Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo

My husband and I are going to HK, Singapore and Tokyo in two weeks. We like to consider ourselves foodies. He's been to all three places and has some ideas on where we will eat.

But I'd love to get some feedback on your recommendations of places to go.

Thanks in advance.

I wrote up two long posts from my trip last August:
Hong Kong
Singapore

If you have time while in Hong Kong to visit Macau, here are some additional notes.

Feel free to PM me if you have any additional questions. I wish I could go more often! Have fun!

I actually already read your posts. They were very informative and made me even more excited about my upcoming trip.

It sounded like you had a great time!

My dad ALWAYS takes his customers to Inakaya when he goes to Tokyo. It's not cheap, but it's amazing food and the theatrics are worth it!

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/tokyo/D39024.html

asami

I went to Singapore and HK a couple years ago. I can offer a little bit of help on HK, because I was only there a couple nights. For Singapore, I can be much more helpful, as I stayed there a couple weeks. How long will you be in Singapore and roughly where are you staying?

We will be in Singapore for three days. We still have not finalized hotel accomodations.

HI,

This is a blog by a poster known to many of us as foodfirst, who did the first translations of Thai menus years ago.

She is an American currently residing in Malaysia, who has lived previously in Vietnam and Thailand.

[Edit to correct information]

Regards,

asami wrote:My dad ALWAYS takes his customers to Inakaya when he goes to Tokyo. It's not cheap, but it's amazing food and the theatrics are worth it!

I also give a hearty thumbs up to Inakaya. Ate there a few years ago and loved it. If they have them, ask for the miniature crabs. They are the cutest little bite size things, served whole in the shell, and just crunch like m&m's. They used to have them occasionally at Katsu. Find a Ron of Japan style teppanyaki restaurant and get kobe beef. It will blow you away. Don't expect the shrimp or lobster with egg custard. Or greasy rice. We found a place in the Ginza, can't remember the name.

In Singapore, make sure to get chili crabs.

I travel to both Hong Kong and Tokyo pretty regularly on business, but they're always whirlwind tours with very little time for restaurant research and experimentation, sadly.

However, there's one spot in the heart of Ginza that I'm rather fond of. I heartily recommend the shabu shabu or sukiyaki at Zakuro. It's a pricey meal, but it's definitely one of my favorites... and if you've never had a good shabu shabu or sukiyaki, it's something you really, really should try, whether it's at Zakuro or any number of other places that do it well.

IlliniGirl,

Not sure that you'll see my post before you get to Singapore. I was trying to find my Singapore food list, but I never did. The following is based on a trip to Singapore with my husband who lived there the first 22 years of his life.

Here's one of many websites on Singaporean food:
http://www.makantime.com

Here's what's at the forefront of my brain for Singapore (and I can't guarantee they are all spelled correctly):

Exotic fruits - mangosteen, durian (the famed fruit), and more

Lime juice - my beverage of choice

Pineapple tarts - different "grades/quality" at different places, a great gift to bring back

Lapis cake - this might just be available around Xmas & Chinese New Year, a multilayer Indonesian cake

Bah q tea - soup with pork served as a meal, two kinds - clear & brown broth, I like the brown one

Roti prata - basically a savory pancake that you dip in curry

Rojak - I refer to this as "Singaporean salad," a delightful combination of ingredients that are very tasty

Popiah - an appetizer sort of eggroll, but not fried

Chicken rice - sounds simple, but it's a huge thing there

Hot pot - I refer to this as "Asian fondue", but you cook the various items in a broth

Four Seasons - Sunday brunch, the best buffet brunch of my life

NY Dessert Café - sweets that are similar to what you're used to in the US

Indian food on a banana leaf in Little India

Takishamaya food court - Thai chicken wings

Takishamaya food court - Kaya; buttered bread spread with this coconut jam (kaya); I don't even like coconut, but this is great, especially good for hangover mornings; this is another good thing to bring home, it's sold in jars;

I'll post more as I remember. My lesson in traveling is "when in Rome, do as the Romans do." Singapore has a huge amount of good food available at great prices as long as you follow this rule and avoid the American places or any concept that seems out of place (i.e. Mexican). Try out some food that isn't available in Chicago. Many great meals are to be had at the "hawker stalls" throughout the city. Food courts are in the basement of many shopping malls. The food courts there are entirely different than ours here, so don't shy away from the great food to be had at the Singaporean ones. Most of the items suggested above are common and inexpensive.

As far as Hong Kong, I was there a short time, and we got a good spread free each morning at our hotel, but my one top-of-mind recommendation is that we had dim sum near a museum by the ferry. It was good dim sum and the view was nice. I can't remember the name, but I think this might be enough to help you get there.