2009 Hong Kong Restaurant Mini Reviews

Reviewer: Foodnut.com

We recently finished a culinary tour of China. Hong Kong is a world class city full of great food. Most of the Chinese food was superior to that in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Here are some quick mini reviews of places we ate at, so you can understand how Hong Kong food compares, and so you select the best places on your visit.
Other Hong Kong Reviews: 2010 Hong Kong Mini Restaurant Reviews, Lung King Heen, Lei Garden, Yung Kee, Chuen Kee Seafood, Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao, Conrad Nicolini’s Sunday Brunch Buffet, Harbourside Buffet.

Chuen Kee Seafood If a restaurant does not have a website, we link to their Openrice page.

Chuen Cheung Kui Restaurant – Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Chuen Cheung Kui has served up Hakka cuisine for over 60 years. They have several locations. This moderately priced place was crowded, busy, hectic, and loud. Best deals are on the fixed price menu with lots of options.

Chuen Cheung Kui Hong Kong 1

Chuen Cheung Kui Hong Kong 19

Chuen Cheung Kui Hong Kong 22

Chuen Cheung Kui Hong Kong 23

Hits: Nanu Bong soup, Lemon Duck, Salted Hakka Chicken, Ginger Scallion Chicken, Stewed Pork with Preserved vegetables
OK: Pea shoots with scallops, Fried Tofu, Beef with Gai Lan

Overall rating (Stars) – 2.5
Food Rating – 2.5
Service Rating – 2
Atmosphere Rating – 1.5
Value – 2.5
Guide: 0 = poor, 1 = Fair/Average, 2 = Good, 2.5 = Very Good, 3 = Excellent , 4 = Extraordinary

Come Back – Maybe

Shop E, G/F – 2/F, Lisa House
33 Nelson St
Mong Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong
OpenRice

Joy Hing – Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Joy Hing is a low cost hole in the wall. Cramped, turbo service, eat and go place that specializes in Chinese Barbecue pork, pig, and chicken. We did not find the food worth the trip.

Joy Hing Hong Kong 7

Joy Hing Hong Kong 2

Overall rating (Stars) – 1.5
Food Rating – 1.5
Service Rating – 1
Atmosphere Rating – 1
Value – 2
Come Back – No

265-267 Hennessy Road
Wan Chai, Hong Kong
OpenRice

Kau Kee – Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Kau Kee is a cultish, legendary Beef Brisket rice noodle shop with longs lines. Sort of like a Santa Ramen in San Mateo, CA. The place is not very big so expect to share a table.
The rice noodles and beef brisket are very good. Try to avoid the lunch time rush and understand that they close up early when they’ve run out. Curry sauce noodles are very spicy.

Kau Kee Hong Kong 4

Kau Kee Hong Kong 6

Kau Kee Hong Kong 1

Hits: Beef Brisket with rice noodle in broth (HK$25)

Overall rating (Stars) – 2
Food Rating – 2.5
Service Rating – 1.5
Atmosphere Rating – 1.5
Value – 2
Come Back – Yes

21 Gough Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, China
28150123
OpenRice

King of Coconut – Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong
Located near the Golden Computer Arcade and Golden Shopping Center, this hole in the wall place has a very good fresh coconut juice. (HK$10 small)

King of Coconut Hong Kong 2

King of Coconut Hong Kong 1

OpenRice

King of Roast Goose – Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong
Located near the Golden Computer Arcade and Golden Shopping Center on a street full of restaurants, this hole in the wall restaurant has cheap roast goose with rice. (HK$27) Go there only if you are hitting the Golden Center.

King of Roast Goose Hong Kong 1

King of Roast Goose Hong Kong 2

Overall rating (Stars) – 2
Food Rating – 2
Service Rating – 1.5
Atmosphere Rating – 1
Value – 2.5
Come Back – N

OpenRice

Mak’s Noodle – Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Since the 1960’s and with several locations in Hong Kong and having been popularized by Anthony Bourdain, this is well known noodle place really delivers good won ton noodles. They serve much better than won ton noodles in the US.

Maks Noodle Hong Kong

Maks Noodle Hong Kong Won Ton Mein

Overall rating (Stars) – 2
Food Rating – 2
Service Rating – 2
Atmosphere Rating – 1
Value – 2.5
Come Back – Yes

OpenRice

MOS Burger – Mong Kok, Hong Kong
MOS Burger is a Japanese burger chain with locations in Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. I was hankering for a burger and decided to try them as reviews were positive on Openrice.
The MOS Burger (HK$20) had pasta meat sauce on it, making it more of a messy spaghetti burger.

MOS Burger Hong Kong 1

Overall rating (Stars) – 1.5
Food Rating – 1
Service Rating – 2
Atmosphere Rating – 2
Value – 2
Come Back – N

MOS Burger Website

Ngau Kee Food Cafe – Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
We tried to eat at Kau Kee but found them closed, so we tried this small cramped place down the block. Had to wait in line but found the food reasonably priced and decent.

Ngau Kee Food Cafe Hong Kong 6

Ngau Kee Food Cafe Hong Kong 12

Ngau Kee Food Cafe Hong Kong 11

Frog

Hits: Sauteed frog, Soy Sauce Chicken, Melon Soup

Overall rating (Stars) – 2
Food Rating – 2
Service Rating – 2
Atmosphere Rating – 1
Value – 2
Come Back – N

G/F, No. 3, Gough Street
Central, Hong Kong
2546 2584
OpenRice

Serenade Chinese Restaurant – Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Serenade is a fancy Chinese Restaurant with a great harbor view. They serve dim sum during lunch. They serve dessert from carts.

Serenade Chinese Restaurant Hong Kong 12

Serenade Chinese Restaurant Hong Kong 8

Serenade Chinese Restaurant Hong Kong 18

Mango Pudding

Serenade Chinese Restaurant Hong Kong 23

Hits: Roast Crispy Pork Belly (Pretty good), Roasted crispy pigeon, Coconut and Bean Jello, Red Bean Jello, Roast Goose, Almond dessert soup, Mango pudding, Glutonous rice.

Overall rating (Stars) – 2.5
Food Rating – 2.5
Service Rating – 2
Atmosphere Rating – 2.5
Value – 2
Come Back – Maybe

1-2/F, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Restaurant Block
10 Salisbury Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
2722-0932
Maxim’s Website

Shang Palace – Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Shang Palace is a beautiful restaurant located in the Shangri-La hotel. It received 2 Michelin stars in 2009. It has modern, ornate classic Chinese decor.
The food is solid with many very good dishes.

Shang Palace Hong Kong 7

Shang Palace Hong Kong 39

E-Fu Noodles

Shang Palace Hong Kong 41

Hits: Roasted baby pigeon, Scallop flour rolls, Rice flour roll with XO sauce, Crispy pork belly, Stewed E-fu noodles, Red bean & coconut dessert, Sweetended egg balls.

Overall rating (Stars) – 3
Food Rating – 3
Service Rating – 2.5
Atmosphere Rating – 3
Value – 2
Come Back – Yes

Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel
64 Mody Road
Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong
2733-8754
Website

Sharks Fin City Restaurant – Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
With a name like this, the pc police would have a field day. The cheap sharks fin soup (HK$98) was ok and probably a lost leader. Food was good, moderately expensive, but not top notch.

Sharks Fin City Hong Kong 31

Sharks Fin City Hong Kong 25

Sharks Fin City Hong Kong 27

Rock Cod

Hits: Braised Sharks Fin in brown sauce., Crispy Chicken, Rock Cod 2 ways

Overall rating (Stars) – 2.5
Food Rating – 2.5
Service Rating – 2
Atmosphere Rating – 2.5
Value – 2
Come Back – Maybe

Shop L315-316, Level 3, New World Centre
18-24 Salisbury Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
852-2136-9199

Tai Cheong Bakery – Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Since 1954 this bakery has been producing some of the best egg custard tarts or dan tat. (HK$5) The crust is not flaky, more like a pie. Custard is smooth and flavorful. We had to go back twice! 8+ locations. The easiest to visit for tourists may be the one in the Star Ferry Terminal in Tsim Tsai Tsui.
The peanut glutinous dumplings (HK$4) are also great.

Tai Cheong Bakery Hong Kong 1

Tai Cheong Bakery Hong Kong 2

Overall rating (Stars) – 3
Food Rating – 3
Service Rating – 2
Atmosphere Rating – 1
Value – 2
Come Back – Y

Website

Tao Yuan Restaurant – Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
It was located in the China HK city building near our hotel, so we decided to try it. Dim sum was decent but not top notch. It is popular for wedding banquets.

Tao Yuan Restaurant Hong Kong 4

Tao Yuan Restaurant Hong Kong 16

Hits: Deep fried pork dumplings, Goose noodle soup, Ni Wong Bau, Dan tat, chicken’s feet.

Overall rating (Stars) – 2.5
Food Rating – 2.5
Service Rating – 2
Atmosphere Rating – 2.5
Value – 2
Come Back – N

1/F, Departure Level
China HK City
33 Canton Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
2736-1688
Openrice

The Banqueting House – Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
The Banqueting House has a nice harbor view of Hong Kong, but the food was decidedly some of the worst dim sum we had in Hong Kong. On par with standard dim sum in the US.

The Banqueting House Hong Kong 3

The Banqueting House Hong Kong 25

Hits: Roast goose, Turnip Cakes, Shark’s fin dumplings.

Overall rating (Stars) – 2
Food Rating – 2
Service Rating – 2.5
Atmosphere Rating – 2.5
Value – 2
Come Back – N

Shop 101-155, 1/F
Empire Center
68 Mody Road
East Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
2798 8866
Website

The Sweet Dynasty – Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Across the street from the Prince, Marco Polo hotels, this looks like a promising dessert, casual dim sum place, but the food is not very good, nor is the service.
A touristy chain. They have a gimmicky dessert with dry ice smoke.

Overall rating (Stars) – 1.5
Food Rating – 1.5
Service Rating – 1
Atmosphere Rating – 2.5
Value – 1.5
Come Back – N

G/F-1/F 100 Canton Rd
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
23759119
Openrice

Tim’s Kitchen – Hotel Lisboa, Macau
Tim’s Kitchen is a 2 Michelin star 2009 restaurant located inside a casino in Macau, China. It is about an hour’s boat ride from Hong Kong. They also have 1 star Michelin star for their Hong Kong location.
We had high expectations but found the expensive food just very good, not excellent. We went for lunch, dinner is supposed to be better.

Tims Kitchen 3

Tims Kitchen 7

Tims Kitchen 11

Snake Soup

Hits: Fresh Prawns, Rose wine chicken, snake soup.

Overall rating (Stars) – 2.5
Food Rating – 2.5
Service Rating – 2.5
Atmosphere Rating – 2.5
Value – 2
Come Back – N

F25 East Wing, Hotel Lisboa
Macau
853-8803-3682

Tropical Village Restaurant – Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Located in the China HK City complex with its ferry terminal, this was a convenient place to get a quick dinner after returning from Macau.
Food was decidedly average but inexpensive.

Tropical Village Restaurant Hong Kong 8

Tropical Village Restaurant Hong Kong 3

Hits: Hainan Chicken Rice, Pineapple fried rice

Overall rating (Stars) – 2
Food Rating – 2
Service Rating – 2
Atmosphere Rating – 2
Value – 2
Come Back – Maybe

Shop 52
UG/F,
China Hong Kong City
33 Canton Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
2736 0133
Openrice

Restaurant Map:


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1 Comment

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