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[title]Look for the glowing neon lights on Burke Road in Camberwell, and you’ll find Mongkok Tea House. The concept for this newish (it opened in February 2021) fine diner-cum-cocktail bar is inspired by cha chaan teng – a type of Hong Kong café that grew in popularity during the post-World War II era and was best known for serving up a fusion of traditional Chinese and Western cuisine.
This nostalgic culinary style has been reimagined and refined at Mongkok Tea House, where the menu is laden with dishes that boast a certain level of comfort and familiarity, but also pack a surprising punch in the flavour and texture department. Do yourself a favour and order the buttermilk pineapple buns with char-siu and pork floss (the dough is made in-house, of course), or the dry-aged duck roasted with honey and osmanthus.
Executive chef Jack Tsai (formerly of Eleven Madison Park and Attica) is the main man in the kitchen, and he draws upon his Taiwanese heritage and time spent working in some of Europe’s most illustrious restaurants to really nail the blend of cultural influences – the Scotch egg/prawn toast hybrid being a perfect example of this.
The cocktails are pretty fancy, too – and highly theatrical. Van Gogh’s Sweet Dream is an absinthe-heavy beverage that comes in a smoke-filled cloche, while the Sloe Rose Sling is garnished with actual rose petals.
Open late Tuesday through to Sunday, consider Mongkok Tea House your new go-to for fun, fancy feasting. For more information and to make a reservation, head to the website.