Sustainable eating in Hong Kong 😋😋 – bite away to save the planet
It is no laughing matter dear neighbours; climate change affects us all. If we are not going to change our behavioural patterns, it will only continue to deteriorate. CO2 levels and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere rose to new records in 2019 and the decade 2010-2019 was the warmest ever recorded. Undoubtedly, we need big decisions and drastic measure but anyone and everyone can contribute with small actions. Why not start with more green food and drink choices? Eco-friendly restaurants and bars serve delicious, chemical-free food and drinks and create less waste. They also support local Hong Kong farmers. Our volunteers prepared a list of 5 sustainable restaurants in Hong Kong that care about the environment and can fill up your belly with yummy yummies 😊
Fresca
Photo Credit: Fresa
This is no ordinary vegetarian Hong Kong restaurant as a big portion of their produce is grown right here in our own backyard at one of their farms in Tai Po and driven in fresh from the farm. Using the freshest water from the mountaintops this is really one of the freshest restaurants in the city. Offering ingredients on your salad that are combinations you never would not have thought to fuse together from the “Sichuan Veggie Mix with Tofu” to the “Warm Veggie Curry” there are healthy tastes for everyone.
Choose your base of veggies or rice or even a mix of both and your choice of 3 or 4 toppings in a packed lunchbox you are not going to walk away hungry. Priced at: $87- regular box = 3 toppings or $110 - large box = 4 toppings it's well worth a healthy meal right in the middle of Central.
MANA!
Its main mantra states – “Diet change Not climate change”. MANA! has definitely pioneered in the eco-friendly, sustainability and responsible sourcing movement in Hong Kong. Since 2012 it has been serving “fast slow food” and operating “zero waste” - whole-food, plant-based food, served fast, in an eco-friendly & responsible manner, packaged & ready to go. It was founded by Bobsy Gaia, a veteran environmentalist who co-founded in 2016 the Zero-Waste Alliance of restaurants. MANA! serves wholesome 100% plant-based food: signature rolled flatbreads with tons of different stuffings, vegetarian burgers, rich salads, mezze, soups and signature flatzzas – original half flatbread, half pizza creation. You can choose an original wholemeal or a gluten-friendly option. The food has a Middle Eastern touch, it is super tasty, the portions are generous and the prices are very decent. It serves very good coffee, yummy raw, vegan, gluten-friendly desserts as well as fresh smoothies, shakes, kombucha, organic beer and wine. This restaurant really believes in zero-waste using fully biodegradable ingredients and containers. All the food scraps and leftovers are donated to Hong Kong farmers and composted locally.
Address: 8 Staunton Street, SoHo, Central and 8-10 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
Photo Credit: MANA!
Treehouse
This restaurant, conveniently located in Central, with its plant-based menu wants to remind us how to be “one with nature”. Like its name, Treehouse’s interiors are full of reclaimed wood which gives very cosy feeling. It has fast-food kind of vibe, but definitely sustainable, ethical, eco-friendly, vegan and modern one. It is run by chef Christian G. Mongendre, a pioneer of the plant-based movement in Hong Kong, co-founded of MANA!. The menu features flatbreads, grain bowls with different goodies inside, pizzas, burgers and special meals like bibimbap or cold hiyashi kelp ramen.
You can also create your own flatbread or bowl choosing base, toppings, sauce in cheesy, umami or toasty blend. The food is super tasty, it is ready within minutes and the prices are very reasonable. The restaurant offers a very good coffee and a variety of desserts, both vegan and gluten-free. Not only does Treehouse support local farmers, recycle and compost all their waste, it is also involved in reforestation, together with Eden Reforestation Projects, a non-profit organization. Every purchase of the menu combo (with an icon – plant a tree) helps to cover the cost of planting one tree.
Address: H Code, Shop 1, Ground Floor, 45 Pottinger St, Central
Penicillin
Sustainability is not just a word used to promote themselves but its complete way of business from the upcycled stools to the “closed loop” supply chain process they use to create their food and drink. One of our most warm and fuzzy feelings from this place is that they used wood from trees that were blown over from our last big typhoon to craft some of their furniture.
They have their very own fermentation room where they only need to source the spirits from a sustainable supplier from whom they purchase in bulk to cut down on packaging. The fermentation room will be an awesome feature to see once the pandemic is over.
The cocktails are glorious with flavours that are meant to rock your world. However, with drinks priced around 90-150 you probably won't be having a lot of them, but the ones you do have are going to be created with such precision, flavour and flare that you are going to realise that the price tag is well worth it.
Address: L/G Amber Lodge, 23 Hollywood Road, Central
Roganic
Photo Credit: Neil Lawrence Maxwell
Run by a chef and restaurateur Simon Rogan, Roganic uses local, sustainable and traceable ingredients. Each dish uses produce sourced from local, organic farms in the New Territories. In 2020 the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star and it was recently recognised with the newly introduced Michelin Green Star, award by Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau 2021, and it is also the only restaurant in Hong Kong to receive this recognition. Prepare your wallets to dine in Roganic, because it is not the cheapest, but it is definitely very good and sophisticated dining. There are few menus to pick from. Lunch starts from Set Business Roganic Lunch Menu - HK$320 to Full Tasting Roganic Menu - HK$980 and dinner starts from Short Tasting Menu – HK$680 and Full Tasting Menu – HK$980 per person. You can pair your meal with wine, juice or tea.
Address: UG08, Sino Plaza, 255 Gloucester Rd, Causeway Bay
Photo Credit: Neil Lawrence Maxwell