Tsui Wah’s Mao Mao Eat at Tai Kwun arts centre – OK snacks for under HK$100, but not a full meal
Located in the former police station-turned-arts-complex in Central, Mao Mao Eat’s brief all-day menu of typical Hong Kong tea restaurant dishes will satisfy those seeking lunch or a snack
Mao Mao Eat is a new concept from the cha chaan teng chain Tsui Wah, and is located in the former police station-turned-arts and restaurant hub, Tai Kwun, in Central. The restaurant offers traditional Hong Kong-style snacks and light meals for under HK$100, along with a range of beverages.
The location is picturesque, with the restaurant situated by the Tai Kwun courtyard on the ground floor of a heritage building. The interior has an earthy colour scheme of green walls and wooden furniture, which was chic and welcoming, and there are shaded tables outside.
We went during the evening, which was the wrong time to visit. Despite offering an all-day menu, the restaurant is more suited for lunches and snacks, and closes at 8pm.
Two of the meal options are instant noodles with beef or pork for HK$58 and two are seafood with macaroni soup, ranging between HK$63 and HK$83, while a vegetarian burger is HK$58. Beverages can be included as part of a set meal – an additional HK$10 for coffee or HK$12 for a smoothie.
We ordered the instant noodles with satay pork and the seafood broth with macaroni. The satay pork noodles, served with scrambled eggs and a bun, tasted fine. The seafood broth had a good flavour and the fish was relatively fresh.
The food was served in thick cartons and customers have to go pick up the meals from the dispatch counter themselves.
There are three snacks on offer: crispy chicken with fries for HK$68, fries for HK$28, and crispy bun with condensed milk for HK$20. We had the fries and they were too salty.
Mao Mao Eat seems to cater to the Tai Kwun crowds as a rest stop option more than anything. If you happen to visit the arts centre and just needed a quick snack or drink to refuel, then this place is a good choice. Otherwise, it is not worth a stand-alone visit.
Mao Mao Eat, Shop 03-G08, Barrack Block, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central, tel: 2601 9818. Open: 11am-8pm
While you’re in the area: