PUMPERNICKLE, Hutchison House, Admiralty
This is my favorite all-around healthy lunch place. They bake their own artisanal bread and have an impressive variety of choices from sun dried tomato panini bread to yogurt cheese brioche. All their food is made fresh to order and their portions are generally quite generous if you dine in.
What I like best about Pumpernickle are their daily specials such as sesame vegetarian chicken over red rice with a choice of side salad or soup (such as pumpkin or split pea with bacon) and bread for only HK$60.
In addition to their specials, I'm also a HUGE fan of their chicken caesar and avocado salad. The portion is massive so I always feel full after a delicious and nutritious salad and soup. In lieu of soup, you can order coffee or tea as part of set combo. Their coffee is equally good, made fresh on their espresso machine.
Some other highlights include their pan fried cod sandwich and tuna and egg mayo on bread of your choice (pictured above). Even with so many choices to choose from, Pumpernickle never disappoints. Takeaway or dine in option available at approximately $50-65 per head.
LA BAGUETTE, Lan Kwai Fong
Similar to Pumpernickle and Velo, La Baguette makes their own bread and man oh man is it good! I'm a sucker for their wheat baguette which is perfectly crispy on the outside and soft and chewy in the middle. Although slightly less healthy than Pumpernickle as they do not have any salad options, their sandwiches are truly delicious and are usually big enough to be shared with a colleague. I highly recommend the salmon and avocado (pictured on the right) or the duck confit with brie. Other notables include their pumpkin soup and made to order pastas. Most sandwiches will set you back $60-70HKD.
LIFE CAFE, Shelley Street, Soho (right along the escalator)
I probably eat or takeaway from Life Cafe at least once a week. They offer 5-6 selections at the salad bar each day and you mix and match up to five choices for a large salad at $75 or choose three choices for $50. Some of my favorite salad choices include the quinoa salad, fried tofu and the broccoli and feta. NB: The large salad is definitely big enough for two!
Life Cafe also offers healthy and nutritious filo pastries filled with spinach and feta and has an impressive selection of vegan desserts. This is probably the best place in Central for Vegans.
In addition to their takeaway, Life Cafe has a charming upstairs for sit down diners. They offer a large selection of organic vegetarian offerings for dinner. Their weekend brunch is also very good for the vegetarians. I particularly like their avocado and seitan club sandwich served with sweet potato fries(see photo above), tofu skewers with cashew sauce, and their omelettes.
NB: Life Cafe is also great for gluten free folks!
LA CAUSETTE (Take out bar at The Mandarin Hotel)
I really am not a fan of the 360 cafeteria and I only recently found out about the surprisingly affordable take out counter at La Causette. They offer a 3-4 salad options and a small salad of your choice costs only HKD$50. You can mix and match or stick with one salad choice. My personal favorite is the beet root, shortly followed by the Vietnamese beef salad.
EAT RIGHT, Staunton Street, Soho
I must admit that Eat Right is a better healthy dinner option as it's a more formal sit-down place. However, they do offer a healthy 3 course set lunch for approximately $100.
Eat Right uses healthy ingredients and is mindful of oil and seasoning. Their menu is quite large so there is usually something for everyone. Some highlights include the fajitas which were flavorful and filling and the pan seared salmon entree. Their selection of fresh juices and smoothies also makes this a great healthy choice restaurant for a quick pit stop after the gym. Pictured to the right is the chickpea burger available for lunch or dinner.
SIMPLY LIFE, IFC and ICBC/Citibank Tower
Thank god for Simply Life's ample salad selection and daily varieties of soup. It's hard to stay on track though when confronted by all the lovely pastries and Chinese food options. Again, you can pick a small or large salad and there is usually at least 3 soup options.
If you can resist the fries (which appear to be baked not fried though) there are also chicken burgers (see photo on left) and other slightly healthier lunch options such as all day breakfast, which sadly requires resisting the bacon.
The food at Simply Life is always consistent and made fresh so even though a typical lunch here will set you back $80 (including a drink), it's definitely somewhere to keep on your rotation when working in Central.
