Ask for Alonzo is a modern trattoria in Hong Kong, serving dishes inspired by the Mediterranean provinces of Italy. The Italian hideouts have three locations, respectively in Quarry Bay, Tai Hang, and Happy Valley.

The Happy Valley branch is right at the Tram Terminus and you can just sit inside and watch all the trams (aka “ding ding”) and people moving around to get a vivid sense of daily life in Hong Kong.

The restaurant’s name comes after its founder and chef, who claims to be a big fan of home-cooking pasta which eventually led to the opening of his restaurant(s) in Hong Kong. I was there for lunch and the “Alonzo Milanese” schnitzel caught my attention more than its pasta.

My decision proved to be a great one and the only problem was the food portion there was quite big so I ended up packing the last piece (of total four) pork schnitzels home. That ultimately became my midnight snack. My gym trainer will hate me when he sees this post, I know.

I used to live in Central and we have a pretty nice restaurant in the neighborhood called Oolaa. The sentiment of Alonzo reminds me of Oolaa too. It feels like a good choice for brunch or just drinks.

When you have a glass of wine and see all the trams are moving around alongside the iconic racecourse in Happy Valley, you tell yourself: “Life in Hong Kong is not too bad!”

Address: Ask for Alonzo, G/F Hang Fung Mansion, 17-19 Wong Nai Chung Rd, Happy Valley