During my visit to Hong Kong, I noticed that the cafe scene there is flourishing just as much as it is in our beloved country. With so many similar kinds of joints popping up, the struggle is of course to be recognized and to be distinct. Well, I had the chance to stop by one cafe in Mongkok – Urban Cafe Commune – and I was beyond impressed.
Situated in MOKO, which is a shopping mall located in Mongkok, Urban Cafe Commune is a spin-off of the already-popular franchise Urban Bakery that is found throughout Hong Kong. With an open dining concept, the European style all-day dining space is modelled after a skateboard park and the whole setting gives off a very relaxed, rustic vibe.
Urban Cafe Commune is also strategically launched as an addition to the Urban Bakery outlet in MOKO. Hence, this makes it the ideal one-stop shop whether you’re looking for a good cuppa and a light bite or a savoury lunch and dinner meal. Inspired by French cooking, Urban Cafe Commune combines craftsmanship with premium ingredients imported directly from France in all of its offerings.
Check out what I tried at the cafe below:
Assorted croissants – Of course, I had to give the acclaimed croissants a shot. Some of the flavours I tried include the original croissant, the chocolate one, the savoury cheese croissant, the creme brulee one, the one with crunchy almond flakes on the top, the Polo croissant that is inspired by the popular Polo bun in Hong Kong, and lastly, the croissant with a salted egg custard filling.
I love croissants, but I’ve never tasted anything like this. Freshly baked and made with quality French butter, the croissants were extremely buttery, flaky, and satisfying. Each flavour I tried was unique and even though there were additional toppings, none of them overpowered the original taste of the pastry.
St. Pelegrino Fruitty Special – To quench my thirst, I ordered the St. Pelegrino Fruitty Special in Mixed Berries, as recommended by the waiter. When the order arrived, there was a bottle of St. Pellegrino water and a glass of crushed ice with a mixed berry concoction at the bottom of it.
What you’re supposed to do is pour the St. Pellegrino water into the glass of crushed ice and mix it well before taking a sip. The drink was light and refreshing! It was only slightly sweet, which is perfect for my liking, and the berries naturally flavoured the water.
Urban 3-hr Slow Roasted Chicken (1/2) – Served with fries and a side salad, this has got to be the juiciest chicken I have ever tasted. I was told that the chicken is injected with French butter to enhance the flavours before it is cooked to perfection.
Marinated with a mix of herbs like thyme and rosemary, the chicken tastes heavenly and the butter really does make a difference. I usually avoid breast meat as it is mostly dry and bland, but the breast meat of this chicken was moist, tender and really tasty.
Kim Ann Yeong Beef Burger – I’m not a huge fan of burgers, but I gave this one a go anyway. Served with some fries, the sesame burger bun is topped with a thick homemade beef patty, kimchi sauce, glazed bacon and cheese.
The bacon complemented the juicy beef patty and the kimchi sauce gave the flavours an extra kick. It was slightly spicy and pungent on its own, but it balanced out the flavours of the burger itself.
63°C Onsen Egg Carbonara – Carbonara is my favourite pasta dish and the one served at Urban Cafe Commune beats every other Carbonara I have ever tasted. Apt to the name of the dish, the egg is cooked at exactly 63°C before it is placed on every plate of pasta.
The egg, together with the cream, aged cheese and bacon, forms the most luscious, fragrant and indulgent sauce that tastes out of this world. The pasta itself is al dente and the sauce isn’t too creamy or rich. Just writing about this Carbonara makes my mouth water!
To be honest, I did not expect much, but I clearly belittled the cafe. For a very unassuming eatery like this, it is surprising how perfectly executed the food is. Everything on the menu is well thought out and most importantly, I could almost feel the passion and love that is put into every dish served on our table. If you’re visiting Hong Kong any time soon, do yourself a favour and experience the food at Urban Cafe Commune on your own. You’ll thank me for sure.
Urban Cafe Commune
1/F, MOKO, Mongkok,
Hong Kong.
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