racines

Wow! What an experience we had at Racines; Meaning ‘roots’ in French, Racines is a fine dining restaurant tucked away on Upper Station Street in Sheung Wan; it is a tiny place with a few tables & some bar seats but with a splendid service - don’t get scared if the whole kitchen greets you entering and leaving the restaurant! There are two seatings per night and we had the second seating. You can choose between a 5- or 7 course dinner and we had the 5 course. Like the name, Seasonal (Root)Vegetables play a major role in their kitchen, locally sourced and French produced. The sourdough bread is fantastic and if you are lucky, you’ll be surprised with one to take home! Wine pairing was absolutely exquisite (although we had some serious issue understanding the waiter/sommelier - perhaps that was just our ears that didn’t pop yet from the flighty) and so was the bill in the end! Nevertheless a great experience for us in Hong Kong - Reservations are absolutely essential.

Every dish was a delightful showcase of balanced flavors, embodying the elegance of French cuisine. The use of unique regional ingredients, not found elsewhere, elevated the experience to something truly special. The butter served with the bread was exceptional, setting an impressive tone from the start. The beef and pigeon main courses were surprising and delicious, delivering bold, memorable flavors. With the menu set to change in two months, I’m already excited to return for another visit. This place is a must-try!

People always ask me what were my favorite places to eat in HK. They’ll be surprised to learn it’s a French restaurant. Sitting at the chefs counter is a must. The chefs tell you everything that you’re eating course by course. Get the wine pairing. The Somme is fantastic. Lastly the manager is thoughtful and accommodating. Even helped me find my uber after wards. Pro tip: Seat F at the counter is the best.

Tucked away in a quiet street in the city, this restaurant was a surprise to us when we saw it online. We didn't know what to expect as it was our first time but we came during the special menu night that has a focus on truffles. We were delighted to find that this is a proper French restaurant that has a great sommelier that pairs wine well with the dishes being served for the night. Though we did not get the wine pairing, we asked for a bottle that was slightly different than what we normally drink in other places but would still pair well with the night's dishes and they did not disappoint. Throughout the night, it was a nice touch that the chef himself would also add in to the food explanation despite being busy in the kitchen. As the place is small, you'd also hear him socializing with the other guests which really livens the atmosphere of the place. It was also a pleasant surprise that we had takeaways, especially their sourdough bread and even a recipe pamphlet. If you're looking for a different experience from the usual restaurants in Hong Kong, this is the place for you.

We really liked it. Proper french, high quality raw material (mackerel, pigeon, lamb) prepared in a way that enhances the whole. Found my favorite bottle in the menu too, at a v reasonable mark up, so that rounded the experience. Hope to come back.

Good food with nice presentation. Chef and staff are nice and professional. However, we got abdominal pain and diarrhea once at 6am. Not sure if it is due to the food

FOOD: Enjoyed the restaurant week menu on the beginning of September, a special week for students every year, same as the last week of 2025 restaurant week. I have been walking through the TAI PAN SHAN Street area for thousands of times and still get fascinated by the shopfront every time I pass through RACINES. The menu is consisted of 5 parts, a signature Cereal Sourdough (Smoked Butter, Espelette, Plum Jam) as starter, following with the Polmard tartare ((tartare, Maitake, truffle) and Mackrel (Cherry, Almond, Tarragon) , we have chosen the fish and three Yellow chicken as a main course, the desserts are Eggplant (black Oliver, Basil, Sorbet) and Smoked Burrata (Melon, Scamorza, Mint), the Mignardises was the last part of the dance. All of these are very great and they are not just great in presentation, but also the quality is fantastic. It is more like an OMAKASE dining experience in japan, Chef introduces every dish before presenting to customers and asked if it is fine between the next course. Customers are not only having a meal , but also like a music concert. CP VALUE: I will give 7.5/10 as the portion is great in value, the set costs $498/px excluding 10% service charge. DINING AREA : There are 2 parts of the restaurants, an area next to the entrance (simple setting) and the open kitchen bar area (able to witness the cooking process from all different chefs), we have been arranged for the bar area but I prefer the another one as it's a bit less noisy. In a nutshell, it is a small and cozy home-like restaurant, chef is very enthusiastic and passionate about foods, staffs are all kind and thoughtful, it's a wonderful dinning experience.

The definition of the word "charming" - a very small Provençal restaurant where the friendly young chef will lean towards your table and ask you your favorite amuse vouchers of the three he's crafted. Creativity and craftsmanship is excellent - regional flavors are expertly blended and structured. Only negative is the flip side of charming - the small set up means everyone leaves smelling of grilled lamb and it's a bit crowded.