Hong Kong & Macau - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 144

Maple Leaf Guesthouse E-4, 12th floor, Block E T 9325
6152, W mapleleafguesthouse.hostel.com; M Tsim Sha
Tsui; map p.138. Welcoming, secure guesthouse with
compa ct, well-li t rooms and equally compact bathrooms.
Double HK$440
★

Nagahama No 1 Ramen 14 Kau U Fong M Sheung Wan;
map pp.132-133. One of many super-popular ramen
noodle joints, Nagahama uses a pork bone soup base that
gives its chunky, slurpable noodles their distinctive flavour.
Large portions, tiny place, so put on your queuing shoes.
Mains from HK$80. Daily 11.30am-10pm.
Nha Trang 88-90 Wellington St M Sheung Wan; map
pp.132-133. Packed out at lunchtimes and evenings with
expats and locals alike, this Vietnamese joint offers the
likes of bun bo xao - cold vermicelli salad with lemongrass
beef - pho, pork belly simmered in coconut milk and fresh
spring rolls bursting with herbs. Mains from HK$55. There's
another branch on the ground floor of the Ocean Terminal,
Harbour City, Canton Rd ( M Thim Sha Tsui). Daily noon-
4.30pm & 6.30-10.30pm.
Tasty Congee & Noodle Wonton Shop Shops 3016-
3018, IFC Mall, 1 Harbour View St M Hong Kong, exit E1;
map pp.132-133. Shoppers at the luxury IFC Mall pile into
this simple restaurant to feast on the signature prawn
wontons, noodle soup, prawn congee and flat rice noodles
stir-fried with beef; less standard offerings include boiled
jellyfish strips and stewed pork feet. Mains from HK$35.
Daily 11.30am-10.45pm.

New Peking Guest House A-1, 12th floor, Block A
T 2723 8320, W chungking-mansions.hk/A12-2.htm;
M Tsim Sha Tsui; map p.138. Spotless guesthouse with
toothbrushes, fridge and electrical converters provided
by the friendly management. Take your pick from singles,
doubles, triples and quads. Double HK$700

EATING AND DRINKING
CENTRAL
Most cheap eating in Central can be found along Wellington
St and along either side of the Mid-Levels Escalator. Further
east, you'll find plenty of choice on Jaffe Rd and in the streets
near Times Square. If you want to eat during peak lunch and
dinnertime hours, be prepared to queue.
★

3

Chilli Fagara 51A Graham St M Central or Sheung
Wan; map pp.132-133. The crimson decor at this thimble-
sized Sichuan restaurant gives you some idea of what
to expect: beautiful, heat-laden dishes, such as tender
chunks of fish in a sweet chilli sauce and red hot chilli
prawns that'll bring a tear to your eye - a challenge even
to the brave. Set lunch HK$88. Daily 11.30am-2.30pm &
5-11.30pm.
Dumpling Yuan 69 Wellington St M Central; map
pp.132-133. This e cient Pekinese restaurant lists a good
mix of meaty and veggie choices among its dumpling
offerings. Tuck into pork and leek, mixed jellyfish or lamb
with chives (HK$37). Another branch at 259 Queen's Rd
East ( M Wan Chai). Daily 10am-11pm.
Lil' Siam 38 Elgin St, Central M Central; map pp.132-133.
Thai restaurant that rises above the competition with its
authentic dishes such as som tum (spicy papaya salad),
red curry with roast duck, banana blossom salad and
sticky rice with mango. Lunch set menu a bargain at
HK$88. Daily noon-11pm.
Lin Heung Tea House 160-164 Wellington St M Sheung
Wan; map pp.132-133. One of the last surviving dim sum
places in Hong Kong where the tiny bites are brought
round on trolleys, Lin Heung is barely controlled bedlam
spread over several floors. Just point at the steamed
dumplings, buns, pork ribs, rice with chicken and fish maw
and other dishes as the trolleys pass by. Best enjoyed with
a group of friends. Dishes from HK$15. Daily 6am-11pm.
Mana! 92 Wellington St M Sheung Wan; map pp.132-
133. The self-described “fast slow food” at this organic
vegetarian and vegan café consists of flatbreads topped
with grilled tofu and roast vegetables, mezze platters of
hummus and olives, hearty soup of the day and portobello
mushroom and haloumi burgers. Mains from HK$70. Daily
10am-10pm.

WAN CHAI AND CAUSEWAY BAY
Bowrington Road M Causeway Bay; map pp.132-133.
This tiny alley boasts two culinary treats. The “Cooked Food
Centre” (daily 6am-2am) has a dozen open kitchens serving
great authentic food at rock-bottom prices (Hainan chicken
with rice and soup; HK$40), but you'll need to point for your
dinner as little English is spoken. In the evening, locals perch
on plastic stools to enjoy deliciously fresh and varied seafood
dishes from the hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Prices are
reasonable - razor clams in black bean sauce HK$75.
Brunch Club & Supper 1st floor, 13 Leighton Rd
M Causeway Bay; map pp.132-133. Cosy and relaxed, this
is a great place for the morning after the night before,
with brunch sets ranging from muesli and yogurt to eggs
with chorizo, smoked salmon and goat's cheese. It's worth
getting out of bed for the chocolate tru e tart alone
(HK$28). Happy hour 6-9pm daily. Also at 70 Peel St
( M Central). Sun-Thurs 9am-11pm, Fri & Sat 9am till late.
Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao Shop 310, 3rd
floor, Tai Yau Plaza M Wan Chai; map pp.132-133. Retro
Shanghainese diner specializing in steamed dumplings
and noodle dishes. The more unusual dishes include
smoked duck with tea leaves. Mains from HK$70. Daily
11am-10.30pm.
Hainan Shaoye Shop P311, 3rd floor, World Trade Centre,
280 Gloucester Rd M Causeway Bay; map pp.132-133.
Bright, busy restaurant specializing in Singaporean and
Malaysian dishes. Try the bak kut teh (pork ribs simmered in
herb broth) or the noodle dishes such as mee goreng . Lunch
set from HK$70. Daily 11.30am-2.30pm & 6-10.30pm.