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.

Located in Southern Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui is one of the most popular and populated districts in Hong Kong. From chic restaurants in shopping malls to hole-in-the-wall eateries, there are so many dining options to choose from.

Tsim Sha Tsui has so many restaurants, eateries and cha chaan teng that it can be quite a headache to decide on where to dine at. For a start, here is a quick guide to the restaurants in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong that you can dine at.

ATUM RESTAURANT

Brought to you by the same people behind Atum Desserant, Atum Restaurant is the group’s first full-fledged restaurant. We highly recommend their ultra photogenic high tea set. Instead of the typical cake stand, Atum Restaurant uses a flat lay to display their bite-size canapés.

18 Hanoi Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3586 1959
Sun to Thu: 10.30am – 10pm
Fri and Sat: 10.30am – 12am
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

AQUA

Aqua’s floor-to-ceiling glass windows span across two levels of One Peking Building and they unveil an extraordinary view of Hong Kong’s cityscape. Reputable presses such as Travel & Leisure and Condé Nast Travel have coined it as ‘Hong Kong’s Sexiest Cocktail Bar’ and ‘One of the World’s Most Exciting Restaurants & Bars’ respectively.

29/30F 1 Peking Road
Tsim Tsa Tsui, Hong Kong
Daily: 12pm – 2am, +852 3427 2288
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 3427 2288

BUTAO RAMEN

Founded in 2010, Butao Ramen started with its original shop at Wo On Lane and it has since expanded six more outlets across Hong Kong.

Specialising in Japanese Hakata Ramen, Butao Ramen offers ramen in four options: the signature Butao; Black King (tonkotsu base with black garlic and squid ink): Red King (tonkotsu base with chilli powder and miso); and Green King (tonkotsu base with olive oil and fresh basil leaves).

We tried both the Red King Ramen and Butao Ramen. While the former was kick-ass spicy, we preferred the latter for its rich and full-bodied

Shop A & B, G/F, Kam Wing Commercial Bldg,
28 Minden Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Tel: +852 2316 2878
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

BUTLER BAR

Butler Bar is an exclusive 20-seater watering hole and cocktail lovers should make a special trip for their Japanese-style premium cocktails. Their Classic Gin Martini (HKS$128) and Old Fashioned (HK$128) are highly recommended; the former is a concoction of chilled Tanqueray gin and Japanese perilla liqueur, while the latter is expertly prepared with Buffalo Trace Bourbon.

5/F, Mody House, 30 Mody Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2724 3828
Mon to Fri: 6:30pm to 2am
Sat: 6:30pm to 1am
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

CAFFEE HABITU

Cafe Habitu first started out in 2003 and today is a successful coffee chain with various outlets across Hong Kong. The cafe provides free wifi and coffees with consistent quality—which is no surprise why the brand has won itself a strong following over the past decade.

Shop L608, The ONE
100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 3572 0622
Mon to Thu: 11am – 9.30pm
Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat: 10.30am – 11pm
Sun & PH: 10.30am – 10pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

CHUK YUEN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

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.

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

DIM SUM ICON

You must have seen pictures of Dim Sum Icon at some point in time on your Instagram explore feed. There were adorable Little Twin Stars, puking Gudetama and more. Dim Sum Icon changes their character themes every three months and it sure is a brilliant marketing strategy to keep your customers coming back for more.

L308, 3/F, The ONE, 100 Nathan Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

ICHIRAN RAMEN

Now, what else do we need to say about Ichiran Ramen? Ask any foodie traveller what you must not miss out when visiting Japan and most of the answers will definitely include the popular chain Ichiran Ramen.

The famous eatery sells only tonkotsu ramen and after sampling endless bowls of ramen across Asia, the verdict is out – it is indeed the best rendition we ever had!

Ichiran Ramen currently has two outlets in Hong Kong—Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui.

8 Minden Ave, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2369 4218
Daily: 24 Hours
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

KIMBERLEY CHINESE RESTAURANT

Kimberley Chinese Restaurant is best known for its Roasted Suckling Pig (HK$1,288). What makes Kimberley’s Roasted Suckling Pig so special is that the whole pig is stuffed with glutinous rice. The skin of the suckling pig is crispy while the glutinous rice retains its moist and sticky texture.

Before you make a trip there, do note that you need to pre-order the Roasted Suckling Pig and pay a deposit one day in advance. And one more thing, the suckling pig can easily feed 10 persons, so make sure you go in a big group.

Other than the iconic Roasted Suckling Pig, the old-school restaurant also offers a range of the classic Chinese dishes—go for the Beef Ribs Stew, Stewed Pig’s Lung with Cabbage—and dim sum.

28 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2369 8212
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

M&C.DUCK

Offering a modern twist to traditional Peking and Shanghainese cuisine, M&C.Duck is not quite what you would expect of a typical Hong Kong restaurant. The familiarity of a Chinese outlet is comforting yet reveals hints of sexiness; the list of dishes is what tugs your heartstrings yet surprises with the unexpected.

Well, we would go there especially for the very good Peking duck, but there is much more to love, and we say them with a passion.

Shop 3319, level 3, Gateway Arcade
Harbour City, 17 Canton Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2347 6898
Daily: 11.30am – 4pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

N1 COFFEE & CO

N1 Coffee & Co is a stone’s throw away from Tsim Sha Tsui Station and is owned by two prominent figures in the competitive cafe industry, namely award-winning barista El Au and Cafe Corridor founder Felix Wong. The menu is simple but concise and features a list of breakfast items, salads and sandwiches ranging from HK$40 to HK$65.

34 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Tel: +852 3568 4726
Daily: 8am – 10pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

RELAX FOR AWHILE

Conveniently positioned along Kimberly Road and in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, Relax For Awhile cha chaan teng’s exhaustive menu ensures that all visitors will definitely find at least one item that suits his/her fancy. And here’s the best part—everything is incredibly affordable!

G/F, Cheung Lee Commercial Building
25 Kimberley Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3113 6388
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

SUSHI TOKAMI

Established in 2013, Sushi Tokami is a popular sushi restaurant in Tokyo which is known for its tuna dishes. The 18-seater restaurant earned its Michelin star status in 2014 and opened its first overseas outpost in Hong Kong in 2015.

Sushi Tokami Hong Kong—located at level 2 of Ocean Centre at Harbour City—offers three lunch menus priced at HK$800, HK$1,000 and HK$1,200. If you feel like splurging, go for the Omakase (HK$2,200) and leave everything to the chefs.

Shop 216A, Level 2, Ocean Centre
Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel:  +852 2771 3938
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

STAR CAFE

Hunting for underground cha chaan teng Star Cafe might be quite a challenge, but your efforts will be paid off once you have arrived. The native Hong Kongers frequent this casual eatery for its tomato soup noodles with egg and luncheon meat. Here’s a tip on finding this hidden local gem: Enter Champagne Court B at 16 Kimberly Road, walk to the end and head down the stairs.

Shop 36, Basement
16 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2721 2908
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

THE STEAK HOUSE WINEBAR + GRILL

Located at the basement of InterContinental Hotel Hong Kong, THE STEAK HOUSE winebar + grill is a 1-Michelin star in Hong Kong that specialises in charcoal grilled steaks.

Prices can be quite cut-throat, but they run on a full house almost every night.

The steakhouse offers a great selection of the finest cuts – from USDA prime beef to Australian Wagyu to Japan Hida A5 Wagyu. Well, let’s just say the options are mind-boggling – even for non-steak lovers.

LG, InterContinental Hong Kong
18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2313 2323
Mon to Fri: 6pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

TSUI WAH RESTAURANT

Yes, Tsui Wah Restaurant may be touristy, but we love it all the same.

Locals and tourists alike flock to Tsui Wah Restaurant for their signature Hainanese chicken rice, fishball noodles, and Bo Luo Yiu.

2 Carnarvon Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2366 8250
Daily: 7am – 2am
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

YAN TOH HEEN

Known for its refined Cantonese cuisine, Yan Toh Heen is a 2-Michelin Starred restaurant at Intercontinental Hong Kong.

Yah Toh Heen has one of the best Peking Ducks in Hong Kong. What makes the Peking Duck here different is the condiments and sauces. It is served with six condiments that include green papaya, cucumber, red chilli, pineapple, yuzu and spring onion; as well as three different sauces – traditional sweet sauce, osmanthus plum sauce, and black garlic chilli sauce.

G/F, InterContinental Hong Kong
18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2721 1211
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sun & PH: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

YUM CHA

Yum Cha—situated on the third floor of Attitude Hotel in Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui—is a spacious and elegant 130-seater dim sum restaurant. If you are looking for a great yum cha meal without the scruffiness, Yum Cha is the place to go. Furthermore, they specialise in irresistibly adorable cartoon-themed dim sums that taste as good as they look.

3/F, 20-22 Granville Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2751 1666
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

For more recommendations, read our Hong Kong food & travel guides to find out the best places to go to.

Award-winning Si Sun Fast Food is an exceptionally popular hole-in-the-wall Hong Kong-style eatery that specialises in greasy beef patty burgers.

Long queues formed outside the tiny local restaurant on a daily basis is a testimony to their tasty burgers. Do be mentally prepared to wait at least 15 to 20 minutes before getting a table. Alternatively, you could opt for takeouts.

The palm-size burgers served at Si Sun Fast Food are simple but delicious. The handcrafted beef and pork patties – sandwiched between fluffy sesame buns sourced from reputable bakery Garden – are smeared with an addictive homemade salad dressing.

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Believe it or not, these divine burgers are affordably priced between HK$17 to HK$23.

Si Sun Fast Food has been around since 1963 and has been the go-to place amongst local Hong Kongers for satisfying junk food. Yes, the burgers here might be a tad too greasy, but who cares!

The recipe to the restaurant’s success lies in its lip-smacking sauce which has been made from scratch with over 10 ingredients such as pickles and tomatoes.

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Other than the bestselling beef and pork burgers, Si Sun Fast Food also sells a variety of other deep-fried snacks such as French Fries (HK$7), Chicken Wings (HK$8) and Sausage (HK$5).

We can’t think of anywhere else that would sell a hearty burger at such an economical price. But truth be told, it is the burgers that have lured foodies to return again and again; the wallet-friendly price is merely a bonus.

Si Sun Fast Food
1 Whampoa St, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2362 1279
Daily: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Hung Hom

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves traveling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.

Located on the third floor of Attitude Hotel in Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui is Yum Cha, a spacious and elegant 130-seater dim sum restaurant. The dining establishment is especially popular for its irresistibly adorable dim sums.

We will admit that we were initially extremely skeptical about a fancy-looking hotel eatery named Yum Cha. But fortunately, the steamed dishes were superb and service was impeccable. Mind you, hospitality is virtually non-existent in Hong Kong’s local restaurants.

If you are looking for a great yum cha meal without the scruffiness, Yum Cha can be your next.

Yum Cha’s two best-selling dim sums are the Hot Custard Molten Buns (HK$49+) and Green Tea Custard Molten Buns (HK$49+). The former is stuffed with piping hot liu sha, while the latter is filled with matcha lava. No added MSG have been used to enhance these delightful treats.

Both items come in a set of three and are steamed fresh upon order. And yes, they are the iconic face buns; we almost couldn’t bear to destroy the cartoon baos!

You have to eat the molten buns while they are still lukewarm. Otherwise, the lava custard might solidify. That was what happened to us.

The Baked Pineapple Puffs (HK$59+) are interestingly presented in a steel birdcage – while we were excited by the novelty of its presentation, these puny crumbly baked failed to impress us with its taste and texture.

The price is exorbitant for its tiny portion and we would honestly rather order other dim sums on the comprehensive menu.

Sweets aside, we also enjoyed Yum Cha’s fragrant Chili Pork Dumplings (HK$59+ for six pieces) and Crab Roe & Pork Dumplings (HK$59+ for four pieces). These aromatic signature bite-size savouries pack a punch with every bite!

Yum Cha
3/F, 20-22 Granville Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2751 1666
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest MTR Station: Tsim Sha Tsui

For more recommendation, read our guide on the best dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong.

Everyone should know Dim Sum Icon in Hong Kong by now.

Remember those adorable Gudetama dumplings with molten centers that everyone was posting photos and videos of on social media? Well, to kickstart the new year, Dim Sum Icon has changed its Gudetama concept to a Little Twin Stars one with adorable dim sum items that will totally melt any girl’s heart.

Dim Sum Icon changes their character themes every three months and this Little Twin Stars theme will last till the end of April 2016. Then, a surprise new theme will replace this one.

Of course, we could not resist trying out these dim sum ourselves, so we ventured to The ONE at Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong to have a taste. We were certainly not disappointed by the array of colourful pastel-coloured dishes.

Our first and probably only gripe about the restaurant was the small space and having to share and squeeze in between tables. It was difficult for us to even move our arms freely for fear of hitting the person next to us. We spotted an alfresco seating area but it seemed to be closed up.

The actual indoor dining space was extremely tiny and could not accommodate a large number of people.

But there is also a small retail space if you are thinking of picking up some cute Little Twin Stars merchandise.

The Creamy Custard Bun (HK$49 for 3) is a must-try item for all first-timers at Dim Sum Icon. Choose between a steamed and fried version; we went for the former. Unlike some other custard buns that we have had, the custard inside this particular bun was extremely flowy and molten-like.

It definitely was not the best we’ve tasted though, but it was above average in terms of taste and texture of the actual custard. The cute Little Twin Stars imprints on top of the buns is, of course, the cherry on top and we couldn’t stop snapping photos.

When in Hong Kong, you must have their rice rolls. The Steamed Rice Rolls with Seafood (HKD$49) was a hearty portion with prawns and crab sticks stuffed in the rice rolls. Only one of the rolls had the Little Twin Stars printed though, so take your photos before you mess the dish up!

The prawns inside the rolls were plump and huge; the “QQ” or springy texture of the rolls were the winning factors for us. The rolls taste best when consumed as soon as possible, so make it snappy when taking your photos, and enjoy it while it is hot.

These pastel-coloured gems made our days when it reached our table. The Colour Prawn Dumplings (HKD$59) are essentially ‘Har Gao’ or regular steamed prawn dumplings, with the dumpling shell coloured to the theme colours of Little Twin Stars.

Although the dumplings itself were not anything special, it was still a dish we did not regret ordering. Every dumpling was generously stuffed with crunchy prawns. And you bet the colours made us really happy.

We were so tempted to try the Steamed Pork Dumplings Topped with Scallops (HKD$69) and alas, we gave in and ordered a portion. These Siew Mais are slightly more premium with scallops as toppings. This dish actually surprised us as the meat filling was pretty tasty and juicy.

We were still hungry, so we went for something hearty – the Fried Rice with Seafood (HKD$79) but we were immensely let down. The rice was dry and tasteless and the seafood did not taste fresh. The odd use of fried anchovies made each bite even drier and the dish just did not work for us.

So we say, stick to the actual dim sum dishes and skip everything else.

One popular dessert to try is the Rabbit Marshmallow Dessert (HKD$29). But if you still want more of Little Twin Stars, there are also themed desserts such as the Milk Tarts (HKD$39), Kiki or Lala Cup Cake (HKD$49) and Chestnut Mille Crepe Cake (HKD$49).

While some might think that the dishes here are gimmicky, Dim Sum Icon deserves a thumbs up for their attention to details and pretty yummy dim sum.

Dim Sum Icon
L308, 3/F, The ONE, 100 Nathan Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui Station (Exit B1 or B2)