic northern Thai cuisine 😍

🐷 Sai Krok Isan - Grilled Isaan Sausage HKD98 🐷 The sausages are served as skewers and are so cute to look at! they’re cooked to perfection with a crispy yet chewy exterior and a soft, flavourful meat 🧂

🔥 Khor Moo Yung - Grilled Pork Collar HKD168 🔥 Gotta say, this is a true delight. If you’re a huge meat lover, don’t hesitate to get this full plate of grilled pork neck. The meat is well-seasoned and charred to perfection that keeps the meat tender, moist and juicy! it also pairs fabulously with the dipping sauce, making it easy to be my favourite of this meal 😚

🦀Khao Pad - Wok-fried rice w/ crab meat HKD168 🍚 The portion’s perfect to share between 2 persons. Compared with others, it’s rather unsurprising, but still full of umami. Recommend to add some fish sauce to the rice to bring out the flavours, overall it’s a great dish

🌟 味道Taste: 7.5/10 🌟 抵食 Value: 7.5/10 🌟 氣氛 Ambience: 8/10 🌟 服務 Service: 7.5/10 🌟 再訪...