Lei Garden Restaurant (Central) — Restaurant in Hong Kong Island

Around 2010, Lei Garden opened its branches on the mainland, and at that time, its cuisine, environment, and service were truly impressive, representing the pinnacle of Cantonese fine dining. However, over the years, it has gradually declined.

Having not visited Hong Kong in a long time, I wanted to try a Michelin-starred restaurant but was deterred by the need to book in advance. Instead, I decided to walk into this branch, popular among Central’s office workers. The ambiance feels somewhat dated, as do the utensils, but at least the seating isn’t too cramped.

The service is relatively attentive, and the 10% service charge feels justifiable. Since I had already had dim sum in the morning, I opted for the set menu, priced at HKD 480 per person, excluding the service charge.

The dishes, unfortunately, felt perfunctory, lacking in colour, aroma, and taste. In particular, the braised abalone with goose web seemed to be pre-made.

The first course, deep-fried glutinous rice chicken, was overly greasy. The abalone in the abalone goose web dish had a slightly fishy taste. As for the steak, it was thinly sliced and overly marinated, with too much cornstarch, which ruined the texture.

Oh, and one more thing—all the dishes were quite salty.

American $$ Around 2010, Lei Garden opened its branches in mainland China, and back then, the food, ambiance, and service were absolutely stunning, truly representing the best of Cantonese fine dining. But over the years, it has gradually gone downhill.

Since I hadn’t been to Hong Kong in a long time, I thought about trying a Michelin-starred restaurant, but the need to book in advance made me reconsider. Instead, I decided to walk into this branch, popular among office workers in Central. The decor felt a bit outdated, and the tableware was worn, though the seating wasn’t too cramped, which was a plus.

The service was fairly attentive, and the 10% service charge seemed reasonable. Since I had already had dim sum in the morning, I chose the set menu, priced at 480 HKD per person, not including the service charge.

Unfortunately, the food felt rushed and uninspired, lacking in color, aroma, and flavor. The braised abalone with goose web, in particular, seemed like a pre-made dish.

The first course, deep-fried glutinous rice chicken, was greasy and heavy. The abalone in the abalone and goose web dish had a slight fishy smell. The steak was thin, overly marinated, and had too much cornstarch, which completely ruined the texture.

Oh, and one more thing—all the dishes were...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Lei Garden located in IFC Mall in Hong Kong, and I must say the food was so good.

The menu at Lei Garden offers a wide variety of Cantonese and Chinese dishes, each prepared with incredible skill and attention to detail. From the succulent Peking Duck to the flavorful dim sum, every dish was a testament to the chef's expertise.

While the food at Lei Garden was exceptional, I must mention that the beer selection was quite limited. I was hoping for a more extensive variety to complement my meal. However, the staff was helpful in suggesting alternative beverage options.

One thing to note is that Lei Garden can get quite busy, especially during peak hours. This popularity is a testament to the restaurant's reputation and the quality of its food. However, it is worth mentioning that there might be a wait time to enter. Nevertheless, the attentive staff did their best to accommodate guests efficiently and make the waiting experience as comfortable as possible.

Despite the limited beer selection and the possibility of a wait time, the overall dining experience at Lei Garden was exceptional. The food alone is reason enough to visit this restaurant. The flavors, presentation, and attention to detail in each dish are truly remarkable. The staff's attentiveness and willingness to assist further enhanced the dining experience.

If you are a fan of Cantonese cuisine and appreciate exceptional food, Lei Garden in IFC Mall is a must-visit. Just be prepared for the possibility of a wait time and consider exploring alternative beverage options if you are...

I must recommend you all not go to a restaurant in want has been one of the worst experiences for me. I am a big believer in not eating Shark Fin as evidence shows that Shark's are an endangered species and that the way people kill them are very cruel.

You might be thinking how this relates to my experience in Lei Garden, but it does. I went to eat there yesterday with my family and the manager, who I believe her name is Connie, gave me a dish and told me that it was noodles.

You are now probably thinking, how would the manager know that I am against eating Shark Fin? I have been to the restaurant quite a few times and my mother (who ordered the dish and knows I am against eating Sharks) and the manager are fully aware that I don't eat it, however, the manager, Connie, felt the need to lie to me as she knows that Shark Fin is very expensive and she wants me to pay more money for the meal.

I am from abroad and go back to Hong Kong once in a while and Lei Garden was a restaurant that I would go to whenever I go back to Hong Kong, but the fact that the manager has to lie just to earn a little more profit is absolutely horrific.

I can promise you people that this is not a lie, and that Lei Garden is an absolute scam. English isn't my first language so I might have not explained the situation quite well, but the restaurant wants to earn more money so they trick you into getting more expensive dishes, as the manager Connie tricked me by telling me what I was eating was noodles, where in fact it was...