Fook Lam Moon reaches out beyond the tycoons
After years of serving pricey Cantonese food to the rich, Fook Lam Moon aims to broaden its reach as conspicuous consumption goes out of fashion
News-hungry reporters and paparazzi have long lurked at its door to prey on the city's who's who. But Cantonese restaurant Fook Lam Moon, which literally translates as "good fortune arriving at your door", is now looking beyond the jet set.
Henderson Land Development chairman Lee Shau-kee is among the restaurant's regular patrons. Others include Bank of East Asia chairman David Li Kwok-po and Chinese Estates controlling shareholder Joseph Lau Luen-hung, as well as a host of politicians and celebrities.
We have seen fewer customers willing to throw lavish business dinners
There is a reason for the exclusivity of Fook Lam Moon's clientele - its prices. A set dinner can cost up to HK$29,800 for 12 people.
The most expensive banquet the restaurant has ever hosted was for 120 people; the bill came to more than HK$1 million.
Duncan Chui Tak-keung, the third-generation scion now in charge of the restaurant's new business development, wants to change all that.
"We want to open our doors to everyone who loves good food. We serve banquets costing tens of thousands of dollars, but we also serve delicious dim sum lunches for a few hundred dollars for tourists and locals," Chui told the South China Morning Post in an interview at the plush restaurant on Johnston Road in Wan Chai.