The Hong Kong Chef with his own Shin Ramyun! The other famous chef who has done it was Bangkok’s icon Jay Fai. Surely, there isn’t smoke without fire; Nongshim isn’t random…

Was good to visit Neighborhood again.
Getting seats at popular restaurants in Hong Kong is akin to striking lottery, especially after the city’s strong showing at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 in Mar.

Enough is said about David’s soaring popularity after appearing in 一饭封神 (China’s reality cooking competition). But before his onscreen popularity were the amazing-tasting plates at his neighbourhood joint called Neighborhood.

So, can a self-proclaimed Introvert be a Maverick at the same time? David is that perfect being. Now overlay cooking, you get the perfect cross between thoughtful and deeply personal flavours, with rule-breaking and rebellious ideas/use of ingredients. Exactly why people flock to Neighborhood, reasons why reservation books are as tight as #[instagram]%^*+

I never have a menu when I visit Neighborhood and David. Entirely left to him, it is what it is, whatever the market avails in the morning. Whether it’s unfamiliar seafood (which he loves playing with) or bloody delicious “just because”. Of course, if you like ‘safer’ options, there is a menu. If you do that, get that salt-baked chicken (which is probably the most popular cover pic for posts on Neighborhood) and don’t share the chicken…

Armed with two female friends who are super regulars themselves, I wedged into the second seating ready for the David Show. Seafood galore as usual, you can see for yourself. Goose Barnacles, local fish, alien crustacean, Bombay Duck, Godzilla Matsutake, and a Risotto made with everything that you never thought could be in a Risotto. How do you not like such a meal?! It brings up the naughtiness in culinary…

The toughest part of a visit to Neighborhood is to make it up the slope of Peel Street hungry and down tipsy.

You want to make Neighborhood part of your Hong Kong trip, it’s casual, delish and wicked! #noneedmeepok @davidtlai Less