Best cold dishes in Hong Kong to beat the summer heat

Though it may not look too impressive from the outside, Chachawan serves up some darn tasty Thai food. Kick back and enjoy the larp moo in this trendy restaurant on a hot summer’s evening. The dish is a flavoursome mix of iceberg lettuce and chopped pork, pork skin, shallots, spring onions, mint, coriander and a spicy sour dressing. It may not be ice-cold but it does shine. $128.

With a kitchen run by Korean ladies and a dining room that’s homely and casual, you know you’re in for a chill time at Joon Ko. There are some ace authentic Korean dishes here but the real summer cooler is the naengmyeon ($100). These cold buckwheat noodles have a spongy texture and arrive topped with slices of beef and cucumber, a boiled egg and a light broth. The seasoning is spot on and the whole dish, despite being cold, warms your heart.

Things get pretty steamy in Lan Kwai Fong during the summer months, and that's why you might want to find something in the area to help you cool right down. The Japanese restaurant is known for its sushi – which is also a pretty refreshing dish – but we recommend the zaru soba here, because it's cool, fresh, and simple. Add a bit of wasabi to the shoyu, not too much, and enjoy slurping away on these satisfying noods.

Japanese barbecue restaurant Futago is the master when it comes to serving up perfect platters of top quality beef, chicken, pork and seafood. But this Tsim Sha Tsui joint is also a maestro at creating some of the most refreshing cold soba noodles ($38) in town. The rich flavours of this small dish come from a refreshing pairing of kimchi and cucumber.

Giando is one of the big hits of Wan Chai's buzzy Star Street, with its pleasant atmosphere and renowned modern Italian offerings prepared by head chef and owner Gianni Caprioli. A great dish to cool down with here this summer is the carpaccio, which is made with raw scallops, red shrimps and amberjack, as well as a smattering of tomatoes to boost the dish's Mediterranean flare.

Nothing beats summer heat like indulging in freshly shucked oysters. Good oysters can be a little hard to come by in Hong Kong especially in recent years, so This Tai Hang Australian eatery’s oysters ($210 or $420 for a large portion) are a hidden gem. Serving them fresh and cold alongside a tart ponzu sauce will definitely help you chill out in the sweltering heat. You can also get your oyster fix over their affordable set Friday lunch menu (usually $128), adding an extra $60 for three.

What else would you want at a seafront restaurant other than a cold, fresh seafood platter ($588) to keep cool this summer. Consisting of oysters, shrimps, red prawns, scampi, raw fish, scallop, this is the perfect refresher for seafood lovers to enjoy while chilling out in a picturesque corner of Kennedy Town.