Talk about a family-friendly seafood restaurant in Hong Kong, and locals would probably direct you to Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant.
That old establishment has been around for decades and today, it remains a popular haunt for locals when they want an unpretentious and good meal with family and friends.
Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant has a menu of dim sum items and seafood. And in particular, the famous Cheese Lobster deserves a special mention. Be prepared to wait in line for a table no matter what time of the day you go; their popularity is simply undeniable.
You probably wouldn’t think much of its shopfront—which is merely a host stand and a few tanks of live seafood—but upon going down to the basement (where the dining area is), you’d be shocked by its capacity.
Hall after hall of tables, Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant is huge. It is probably also why they are families’ top choice in Tsim Sha Tsui.
On its menu, you have a great variety of dim sum and seafood favourites. Notable dim sum dishes are Egg Tarts (HK$21), Steamed Shrimp Dumpling (HK$39), Steamed Siew Mai (HK$29) and Baked BBQ Pork Buns (HK$26). While we liked their dim sum, we say keep your focus on the seafood if you have limited tummy space.
What you definitely must try and probably will see on every table is the Cheese Lobster (HK$480 for small, HK$780 for big). Yes, it is what you think it is—chunks of fresh lobster dunked in a copious amount of gooey cheese. Just the thought of it should make you salivate!
We have to be honest that it wasn’t cheese of the best quality. But when in a typical Hong Kong-style restaurant, we weren’t expecting top-grade European cheese too. If you could look past this fact, you’d be able to truly enjoy the Chinese-style Cheese Lobster.
Other seafood favourites are the Steamed Clams with Chopped Garlic & Vermicelli (HK$50 per pc). This simple seafood dish was brimming with freshness and sweetness from the plump clam flesh.
At Chuk Yuen, there are, too, other seafood dishes for families to enjoy, such as Steamed HK-style Seabass, Geoduck Shabu Shabu (HK$880), Steamed Scallop with Garlic (HK$50 per pc).
Other than their Tsim Sha Tsui’s outlet, Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant also has two other branches in Happy Valley and Sheung Wan.
Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant
28 Hankow Rd, Hong Kong Pacific Centre
Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2722 0633
Mon to Sat: 11am – 12midnight
Sun & PH: 10am – 12midnight
Nearest Station: Tsim Sha Shui
For more recommendations, read our guide on Tsim Sha Tsui’s best places to dine at.