Thai Basil Shop 005, Pacific Place, tel. 2537-4682

Don't be deceived by this restuarant's mall location: delicious food with reasonable prices make it a popular dining spot. An Australian chef artfully presents his myriad Oriental creations with a contemporary twist, creating such deliciously innovative dishes as scampi and banana bud with lime and mint leaves, stingray salad with green mango, and green papaya and crispy fish. Those with a sweet tooth will love the homemade ice-cream selection, from ginger to honeycomb, while the sticky banana pudding deserves two thumbs up. An exclusive dining area called The Kitchen at the back of the restaurant services well-heeled diners. Reservations recommended for The Kitchen. AE, DC, MC, V. $13 - $38

Wyndham Street Thai 38 Wyndham St., tel. 2869-6216

Touches of red and turquoise and a few Thai decorations liven up the stark gray walls and minimalist decor. The food -- Thai with a Western twist -- is artfully presented on large, contemporary plates. The crispy coconut prawns with peanut and cucumber sauce and the green mango salad with char-grilled scampi are appetizing starters. A table of four or more can try the red emperor (a delicious sea fish from Australia) in Thai sweet-and-sour sauce. For carnivores, the roast U.S. game hen stuffed with lemongrass rice is a winner. The wine list has over 400 selections and is organized by grape. Desserts range from a flavorful licthi sorbet to black-mango chocolate cake. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch weekends. $38 - $64

Vegetarian
Eating Plus 1009, Southern International Finance Centre, tel. 2868-0599

Healthy eating with elegant simplicity is the principle of this smart restaurant, making it a popular hangout for the health-conscious crowds. The menu includes chicken, beef, and seafood dishes as well as a wide selection of noodles, ramens, pastas and rice. Tasty side dishes include eggplant medallions, crispy tofu, and chicken and vegetable skewers. A glass of freshly squeezed juice from the fruit bar completes this healthy dining experience. Located next to the Hong Kong Station, this is an excellent stop for a hearty treat before you hop on a train for the airport. AE, DC, MC, V. $13 - $38

Kung Tak Lam 45-47 Carnarvon Rd., tel. 2367-7881

Health-conscious diners will appreciate this simple Shanghainese vegetarian food. Don't turn your back when you see the no-frills decor; it's the food that makes this place so popular. Try the cold noodle plates, which come with an array of sauces to mix and match for as sweet or sour a flavor as you want. The bean-curd ravioli also gets a big thumbs-up. Set-price meals are incredibly cheap. AE, DC, V. $13 - $38

Nice Fragrance Vegetarian Kitchen 105-107 Thomson Rd., tel. 2838-3608 or 2838-3067

Ingredients as simple as bean curd, mushrooms, and taro are whipped into unexpected and delicious forms here. Don't be surprised to see a whole "fish" on the next table: taro paste molded into a fish shape and deep-fried is one of the most popular dishes in Chinese vegetarian cooking. Crispy on the outside and succulent inside, the dish is served with a tangy sweet-and-sour sauce. Assorted vegetables wrapped in a sheet of bean curd form a flavorful combo that might surprise your palate, and a delicious fried rice with both tomato and white sauce will please the indecisive. Vegetarian dim sum and a snack counter at the door round out the offerings. AE, DC, MC, V. $13

Vietnamese
Indochine 1929 California Tower, Lan Kwai Fong, tel. 2869-7399

You'll feel like you're dining in a French plantation verandah at the height of the colonial era in this restaurant, whose decor is as authentic as the food; most of the ingredients used are imported twice a week from Vietnam. Highlights include the salt-and-pepper soft-shell crab, the fried beef and tomato, the stir-fried fillet of pork with shallot and lemongrass, and the fried fish Hanoi style. The staff's traditional costumes -- ao dais, straight, elegant silk gowns worn over flowing pants -- and the surrounding old maps and antique fans and lamps add to the atmosphere. The newly extended private area is ideal for group outings or parties. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch Sun. $38 - $64