When Hosni Emam's landlord near tripled the rent for his Egyptian restaurant Habibi three years ago, he had no choice but to move. Known for its dark alcoves, hookahs and belly dancing, Habibi had flourished for almost a decade on Wellington Street. 'For the first few years it was hard to find a seat. You had to book months in advance and there were people waiting in the street,' Emam reminisces.

He relocated to Lan Kwai Fong and although he no longer has queues forming at his door, business has picked up steam.