Locals are willing to wait over an hour in line — a must-try new restaurant in Hong Kong

Reported and photographed by reporter You t●ru / Hong Kong

A new food craze has swept through Hong Kong this (103rd) summer, as celebrity chef Jamie Oliver from a well-known travel show opened a restaurant here at the end of July. Jamie’s Italian, which already has 40 branches worldwide, marks its second location in Asia after Singapore with this Hong Kong opening. Hong Kong residents are going crazy for Jamie Oliver’s new eatery, lining up for up to an hour just to dine there. ETtoday EBC News Cloud went to Hong Kong to get an exclusive look at this new restaurant even loved by Hong Kong’s seasoned foodies.


▲ A full-scale dragon guarding the entrance symbolizes the home of Hong Kong.

Located on the second floor of a building in Causeway Bay, Jamie’s Italian features a stunning visual concept. To pay homage to the area’s history as a former fishing village, the restaurant not only places shipping containers in the kitchen area but also draws inspiration from Hong Kong culture for its graffiti art. At the top of the escalator near the entrance, a full-scale dragon guarding its home against mermaids and storms creates a striking visual impact and serves as a key design element within the restaurant.

In terms of space, the restaurant boasts a vibrant yet spacious interior, combining Italian-American design aesthetics that make the second-floor venue feel bright and expansive. It’s reported that the restaurant is particular about ingredient sourcing—chicken used is free-range, and diners can see cured meat products hanging right at the counter, as well as the restaurant’s homemade pasta. For Hong Kong locals who are also concerned about food safety, a Jamie Oliver-endorsed restaurant may be a refreshing new dining hotspot.


▲% (Text garbled) The interior design combines modern and rustic styles.


For menu highlights, the restaurant recommends signature dishes including a cured meat and cheese platter, shrimp pasta, and free-range roasted chicken. Among the three, the reporter found the cured meat platter to be the most impressive—not like typical cured meats where saltiness overshadows the smokiness, the ones here have very tender meat, with delicate smoky flavors coming through first, followed by subtle saltiness and a faint aroma of meat juices.

As for the pasta, Jamie’s Italian serves a more al dente texture compared to standard Italian styles, with a tomato-based sauce that has a lighter, more watery consistency. Rather than blending the sauce and pasta together, the dish highlights the pasta’s texture with the sauce complementing it—an unusual and distinctive approach. The free-range roasted chicken is simple in flavor, letting the natural taste of the chicken shine through roasting, with only minimal seasoning, served with just a slice of lemon and some arugula for added flavor.

 
▲ The cured meat and cheese platter, with hanging cured meats visible at the bar counter. (Photo / provided by the establishment)


▲ The roast chicken dish, with simple seasoning that lets the chicken’s natural flavor come through. (Photo / provided by the establishment)


▲ The shrimp pasta, with a tomato base and firmer pasta center. (Photo / provided by the establishment)

Overall, the dishes at Jamie’s Italian may not wow you at first bite, but they offer layers of delightful surprises, with flavors that linger impressively long after the meal.