Samsen (Wan Chai) — Restaurant in Hong Kong Island

IG: eatgosee When restaurants come highly recommended there is not just only a sense of expectation but, also, a bit of foreboding: is this hype justified? Over and over again I see people eulogising about how impressive a restaurant is and very often I find myself wishing that I had never heard the praise because it often ruins the experience. Samson however was everything! To be clear, this is not fancy food. There are four rice dishes and four noodle dishes. This is not because it is breaking any gastronomic ground but simply because it is good food done well turned out quickly and focuses on a few ingredients in a small menu where people get to practice the dish over and over again and therefore it gets better and better. There is a lively, dynamic atmosphere partly due to the long bar-style eating straddling the side of the restaurant on the open kitchen where chefs furiously turn walks and deliver tasty, humble but comforting Thai via dishes. And if you need to know nothing else, know that when you were lining up outside to get in (yes there is a queue to get in here) that they will come to bring you call bass you can stand in the sun, chat with people and drink cold Laos beer while you wait to get into the restaurant. You had me at cold beer. The restaurant is very simple inside. You sit on stools with wooden tables enough are a group of 4 to 6. There is a slight hipster, industrial, devil-may-care indifference decor and atmosphere that is reminiscent of places in East London, trendy Bali and of course Thailand. This is not anathema to other parts of urban Hong Kong. THE FOOD: short story, everything was delicious but the highlights were probably the crab and egg fried rice and the pad thai. The WAGYU BEEF NOODLE SOUP is hearty with a deep beef broth boosted by steaky slabs of beef and meatballs. This is not a pretty dish by but certainly a homely one and the large portion would easily leave a hungry person full! Even better, it is large enough to share. PAD THAI is a staple dish of any Thai restaurant. This one achieved that lovely balance of sweetness, nutty crunch from the peanuts, acidity of fresh lime juice and that’s rich hard to identify favour of fish sauce in the background. It’s a delicious pad thai but not as large a portion as the beef noodle bowl. It is not a large portion easily shared but to be honest you probably would not want to share it anyway! The CRAB EGG FRIED RICE was the most memorably dish! Crab is a subtle sweet ingredient easily dominated by pungent aromatics. There are large pearl-sized morsels of crab throughout the dish, the egg compliments the sweetness of the seafood, the fried rice lends a slight toasted nuttiness that helps round out the dish. You would never want to add soy sauce or any other strong kind of aromatic to this dish as it will just ruin the balance achieved. It is a very large portion and one that you could easily shared among a group of people. It’s a lot of food for one person so definitely a sharing dish. The CRISPY PIG SKIN is reminiscent of crackling and pork scratchings for those of you who know the reference. This was comparatively bland versus the other dishes on the menu. This need something like a flavoured salt or just some salt period. Some spice would lift it like a fried garlic on the top just to really help bring home something special to the dish. Right now it is a mouthful of crunch which is pleasant but feels lacklustre in comparison to the other dishes we enjoyed. Would I come back here again? I wouldn’t even hesitate and I have recommended it to other people who I know live in Hong Kong or are going there soon! For me this is probably the best meal that we had while we were in Hong Kong. It is one of the pricier places that we went to in Hong Kong however so if you are in a large group you may want to keep an eye on the bill. It is by no means expensive but the price seems a little bit higher than the casualness...

Wanted to dine in this place for 4+ years now, but always failed to find a seat. Almost every other month would peep in post church on Sundays to try our luck but was futile. But it so happened, I was able to go there twice in the span of a week this time. First to the logistics - given it's quite a small place and Michelin star, there is always a queue but they have a registration system and take your mobile number, so you don't have to just keep waiting , they alert you via sms when your table is ready. Both times we were able to get inside in about 25 mins. Now getting to the food, we already got some info from a friend who's a regular there, so that was helpful. Their menu is quite simple, few salads - which mostly seem to be good, some starters (I didn't get any), main course has choices of noodles, fried rice and an omelette, some refreshing drinks and yummy desserts. We had papaya salad the first time , was quite good, the quantity was less though (especially for the price). On the main course, first time I had the stir fried chicken noodles and other time it was the stir fry wagyu beef noodles, both were good,though bit oily. I loved them both and took me back by 25 years when I last tasted something similar in Chennai (south India) with the Burmese beef noodles that my dad once got from a street food place. The beef noodles scores more, since the meat is very tender, only thing to watch for is that the beef one is slightly spicier than the chicken. The chicken is good too but the meat is a bit harder, You can add more spice with the add-on sauces, the dark brown one is quite hot, but nice. Quantity is not bad on the main course. Both times we had the pandan dumpling with coconut milk and tender coconut meat, it was delicious and reminded of a very similar south Indian dessert - kozhukattai (Thailand has some deep south Indian connections). On the drinks side I had the pink lemonade and it was refreshing. The food and flavours did remind me of some Thai food I had in Chennai several years back, and I definitely would love to go back and try their fried rice and the coconut ice cream next time. On the flip side, the place is very cramped and busy, so you have to just hurry every time, it's a bummer since I am someone who relishes the food and eats slow. The pricing is on the slightly higher side especially with the quantity and the fact that it's a such a cramped space, so it kind of doesn't add up. However all that said, the negatives can be foregone, as long as the food tastes good, as for me, I would go there next time when I get a chance (at...

"A closer to home taste experience."

Oh, what a delightful evening we had at Samsen in Wan Chai to celebrate my partner's birthday! Stepping into this charming restaurant, we immediately felt the warm and cozy atmosphere, setting the stage for a memorable experience.

One thing to note is that Samsen's Wan Chai branch operates on a first-come, first-served basis, without advance bookings. We arrived 6:00 pm-ish, and there was already a long queue forming. But fear not, the 1-hour-wait was worthwhile!

We eagerly ordered the Thai boat noodle and pad Thai, two dishes close to our hearts. As we savored each bite, we couldn't help but feel a sense of homecoming. The flavors were comforting, reminiscent of the familiar tastes we adore. While we yearned for a touch more authenticity, the dishes were still enjoyable, satisfying our cravings for Thai street food.

The presentation was artful, making our mouths water before we even took the first bite. The noodles were perfectly cooked, and the aromatic spices tantalized our senses. The staff showered us with friendly and attentive service, ensuring we felt pampered throughout our meal.

Samsen's menu offered a diverse selection of Thai delicacies, and the price to be honest was way too expensive. You will find almost the exact flavor and taste at as much lower -60% of the set price in Thailand. But of course you are in HK and if you miss Thai food - It's a spot where you can relish the flavors of Thailand.

In summary, Samsen in Wan Chai provided us with a delightful Thai street food experience, enveloped in a cozy ambiance. Remember to arrive early as they don't take advance bookings. While the authenticity could use a tiny nudge, we left with contented smiles and satisfied bellies.

For those seeking a touch of Thai flavors with a warm and familiar twist, Samsen is an...