Hong Kong dining discounts not to everyone’s taste but Chinese restaurants report brisk business on handover anniversary
- Outlets saw boom in business, with sevenfold increase in sales for some dishes, Association of Restaurant Managers spokesman Jonathan Leung says
- Some patrons unaware of discounts, while others say they were a pleasant surprise but did not make much of a difference
Residents and tourists were unimpressed with the long list of July 1 perks offered by food outlets as part of Hong Kong’s handover anniversary celebrations on Saturday, but large Chinese restaurants and dim sum chains reported brisk business.
Association of Restaurant Managers’ spokesman Jonathan Leung Chun, who also runs Seafood Delight Group, said business was booming on the 26th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule, with certain dishes that had a 29 per cent discount seeing a sevenfold increase in sales. The discount, or “paying 71 per cent of the price”, is a play on “7/1”, referring to July 1.
“Honestly, business has not been great for the past few holidays, with many Hongkongers choosing to travel abroad,” he said. “This weekend, we felt there was a major difference.”
The number of food outlets offering perks and discounts as part of the anniversary celebrations represented about 12 per cent of the 12,800 restaurants in the city, based on official data as of April 18.
In the popular Lan Kwai Fong entertainment district in Central, about 10 restaurants and bars were offering discounts on wines, champagnes, weekend brunches, seafood and meat dishes on Saturday and Sunday.
At Italian restaurant Baci, which slashed 29 per cent off its HK$188 (US$24) and HK$98 packages for free-flow drinks for two hours, some diners said the discount was a nice surprise.
Ron Sahni, who enjoyed a brunch buffet with four friends at the restaurant, said staff had told him about the reduced rates when he sat down.
“I think this is lovely. Who doesn’t like a discount?” Sahni said.
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But the 31-year-old manufacturing executive, who ordered wine, including prosecco, and spirits as part of the package originally priced at HK$188, said the discount had not made him want to spend more than usual.
Issac Yau, 33, who dined at the same restaurant, said he was not impressed with the offers and did not opt for any discounted items.
“We ordered two portions of the brunch buffet. There wasn’t a discount for that,” Yau said.
In Causeway Bay, cha chaan teng Kam Kee Cafe’s 29 per cent markdown for tea and dinner sets stopped some diners in their tracks.
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Athena Wong, 26, said a poster about the discounts had prompted her to get a table with her mother.
“I didn’t know there were discounts for restaurants, but prices seemed like a bargain with the offer, that’s why I’m eating here,” Wong said.
But the make-up artist said she would still consider options without discounts on the menu before her final order.
Kam Kee boss Ray Chui Man-wai reported better traffic at his restaurants, saying business had increased by about 15 per cent compared with an ordinary weekend.
“Some customers thought there was a 29 per cent discount on everything, but we explained to them what we were offering and they still enjoyed the food,” he said.
As part of the handover anniversary perks, patrons of catering chain Cafe de Coral’s 140 outlets only need to pay 71 per cent of the original price, or HK$99, for a two-person set meal featuring Chinese winter melon soup over the weekend.
Catering giant Maxim’s Group offered a 29 per cent discount on select items at 50 outlets under brands such as Maxim’s MX and Food Square. This includes boneless Hainan chicken rice and fried egg with preserved turnip.
Tao Heung Group’s nearly 40 Chinese restaurants offered a 12-person abalone set meal at a 29 per cent discount for under HK$3,000 (US$380), while other outlets featuring Hakka and Chiu Chau cuisines sold HK$700 meal sets for six.
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The group’s Tai Cheong Bakery also offered egg tarts and Chinese-style doughnuts, its signature treats, at HK$7.10 each for a purchase of two, but the reduced rates were unavailable at its Lyndhurst Terrace branch in Central and at Victoria Peak on Saturday, where eight egg tarts were going for HK$71 instead.
Mainland Chinese tourists Jake Yang and Xu Wei, both in their 20s and from Guangzhou in Guangdong, were at the Central branch, but only bought two egg tarts.
They said the discount meant little to them as they visited the bakery because of good reviews.
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“[The discount] is festive and appreciated, but personally, it’s not practical for us since we wouldn’t be able to finish so many,” Yang said.
Fast food chain McDonald’s offered two pineapple custard pies for HK$11, but there was little indication of the promotion at its outlet in IFC Mall in Central, and many customers said they were unaware of it.
Customer Linda Chiu, a 47-year-old housewife, showed initial interest after being told by a Post reporter, but was put off by having to download the McDonald’s app to enjoy the discount.
“I don’t have time for that, I’m just here for a quick meal,” she said.
