5 Eating Places in Hong Kong Even the Locals Love

Mention Hong Kong and food is one of the first things that pops into mind. From street eats to Michelin-starred restaurants, Hong Kong offers innumerable choices of dining outlets. With the myriad choices, where does one start then? Well, when it comes to food, we think the best bet is to go where the locals go. We asked some of our friends in Hong Kong for their favourite eating places and shortlisted these five great finds.

1. Hing Kee Restaurant

Originally started in Causeway Bay two generations ago, Hing Kee Restaurant (避風塘興記菜館) may not be the most fancy dining destination, but people flock to this restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui for its specials such as their stir-fried crabs with black beans and chilli, Sampan congee, and rice noodles. It’s run by a fisherman’s daughter who gained a reputation for her dishes prepared the way they were on sampans. One of the definite tries here is the Roast Duck White Noodle in Soup (HK$32). The thinly cut noodles come with a rich soup base and flavourful roast duck meat. If you want a second helping (which you probably would), you can opt for just the noodles and the soup (HK$27).

1/F Po Wah Comm Building, 180 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | Tel: +852 2722 0022

2. Kau Kee Restaurant

Listed as a Bib Gourmand Restaurant on the Michelin Guide Hong Kong 2015, Kau Kee Restaurant (九記牛腩) has over 90 years of history on Gough Street. Like many of the old local restaurants in Hong Kong, Kau Kee is crowded and cramped, but the locals keep coming back for its signature Beef Brisket Noodles in Clear Broth. Basically, Kau Kee only serves Beef Brisket Noodles – the only variations lie in the choice of noodles and the broth (clear or curry). Be prepared to wait in line for a seat at this restaurant though.

G/F, 21 Gough Street, Central | Tel: +852 2850 5967 | Opens Mon to Sat, 12.30 pm to 10.30 pm, closed on Sundays and public holidays

3. Aberdeen Fish Market Yee Hope Seafood

No one knows seafood better than the fishermen themselves. Tucked away in Aberdeen Fish Market is a restaurant run by the local fishermen. Called Aberdeen Fish Market Yee Hope Seafood (香港仔鱼市场二合海鲜餐厅), the restaurant has no menu and you will need to enlist the help of a Cantonese-speaking friend to place the orders for you. How it works here is you’ll tell the restaurant owner your budget and he will source for the freshest seafood accordingly.

A meal for two would cost around HK$200 to HK$400 per person. The fishmongers and fishermen come here regularly for meals. Be sure to book a table at least two days in advance, and it opens only for lunch between 11.30 am and 2 pm to the public.

G/F, 102 Shek Pai Wan Road | Tel: +852 2552 7555

4. Choi Lung Restaurant

Choi Lung Restaurant (彩龍茶樓) is family-run restaurant which serves dim sum. Don’t be fooled by its run-down façade. Word has it that even famous actor Chow Yun Fatt likes to visit this old-school eatery for its tea, which is brewed using mountain spring water. At the restaurant, you can even get to watch the staff make the dim sum on the spot.

One tip for you – go early if you wish to eat piping hot dim sum. Some of the dim sum are placed on plates on a table and you basically pick and choose what you want. So if you go late towards the closing hours, what’s left on the tables would have gone cold.

2 Chuen Lung Estate, Route Twisk, Tsuen Wan | Tel: +852 2414 3086 | Opens from 5.30 am to 3.30pm

Law Fu Kee

Congee is comfort food to many Chinese. For a taste of good ol’ congee, head to Law Fu Kee (羅富記粥麵專家). The head chef at Law Fu Kee has been preparing congee the same way for over five decades – preparation starts at 3am daily with the boiling of old Thai rice and fish bones. Prices for the congee range from HK$32 to HK$40. If congee’s not your thing, the restaurant also serves other local delights like wanton noodles, beef brisket noodles and fried carp balls.

140 Des Voeux Road, Central | Tel: +852 2541 3080

144 Queen’s Road, Central | Tel: +852 2543 3881

G/F, 50 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central | Tel: +852 2850 6756

Open daily 8am to 8pm

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