Those of us living in China might have been spared the tumultuous drama that our US counterparts have experienced in 2017, but like always, the Middle Kingdom has had its own fair share of attention-grabbing headlines. From the boom of shared bikes to a presidential visit from The Donald, our team has put together a list of 2017’s most unforgettable viral stories, recounting major events that defined the worlds of sports, tech, arts, fashion and food. Here’s to another year of eclectic, weird and wonderful life in China, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
For more, follow our full 2017 Year in Review coverage.
After saying goodbye to 10 beloved local establishments, it's time to help ring in the new by celebrating some of the best restaurant openings of this year. Below, find our picks for Shenzhen's most impressive new stops for Japanese, Italian, Turkish, Hawaiian and more.
1. Bincho Ya
In Hong Kong, this Japanese barbeque spot has over five years of history. Its Shenzhen incarnation is located near the nexus of Shenzhen’s CBD, across the street from the Convention and Exhibition Center. The tiny dishes come arrayed in a case and pack flavors ranging from mild tofu to pickled cabbage to sweet, lightly cooked cherry tomatoes. The yakitori dishes show a similar level of variety and attention to detail, elevating the once-humble street food to gourmet. Two skewers of ox tongue (RMB48) are served still glistening from the grill, the texture smooth and pleasingly fatty, if chewy. Lychees wrapped in pork (RMB28) meld sweet and savory, while lightly grilled mochi cakes (RMB28 each) surprise with warm, melted cheese cores.
Price: RMB120-160
Who’s going: businessmen, Hong Kongers
Good for: grilled meat, multi-course meals
Read our full review here. See listing for Bincho Ya.
2. Blue Frog Bar and Grill
Headquartered in Shanghai, Blue Frog bills itself as ‘casual Western dining’ and is popular for its selection of towering burgers. The Shenzhen iteration comes with all the trappings of the original outlets: royal-blue decor, juicy burgers and no actual frogs. The Montana burger (RMB98) comes with sweet BBQ sauce drizzled over two crispy onion rings, lounging on top of a cheddar cheese beef patty, all stacked on a bed of bacon, onions, lettuce, tomato and pickles. It's messy, in a good way. Sit outside on a nice day for lunch, or pull up a stool at the bar for an after-work burger and drink; you’ll leave full and maybe even a little buzzed.
Price: RMB160 for a burger and cocktail
Who's going: anyone who likes a good burger
Good for: filling food, strong drinks
Read our full review here. See listing for Blue Frog Bar and Grill.
3. Braceria Pugliese
Braceria Pugliese is the latest culinary effort by Caroppo Angelo, the veritable godfather of Shenzhen’s Italian cuisine, who can boast a 12-year history of running city staples such as Trattoria Italiana and Mediterranean Sun. On your next visit we recommend starting with the cold cut platter of dry-cured ham, mortadella and salami presented with cheeses whose flavors pair well with the meat’s. At RMB100, this selection costs more than the main dish, but the price is in line with Shenzhen’s other Italian eateries. We can also suggest ordering the RMB65 polpettone – something of an Italian meatloaf – hardy fare that will ensure you leave full.
Price: RMB150
Who’s going: foodies, groups on a night out
Good for: casual Italian, wood-oven cooked meats
Read our full review here. See listing for Braceria Pugliese.
4. Bus Grill Turkish Steakhouse
Bus Grill was recently chosen by That's readers as the best new restaurant of 2017, and it's not hard to see why. Mere weeks after opening, the steakhouse snagged Trip Advisor’s number one restaurant rating, riding a wave of five-star reviews that included heavy use of the word ‘best.’ With staff recruited from a top Shenzhen hotel, service is uncomplicated, fast and friendly as a divine lahmacun (RMB48), or Turkish pizza, is set down. The mildly spicy minced lamb is mixed with bits of parsley and tomato before being spread over a wafer of dough. Looking towards the mains, the Lokum Wagyu beef fillet (RMB198) is five slices of premium tenderloin, seasoned with black pepper and chunks of sea salt, served with roasted garlic, potato and creamed spinach.
Price: RMB200
Who’s going: net review writers, meat lovers
Good for: steak, casual diners, groups, grilled food
Read our full review here. See listing for Bus Grill Turkish Steakhouse.
5. Canton 8
What is special about this newly opened InTown plaza eatery isn’t even in Shenzhen – its Shanghai sister restaurant was recently awarded two Michelin stars, becoming the cheapest two-starred restaurant in the world. Before even setting to work on your first dish, you will notice the low prices, which sit a smidge above local roast and rice joints. And yet our meal includes the best roast pork belly we’ve ever eaten as part of the BBQ platter (RMB88) – imagine crispy, yet not salty, skin upon a buttery layer of fat underneath. For a kick we recommend the (RMB99) fried garlic shrimp. A spicy, salty crunchy crustacean pile that would invite stuffed mouths and crusted lips if it weren’t for our loose handle on tableside decorum.
Price: RMB150-200
Who’s going: locals and savvy foodies
Good for: affordable fine dining, attentive service
Read our full review here. See listing for Canton 8.
6. Les 5 Chef's Miznon
Delicious scandal arrived in Shekou with Les 5 Chef’s Miznon. The founders insist their gourmet street food is simply the dishes of their nearby German bakery, but irascible Israeli chef Eyal Shani denounced them as copying his concept and brand name. Armed with years of local experience and a China trademark, however, Les 5 Chef’s is standing firm, welcoming diners who savor the controversy. The menu of gourmet meats — duck confit, beef tenderloin, foie gras, long-marinated chicken, and succulent lamb — also has a strong vegetarian game, all in soft house-made pita filled with a meal’s worth of treats. With most priced RMB48-RMB78, it’s great value for the money. Just watch out for the chili oil heat in the meats or sauces: it bites, but maybe that’s what you are looking for.
Price: RMB100
Who’s going: Shekou residents, pita bread fans
Good for: people watching, sticking it to a celeb chef, or a quick meal en route to temple
Read our full review here. See listing for Miznon.
7. Poké-doke
Before you ask, it’s poh-kay doh-kay. And no, this restaurant in Futian’s Intown wasn’t named after a certain animated TV series. Instead, it’s focused around a Hawaiian classic: poke. The RMB48 classic Hawaiian salmon poke bowl’s salmon and mango make a blissful pairing. We also try a customized Togarashi teriyaki tuna poke bowl (RMB58) that trades salmon for tuna, adds extra avocado and gets topped off with ‘smoking hot sauce.’ The bowl isn’t as ‘smoking’ as we expect, but it’s still flavorful; deep-fried, crispy wonton skins complement a healthy helping of vegetables.
Price: RMB80-100
Who’s going: seafood lovers, selfie snappers
Good for: quality fish, artsy food shots, lunch with the girls
Read our full review here. See listing for Poké-doke.
8. Voisin Organique
In a city where organic food, not to mention farm-to-table, is still catching on, Voisin is a trailblazer: the restaurant sources ingredients from a network of organic farms around China. We stop by to try the 10-course tasting menu for December (RMB488 a person), a series of carefully executed, locally inspired bites. Each dish bears the name of a place or in the case of the starter, a time: ‘childhood’ is the inspiration behind what looks like a simple wafer cookie. A bite reveals a ‘filling’ of chilled foie gras, however, smooth and slightly sweet with the addition of raisins. It’s followed by servings of tuna belly (imported from Spain) garnished with slivers of vegetables and marinade, ‘Shunde’ style. The lightly sour, nutty seasoning enhances rather than masks the flavor of the raw fish.
Price: RMB488
Who’s going: health-conscious diners, in-the-know epicures
Good for: long conversations, fusion fine dining
Read our full review here. See listing for Voisin Organique.
9. Taste Moment
There’s a lot to praise about Taste Moment, which makes it surprising that something as small as the organic vegetables are such a highlight, particularly the sweet baby carrots used in the main dishes. The slow-cooked beef cheek (RMB148) is marinated for 12 hours, creating a dish that is buttery, fork-touch-tender and comes complemented by a robust red-wine sauce. Fresh ingredients, staff drilled to a fine dining standard and prices that won’t break the bank make the restaurant possibly one of Shenzhen’s best.
Price: RMB200-500
Who’s going: foodies, nouveau riche, hot dates
Good for: Instagram food posts, French cuisine
Read our full review here. See listing for Taste Moment.
10. Tora Kui
Tora Kui plays it humble, tucked behind a sliding glass door we miss on first pass. Behind the door and up a single-stone step is the tastefully dim interior of a Japanese-style roast meat joint, known as a yakiniku. There is bar-style seating for lone diners, but Tora Kui is undeniably better with friends, with a VIP backroom and wide, polished wood tables throughout the restaurant. Betting its name on quality, Tora Kui hasn’t skimped on caliber product, as the RMB118 beef tendon attests. It is slightly marinated, salted and soft enough to almost warrant an inner-mouth melting cliche.
Price: RMB250
Who’s going: Japanese expats, Korean BBQ fans
Good for: groups of friends, high-quality meat
Read our full review here. See listing for Tora Kui.
Read more Shenzhen bar reviews and restaurant reviews.
For more 2017 Year in Review coverage, click here.
0 User Comments