Off Duty Taxi Driver Dining

Have you ever wondered who best knows the lay of this land? It’s not the Tourism Board; it’s not the employees at any land-surveying government entity. Rather, it’s those who roam around in distinctive red, green and blue vehicles. Taxi drivers are fonts of knowledge about what to see, where to shop, and, most importantly, where to eat—especially if you’re on the go. We braved the gridlock and discovered five places where our city’s taxi drivers like to grab a quick bite.

Sheung Wan

Nestled down a side street just off Hollywood Road and Possession Street in Sheung Wan is For Kee Restaurant. For Kee specializes in pork chops—on rice, in a bun or piled atop noodles. Or just go for the perfectly marinated, deliciously oily meat instead.

This family-owned and operated restaurant is a bare-bones diner filled with plastic stools intimately squished around small round tables that seem as weathered as the family members/waiters themselves, who have been feeding residents, office workers and taxi drivers for over 30 years. A giant menu board hangs over the open kitchen—which, it must be said, is best not to look at too closely if you’re a hygiene freak. Cars line the narrow streets outside, while inside there’s a rowdy crowd.

The scene is highly boisterous and diners are friendly. So pull up a stool and prepare to get to know the strangers sharing the table with you.
For Kee Restaurant, Shop F & G, 200 Hollywood Rd., Sheung Wan, 2546-8947.

Wan Chai

Just behind a surprisingly clean garbage depot on trendy Star Street is an unassuming Hong Kong-style eatery that teems with taxi drivers. At Keung Kee Fast Food, space is limited, with three tables inside and a smattering of outdoor seating, yet it’s well-lit and clean. The whitewashed walls are dotted with printed menus and beer ads.

A spartan food menu mainly offers instant noodles outside of their lunch sets, but the drinks are affordable and the milk tea a favorite among the diners. Outside, a taxi manager seated at a folding table on the corner marks off a schedule for trading shifts, while inside cabbies indulge in a cuppa before either retiring for the day or beginning work afresh.