https://www.scmp.com/rss/317874/feed They are the restaurants for everyday eating in Hong Kong – local places where you can fill up on good food for HK$100 and under, reviewed by SCMP food critics. Includes reviews posted in the past year and a half. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Regina Ip Regina Ip Hong Kong is at risk of splitting up into two economies. On one end, Hong Kong’s financial, professional and business services are being revived on the back of China’s resurgent, tech-driven economy and the shifting balance of power between Washington and Beijing. US President Donald Trump’s global tariff war, announced on April 2, was supposed to kneecap the world. But the shock and awe unleashed have rapidly dissipated due to rising misgivings about the looming fiscal crisis, compounded by the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3315161/hong-kongs-financial-sector-soars-what-about-food-and-retail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3315161/hong-kongs-financial-sector-soars-what-about-food-and-retail?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2025 01:30:08 +0000 A lunch crowd gathers at a cha chaan teng, the Hong Kong equivalent of a greasy spoon. Staff brush past carrying scalding milk teas, scrambled eggs on toast and instant noodles. But every so often, a show-stopper enters the fray: you’ll spot its toasty leopard spots of caramelised cheese crust atop a matt blanket of red sauce, coating seasoned pork chops draped across a bed of fried rice. Everything about the guk ju pa fan – baked pork chop rice – feels right, and it is one of the defining... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3209325/baked-pork-chop-rice-history-defining-hong-kong-comfort-food-its-humble-roots-and-fine-dining?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3209325/baked-pork-chop-rice-history-defining-hong-kong-comfort-food-its-humble-roots-and-fine-dining?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Feb 2023 04:45:54 +0000 With a background in engineering, IT and banking, Frenchman Chris Daures is a co-founder of Eatology, a meal planner service that recently launched a Flexitarian meal plan. He spoke to Andrew Sun. I moved abroad when I was 23, living in England and Japan before moving to Hong Kong. I really enjoy travelling, outdoor activities and discovering different food cultures, so experiencing countries and their food has always been important to me. There are many places I love but in Hong Kong, here are... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3198774/great-after-hike-best-hong-kong-restaurants-seafood-brunch-and-dim-sum-according-french-food?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3198774/great-after-hike-best-hong-kong-restaurants-seafood-brunch-and-dim-sum-according-french-food?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Nov 2022 03:15:10 +0000 Joseph Louli is the marketing and hospitality manager at The Madison Group Asia, which handles premium kitchen and lifestyle brands like Sub-Zero, Wolf, Rimadesio, Wittmann, and Viabizzuno. Recently, he branched out with his own creative consultancy, Wasta. He spoke to Andrew Sun I grew up between the Middle East and Ireland and was exposed to a lot of different cultures and foods. My father is Egyptian and my mother is Irish, and they threw great dinners and parties and roped me and my siblings... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3197943/spoilt-choice-best-middle-eastern-food-hong-kong-plus-indian-bistro-and-beach-bar-picks-egyptian?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3197943/spoilt-choice-best-middle-eastern-food-hong-kong-plus-indian-bistro-and-beach-bar-picks-egyptian?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Nov 2022 03:15:16 +0000 A lot can happen in a month in Hong Kong’s dining scene and that’s been especially true recently, with restaurants and bars opening at a pace that shows no sign of slowing down. As the temperature drops to a pleasant chill in the coming weeks, you will not be alone in craving heartier dishes or wanting to find an alfresco spot to enjoy the breeze. Highlights this month include plenty of options for meat lovers, including steakhouses and grill restaurants. We also see the return of the cafe at... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3197311/best-new-restaurants-and-bars-hong-kong-try-november-pizza-all-you-can-eat-buffets-french-food-view?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3197311/best-new-restaurants-and-bars-hong-kong-try-november-pizza-all-you-can-eat-buffets-french-food-view?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Oct 2022 04:45:09 +0000 Hongkonger Kam Ling has been a travel writer for 20 years and has published more than 50 books. Her latest is about learning to tango in Argentina. She spoke to Andrew Sun. Travel writing is not business class jets and luxurious hotels eating Michelin-starred feasts, nor is it a nine-to-five job. The itinerary usually involves multiple flights, predawn wake-up calls (to capture a sunrise) followed by full days of touring, photos and notes. It can be exhausting, but I love it. Some people write... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3195531/amazing-beef-brisket-and-middle-eastern-flavours-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3195531/amazing-beef-brisket-and-middle-eastern-flavours-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Oct 2022 09:45:07 +0000 California-raised Charlene Ho is a university biochemistry lecturer and Slow Food Hong Kong’s special projects coordinator. She spoke to Andrew Sun. As a Chinese-born American, I consider myself a third culture kid. We always had a lot of international influences and exposure to different foods living in a small university town in the US. My first nanny was Mexican, so I grew up eating tortillas, beans and cheese which, as a Californian, is not that surprising. In graduate school, I studied... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3193228/chiu-chow-cuisine-cooked-food-markets-private-chefs-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3193228/chiu-chow-cuisine-cooked-food-markets-private-chefs-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Sep 2022 09:15:10 +0000 A cohort of pizza enthusiasts, hospitality professionals and chefs gathered at The Peninsula Bangkok on August 8 to celebrate the unveiling of the 2022 Asia-Pacific rankings in the 50 Top Pizza list. While Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok had the most pizzerias ranked, the No 1 position went to 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar in South Yarra, Melbourne, Australia. A Beijing-based pizzeria, Bottega, came in at an impressive No 2, while Tokyo’s The Pizza Bar came in at No 3. This online guide to the world’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3188533/where-find-best-pizza-asia-pacific-melbourne-beijing-and-tokyo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3188533/where-find-best-pizza-asia-pacific-melbourne-beijing-and-tokyo?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Aug 2022 11:15:21 +0000 Mido Cafe, one of Hong Kong’s oldest traditional cha chaan teng – cafes that serve Chinese-Western fusion food – has announced its closure in an ambiguous message posted outside its premises. The farewell note is written mostly in Chinese, and includes a photo of a shop cat perched on one of Mido Cafe’s iconic Formica tables. The brief message struck a poignant note with its opening: “Life has its share of decades, and without knowing, 72 years have passed since Mido Cafe began here. “So let’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3185804/one-hong-kongs-oldest-traditional-cha-chaan-tengs-mido-cafe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3185804/one-hong-kongs-oldest-traditional-cha-chaan-tengs-mido-cafe?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Jul 2022 10:17:58 +0000 Philippines’ Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), famous for its fried chicken, is aiming to not only expand to China, but to serve Chinese food all over the world to drive growth, a goal it hopes to achieve by acquiring Michelin starred restaurant chain Tim Ho Wan. Jollibee Worldwide, a unit of JFC’s, completed the acquisition of Hong Kong-based Tim Ho Wan last month by paying S$71.56 million (US$53.25 million) for a 15 per cent share that it did not yet own, to private-equity fund Titan Dining,... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3147628/jollibee-famous-its-fried-chicken-completes-acquisition-michelin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3147628/jollibee-famous-its-fried-chicken-completes-acquisition-michelin?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Sep 2021 06:26:19 +0000 Having suffered one of the most devastating economic downturns that has lasted for almost a year and a half, local restaurants are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. The relaxation of seating capacity and other arrangements in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, though, may be of little comfort to the many who are still struggling. Nonetheless, it gives caterers a glimmer of hope for a long-awaited restart. Unfortunately, that is not the case for food truck operators. If the recent... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3139225/save-hong-kong-food-trucks-rethink-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3139225/save-hong-kong-food-trucks-rethink-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jun 2021 14:55:54 +0000 Jowett Yu, executive chef of Chinese restaurant Ho Lee Fook, will soon leave Hong Kong, but he hopes he has inspired some young people to get into cooking in his seven years in the city. And not just any cooking, but Cantonese cuisine. He’s worried he won’t be able to eat freshly made dim sum if he comes back to Hong Kong in 20 years’ time, noting that the average age of dim sum chefs in the city is 55. “I worry about this. It’s a vanishing cuisine,” says Yu, 39. “I hope there will be more young... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3138133/will-there-still-be-freshly-made-dim-sum-hong-kong-departing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3138133/will-there-still-be-freshly-made-dim-sum-hong-kong-departing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Jun 2021 23:15:00 +0000 As a dining destination, Canton Road has a lot of draw factors, the biggest being Hong Kong’s largest mall, Harbour City, which houses Michelin-starred restaurants, a variety of cuisines and plenty of new openings. Here’s our pick of seven must-try eateries in the Tsim Sha Tsui neighbourhood – and our favourite dishes to try of their diverse spread of menus. 10 best Hong Kong restaurants which have closed in 2020 Amelia Amelia is the first restaurant in Hong Kong from award-winning chef Paulo... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3086710/where-eat-tsim-sha-tsui-harbour-citys-best-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3086710/where-eat-tsim-sha-tsui-harbour-citys-best-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 May 2020 04:10:08 +0000 In case the name of the restaurant wasn’t enough to let you know the speciality of Asam Chicken Rice, the row of cooked chickens hanging in the window should give you a strong clue. But this cosy restaurant in Sheung Wan serves more than just Hainan chicken rice: the menu lists other southeast Asian dishes including beef rendang, Singaporean curry laksa and Penang shrimp noodles. The walls are decorated to look like the rows of shophouses you might find in the fashionable areas of Malaysia and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3078913/hainan-chicken-rice-beef-rendang-and-other-southeast-asian?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3078913/hainan-chicken-rice-beef-rendang-and-other-southeast-asian?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2020 03:00:22 +0000 It’s no secret that the invention of instant ramen in Japan was a game-changer in modern Asian cuisine. Starting as a premium product that evolved into a cheap staple in every kitchen in Asia, instant ramen is now consumed all over the world. But there were a lot of socioeconomic and political factors that led to this innovation, which can be traced back to post-war USA. Instant noodles were created by Momofuku Ando, owner and founder of the famous Nissin company in Japan in 1958. Ando... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3077785/whats-story-behind-instant-ramen-noodles-and-how-did?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3077785/whats-story-behind-instant-ramen-noodles-and-how-did?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2020 06:00:08 +0000 Set among the small antique shops on Hollywood Road in Sheung Wan, Blackwood Cafe & Bar serves up all-day breakfast, snacks and late-night drinks. My friends and I visited the cafe for lunch on a recent quiet afternoon. Its all-day menu features egg and bagel breakfasts, soups, salads, burgers, and Mexican dishes. We ordered avocado toast (HK$72, US$9.30), beef quesadilla (HK$128) and salmon taco (HK$128). The toast was served on an extremely hot plate. Although the waitress had warned us, my... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3076908/restaurant-review-blackwood-cafe-bar-sheung-wan-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3076908/restaurant-review-blackwood-cafe-bar-sheung-wan-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2020 03:00:10 +0000 Going vegan does not mean you have to give up on your favourite beef burger or meatball spaghetti meals. At hkveganshop, you can find spaghetti bolognese, burgers and burritos made with plant-based meat. In general, mock meat mimics the texture of traditional meat with protein from pea, soy, or other vegetables and grains. We were at the vegan restaurant for lunch, and ordered a vegan cheese Beyond burger with avocado (HK$111, US$14) and a basil, tomato spaghetti with Omnipork and sweetcorn... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3074395/vegan-cheese-beyond-burger-avocado-under-us15-hkveganshop-wan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3074395/vegan-cheese-beyond-burger-avocado-under-us15-hkveganshop-wan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2020 03:00:19 +0000 On a cool Hong Kong afternoon, we visited Pho Mot Vietnamese Restaurant, about a minute away from the MTR station in Sheung Wan. It’s easy to spot the small restaurant because of its bright lime green exterior. As soon as we were seated at the shared table with backless stools, a waiter brought a small plate of fresh herbs – basil, culantro, lime and red chilli – to flavour the broth. Those who sit at the bar counter also get to see the open kitchen where cooks assemble noodle soup and prepare... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3052189/restaurant-review-noodle-soup-and-great-drip-coffee-under-us12?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3052189/restaurant-review-noodle-soup-and-great-drip-coffee-under-us12?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Feb 2020 07:00:20 +0000 Compared to a fast food meal, sushi is seen as a healthier choice as it offers lower fat and leaner proteins. But is sushi actually that healthy? Yes – and no. Like most dishes, there are hidden culprits in sushi choices that can easily turn your meal from light to loaded. 5 hotpot food swaps for a healthier meal Next time you feel like eating sushi, try these nine hacks for a healthier meal. Order a side of veggies Most sushi items generally contain little to no vegetables. That said, one of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3052018/can-eating-sushi-be-bad-you-9-hacks-healthier-japanese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3052018/can-eating-sushi-be-bad-you-9-hacks-healthier-japanese?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Feb 2020 04:00:10 +0000 Shabab Syrian Food in the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry terminal building serves inexpensive and delicious Middle Eastern fast food. A small place – it seats just 10 diners – its menu is simple, and features many staples of the region’s cuisine. Main courses come with side dishes of fries, salad or Arabic rice. Other side dishes, such as lentil soup and mutabal (spicy aubergine dip) with bread, will set you back HK$35; a serving of bread costs HK$15. Diners can add HK$8 for a soft drink, while a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3049961/restaurant-review-shabab-syrian-food-tsim-sha-tsui-middle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3049961/restaurant-review-shabab-syrian-food-tsim-sha-tsui-middle?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Feb 2020 03:00:06 +0000 On the second floor of a newly renovated Hong Kong heritage building called 618 Shanghai Street is Dignity Kitchen, a bright and airy space that serves Singaporean hawker food. The menu includes dishes such as Hainan chicken rice, laksa, claypot rice and nasi lemak, as well as Singaporean-style coffee and milk tea. For dessert, the pandan chiffon cake is just as good as, if not better than, that at famed Singapore bakery Bengawan Solo. The food and drinks sold here in the bustling Kowloon... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3049790/i-look-their-ability-not-their-disability-social-enterprise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3049790/i-look-their-ability-not-their-disability-social-enterprise?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Feb 2020 23:45:15 +0000 Saravana Bhavan is one of the biggest Indian vegetarian restaurant chains in the world, and its bloody past has not deterred a loyal following of Indian food lovers. The chain’s founder, Pitchai Rajagopal, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering the husband of a woman he wanted to make his third wife. The restaurant tycoon died last year 2019 at the age of 71 in Chennai, formerly Madras, the capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, days after the Supreme Court rejected his... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3047885/restaurant-review-saravanaa-bhavan-tsim-sha-tsui-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3047885/restaurant-review-saravanaa-bhavan-tsim-sha-tsui-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jan 2020 08:30:11 +0000 Ink, at the newly reopened Hong Kong Museum of Art, offers alfresco dining a stone’s throw from the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui. The 60-seat casual self-service shop serves up grab ‘n’ go bites, local craft beers and home-made seasonal ice cream. The atmosphere is relaxed, giving diners a chance to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong and enjoy stunning views of Victoria Harbour. We were impressed by the curried oyster doughnut (HK$45), which was flavourful and cooked... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3045862/restaurant-review-ink-tsim-sha-tsui-offers-tasty-oyster?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3045862/restaurant-review-ink-tsim-sha-tsui-offers-tasty-oyster?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Jan 2020 03:00:14 +0000 Eating dim sum is a quintessential Hong Kong experience. The bite-size portions of food are often paired with a cup of Chinese tea to aid digestion, so the act of eating dim sum is known as “yum cha”, literally “drink tea”. At Jin Cheng in South Horizons, you can find tasty dim sum at a reasonable price, with swift service. We arrived at 12.30pm on a weekday and the restaurant quickly filled up. The shop is spacious and has sleek, modern decor. Dim sum range in price from HK$25 to HK$42, while... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3043936/restaurant-review-jin-cheng-south-horizons-tasty-dim-sum-wont?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3043936/restaurant-review-jin-cheng-south-horizons-tasty-dim-sum-wont?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Dec 2019 02:45:06 +0000 Among the shops and restaurants on bustling Jaffe Road in Wan Chai, Red Pocket Cart Noodles Cafe stands out for its vintage Hong Kong-style storefront. We arrived at noon when the shop only had a few customers, but within half an hour, it was full. The cafe has a nice, homely atmosphere and friendly staff. The walls are decorated with a fortune cat holding a fork and a bowl of cart noodles, Japanese style prints and small trinkets on circular wooden shelves. We ordered two lunch sets and a bowl... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3042412/restaurant-review-red-pocket-cafe-wan-chai-us9-cart-noodles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3042412/restaurant-review-red-pocket-cafe-wan-chai-us9-cart-noodles?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Dec 2019 03:30:14 +0000 Tucked down Swatow Street in Wan Chai, Spring Field specialises in Vietnamese pho with wagyu broth. A small and charming spot, it has wood furnishings and an open kitchen, with friendly and helpful staff. We arrived at noon, barely avoiding the lunch rush. Customers can choose between two types of noodles – pho and Thai noodles – and also have the option to add coriander, purple onion and chopped spring onion as garnishes. At each table, there is a cute cartoon of a duck who teaches customers... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3040337/spring-field-wan-chai-vietnamese-pho-angus-beef-and-wagyu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3040337/spring-field-wan-chai-vietnamese-pho-angus-beef-and-wagyu?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Dec 2019 03:30:09 +0000 Think of Thanksgiving and it is hard not to think of guilty, self-indulgent excess. Its image was distilled by New Englander Sarah Josepha Hale, who described the feast in detail in her 1827 novel Northwood: turkey flanked by a loin of pork and a leg of mutton, a chicken pie, mounts of stuffing and cranberry sauce, plum pudding, pumpkin pie, ale and cider. For a feast first indulged in 1621 when the Pilgrim Puritans, less than a year off the Mayflower, partied on wildfowl and venison for three... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3039834/tofurkey-thanksgiving-and-mock-roast-suckling-pig-how-world-can-eat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3039834/tofurkey-thanksgiving-and-mock-roast-suckling-pig-how-world-can-eat?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Nov 2019 17:00:11 +0000 I love Chinese breakfasts of macaroni soup noodles, served at inexpensive restaurants. The dish comes with various toppings, including a thin slice of ham (or a thicker slice of pan-fried canned luncheon meat, such as Spam) and a fried egg, in a monosodium gluta­mate-heavy broth. My favourite version has thin slivers of pork cooked with zha choi (also known as zha cai), or Sichuan preserved mustard stem. I also like it with sausage and egg, but I make it with Taiwanese pork sausage instead of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3038391/quick-breakfast-recipe-chinese-macaroni-soup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3038391/quick-breakfast-recipe-chinese-macaroni-soup?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Nov 2019 14:15:07 +0000 When the popular Prawn Noodle Shop in Wan Chai was about to close a couple of years ago, its fans (including me) queued up to get a final bowl. Rumour had it that the owner wanted to retire, but in the nick of time, somebody stepped up to buy the place. In addition to the shop in Wan Chai, they also have branches in Tsuen Wan and Quarry Bay, and recently expanded to open a stall in the 11th-floor food court of the Hysan Place mall in Causeway Bay, so we visited for a weekday lunch. As at the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3038541/malaysian-soups-and-sides-under-us12-prawn-noodle-shop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3038541/malaysian-soups-and-sides-under-us12-prawn-noodle-shop?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Nov 2019 08:30:11 +0000 Baan Mai is a busy Thai restaurant hidden above the bustling streets of Hong Kong’s Central district. We visited for a weekday lunch, and as the lift doors opened, we immediately smelled tom yum cooking. We got a rather impatient welcome of sawasdee ka (“hello”, in Thai). The servers are efficient, walking quickly, and practically dropping the dishes on the tables, instead of placing them down quietly. Baan Mai offers special lunch deals, including noodle and rice sets, and listed at the top of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3036361/tasty-tom-yum-and-thai-green-curry-under-us10-busy-baan-mai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3036361/tasty-tom-yum-and-thai-green-curry-under-us10-busy-baan-mai?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Nov 2019 08:30:08 +0000 If you’re a seasoned Hongkonger, you know the hotpot routine well: you call up friends or family, tell them to starve themselves until dinner, and then head out to feast on simmered meats, veggies and fish balls until your stomachs explode. All the while, you might be diligently slapping those stomach-filling noodles out of your cousin’s mouth because he’s still a young buck and doesn’t understand the intricacies of the city’s favourite winter pastime. (Don’t worry, he’ll get there... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3032961/5-hong-kong-hotpot-restaurants-serving-everything?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3032961/5-hong-kong-hotpot-restaurants-serving-everything?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Oct 2019 04:00:12 +0000 People come to TMK in Sheung Wan for Japanese hand rolls, sushi, sashimi – and punk rock. A huge motorcycle is displayed in a glass cabinet in the bar. The walls are covered with cartoon stickers, old Japanese newspapers and graffiti. The drinks menu is on a pink plastic disc, reflecting the rock vibe. In addition to Japanese food, the bar also offers sake and spirits. A waiter explained the menus. He recommended the denim set menu, which costs HK$288 (US$37) and has a wide variety of signature... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3032936/sushi-sashimi-and-hand-rolls-punk-rock-edge-under-us18-tmk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3032936/sushi-sashimi-and-hand-rolls-punk-rock-edge-under-us18-tmk?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Oct 2019 07:30:13 +0000 Three Taiwanese celebrities – Shu Qi, Pauline Lan Xinmei and Matilda Tao Ching-ying – recently opened two new branches of Kiki Noodle Bar in Hong Kong, after the first, in Taiwan, went viral on social media. The Hong Kong shops have teamed up with three-Michelin-star chef Albert Au Kwok-keung to create special dishes. Three of us arrived at Kiki in Central at 6pm on a Tuesday when just a few customers were dining. The shop – decorated in white and pale wood – has large windows so you can look... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3031954/abalone-and-fish-maw-noodle-soup-michelin-starred-chef-under?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3031954/abalone-and-fish-maw-noodle-soup-michelin-starred-chef-under?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Oct 2019 07:00:10 +0000 Tang Huo Kung Fu, a decade-old franchise from China with more than 2,600 shops across Asia, has finally landed in Hong Kong. The Sichuan restaurant is best known for its spicy hotpot noodle soups. When we visited the crowded Causeway Bay venue at lunchtime, we had a short wait to be seated. The shop offers four hotpot bases: the signature spicy hotpot soup, tomato soup, Thai tom yum goong soup, and classic spicy mix without soup, each costing about HK$42. After you pick the hotpot base and the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3031073/sichuan-hotpot-chain-tang-huo-kung-fu-hits-hong-kong-delicious?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3031073/sichuan-hotpot-chain-tang-huo-kung-fu-hits-hong-kong-delicious?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Oct 2019 08:30:10 +0000 The Chinese name for Taiwanese Mazu Lifestyle Noodles, a new restaurant in Central, refers to health preservation – a tenet of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Ingredients are often consumed in the form of soups, and Taiwanese Mazu offers 12 types, simmered with beef, farm chicken, pork or dumplings, and ranging from mild to spicy. They’re served with vermicelli, ramen or rice, and cost HK$65 to HK$75. I tried farm chicken vermicelli soup with cordyceps flower (HK$67). Cordyceps flower does... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3030122/chicken-vermicelli-soup-healthy-meal-under-us9-central?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3030122/chicken-vermicelli-soup-healthy-meal-under-us9-central?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Sep 2019 08:30:12 +0000 It did not take long for us to get seats at Wyji, a new noodle shop in Wan Chai, thanks to a fast-moving queue at lunchtime. The restaurant is decorated in the style of an inn in a Chinese martial arts movie, with carved dragon screens, antique brick walls and a traditional dancing lion. The restaurant serves handmade noodles and various Chinese dishes. We enjoyed the restaurant’s speciality of fish maw chicken noodles (HK$58), which was served in a large clay pot. The handmade noodles were... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3027562/fish-maw-chicken-noodles-under-us8-wyji-wan-chai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3027562/fish-maw-chicken-noodles-under-us8-wyji-wan-chai?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Sep 2019 02:54:22 +0000 I have been to Xiqu Centre a few times, but I had never noticed Peony Garden – a Hong Kong-style restaurant named after classical Kunqu Chinese opera The Peony Pavilion. There were only a few diners there when we arrived one day after work. The elegant interior echoes the nostalgic atmosphere of the Xiqu Centre, a venue for Chinese opera performance in the burgeoning West Kowloon Cultural District. My friend and I were seated by a window, where we could enjoy a view of Victoria Harbour. Peony... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3026545/cart-noodles-under-us11-peony-garden-west-kowloon-create-your?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3026545/cart-noodles-under-us11-peony-garden-west-kowloon-create-your?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Sep 2019 08:30:12 +0000 Tom yum goong soup and pad Thai are on the menu of almost every Thai restaurant outside Thailand, and Golden Prince Thai Restaurant is no exception. We felt like we were dining at a small restaurant in Thailand – almost all the staff were Thai, the music playing in the kitchen was Thai, and the handcrafted bowls and wooden decorations on the walls were Thai. The tom yum goong chicken soup with rice (HK$48) looked appetising. Steamed Thai rice was soaked in a thick orange broth with a great... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3024487/pad-thai-and-tom-yum-goong-less-us7-golden-prince-thai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3024487/pad-thai-and-tom-yum-goong-less-us7-golden-prince-thai?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Aug 2019 07:00:11 +0000 Gold Mui Kee is a sleek new restaurant in Hong Kong, offering various types of homestyle Chinese dishes and other cuisines. We visited the Causeway Bay restaurant, inside the Tower 535 Building, at lunchtime and there were plenty of tables available. Bowls of the free daily soup, made from night-blooming cereus, corn and pork ribs, arrived before we even ordered. From the extensive list of Chinese and Western lunch specials, we ordered the fish-fragrant eggplant and braised minced pork with... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3023516/bargain-lunch-sets-regional-chinese-favourites-hong-kong-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3023516/bargain-lunch-sets-regional-chinese-favourites-hong-kong-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Aug 2019 08:30:12 +0000 Tucked away on a remote lane in Prince Edward in Hong Kong’s Kowloon district, Pho 5 serves pho and a wide variety of other Vietnamese dishes including rice, noodles, salads, snacks and drinks. It’s a small, casual spot with bright lighting and a large sign proclaiming “I Love Pho”. Condiments – a bottle of fish sauce, jars of chilli, chilli paste and various other seasonings – are on each table, and if you want water, you go up and get it yourself. The main dishes give you the option of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3022691/pho-under-us7-hong-kong-vietnamese-restaurant-pho-5-prince?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3022691/pho-under-us7-hong-kong-vietnamese-restaurant-pho-5-prince?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Aug 2019 03:30:11 +0000 As the name suggests, burgers are the speciality at My Burger in Hong Kong’s Quarry Bay district, but the small restaurant does offer other types of (mostly) American fast food. The interior is bright and colourful and the chairs are soft and comfortable. We visited My Burger late one afternoon, and only two other customers were inside. We ordered the mushroom beef burger (HK$57). The patty, served on a whole grain bun, was dense, flavourful and juicy. It was topped with smooth and creamy melted... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3021653/juicy-beef-burgers-us7-my-burger-american-fast-food-specialist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3021653/juicy-beef-burgers-us7-my-burger-american-fast-food-specialist?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Aug 2019 03:00:17 +0000 Founded in the 1970s, Men Wah Bing Teng has been a Hong Kong institution for several generations and has more than a dozen branches around the city. We recently tried out one of the newest, located in Causeway Bay. We arrived at 1pm right in the middle of lunchtime, but it didn’t take long for us to get seats. The speciality is “sorrowful rice” (HK$68 for the set) – a recreation of the famous dish featured in Stephen Chow’s 1996 comedy The God of Cookery – which includes slices of barbecue pork... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3020636/sorrowful-rice-char-siu-and-fried-egg-under-us9-men-wah-bing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3020636/sorrowful-rice-char-siu-and-fried-egg-under-us9-men-wah-bing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Jul 2019 09:00:04 +0000 New fast food concept Hungry Dino is serving up inexpensive and filling Japanese bento boxes, bean curd sushi and onigiri (rice balls). The tiny shop is cheerful and colourful, with bright walls, hanging plants, and a mosaic cartoon dinosaur. It’s more suitable for takeaway, although if you want to eat in, there are a few chairs at a shelf along the wall. The menu offers a wide range of bento boxes, either as sets (with miso soup and sencha tea) or freestyle (where you get to choose the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3019858/bean-curd-sushi-bento-boxes-and-rice-balls-less-us7-hungry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3019858/bean-curd-sushi-bento-boxes-and-rice-balls-less-us7-hungry?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jul 2019 08:30:04 +0000 Hestia Kitchen is supposedly the first restaurant in Hong Kong with the food cooked by robots. It’s a tiny place – mostly bar seating, with just two large tables. Most customers were there to order takeaway, while a few food delivery men were collecting orders. A large window offers a peek at the two robots at work and customers can watch ingredients being automatically added to a large pot that looked like a pressure cooker. But because the pots are so tall, we couldn’t really see much. When... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3018615/hong-kong-restaurant-where-robots-cook-food-sichuan-dishes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3018615/hong-kong-restaurant-where-robots-cook-food-sichuan-dishes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jul 2019 07:30:08 +0000 At Ging Sun Ho King of Bun, vegetarians won’t feel left out, with the introduction of Omnipork xiaolongbao, the restaurant’s version of the famous Shanghainese soup dumplings. We visit the busy Hong Kong restaurant in Mong Kok on a Wednesday evening. Of course, we have to try the new xiaolongbao (HK$22 for two) made with the plant-based meat substitute, served in a traditional bamboo steamer. While the bright green dumplings – usually made with pork – looked good and were filled with plenty of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3017838/vegetarian-xiao-long-bao-hong-kong-try-ging-sun-ho-king-buns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3017838/vegetarian-xiao-long-bao-hong-kong-try-ging-sun-ho-king-buns?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Jul 2019 08:30:08 +0000 Oklava is a new restaurant serving up Mediterranean and Turkish salads and halal grilled meats in Hong Kong’s Mid-Levels. The small restaurant – just two tables and a row of bar seating by the window – has a blue and white exterior. A mix of EDM and pop tunes was playing as we arrived. We ordered at the counter and the food was served quickly on brightly coloured trays. First up was the baba ganoush (HK$45) and a yogurt drink (HK$20). The famous Levantine appetiser made with mashed cooked... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3016875/turkish-and-mediterranean-food-less-us12-oklava-new-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3016875/turkish-and-mediterranean-food-less-us12-oklava-new-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jul 2019 09:30:05 +0000 One thing you soon realise in Xian is how important wheat is to the cuisine, whether it is in the form of bread or noodles. Rice doesn’t grow in the region but throw a handful of wheat over the parched ground and it will germinate. How to eat like a local in Kuala Lumpur Most of these dishes are easily found in restaurants in the centre of the central Chinese city, particularly in the Muslim Quarter. 1. Roujiamo Probably the easiest Chinese dish name for foreigners to remember thanks to a... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/3015530/eat-local-xian-5-ways-get-your-carb-fix-city-wheat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/3015530/eat-local-xian-5-ways-get-your-carb-fix-city-wheat?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Jun 2019 06:00:05 +0000 We walked into Bao Noodles in Tsim Sha Tsui, a place that, according to the proclamations on the wall, serves noodles with “heart” and “sincerity”. The restaurant offers four different soup bases:original, pepper, hot and sour, and hot and numbing. The menu states that the broth is cooked with fresh pork and chicken bones and vegetables using the traditional Han method. The menu also boasts about its handmade noodles and offers wide, thin, rough and medium. We went for a bowl of pork cartilage... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3014782/bao-noodles-tsim-sha-tsui-handmade-noodles-served-heart-less?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3014782/bao-noodles-tsim-sha-tsui-handmade-noodles-served-heart-less?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Jun 2019 10:00:15 +0000 Tucked away on a remote lane in Wan Chai, Quan Viet boasts that it serves authentic Vietnamese pho and the menu lists a great variety of Vietnamese noodles and snacks. At the top of the menu is rare beef noodles (HK$52) with a big thumbs-up next to it. Soon after we ordered it, a steaming bowl of noodles and soup arrived topped with beef that was still pink. The savoury broth made from bone marrow was flavourful with a strong aroma of Thai sweet basil, coriander, and other spices and herbs. The... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3012978/vietnamese-beef-noodles-us7-highlight-pho-specialist-quan-viet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3012978/vietnamese-beef-noodles-us7-highlight-pho-specialist-quan-viet?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Jun 2019 04:30:09 +0000 With Taiwan just a short plane ride away, it’s a popular place to visit for Hong Kong residents. But if a two-hour flight is too long, you could always head to Mei Taiwan Cuisine in Wan Chai for a taste of some of Taiwan’s most popular dishes. We ordered the famous three cups chicken (HK$128), which gets its name from three key ingredients: sesame oil, Chinese rice wine, and soy sauce. The dish was served within 10 minutes as a sizzling casserole filled with savoury hunks of golden brown chicken... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3012146/us16-three-cups-chicken-well-worth-cash-mei-taiwan-cuisine-wan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3012146/us16-three-cups-chicken-well-worth-cash-mei-taiwan-cuisine-wan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 May 2019 04:30:10 +0000