Cheap eats in Hong Kong are aplenty. Depending on what you fancy, you can follow the crowd by choosing the shop that has a long queue, go for the one with great reviews, or one that offers many options and comfortable environment.
肥公車仔麵 (Fat Man Cart Noodles)
Photo: openrice.com
If you don’t mind waiting in line, you should experience the original flavours of Hong Kong’s iconic and scrumptious cart noodles at 肥公車仔麵. Their chicken wing (雞翼), deep fried pork intestine (炸豬大腸), pork intestine (豬腸), (pork skin (豬皮), pig blood curd (豬紅), fish dumpling (魚皮餃), tripe (牛肚), beef tendon (牛筋腩), beef brisket (牛腩) are not to be missed. Each topping is about $7-10 with a minimum consumption of $30. Three toppings with noodles will set you back $28-40. The fish dumpling is fresh, braised beef brisket, chicken wing and intestine are exceptionally delicious and aromatic.
How to get there: MTR Prince Edward Station (Exit C2)
Add: Shop C, No. 5, G/F, Arlan Street, Mong Kok
Cafe Mikoo
Photo: openrice.com
Mikoo’s classic Taiwanese dishes; Braised Beef Noodle Soup is flavourful, Deep Fried Chicken Fillet is crispy and aromatic on the outside, juicy on the inside, Three Cup Chicken, Minced Pork with Rice and Bubble Tea are well-received. Braised beef noodle soup with chicken fillet only costs $39 and the beef noodle with shank is priced at $51. There is an amazing selection for tea lovers too.
Tseung Kwan O
MTR Po Lam Station (Exit B1): Shop UG051F, UG/F, MCP Central, 8 Mau Yip Road, Tseung Kwan O
Ma On Shan
MTR Wu Kai Sha Station (Exit A1): Shop 4, 2/F, Double Cove Place, 8 Wu Kai Sha Road, Ma On Shan
McDonald’s
Source: mcdonalds.com.hk Food Info
McDonald’s HK sources ingredients through a global network of suppliers (certified by an international food safety and quality system) for bulk purchasing that makes it affordable. Big Mac priced (2021) at HKD25.50 (USD3.29) is relatively cheap, compared to for instance USD7.30 in Switzerland (priciest in the world) and USD5.66 in the US, yet the average working time required to buy one Big Mac in Hong Kong is 8.6 min which is the fastest in the world and Switzerland at 10.8 min (Big Mac Index Wikipedia). The self-ordering kiosks, McD App and the electronic queue system make the purchasing process an absolute breeze. McDonald’s HK has made their food healthier over the years and the nutrition information can be found on the McDonald’s HK App.
Website | Menu | McD Outlets
The Master of Char Siu 叉燒丼家
Photo: The Master of Char Siu
The magic of their char siu (barbeque pork) rice with eggs is in the extremely flavourful sauce, condiment, perfectly succulent and tasty char siu. This signature rice bowl dish costs $55 with a drink. There are other rice dishes like fried chicken, char siu scrambled egg, curry fish fillet, barbeque beef, etc.
Facebook | Menus: Different menus for Breakfast, Lunch, Tea, Dinner
3 Outlets: San Po Kong, Wo Yi Plaza @ Kwai Chung and YOHO Mall @ Yuen Long
Café de Coral 大家樂
Photo: Café de Coral
Café de Coral prides itself in signature dishes like Hoki Fillet (Blue Grenadier) from the pollution-free Southern Ocean with crispy surface and juicy chunk, spice-infused Beef Brisket Curry, healthy yet tasty Organic Oat Steamed Rice, 3-hour deep boiled soup without MSG, meals that taste like home, etc. A normal meal with a drink is at about $46-$60. They change their menu and introduce some variations from time to time, keeping the favorites. For the latest online menu, your best bet is FoodPanda. A branch of Café de Coral can be found almost everywhere.
- Tsim Chai Kee Noodle 沾仔記 | OpenRice | Wellington Street, Central | Michelin Guide restaurant – wanton noodles $32
- Lok Yuen Fishball Noodles 樂園魚蛋粉 | Menu | Tsim Sha Tsui – A bowl of fishball noodles costs as low as $29
- Lin Heung Tea House 蓮香樓 | OpenRice | Wellington St, Central – One plate of dim sum $20-34, various steamed rice $30
