Hong Kong is the land of eating and shopping. Whenever friends from home come into town, their main question is “Tell us where to eat!”
Here is my Casual list of wallet friendly eateries to visit and explore. One disclaimer though – don’t expect ambience nor stellar service, if you get a semi-smile from the waitstaff, you have struck gold. Just go for the food.
What are your favourite haunts in Hong Kong? Share them!
One of few dim sum restaurants left in HK still serving on pushcarts, if you are into the traditional thing. You can order from the aunties coming round or pick from the central stations in the centre of the large restaurant. Food is nice but not top quality. It has an extensive dim sum list, great to get a feel of local hong kong style dim sum. Good to go in a bigger group, at least 4 people so you can try more dishes. It’s busy on weekday lunches serving the office crowd in the vicinity so do book ahead, if you have time, weekends are less busy, surprisingly, unless there is a wedding / event going on that day.
Dim Sum, 4/F., United Centre, 95 Queensway, Hong Kong. Tel:+852 2865 1988
Pictures from Open Rice
Tai Hing is famous for its BBQ roast meats. They proudly hang their crispy roast pork, roast char siew, roast goose, chicken in the display outside for all to see. The meats are juicy and delicious. The milk tea (hot/cold) is pretty good too and won second prize in a local milk tea competition some years ago. With over 40 outlets in HK, it won’t be difficult to find an outlet near you. No reservations, service is quick, they don’t expect you to linger for a chat.
Roast meats, various locations HK Island/ Kowloon. Check link above for locations
Tsui Wah restaurant翠華餐廳 
Not exactly a “restaurant”, rather a “Cha Chaan Teng”, ie Hong Kong fast food joint. Its most famous branch is located near Lan Kwai Fong on Wellington street. By day it serves the office crowd, by night / wee hours, it serves the after club goers of Lan Kwai Fong. Serves comfort HK food – milk tea, fried chicken wings, fishball noodles, baked pork rice, egg noodles with wantons, ham/spam and egg sandwiches. Service is quick and efficient. First come first served.
HK fastfood / “Cha Chan Teng”. G-2/F, 15-19 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong Tel:+852 2525 6338
Pictures from Tsui Wah
I generally am not a fan of vegetarian food, especially the “mock” meats. However I recently enjoyed a Chinese vegetarian dim sum meal at Pure Veggie House, to my surprise. The dim sum selection was per conventional “meat” types but lighter. Loved the turnip puff and the Fujian fried rice was a stand out amongst the mains, the rice was crunchy and tasty. Overall the food wasn’t too oily like some vegetarian restaurants are and good quality. It’s a Buddhist restaurant, so no alcohol is served, if you must, try the alcohol-free beer. Book ahead, it’s pretty popular.
Chinese Vegetarian. 3/F, Coda Plaza, 51 Garden Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong Tel +852 2525 0552
Picture from Pure Veggie House
Sister Wah華姐清湯腩
If you are into beef brisket noodles, Sister Wah is the place to be. (Of course there is the famous Kau Kee located on Gough Street, but over there you have other patrons breathing down your neck while you eat. A little stressful in my view). Funnily enough I discovered this place via my visiting foodie friends who read about this “Sister” joint. Try their famous tender beef brisket in clear soup with egg noodles / hor fun and radish. If you are more adventurous, try the beef tendon or cow stomach with noodles. Cash only, be prepared to share tables. Eat and go.
Beef Brisket. G/F, 13A Electric Road, Tin Hau, Hong Kong. Tel +852 2807 0181
Picture from Foodspotting
Yee Shun Dairy Company 義順牛奶公司
A Cha Chaan Teng famous for their silky steamed milk and steamed egg. Do have the hot version. Be sure to eat in, it doesn’t taste the same when you take away. Good for a tea time snack or after meal dessert if you can fit it in. Other popular things on the menu are the pork chop bun, French toast and of course the milk tea. No ambience, efficient service with your orders and also with clearing your dishes.
Steamed Milk/Cha Chaan Teng. G/F, 506 Lockhard Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2591 1837 (down the street from the back entrance of Sogo Department store)
Pictures from Serious Eats
Recent discovery and love! Just because we will always have room for dessert. Via Tokyo is a little café serving one of the best matcha soft serve ice-cream in HK. The taste is not too bitter and not too sweet. Its thick, creamy, rich. Choose from the simple cone, or add fruits/moochi/redbean. Rich milk flavour also available.
Desert. Shop nos. 1A-1B, G/F., Leishun Court, 106-126 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay. Hong Kong. Tel:+852 2895 1116
Saboten Japanese Cutlet勝博殿日式炸豬排 
If you get tired of eating Chinese food, here in HK we get good quality Japanese food. One I always enjoy is tonkatsu at Saboten. Saboten is one of the largest tonkatsu chains in Japan (it has 500 outlets worldwide). Apparently Saboten only uses mature pigs (aged over 180 days), who have juicer and softer meat because of higher fat content.
The pork cutlet is crispy on the top and juicy, never dry on the inside. Choose from the fattier or leaner cuts of pork. Pork not your thing? Then have seafood – prawn, oyster, crab, etc or have both! Unlimited rice, soup, cabbage and pickle top ups. Quick and efficient service. You can book ahead or walk in. Comfortable ambience. Worth the calories.
Tonkatsu. Lower Ground Floor Henry House, 42 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay Hong Kong. Tel: +852 2895 4111
Pictures from Saboten
Sushi Hiro壽司廣 
This place has value for money lunch sets. Quality is consistent, portions are generous and good quality. Choose from the fresh sushi set, sashimi set, light and fluffy tempura set, tendon set, or mix it up and add in a hot udon or fish soup. Service can be patchy. Try to book tables for 11th or 12th floor, the service is much better. Dinners are a different price range. Omakase at dinner are minimum HK$1000 per head (without alcohol).
Japanese. 9-12th Floor, Henry House, 42 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Tel:+852 2882 8752
Pictures from Sushi Hiro
