Look, sometimes it's fun to get dressed up and pile up multiple plates at a buffet brunch with friends, but most weekends we want great food and service, and we found it at Salt & Barrel
Ahhh… the west-side. Often referred to as “the best side”, we over this side of the island have access to a plethora of great food and drink spots. From the best Sai Ying Pun cafes to international eateries like Kaum at Potato Head and family-run businesses, such as Aziza and Mama Malouf, we really want for nothing over this side of town. And if you’re a fan of BlackSalt like us, then you will want to head over to Taran Chadha’s latest opening in Shek Tong Tsui: Salt & Barrel. We’ve chowed down on their dinner menu and loved every bite and recently sampled their brand new brunch menu, which is MEGA delicious. Find out why.
Salt & Barrel brings something new to HKU
Billed as a Taproom and Kebaberie, Salt & Barrel is a collaboration between Chef Taran Chadha of the award winning BlackSalt, local breweries, Black Kite & Kowloon Bay, and The Tramline Liquor Co, who combine forces to create an intimate little venue behind exit B2 of HKU station.
Of an evening, suits making their way back to their homes in Kennedy Town can be seen enjoying a selection of local beers in the front yard of the space, as families and friends head indoors to nab a table (booking ahead is recommended.) And now, between 12-3pm on Saturdays and Sundays, diners can head over for an epic à la carte brunch that honestly can’t be beat.
Tell me more about that brunch then…
If you’re read my reviews before, then you know I’m a stickler for delicious food and excellent service, and you get both at the new brunch at Salt & Barrel. The team has stuck with some brunch favourites, such as the English breakfast and French toast, but given them unique makeovers to incorporate the flavours of Indian, Persian and Central Asian cuisines, and I promise, this is no style-over-substance situation.
My dining partner opted for the signature Kebaberie Fry-Up ($148) that mimics classic English breakfast, but ups the ante with sunny-side up eggs, chickpea & potato hash, a divine stuffed tomato, and your choice of stout naan or wholemeal flat. On top of that a giant skewer of glazed bacon, pork sausage, and lamb kofte tops off the dish, alluding to the Mughal Empire-style kebabs, where Salt & Barrel finds its inspiration. The verdict on the dish? Insanely delicious, with every little component adding a little something special to the plate.
I had to go for the 100% vegan option: Vegan Chickpea Waffle ($128). The giant waffle comes topped with beautiful spicy tofu bhurji (kind of like a scrambled curry tofu), garlic broccolini for crunch and greenness, and is topped with mushroom pakora, vegan ranch and BBQ sauce. This is such a hearty brunch dish and the portion, like all at Salt & Barrel, is massive, so definitely go with sharing in mind.
Of course it would have been rude not to get in on the French toast, which is also presented in a skewered fashion. I’m not even a fan of French toast, but this gooey version sandwiched between bananas and caramel sauce was just so good, I will definitely be going back for more, and at just $88 it’s a serious brunch steal!
If you want to make it a more Hong Kong-style, free-flow affair, then try out their selection of local craft beers at just $50 a pint, or opt for house wine and sparkling for the same price.
Thanks to the awesome new brunch at Salt & Barrel, us Westies can now get a really great brunch within walking distance of our homes, so when we’re stuffed to the brim it’s easier to roll us home.
Salt & Barrel, One South Lane, Shek Tong Tsui, Hong Kong, p. 2761 4900, 香港島石塘咀南里壹號
Excited to try this brunch at Salt & Barrel and looking for more amazing food treats in HK? Try out The Chinese Library for refined dim sum in Tai Kwun or book in at one of our fave dinner buffets in Hong Kong.