For Sunday family dinner for four, I made a reservation at
Rainbow Seafood Restaurant in Lamma Island. There are free ferry pickups at Central and Tsimshatsui; we got a ride at Central Pier 9. There are people in blue jackets with the restaurant name on; you confirm the reservation and they give you a sticker, the ferry ticket.
Here comes the ferry. The upper level is quite open, perhaps a little cold for this time of the year since the wind up there blows strong. The ride is about 30 minutes but on a windy day, those weak to seasickness may have a little bit of trouble, though not big.
I went during lunch time, but you get quite a view, though not extraordinary, with either the island/nature view or the Hong Kong city view. I bet during sunset it is beautiful.
After arriving at Sok Ku Wan, the smaller island of Lamma, you see a series of seafood restaurant, though the Rainbow Restaurant is the most popular- and also relatively pricy.
The pier to be visited later on for returning rides
The road is like a small marketplace
The place was quite crowded with tourists from all over the world, but also Hong Kong/Chinese people. I heard this place is a popular company gathering-meal place because there is a ferry ride from Central, a main business area in Hong Kong. Just a reminder that liquors here are a little pricy for that reason.
You can either use the menu to order or go to the tank and order. The people that help you do speak English and give some advice too. You can control your budget that way; the only part I failed was when I ordered Garoupa that was a little over my budget and gave up the shrimp. But it was okay, because the fish was pretty big, and though Rainbow Restaurant is not the cheapest place, in Hong Kong or in Korea, where I come from, seafood is much more expensive.
Thin slices of beef and peanuts, given as a sort of appetizer
Bamboo Clams with Bean & Chili Sauce, 112HKD(14USD)
The sauce was pretty good and went well with the bamboo clams. The only caution is that come of the red pepper bits are quite spicy and may water your eyes- don't chew on them unless you really intend to.
Steamed Scallops with Garlic Sauce, 100HKD (13USD)
The garlic sauce was very good, and went well with both the scallops and clear noodles. The scallops are not very big but perhaps this is just the right amount when you are having so many other things. The person helping the order usually accommodates the amount depending on how many people are on your table.
Fried Lobster with Butter Sauce, 300HKD (39USD)
One of the signatures of this restaurant: I guess this was everybody's favorite. I was a little worried if this may be too buttery, but it turned out just right. Because it is fried, the little legs are crunchy and edible with ease.
Steamed Garoupa, 350HKD(45USD)
I needed a fish dish for my mother and garoupa happens to be a popular fish in Asia. This was the garoupa I mentioned above, which was a little over what I was aiming for. However it was an enjoyable dish. The server disects(?) the fish so you can eat it easily.
Fried Crab with Honey and Pepper Sauce, 160HKD(21USD)
Gold prize winner of the culinary awards 2001: the sauce was sweet but not just sweet, which was good. However it is not the easiest dish to eat, and though it is a decent dish even if it doesn't fit your personal taste, it was not our favorite. Worth a try, though.
Fried Rice, 55HKD(7USD)
This fried rice was decent. Just the right amount for four people too. We also ordered a side of vegetable that was sauteed, but I think next time I will ask it to be steamed, since many of our other dish uses oil anyway.
So the bill was 1300HKD(167USD) with 10% service charge, which could have been just a little less by substituting Garoupa with shirmp or many other options available. Still everybody was content with the meal, and though maybe not an every weekend event-it does take time to go back and forth, and ferry rides can by tiring for many-it was an interesting experience.
Four people went to a place called Maxim in City Hall. This is a well-known place and during lunch they serve yamcha(small lunch dish with tea); you always have a line unless you arrive at opening hour, 11AM.
It is a pretty big place and the ladies pull the carts around calling out the name of the items they carry. It is nice if you know several dish names in Chinese, but usually foreigners uncover so that they can see what is in. Sometimes the ladies inform you briefly by saying "shrimp" or "pork" or such.
Some carts looks like this; it is easier to pick out.
Table setting and hot pepper sauce to dip
A pork dish 
Shiumai, A type of Shrimp Dumpling, one of the most popular
With mushrooms and vegetables
Shaorungbao, another popular one: You usually put it on a spoon and eat because this pork dumpling is suppossed to be full of juice- beware, because it can be hot.
Rice dish - not my favorite
With barbequed sweet shredded pork
Rice cooked with leave cover
Fried Squid 
Hagau, probably the most popular and my favorite too: the delicate thin outer layer and the chewy whole shrimp inside is simply the best.
Well, chicken feet!
One of the dessert, custard too sweet for my taste
So everytime you order they give you a stamp, and later on they use it for the bill. With the 10%service charage the bill was 510HKD(65USD) for four. Though the individual dish are small, we were quite full. Maxim in Central City Hall is one of the popular yamcha places in Hong Kong and I would say it is pretty good. It is nice to go in group of three or four to try lots of different stuff, though if you are not accustomed to this type of food, it won't be "fantastic." I still say it is worth trying as a tourist, since yamcha is a part of Hong Kong culture.
