Ppalli Ppalli

New Korean-Italian restaurant and bar Ppalli Ppalli, which means ‘hurry hurry’ and sounds a bit like the numbers ‘82 82’ in Korean, looks like a stainless steel spaceship in the middle of Sham Shui Po. Neon signs hoping to let the ‘good times roll’ meet concrete walls, glass bricks and an ever-changing programmatic light installation for that sci-fi time travel effect. The menu is full of creative fusion dishes inspired by Korean food with a base of traditional Italian recipes, including things such as Ssam Bouquet ($58 for one or $118 for sharing) with slow-cooked pork belly with Korean perilla leaves, lettuce and Korean hot sauce; Yukhoe Toast ($158) with Korean style raw beef tartare, pears, mullet roe, British horseradish and cucumber; and Samsaek Perdu ($58) with homemade pains au lait topped with seasonal fruits, lemon sauce and white chocolate mousse, among others. Drinks-wise, Ppalli Ppalli are also bringing a select number of Korean makgeolli and craft beer to Hong Kong for the first time.