Before dining at Ding’s Club, I had never actually heard of celebrity chef and Kung Fu Star Steve Lee Ka Ding. But seeing a cardboard cutout of the actor-turned-chef at the entrance of the restaurant let’s you know that he’s a pretty big deal. In fact, his first restaurant, Ding’s Kitchen, is so popular that is notoriously booked solid despite only accommodating parties of 6 and up and having a pricey tasting menu. This second venture inside H Queens in Central, on the other hand, is meant to be a more accessible way to experience Ding’s modernized and refined Cantonese food, as it allows smaller parties and offers a la carte pricing in addition to tasting menus, which start at a reasonable HK$688.
The a la carte menu of Ding’s Club offers a wide variety of dishes, from snacks priced per piece to barbecued meats and large format rice dishes. Many items are served with tableside theatrics – the tender and juicy char siu is presented on a layer of sugar that gets lit on fire, adding a final caramelization to the BBQ pork (though the pork may be too fatty for some).
The platter of thinly sliced chicken with black fungus and mushrooms is steamed over a soul-satisfying broth in a copper pot beside the table before being portioned and served. Our favorite dish lacked any theatrics though, as the stewed wagyu short rib was so tender and flavorful, accented by fried scallions and preserved vegetables. Overall, you can expect top-notch service and elegant presentations befitting a celebrity like Ding.
Eat this: stewed wagyu short rib; lobster two ways; wok-fried sea cucumber; wok-fried kale with minced pork; wok-fried rice noodle with sliced beef
