It’s impossible to not talk about Central when it comes to healthy eating in Hong Kong. Home to the busiest financial district in the city, Central has no lack of takeaway and quick sit-down healthy options for the office crowd and city dwellers who are constantly on the go.
Here, we’ve selected seven healthy hot spots in Central—from ifc mall to SoHo—where you can eat all things organic, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free:
Treehouse
The latest venture by Hong Kong-born chef Christian Mongendre (who founded HOME – Eat to Live which closed suddenly two years ago), Treehouse is a vegan-friendly and gluten-free restaurant that focuses on quality ingredients that are sourced locally and sustainably.
Try the flatbreads and burger buns which are made from Treehouse’s homemade vegan whole wheat sourdough recipe, topped with your choice of freshly-made toppings—from charred cauliflower to spiced tofu—and choose from 10 types homemade sauces including the popular roasted garlic hummus.
Treehouse, Shop 1, Ground Floor, Ezra’s Lane, 45 Pottinger Street, Central, +852 3791 2277, facebook.com/treehouse.eco
Fresca
A friendly healthy eatery in the heart of SoHo, Fresca serves up no-frills, delicious salads, soups and baked goods that are made read-to-go.
The salad choices change daily and include vegetarian options, including carrot apple walnut and Korean bean paste tofu. Other mainstays are the Sichuan veggie mix with soy chicken and japchae (Korean glass noodles), providing a satisfying meal with hot dishes. Don’t forget to try their gluten-free muffins and cookies for a guilt-free sweet treat.
Fresca, No. 54a Hollywood Rd, Central, +852 2770 2282, frescahk.com
VEDA
Ovolo Central’s flagship vegetarian restaurant, VEDA, is a fresh take on plant-based dining, offering an inventive array of comfortable vegetarian dishes that will almost make you forget that they’re meat-free.
Start your meal with pani puri, an Indian street food with a VEDA twist, then tuck into the soba noodle salad dressed with comforting sesame and shallot dressing. Our favourite is the homemade semolina potato gnocchi, basked in creamy spinach sauce and grana padano—who says vegetarian food can’t be indulgent?
VEDA, Ovolo Central, 2 Arbuthnot Road, Central, Hong Kong, +852 3755 3067, ovolohotels.com
Pololi
One of the first poke shops in the city, Pololi serves up Hawaiian-Japanese poke bowls which can be customised with a white, brown or salad base, topped with 6 different flavours of raw fish, a selection of more than 20 types of toppings and tasty homemade sauces.
Popular poke toppings include spicy ahi tuna, yuzu pinenut salmon and the creamy sesame tofu, with the option to add 100g or 200g of poke to load up your protein.
Pololi, 35-39 Graham Street, Kar Ho Building, +852 2755 8099, pololikai.com
Fete Up
Inspired by flavours of Asia, Fete Up provides a balanced selection of grains, vegetables and proteins salad toppings. You can opt for the Japanese braised daikon (radish), roasted Thai-style cauliflower, kimchi coleslaw among other selections on rotation daily.
For carbs, the organic coconut rice with mustard seeds and turmeric rice are satisfying options for those looking for healthy alternatives to white rice. Complete your meal with a 63ºC sous vide egg, or classic garnishes like toasted sesame seeds and garlic crumble.
Fete Up, LG/F, 182 Wellington Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, +852 9335 7115, feteup.com
Nood Food
Perfect for fitness fanatics on the go, Nood offers an appetising selection of salads, wraps and sandwiches, along with freshly pressed juices with different health benefits, from hydration, detox to immunity boost.
For something a little more indulgent, go for the dairy-free fudge brownie, or the creamy coconut cheesecake to treat yourself after a hardcore workout.
Nood Food, 2/F, Kinwick Centre 32 Hollywood Road Central, Hong Kong, +852 8199 8189, allnood.com
Genie Juicery
Known for their cold-pressed juices, Genie Juicery also offers light meals including “Asian Invasion” made with kale, purple cabbage, nori, brown rice and pumpkin seeds and Genie Vegan Roll” wrapped with collard greens.
Along with their superfood smoothies, nut milks and cleansing waters, the chia pudding and cocoa mouse and paleo chocolate chip cookie are a lovely afternoon pick-me-up that won’t leave you feeling guilty.
Genie Juicery, 2096B, Podium Level 2, ifc Mall, +852 2644 5875, geniejuicery.com
(Lead image: @treehouse.eco/Instagram)
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