Here are all the new restaurant and bar openings we featured in our May 2017 issue:
New Restaurants
Poké-doke
Before you ask, it’s poh-kay doh-kay. And no, this new 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.
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.
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.
New Bars and Clubs
Cave Club
Shenzhen has an uncomfortable relationship with independent music. It’s tolerated for a bit, and then the hammer falls, wrapping a venue’s DJ deck or drum set in enough red tape to make a Christmas-themed bondage film. Cave Club is no exception (it closed at the end of April, shortly after our visit). Before its untimely demise, the club was located down a long set of illuminated stairs. Future events would have seen pricey tables pushed to the side, creating an open space punctuated by subwoofers and perfect for the underground dance party vibe. Sadly, it wasn't to be.
Price: RMB100
Who’s going: in-the-know EDM fans, those who enjoy fruit platters
Good for: literally underground music
Mr. Wong
Floor-to-ceiling windows allow a view of the city as mixologist Sasha Osta whips up his creative libations. So invested in cocktails is Osta that he describes them as having a soul, each being unique in time and space, with the bartender’s steady hand the main ingredient. Most popular are the oldie-but-goody Long Island iced tea and mojito (both RMB78 plus 15 percent service charge), but, if you ask, Osta has something much more fascinating up his sleeve: the coffee-based three ace (RMB128), a mix of Jack Daniels, blueberry liquor and a cup of espresso.
Price: RMB128
Who’s going: creative cocktail aficionados
Good for: wide windows, comfortable seating
Read our full review here. See listing for Mr. Wong.
Read more Shenzhen restaurant reviews and bar reviews.
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