1. Sushi Hiro

Ah man, we so envy those working in Causeway Bay. This top-notch sushi restaurant is usually expensive at dinner (rightly so because of its excellent quality) but at lunch, you can order bargain lunch sets. Our favorite is the 16-piece sushi set, which includes succulent toro, scallop and uni, and also a teapot soup and dessert, for $290. 10/F, Henry House, 42 Yun Ping Rd., Causeway Bay, 2882-8752.

2. 208 Duecento Otto

The brand-new Italian restaurant on Hollywood has just started to serve lunch—at only $138. The three-course menu includes an arugula salad with Parmigiano Reggiano, broken roasted garlic and aged balsamic vinaigrette to start, followed by a pasta or small pizza of your choice, and ends with a gelato or sorbet. The deal also comes with a glass of wine, beer or soft drink. Loving the afternoon tipple! 208 Hollywood Rd., Sheung Wan, 2549-0208.

3. Nobu

The best time to sample the dishes of Japanese master chef Nobu Matsuhisa is at lunchtime due to the attractive price tag. For example the Nobu signature bento box is $298 and includes a sashimi salad with Matsuhisa dressing, sushi and sushi roll assortment, rock shrimp tempura with creamy spicy sauce, chef Nobu’s world-famous black cod saikyo yaki (braised black cod in miso sauce) and Nobu-style seafood pan-fried rice. 2/F, InterContinental, 18 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2721-1211.

4. Bo Innovation

While “Demon Chef” Alvin Leung’s exquisite takes on Hong Kong staples would cost you at least $680 during dinner, Bo’s five-course lunch is a mere $228. You can choose from his famous dishes, such as foie gras lettuce wrap with white miso sauce and toro with foie gras powder and freeze-dried raspberry ($80 extra). If you are really flaunting it (money and time, that is), try their $780 lunch chef’s menu, which has eight courses of all the Demon Chef’s best offerings. 2/F, J Residences, 60 Johnston Rd., Wan Chai, 2850-8371.

5. Grissini

Grand Hyatt’s much-loved Italian restaurant has a lunch menu ($315 for two courses, $345 for three) that gives one a taste of authentic Italian cuisine in a spacious venue overlooking the harbor. Start the meal with a salad. Try garden leaves with La Tur cheese (delish soft cheese from Italy), walnuts and honey, followed by Parmigiano Reggiano and butter risotto. If you still have room for dessert, get a milk gelato with mixed berries, berry sauce and fresh cream. 2/F, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong,1 Harbour Rd., Wan Chai, 2584-7722.

6. Caprice

Caprice is easily one of the best restaurants in town, with its great service and impeccable French cuisine. While dinner at this three Michelin-star restaurant may set you back a hefty wedge of cash, more reasonable is the lunch menu feasts ($400 for two courses, $450 for three). A sample menu might include flammenküche, marinated salmon and mesclun salad in cumin vinaigrette to start, then a main of wagyu beef rump, and finally a dessert of white peach eclair, Verbena chantilly and suncrest sorbet. 6/F, Four Seasons Hotel, 8 Finance St., Central, 3196-8888.

7. Restaurant Petrus

The Island Shangri-la’s top-floor restaurant serves excellent French fare amid dramatic décor and a stunning harbor view. And for just $368, you can choose two courses from its rotating menu, $60 more for an extra course, and both come with a glass of wine and coffee. The current menu includes appetizers like crispy snail and frog leg tart with marjoram perfumed tomato and black garlic; soups like Chinese lettuce heart remoulade in chilled cucumber consommé; and mains like steamed Dover sole, abalone with miso, cockles and baby bok choy. 56/F, Island Shangri-la, Supreme Court Rd., Admiralty, 2820-8590.

8. Pierre

Oh, Pierre. The master chef’s Hong Kong outlet at the Mandarin Oriental has made a name of its own under the helm of its chef Olivier Elzer. Have a lunchtime quickie (which guarantees a gastronomic orgasm) with chef Olivier’s signature dishes on the “Express Lunch” menu ($360 for two courses, $80 for each additional course), including a foie gras soup with amontillado, citrus and chili sorbet, and black pudding to start, followed by the 63-degree egg in spring ratatouille. Carry on for more courses such as Ibérico pork confit with gentiane, corn cream, goat cheese and guaya ice cream and a Pierre lemon tart to round it up. 25/F, Mandarin Oriental, 5 Connaught Rd., Central, 2825-4001.