23-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Splendid sushi, perfect prawn toast: Hong Kong restaurant picks of adventure platform CEO
Former finance professional turned nature enthusiast Roland Sharman is the founder and CEO of HKOutsider, a platform for outdoor adventure-seekers. He spoke to Andrew Sun.
For an expat child growing up in Hong Kong in the '70s and '80s, the restaurant scene was not what it is now. I did not really enjoy eating – no offence to my mother, but standard European fare of meat and veg did not quite do it for me.
But we did have a tradition of going for dim sum every Sunday, where I stuffed my face with prawn toast,
sweet and sour pork , and the obligatory fried rice. This was the start of my food journey.
A few years later, when I started working in finance, it was all about Japanese cuisine. I enjoyed everything in some fabulous Japanese establishments. To this day, without question, Japanese food is still my favourite.
A casual Japanese dinner spot I love is Cooshti (Shop G35, Lee Tung Avenue, 200 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. Tel: 2796 7328). Its eclectic Asian fusion menu may not be traditional, but it is tasty. I cannot get enough of the salmon nigiri with a little sweet spice. The second-floor terrace overlooking Lee Tung Avenue is delightful and a great place for drinks. The team is also always on point.
Kingfish roll at Cooshti. Photo: Instagram/cooshtihk
I like Arcane (3/F, 18 On Lan Street, Central. Tel: 2728 0178) for lunch at the bar counter, watching the team do their thing. Although it is a fine-dining place, chef Shane Osborn and the team make the setting feel like family and not pretentious.
