Greatest Hits: 10 restaurants with the longest lines in Hong Kong
Florence Yu joins the 10 longest restaurant lines in town to see what all the hubbub is about.
Mi-Nei Sushi
G/F, 12 Pak Sha Rd., Causeway Bay, 3188-2440
Have you ever wondered why you find a gang gathering on this little street in Causeway Bay every evening? It takes longer to queue than to eat at this place, so what’s the big draw? Like any other revolving sushi place, Mi-Nei features one giant conveyor belt in the center, surrounded by elevated chairs and a dozen tables a little further to the side. So what’s the deal? It’s all about the exceptional service, impeccable cleanliness, agreeably priced food and delicious, complimentary green tea, constantly refilled.
Average waiting time: 1 hour
Sen-ryo
Shop 3099-3100, Podium Level 3, IFC Mall, 8 Finance Street, Central, 2234-7633
Another revolving sushi bar? Yes, in fact, these joints are the sources of most queues you see snaking around the Hong Kong streets. By 4pm on any given weekday, Sen-ryo, tucked into a corner at the IFC Mall, always finds itself with a long queue already stretching out from the entrance. So a Zen-like patience is required if you want the delicious, fresh sushi, crispy seaweed and perfect Japanese rice.
Average waiting time: Up to 2 hours
Watami Japanese Casual Restaurant
Shop B9-10, Basement 1, The Sun Arcade, 28 Canton Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui
With more than 200 branches all over Japan, Watami is a chic and modern izakaya (“bar” in Japanese), serving a selection of snacks as well as alcoholic and virgin drinks. Popular with teens and couples, Watami’s low prices, good service and lovely interior décor make it well worth queuing up for.
Average waiting time: 30 minutes
Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao
Shop B224, Times Square, Causeway Bay, 2568-6262
Crystal Jade is a delight for Shanghainese food. Its signinature xiao long bao, or steamed pork dumplings, is usually ordered by everyone as soon as they sit down, without even reading the menu. The minced pork is rich in flavor, and the dumpling shells are thin and chewy. The food is reasonably priced, and the small portions make this restaurant popular for couples or a small group of friends. A neat, classy eatery, Crystal Jade is a good escape from the swarming shoppers outside.
Average waiting time: 1 hour 30 minutes