A Michelin star at Hakkasan Dubai, an executive kitchen post at Mandarin Oriental Doha—these are the two standout lines on Kevin Liu's résumé. Now the next line reads: the banks of the Mae Ping River in Chiang Mai. He has just taken over as chef at Hong's, the Chinese restaurant inside InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping, bringing his expertise in Cantonese, Sichuan, and Hubei cuisine, with a specialty in "wok hei"—the technique of achieving that perfect burst of flavor through split-second high-heat searing. His challenge this time: translating that technique into the language of Southeast Asian spices.
His debut menu, called "Lucky 8," runs throughout August with set menus for two or more to share. Among the eight signature dishes, standouts include Wagyu Beef Pot Stickers and Golden Oat Tiger Prawns, priced at THB 1,888 net per person. The auspicious number needs no further explanation. Once this August tasting period wraps up, Hong's will host a "Catena Zapata Night" on September 25, pairing wines from the renowned Argentine winery Catena Zapata with an evening menu—including their Angélica Zapata Malbec—priced at THB 2,250 net per person, with an early-bird rate of THB 1,900 for reservations made before September 16. A Chinese restaurant in Chiang Mai making an Argentine winery the centerpiece of its September program—that pairing alone is worth noting.
Buy-One-Get-One at the Bar, Deep-Tissue Relief at the Spa
Elsewhere in the same hotel, The Gad Lanna restaurant is preparing a "Taste of Motherly Love" buffet lunch for Thai Mother's Day on August 12 (marking the birthday of Queen Mother Sirikit), priced at THB 2,388 net per person, with an early-bird rate of THB 1,988 for reservations made before August 7—mothers dining with their table that day receive 50% off. Upstairs, the Hong's rooftop bar follows a different logic: Monday through Friday sunset hours bring "Sky Social Hour" with buy-one-get-one on select drinks, Thursday's "Gin & Glow" night offers every lady a complimentary Bombay Sapphire Gin & Tonic, and the daily "Night Bao" special pairs the restaurant's signature bao with a drink for THB 550.
