Soul Food: Cocktails and Thai Curries in SoHo

Black Sheep Restaurants import a cool Thai concept

If (like us) you’re a fan of Black Sheep Restaurants, then you’ll know that they’ve successfully managed to import some awesome American restaurants to Hong Kong. We’re talking Motorino, Boqueria and of course, Carbone. But now they’re finally showing some love to the rest of Asia by bringing the super cool Thai concept ‘Soul Food‘ from Bangkok!

Conveniently set on Elgin Street in SoHo, the setting of Soul Food is simple, sleek and clean. The restaurant is quite narrow, so it’s a bit of a squeeze between some tables and the open kitchen – I’d recommend grabbing a table near the window. The walls are adorned with creative artworks by local Thai artists, and the whole vibe of the place is casual and relaxed. Perfect if you’re looking for something easy and chilled out.

Soul Food offers a selection of cocktails, each with a Thai twist. The cocktails are relatively simple, but the one I tried was particularly refreshing – think ginger ale, lemon grass and gin. Warning – it went down far too easily! Keep an eye out for the cocktail specials too, which on the night I went featured an enticing Thai-inspired Negroni.

After sipping on my thirst-quenching cocktail, it was time to tuck into the food. We were treated to a huge range of dishes from the Chef, but here are some of my favourites that I’d recommend ordering.

One of the starters I loved was the Moo Ping ($108), simple pork skewers marinated in coconut cream and coriander. The creamy texture of the sauce went so well with the pork, complementing the smoky flavour of the charcoal grill. Delicious.

A special of the night was the Yam Makrua Yao ($128), but I was assured that this will probably be added to the main menu – and I’m glad it will be! The grilled eggplant with the oozy yolk of the soft-cooked duck egg was a blissful combo, and the fresh mint and coriander added a fresh, uplifting element to this simple Bangkok classic.

The Tum Yam Talay ($108) soup was, for me, a beautiful balance of spicy and sour, with lemongrass, galangal, lime leaves and perfectly cooked baby squid and prawns. So soothing!

Soul Food has a selection of curries, and the unique Penang Curry ($178) with braised beef tongue and cheek, peanuts and burnt pineapple was a sweet and comforting dish. The Chicken Massaman Gai Yang ($178) was equally satisfying, with a deeper flavour.

Another dish that I would order again to share with a group was the 1/2 Smoked Chicken with Three Sauces ($208). The skin of the chicken was so crispy, contrasting with the moist meat which was marinated in Northeastern spices and slowly smoked on a wood grill… it didn’t even need any sauce!

We also tried a delicious whole Fish in a Leaf (market price), which was smothered with lemongrass, dill, Thai lime and a seafood sauce, as well as my favourite veggie dish, Morning Glory ($88).

To end our Thai feast, we tried both of the only desserts on offer: Coconut Ice-cream ($58) and Passionfruit Pannacotta ($48). I could have had two servings of the house-made ice-cream with salted palm sugar caramel and peanuts all to myself, it was that good. The pannacotta was equally tempting, with the tartness of the passionfruit offset by the pandan and coconut ice-cream that accompanied it – lip-smacking stuff!

All in all, I had a great dinner at Soul Food Hong Kong and think it would be the ideal spot for a catch up with the girls. It’s in a great location, the vibe is laid-back, and the dishes are best for sharing. As it’s just opened, the service could be a little more attentive but the staff were all very friendly and pleasant. I will definitely be back for an easy, tasty dinner and a cocktail or two!

Soul Food, 26 – 30 Elgin Street, SoHo, Central, Hong Kong, www.soulfood.com.hk