22 Ships

I heard you I heard you. I am totally running out of excuses not checking this out.
First wine selection is interesting. I played safe for some Riesling as it was my 5^th glass on Friday.
Salad first. We got the cauliflower, mushroom & parsley salad with walnut pesto. Love the way they plain peeled the cauliflower. I am a fan of cauliflower anyway and I have some standards. This exceeds expectation!
Baked smoked bone marrow. The toast with the dip is balances. Bone marrow was also not heavy. A decent dish. But we were watching out for some surprise here. Bring it Jason Atherton.
Iberico pork and foie gras burger is the highlight. Foie gras burgers can be quite heavy. But when they mixed with Iberico and created their own sweet and sour sauce, hands down!
We are hungry. Last to finish is red snapper, pine nuts, chrizo and peppers. Crispy snapper and interesting combo. Felt it more like a starter to go with some premium beer. Good try.
Have to go back and finish all the menu. Everytime must be different. Fun guaranteed!

This is an interesting place. It has an open kitchen in the bar area, where one can see the chefs making the dishes as well as chatting with them. The staff are young and friendly. They can offer very good and practical advice on what to order. There is also an open area in the window, where it creates the effect of an outdoor seating. However, this sometimes does not quite work given the it is very close to the streets, thus impacted by vehicle noise and fume.
The food is excellent and intriguing. It has many dishes that I have not seen elsewhere. The cauliflower salad was delightful-​refreshing and tasty. The quail egg and ham toastie was delicious and almost a meal by itself. The octopus salad was juicy and tender. The seafood paella was not quite like the ones I had before and it was rich in flavour. The goat cheese ice cream is a very special dessert, not too sweet and with an interesting flavour. It goes well with the honeycomb.

22 Ships ended up being a delicious dinner in Hong Kong, but throughout the whole meal, I couldn’t help but think how ordinary it was. Don’t get me wrong, the food was fantastic, plated beautifully, and (having been seated at the bar) watching them prepare the dishes in such a small space was inspiring to watch.
That being said, I’m fairly certain that there wasn’t a dish on the menu that I couldn’t find in San Francisco. If anything, I felt like we wasted a dinner by coming here, simply because it was such a universally generic meal. Just a word to the wise, I guess. Anyways, I digress.
THE GOOD.
+ The food (coming from SF, I think I’m spoiled with food of this quality, so I wasn’t blown away, but it was admittedly delicious), especially:
— Wild Hereford beef tartare
— Baked bone marrow w/gentleman’s relish
THE BAD.
— Very, very pricey for what you get
— Over-​worked staff (aka two of our dishes were forgotten but we were still charged, and didn’t catch it until too late)
— Very small, cramped, and LOUD space
It is 100% not a place for long lost friends to catch up or a romantic date, but for a loud dinner of expensive tapas, this is your place.

The review in Lonely Planet enticed us, and this tapas restaurant did not disappoint. The food is exquisitely prepared and very elegant. We ordered three dishes: cauliflower, mushrooms, and walnut pesto, roasted beets with hazelnuts, and black cod. All were very good; the cauliflower salad was my favorite. The dollops of creamy mushroom purée and the pesto were delicious. Since it was lunchtime, we just had tap water. I’d come back for dinner, except the seating is just stools, which is not very comfortable for a leisurely meal. At 2 pm on a weekday, there was no waiting.

Unfortunately after such an amazing lunch both my friend and I developed salmonella poisoning later that night. I can only attribute it to this place as it’s the only time we ate together and I was so full I didn’t eat again until the fever hit.

22 Ships has been winning hearts and taste buds all over Hong Kong since opening in late 2012. And they’ve definitely won me over, as 22 Ships may be my favorite restaurant on the island. That’s a big feat in a city with so many excellent restaurants, but I’d bet on every last morsel that you too will love it.
The space is small but vibrant and always buzzing from the high that results from indulging in such beautiful food and drink. I suggest starting with a glass of the Fancy Sangria — it’s comprised of red wine, cava, and Cointreau and is topped with a layer of foam with crunchy bits resembling jewels. Yeah, it’s fancy all right!
As tapas usually go, the portions are small but are full in flavor. I suggest ordering a smattering of dishes to get the comprehensive experience. These are some of my favorites:
+ The jamón, manchego, and truffle toastie with quail eggs. Simple yet rich. Wow!
+ The octopus with chili, garlic, and coriander. I’ve had a lot of wonderful octopus in my life, but this flavor combination takes the cake!
+ Cauliflower, mushroom, parsley, and walnut pesto. Clean but remarkably interesting flavors.
+ Berkshore pork and foie gras burgers, with avocado pickled cucumbers. JUST ORDER THESE!
+ Peanut butter, condensed milk, and banana. Such an eclectic and fun dessert that tastes like childhood.
22 Ships doesn’t take reservations for dinner, but if you show up by 7:30, you probably won’t have any problems snagging a couple of bar stools. Happy indulging!

Food and atmosphere was good. I liked the jamon and manchego toast. Should have ordered a couple. Pork and Foie sliders also didn’t disappoint. As with other Tapas, they had the Spanish Authentic flavor. If there is an area that I could constructively comment on, It is we could all use a little less salt. In fact The amount makes a huge difference in flavor.

Annoying no reservation policy but the food is great and so is the atmosphere. Definitely worth trying

One of the best tapas places that I have been to recently, so much so that 22 ships has been added to my list of ‘must visit’, each time I spend a day in Hong Kong.
The service is great. The place is vibrant and electric, yet cozy. The food is excellent. I tried the truffle toasties with quail eggs, Cauliflower-​mushroom pesto, Seafood paella and the braised chorizo — all of them equally delicious.

CAme here under the recommendation of my aunt. The restaurant was definitely smaller than I expected, I was expecting one of a relatively large restaurant so this was a cozy surprise for me.
Food: ⁴⁄₅
They have a relatively small list of tapas, but all are very distinctive in flavour and seasoning. I especially loved their scallops and their truffle toasties.
Service: ³⁄₅
Service was alright, a little on the downside, but considering how full they were and how small the place was, i wouldn’t expect to have a handful of servers there, so it wasn’t too surprising that the service wasn’t terrific.

This was the second time I’ve been here and boy did we eat. You’d think 3 ladies couldn’t eat this much but guess again!
The food as usual was flavoursome and delicious albeit serving sizes are small and as such, the total bill becomes hefty as you order more dishes.
The truffle bikini sandwich I’ve gotten both times and have not disappointed. The mini quail eggs on top are a cute though bland addition. The octopus was tender and the ginger in the sauce gives it a nice kick. Paella was more tapas size, don’t expect a large serving. The tuna sashimi was delicious! I’m not usually a fan of tuna but the sauce was out of the world! The specials had a pork belly and eggplant. The pork belly was crispy on the outside but melt in your mouth maintaining the juiciness of the meat. The eggplant was without skin and spiced so well that I was disappointed when the dish ended.
Dessert. I’ve tried every dessert on the menu between my two visits and my favourite will have to be the chocolate dessert — so decadent, with the ice cream and oozy chocolate sauce. The peanut butter dessert is always a crowd favourite with the toffee’ed banana, rice bubbles and some hidden popping candies. Goats cheese ice cream is very strong — not the mellow goats cheese so be warned! But if you like that taste, it’s a wonderful dessert with the crumble!
All in all a delightful meal, we may have scared the patrons next to us with how much food we managed to inhale — clearly these girls can eat and drink! Especially for a Monday night ;)

Tiny place with a trendy vibe and decent western music. About 50% westerners. Had the sea bass and it was fantastic. Crispy skin, flaky inside, juicy and tangy. Very well cooked. Crispy garlic dressing a nice compliment. Onion/​mushroom salad with garlic dressing would be fine by itself.

Food is super but price is steep! You most likely will still be hungry when u leave the place. We came here on Valentine’s and didn’t order V-​Day special set menu but went with regular dishes. We had 5 dishes but still ended up hungry. I know places that offers more variety and better price. However, it’s worth to try here if you are bringing the special someone.

If you are looking for a small and cozy place to enjoy a few small plates with friends then 22 Ships is the spot to hit up! Yes, it is very small (probably seats just a little over a dozen people) so you’ll most likely sit at the communal table upfront or at the bar if you come with a large group. They don’t take reservations either so get here extra early if you’re not looking to queue up for a while.
They’ve got a Michelin chef if that sparks your fancy! Everything is beautifully presented and has got the tasty flavors to back it up. The majority of the menu is tapas style so you’ll be sharing a ton of small plates. I’ve dined here a couple times and ended up satisfying my tummy both times.
I do recommend coming with a group of friends so you can have a taste of most of the menu. We came in a group of 5 the first time I dined here and nearly ordered everything on the menu (well, not everything but about 18 dishes so close enough =P).
My second time was on a date so it was just half a dozen entrees, so I can say I’ve tried the entire menu, haha.
I’m not going into full detail as there are way too many dishes to give my take on. But I will highly recommend ordering the truffle toast with quail eggs, the bone marrow and soft shell crabs just to name a few.
They’ve got an open kitchen so you can watch the chefs do their magic. With such a small space, you’ll definitely be in an intimate setting. The staff are extra friendly and made sure to check up on us to see if everything was okay.
Wash down your food with one of their specialty sangrias. They whip them up much better than other places and will give you a buzz that’ll make your appetite grow (which you can’t complain about).
Get there early and order as many plates as you can!

This place is very cool. It’s small, casual and cozy yet seemed trendy. They opened at 6, and when we arrived at 630, it was already pretty busy but we were able to snag a table since we were a group of 3. None of us were super hungry so it was great that we were having tapas for dinner. We shared the seafood paella, jamon toastie, and two specials of the day: lamb ribs and a salted cod spread. Everything was very delicious but I especially loved the salted cod spread and the jamon toastie. If you are in a hungrier mood, this definitely would not have been enough food. This place is delicious and if I lived here, I would definitely come back over and over again but, I have to mention, it is pretty pricey.

Was a big fan of Aberdeen Street Social: the atmosphere, the food… Jason Atherton delivers once again on a fantastic concept here at 22 Ships. The décor and ambience itself reminds me of «The Narrows» in Bushwick… a jam packed cocktail bar. A cocktail bar this is not– but the tapas are indeed flowing. I was happy to see a few Sherries available on the list by the glass (I can’t fault a HK tapas bar for serving me an Admontillado too cold, but it was). The food was very good, but I would have like to have seen a few more smaller ‘traditional’ tapas options… here we see more full-​sized sharing options (plus the infamous Iberico ham, a ubiquitous necessity in Hong Kong I’ve already learned in my short time here). I liked the vegetarian options, creative and delicious all around… the oxtail cheek was definitely good, but I would like to have had a bit more seasoning to back it up. Wonderful atmosphere, and rather decent service upped the ante on my stars here.

Jason Atherton — love him or hate him.
I’m not a big fan of his establishments here in Singapore — from the very pretentious Esquina to the very bad service at Kheong Saik Snacks. The only saving grace is Pollen, located at the beautiful Gardens by The Bay. But still, for a semi fine dining restuarant, i felt that the restaurant looks a bit «casual» so the overall experience wasn’t that great.
But, Jason is someone you should meet in person. I was lucky enough to meet him in person and spent some time chatting with him during one of the food festivals here in Singapore sometime last year and being a true Brit himself, is filled with character and a funny guy. I complaint how his restaurant (Kheng Saik Snacks) lacks of customer service and he told me, «No worries, I’m gonna get back after this and kick their @$$es». haha.
Moving on to my recent trip to HK, I read about the buzzling Ship Street in Wan Chai and how it has transformed to be a foodie haven with many michelin star chefs opening their restaurant that dotted along this small «laneway» that was unknown before this.
I arrived at 22 Ships on a late Friday afternoon hoping to get a seat. I walked in and was immediately greeted by 2 wait staffs and since it was way passed lunch hour, I scored a seat right in the middle of the beautiful bar where I get to witness all the action at the open kitchen. Also spotted was Chef Nathan Green, the executive chef, busy overlooking the kitchen to ensure everything run smoothly.
To start, I ordered the salt baked beetroot with goat’s cheese and red vein sorrel (HKD98). Beautiful dish and I was impressed how generous the portion was for an appetizer. Thick slices of beetroot baked to perfection served together with chunks of goat’s cheese. Very good. For mains, I was torn between the Iberico pork and foie gras burger or the braised ox cheek but in the end, I ordered the latter since having a burger could be too filling. The braised pork cheek was very, very good with meat so tender, I could just cut it through the meat with my fork. Flavours were bold and it kept you wanting more. But alas, after finishing the mains, I was so full that I have to skip dessert and leave it to next time. Washed down the meal with 3 glasses of red wine (don’t judge, I’m on holiday!) and the house wine was rather strong, I walked out the restaurant feeling a bit, just teeny weeny bit tipsy.
I will definitely come back to try out some other stellar items on the menu and hopefully to introduce to my friends this amazing place!

Friendly and cute staffs, nice atmosphere, stylish place, food presentation is good. It seems that 22ships have all the elements to score a five star, or does it ?
I have always wanted to try out this place coz I have been hearing so much about it and I love love love love Spanish food.
I must said I was impressed by the design of the restaurant. It’s really chic and the open kitchen makes it easier for me to interact with the staffs and see what they are doing.
it’s always fun (for me at least) to see people making food and drinks. Turning a plain dough into something awesome, pouring out colorful liquids from different bottles… let me tell you, those chefs are not just cooking, they are performing!
The staffs are by far one of the friendliest staffs I have met in Hong Kong. They are always smiling (C’mon we all know that there’re a lot of grumpy servers in Hong Kong) and they are always willing to help me with passion.
The only reason why I am giving a four star was the food. The food… is just… not as good as I have expected. I am not saying it’s bad, it’s just not… WOW-​ing for me. The calamari is not crunchy at all, some of them are just plainly soaked with oil, I wouldn’t call it deep fried calamari. It’s really disappointing coz I really wanted to like it. The beef tartar is okay, nice presentation, but will I recommend it? Mmm… maybe not.
I am glad that the pork & foie gras is actually really good, the buns are soft and hot, the pork is juicy and it matches great with the wasabi sauce, making the taste very memorable and unique.
Overall I’d say it’s a nice and chic place for friends to hang out, just stay away from the calamari and you are all good.

Michelin-​rated chef? Check! Outstanding and unique dishes? Check! Excellent wine pairings? Check! Beautiful interior open-​air onto Ship Street? Check! Friendly service and laid-​back clientele? Check! What more could you want from a Wan Chai restaurant? The same folks also own Ham & Sherry, the bar across the road, and another spot behind it, which must remain incognito. After a brilliant meal (don’t forget the pain con tomate starter and the fantastic desserts) hop across the road and watch the football or basketball in Southorn Stadium. Who knows, maybe one day 22 ships will add a 23^rd ship and open a food stand there – one can always dream! NB, 22 Ships takes not of the reservations, so unless you are there early or on a slow night, be prepared to que :(Seriously, though, who doesn’t take reservations in this day and age?

This is one of the most interesting restaurants to review on, partly because it is not like any traditional Spanish restaurant in Hong Kong, first up they don’t take any reservation nor do they charge service charge. The restaurant is frankly quite cramped, service is very causal and you have tables high up and around the kitchen/​bar area, if you get a table around the kitchen, you could see how every dishes is delicately prepared and presented. You do get a sense this is not like some ordinary western restaurants in Hong Kong. They have done their parts in making it s westernised as possible. I love the food and the environment, however, I would love to see a more well defined menu since its menu is a dull at times and would need some changes from time to time. Other than that, an awesome restaurant!

This is my favourite restaurant in Hong Kong, hands down.
I have been here many times since their opening and never have I been disappointed with the quality of food, the service or the vibe.
They have a no reservations policy, so you must go early and leave your name on the list. Once you are seated, your adventure begins. I have only ever sat at the bar, which I absolutely love! The vibe is outrageous, it’s loud, it’s fun, you see all the action in the kitchen, it’s all over the place, and I promise, in a good way. A very good way.
The chefs are friendly, so they will always answer any questions you have about your food or what they are making. If you are lucky, they will even give you a bite of what they are making.
The food never ceases to amaze me. From the appetisers all the way through to their desserts. no matter how many times I have had a certain dish, I can always have more.
Some of the dishes I want to higher are their wagyu foie gras sliders, the beetroot/​goat cheese salad, their suckling pig and their peanut butter and jelly (PBJ) dessert. The beetroot/​goat cheese salad is paired with some truffle powder. i could sniff this thing! jk. It’s this white powder made with dehydrated truffle then blended into a powder. It is so fragrant and yummy, i think I could pair this with anything!
The sliders, need I say more? The foie gras is melted into the burger, making it extra juicy, giving it that umami flavour to it. The suckling pig. i think it’s the best in hk. They don’t always have it, and is always sold out, so if you want it, tell them you want it as soon as you leave your name at the door.
Overall, the experience here is always fun, always excellent and I always want to go back… if only i didn’t have to line up!

My colleague took me to 22 Ships for lunch today and I am S.T.U.F.F.E.D
I’ve been a couple of times before and have always enjoyed it, but today we ordered perfectly and I could not put my fork down. Neither could anyone else it seems as the place was heaving — not a free seat in the house which I hadn’t expected for a weekday lunch.
I would describe the food at 22 Ships as modern tapas — well presented, clean and refined. We ordered the Spanish Breakfast, Sliders, Salt Cod, Suckling Pig, Bone Marrow, Lamb Shoulder, Beetroot (yup, a LOT of food) as well as two glasses of red sangria. It was all delicious but the suckling pig and lamb shoulder courses were particularly divine and zero eye contact or conversation took place whilst those dishes were on the table. The menu actually reads quite simply but what arrives on the table is always a spectacle — really well presented with added touches that you wouldn’t expect. For example, the bone marrow is mixed with beef cheek and topped with golden crumbs. Literally the best bone marrow I’ve ever tasted.
Usually I find sangria a bit sickly but I liked that the red sangria was not too sweet and didn’t overwhelm the food at all. My friend had the white sangria and I was tempted to order my own but alas the office called.
As 22 Ships don’t take reservations I’d recommend arriving before the crowds. If you sit at the bar you can see everything in action but for a less distracting catch up, I like the high tables on the left.
Whilst good for a catch up, 22 Ships would also make a great first date venue. It’s buzzy, interactive and just generally impressive. Top marks.