[updated Feb 2017]
As much as we love Tsui Wah, it’s time to branch out. From Korean Fried chicken to 24-hour congee, there is so much more to eat after midnight (a.k.a. siu yeh 宵夜) on both sides of the harbor. This is Hong Kong’s best late night eats:
Sun Fat Congee Shop | 新發粥店
If you find yourself craving for something warm in the early morning hours, head to this 24-hour congee shop in Causeway Bay. Featuring tiled floors, stools and big round tables, it’s an old-fashioned spot that serves congees every which way — with rice rolls, fried dough sticks, and dumplings. Even when we’re totally sober, the congee tastes fresh and just-salty-enough. The congee with pork liver, in particular, is hard to find in similar shops nowadays and we also recommend congee with preserved eggs and minced pork, along with a plate of fried noodles to share and rice rolls.
Shop C, G/F, Canal Road West, Causeway Bay, 2573-1206.
Chicken HOF & SOJU | 李家
Korean fried chicken is perfect any time of the day, and Chicken HOF & SOJU — the restaurant that kicked off Hong Kong’s KFC obsession — has made sure you can get your fix late into the night. The Tsim Sha Tsui branch stays open ’til 6am, and the Wan Chai shop keeps pumping out delicious Korean staples until 5am. The restaurant is known for its huge portions of fried chicken in an array of flavors — great for sharing with a group of friends while gulping down Korean beer and wine. Aside from chicken, the restaurant also serves up some awesome meat dishes like barbecue pork belly, cheesy ribs, and sausage platters.
Various locations, including 84 Kam Kok Mansion, Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2pm-6am, 2375-8080; Shop C, G/F, Wah Fat Mansion, 405-419 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, 12-5pm, 2176-4599.
Cheng Kee Chiu Chow Restaurant | 鄭記潮州食家
Chiu chow da lang (潮州打冷), which basically means ‘eating chiu chow food,’ is one of the city’s most iconic late night dining options. When you da lang, you usually order a bowl of congee, marinated dishes, and deep-fried oyster pancakes to share with a group of friends — kind of like tapas, actually! This Tai Hang da lang restaurant opens until 1am and serves delicious chiu chow dishes like marinated goose meat (鵝片), oyster pancakes (蠔餅), oyster congee (蠔仔粥), and cold fish (大眼雞).
G/F, 142 Tung Lo Wan Road, Tai Hang, 11am-1am, 2578-8070.
Late Night Chiu Chow | 心夜來潮
Opened by a mother-and-son duo from the Chiu Chow region, this popular late-night restaurant in Mong Kok specializes in what else? Authentic Chiu Chow food. There are no English menus, but it’s worth the trip if you’re craving something savory at 2am. The chiu chow claypot congee (潮汕砂鍋煲) with toppings of your choice is made with seafood and taste incredibly delicious. We recommend congee with chicken (鮮雞件), pork liver (豬潤), oysters (蠔仔), and geoduck (象拔蚌). Round out your meal with marinated raw crab (原隻醬醃膏蟹), a richly flavored ingredient that goes well with congee or rice. If you’re really ravenous, tack on some Chiu Chow dumplings (小米餃), marinated duck (醬鹵鴨), and handmade Chiu Chow fishballs (巨型脆香手打魚蛋) to hold yourself over ’til morning.
Shop A, G/F, Skyline Tower, 18 Tong Mi Road, Mong Kok, 6pm-3am, 9578-5454.
Golden Hall Dessert | 金滿堂
The Kowloon City dessert restaurant offers more than 200 choices, from traditional Cantonese tong sui — think sesame soup and herbal jelly — to fusion dishes, such as matcha shaved ice and lava chocolate cakes. The restaurant invented its own tong sui, dubbed the five treasure soup (五寶露), which is made from healthy ingredients like lotus seeds, lily, and Chiu Chow jelly. Extra careful about its ingredients, Golden Hall uses on rock sugar, sources its snow ear from the wild, and hand-picks jumbo mangoes from the Philippines.
Shop 5, 69 Shing Nam Road, Kowloon City, 3pm-2am, 2383-3102.
Sun Hing Restaurant | 新興食家
This Kennedy Town favorite serves piping hot dim sum dishes from 3am to 4pm daily. Dig into new faves like lava custard buns, as well as tried-and-true classics like har gow and crispy fried milk. Secure your own seats at the communal tables, and wave down the staff when you see a dish you like — before someone else grabs it away!
Shop C, G/F, 8 Smithfield, Kennedy Town, 2816-0616.
Caterking Dim Sum | 豪隍點心
Sun Hing Restaurant in Kennedy Town might get all the press, but do you know about its Kowloon counterpart Caterking Dim Sum? Open until 2am on weekends, Caterking is located on Tsim Sha Tsui’s foodie alleyway Hau Fook Street. The resto serves its signature har gau (豪隍蝦餃皇) and shrimp spring rolls with garlic and cheese (蒜蓉芝士鮮蝦長春卷) to people looking for a cozy place to chat with friends and dig into delicious food. There is also a wide range of rice rolls to choose from, including beef, char siu, shrimp, pork liver.
Shops 2-3, G/F, Workingport Commercial Building, 3 Hau Fook Street, Tsim Sha Tsui, Sun-Thurs 11:30am-1:30am, Fri-Sat 11:30am-2am, 2722-6866.
Chan Hon Kee | 陳漢記
How about some beautiful rice rolls and claypot rice for your next late-night snack? Chan Hon Kee’s rice rolls are made to order, making them extra fresh. Generally considered among the city’s most popular, the rice rolls have a super soft and thin consistency, almost slightly translucent, that has earned them the nickname “glass rice rolls.” Altogether, Chan Hon Kee serves nine varieties of rice rolls, from the standard beef and char siu to hard-to-find fish and conpoy. While you’re there, don’t miss out on the claypot rice — the generous portion comes with a layer of perfectly scorched, crispy rice that’s sure to hit the spot.
G/F, 91B Wan Tau Street, Tai Po, 11am-4am, 2658-2277.
Learn more about classic Cantonese restaurants and hidden gems in our book on Hong Kong Food & Culture.
