Lede:
At the West Kowloon Xiqu Centre, the stylish Chinese eatery Peony Garden (遊園) is turning tradition on its head this autumn with a new, tongue-in-cheek “Crazy Cooling Afternoon Tea.” Running now, the seasonal menu pairs classic Cantonese culinary heritage with bold, health-conscious street-food energy—headlined by an intensely green coriander ramen, century egg sandwiches, and a bitter melon lemon tea designed to beat the lingering summer heat.
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Nestled within the cultural hub of the Xiqu Centre—home to Cantonese opera and traditional performing arts—Peony Garden has long been a destination for refined Cantonese dining. But with its latest afternoon tea offering, the restaurant is leaning into playful experimentation. The new menu, dubbed “Crazy Cooling,” reimagines the classic cha chaan teng (Hong Kong-style café) repertoire through a lens of traditional Chinese cooling (qingre) ingredients.
A Bowl of Green: The Lv99 Coriander Ramen
The undisputed star of the spread is the “Lv99 Coriander Ramen”—a cheeky gamer reference to maximum level. The broth is made by blending an enormous quantity of fresh coriander into a vivid, grass-green soup that delivers an unapologetic punch of herbal aroma. It’s not just about the greens, though: the bowl is loaded with bouncy beef balls, squid balls, and Teochew fish balls, bridging the gap between high-end dining and local street-stall nostalgia.
Creative Street-Style Bites
The kitchen team, led by a chef known for reinterpreting home-style dishes, has crafted a series of snack-sized treats that balance richness with refreshing bitterness:
- Century Egg & Coriander Scrambled Egg Sandwich – A creamy, savory filling with the distinctive earthy tang of century egg, lifted by fresh coriander.
- Century Egg & Coriander Garoupa Soup Rice – A comforting bowl of clear fish broth with tender grouper slices and fragrant herbs—light yet satisfying.
- Coriander & Salted Beef French Toast – A crispy, golden toast sandwich packed with hearty salted beef and coriander, offering a savory-sweet balance.
- Salted Lemon Jam French Toast – A clever dessert twist, using tangy salted lemon jam to cut through the richness of the fried toast.
Quirky Cooling Drinks
To complete the experience, the bar team has developed two signature beverages. The Bitter Melon Dutch Lemon Tea blends the subtle bitterness of melon with cooling mint and zesty lemon—a refreshing palate cleanser after the heavier bites. Meanwhile, the Jade Bowl Jelly Coconut Ice is a visual treat: a translucent green jelly served in a generous bowl with sweet coconut milk, perfect for those seeking a lighter, dessert-like sip.
Classic Favorites Remain
For diners who prefer tradition, Peony Garden continues to serve its beloved classics, including caramelized pineapple cha siu (BBQ pork), Hainanese chicken rice, nostalgic wun tsai (shark’s fin soup substitute), steamed threadfin with ginger and scallion, shrimp roe abalone sauce-braised pomelo skin, and a claypot rice with yellow eel from Taishan. The meal can be rounded off with a serving of mulberry mistletoe lotus seed egg tea—a time-honored cooling dessert.
Details for Diners
Peony Garden is located at Shop 2-3, G/F, Xiqu Centre, 88 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui. The restaurant is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended, especially for afternoon tea hours. For more information, visit www.peonygarden.com.hk or call 2320 7455.
Broader Impact:
This new afternoon tea is more than just a novelty—it reflects a growing trend among Hong Kong restaurants to fuse wellness ideas with nostalgic comfort food. By spotlighting ingredients like coriander, bitter melon, and century eggs—long valued in Chinese food culture for their detoxifying and cooling properties—Peony Garden is appealing to younger diners seeking both Instagram-worthy dishes and a nod to traditional dietary wisdom. As the city’s culinary scene continues to evolve, expect more chefs to playfully blur the lines between heritage and hype this season.