Day 5 - One Dim Sum, Jenny Bakery, Island Beverley, Yat Lok

Thursday, 27 June 2019

It would be a shame if there had been no attempt to shop in a shopping paradise. The last day in Hong Kong was kept for last-minute shopping.

I had to try this 'better than Tim Ho Wan' place, One Dim Sum

There was no queue in the morning and for the first time in Hong Kong, we got to have a decent-size table for four

I was totally looking forward to all that I could eat!

Steamed chicken & Mushroom Rice

Baked BBQ Pork Buns

Shrimp and Leek in Rice Roll

Steamed Glutinous Rice with Chicken Wrapped in Lotus Leaf

Prawn Dumplings

Chiu Chow Style Dumplings

Bean Curd Rolls in Fish Broth

Mango Custard Rolls

Pork Dumplings - that's what they wrote on the menu!

Verdict:

Those people who raved and gushed over One Dim Sum ought to be shot!

'Better than Tim Ho Wan'? Which Tim Ho Wan did you go?!!

'Best dim sum'? Oh my ...

It wasn't just me. All of us shared the same sentiments. "Best?!! Maybe these people have never eaten dim sum before."

It was at best average. I would go as far as to say that Singapore's Yum Cha is superior to One Dim Sum.

Only the Mango Custard Rolls were quite edible. It had a 'Chef recommendation' icon beside it. It had better be the best of all the items.

I couldn't bring myself to eat another chee cheong fun. 

William had to finish them against his will.

Coco was also disappointed with the baked BBQ buns, after eagerly placed an order for them upon a friend's mother's recommendation

Not sure why people would recommend One Dim Sum. Read that it is also a One-Michelin Starred restaurant but it certainly didn't taste that way to us! Service was good though.

After our misadventure at One Dim Sum, I thought I would be able to have a shopping good time at the malls in the area. 

To my disappointment, the malls in Hong Kong do not seem to open until 2pm or 3pm!

When I entered Allied Plaza at 11am, only one or two shops were opened! 

I didn't give up.

I moved on to New Town Mall, another 10 to 15 minutes' walk away. To my astonishment, most of the shops had not opened either!

Never mind. "Let's go to Tsim Sha Tsui. I'll go buy my Jenny's cookies first before going to Rise Shopping Arcade."

I was met with this when I reached my destination

For the glorious buttery cookies that would readily melt in my mouth, I climbed to the second storey.

A hand with a cookie sample stuck out as I was about to reach the second floor. Hey, Jenny's Cookies need no introduction, much less a sample! So I said,"No." and asked the lady in the baking apron,"Where's Jenny Bakery?".

Her face, surprisingly, immediately sank into a state of sian-ness and threw her index finger over her shoulder to direct me.

I was puzzled why a Jenny Bakery ambassador could be so careless and lacklustre in her service attitude but I felt awfully pai-seh when I saw the apron with the big words "Top Bakery"!

OMG! This is embarrassing.

But she shouldn't have stood at the door of Jenny Bakery to promote her cookies, right? It's easy to misunderstand.

Jenny Bakery at the second floor

It's a bakery like no other. No breads, buns or cakes on display to entice potential customers. 

Just get in line, suckers!

I bought 2 small tins of 4 Mix Butter Cookies and 1 big tin of the original Butter Cookies

My sister reminded me that Jenny Cookies are also available in Singapore.

I replied,"The ones in Hong Kong taste better."

Nobody disputed that.

We walked on to Rise Shopping Arcade which was in a small alley. Seemed dingy.

The security guard advised me on the opening hours of the mall: 3pm (!!!)

Bye, Mall!

As we trotted back to Tsim Sha Tsui MTR, we passed by a boutique that went by 'Sixty-Eight'. I bought my only dress from Hong Kong and two bralettes mean for backless dresses. Not sure if I have any use for it but the aunty in me won the debate: Buy lah! You never know when you will need it!

My virgin Ding Ding trip was on this electric tram.

Before boarding it outside Central MTR, William and I had a few frustrating moments trying to understand the routes and how the routes worked.

We checked out the route map at the tram stop and the sign in front of the tram, and asked the driver if he was going to Causeway Bay.

The driver only shook his head. That's just about how helpful he was.

We went back to figuring out how it worked again and William eventually got it. He matched the last  destination with the sign on the tram and told us that that was the tram! 

We boarded the tram from the back and sat at the upper storey as advised by the whole world - "for a better view".

I was surprised that the tram was quite tiny inside.

When another tram came towards our direction on the neighbouring track, I finally understood what people meant when they said the trams were very near to each other. 'So near that you could stretch out your arm to touch the other passengers sitting by the windows.' 

My favourite place to shop at after my last trip

This tiny 3- or 4-storey shopping mall is just next to Causeway Bay MTR.

It sells mainly Korean fashion and the shop owners do not allow customers to try on the clothes. However, I have bought 3 dresses here on my last trip and I loved them.

This time round, I didn't manage to loot any good finds though.

When I asked if I could try this on (just pushing my luck), the saleslady said no and showed me the price tag 'HKD 980'.

How rude!

We rushed here for our last meal in Hong Kong at 3.15pm.

"We must target to finish our food at 3.30pm." I told them.

"Huh? That's impossible!"

Wouldn't I know that? But still must try, right?

No queue and immediate admission at that timing

In the Michelin Guide from 2015 to 2019!

What's a Hong Kong trip without Yat Lok roast goose?

No goose drumsticks (again!) so we placed an order for half a goose

After a hasty but satisfying lunch, we rushed back to the hotel and the bell boy offered to call a cab for us. HKD 300 for the trip as opposed to HKD 33 per pax for Bus Number A21.

We never noticed that cute logo on the wings until then!

At 12.30am, William decided it was a brilliant idea to pay A&W at Jewel a visit.

There was still a queue, albeit a short one.

And who eats fried chicken at A&W?

Like I said, if it had been fantastic, it wouldn't have died out in Singapore decades ago! 

People are doing the 3- or 4-hour queue just for nostalgia's sake.

Where to go:

One Dim Sum

G/F 209A-209B Tung Choi Street (Prince Edward MTR Exit A)

Opening hours: 11am - 12.30am (Mon to Fri), 10am - 12.30am (Sat & Sun)

Jenny Bakery

Shop G24 Ground Floor & Shop 42 1st Floor
Mirador Mansion
54-64 Nathan Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

(Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Exit D2)

Opening hours: 9am – 7pm

Yat Lok 
G/F, 34 - 38 Stanley Street, Central (Central MTR)
Opening hours: 10am - 9pm (Mon to Sat), 10am - 5.30pm (Sun)
Closed every last Wednesday of the month