Closing: FoFo by el Willy to Say Adios

Spanish restaurant FoFo by el Willy first came onto the Hong Kong dining scene in 2010, over 10 years ago. After the success of el Willy in Shanghai, award-winning chef Willy Trullas Moreno from Barcelona designed the Hong Kong menu alongside talented chef Alex Fargas, who heads up the HK operation. FoFo has proven itself a favourite amongst diners time and time again – even landing a highly coveted spot in 2017’s Michelin Guide. But even that is not enough. Their Facebook post this morning announcing their imminent closure took us all by surprise.

11 years ago, we started our mission to serve Hong Kong with the best contemporary Spanish foods. We dedicated ourselves in every way to create a unique dining experience for our customers.

We made so many great friends like you and created so many unforgettable moments along the way. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generous support.

Yet the world has changed, and now it’s time for us to take pause. We truly hope that this is just a pause and we will meet again.

But before we go, please drop by for your favorite tapas before 30 January – so that we can say a proper “adios”!

FoFo by el Willy, Hong Kong

We’ll miss the crisp white tablecloths, romantic lighting, custom-made penguin chandeliers and twinkling views of the Hong Kong skyline that have welcomed Hong Kongers for more than a decade (specially the penguins – they’re adorable and everywhere). Chef Fargas told us that they chose penguins because fofo means “pudgy” or “flabby”. What will happen to these chubby little guys after the closure? We certainly hope they’ll find a new home along with FoFo’s delectable Spanish eats.

FoFo by el Willy tapas

We absolutely adore FoFo by el Willy. By remaining consistent yet innovative in its passionate approach to both contemporary and traditional Spanish cuisine, we thought they would withstand Hong Kong’s brutal F&B scene, compounded by 2020's global F&B devastation. Let's hope this truly is a temporary pause.

Thank goodness we’ve still got La Paloma, FoFo’s more casual Sai Ying Pun sibling, which shares Executive Chef Alex Fargas. We hope they will continue serving up their signature “sexy” tapas for some time.