巴蜀緣 Bashu Garden Sichuanese Cuisine

They can be hard to keep track of among trendy new eateries around the new(ish) Sai Ying Pun MTR, but Hong Kong Island’s western districts still have plenty of genuine Chinese restaurants hidden away. One as satisfying – and affordable – as any is Bashu Garden Sichuanese Restaurant on High Street, conveniently halfway between Sai Ying Pun and Hong Kong University MTR stations. This is a friendly, neighbourhood kind of place, with kitschy Chinese lanterns, carved wooden furniture and willow-pattern china blending with chic interior design and creative modern lighting to create a unique atmosphere. The food, as expected, relies on Sichuanese culinary traditions. However, Bashu Garden boasts much more than tongue-tinglers, with quite a few mild options palatable to all manner of palates (our choice is the heavenly crispy smoked duck). Still, the Chongqing mala chicken is a mouthwatering introduction to Sichuan spice for the uninitiated and an absolute godsend for the already converted.