7 Local budget-friendly eats around HKU that you must try
Khushee Soni
Are you getting bored with the food options available in HKU? Have you ever tried food from locals in HK? Are you on a budget?
If you have answered yes to these questions … keep reading because we have a handful of local budget-friendly eats around HKU that are worth trying!
Hong Kong’s local eats are typically described as affordable, heart-warming and absolutely delicious. Most students are on a tight budget when it comes to eating out and finding places that fit their budget becomes difficult. Hopefully, with this guide, we can relieve some of your stress while providing great options for some of the best restaurants around Kennedy Town.
P.S: Fellow vegetarians... we’ve got you covered!
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Ba Fang Dumpling
Ba Fang is a cheap Taiwanese restaurant that serves a variety of options, ranging from dumpling sets to spicy noodles. Whatever you get, it is guaranteed that you will be satisfied and very full. It’s best to go with a group of people because company and dumplings = a great combination!
Price range: approximately $40 - $50
Location: G/F., 127 Belcher's Street, Western District
Recommended item ☆: Any dumpling (Boiled or Pan-fried) set with passionfruit green tea and/or bubble tea
*Veg option* Vegetarian Dumpling Set (Boiled or Pan-fried)
Photo credits: openrice
2. Tam Jai
In Tam Jai, you get one of the best slurpy noodles in the spicy/non-spicy soup you can ever find in Hong Kong. It is one of the classic cheap eats for University students when they are tight on money. There are a few different types of Tam Jai that exists; Tam Jai (the normal one), Tam Jai Sam Gor and Tam Jai Yunnan Mixian. Everyone has their opinion of what is the best Tam Jai. Just remember to not be offended if someone doesn’t have the same opinion as you, although it may hurt sometimes...
Price Range: approximately $40 - $55
Location for Tam Jai Yunnan Mixian: Shop 8, G/F, Imperial Kennedy, 68 Belcher's Street, Kennedy Town, Western District (2-min walk from Exit B, Kennedy Town MTR Station)
Location for Tam Jai Sam Gor: G/F, 338 Apartment, 336-338 Queen's Road Central, Sheung Wan (4-min walk from Exit A2, Sheung Wan MTR Station)
Recommended item ☆: Anything on the menu paired with iced lemon tea
(Tam Jai Yunnan Mixian ) ( Tam Jai Sam Gor ) (photo credit: openrice)
3. Ho Ho Restaurant (可可店)
Ho Ho Restaurant is a great eatery that serves a variety of snacks including fried noodles, fried rice, cheung fan and congee. It’s extremely popular among many HKU students and is known for its affordability. If you crave any of the eats mentioned above, you will love this option. Best of all, it’s open until 4 a.m. if you are craving a midnight snack ;) Although, it’s probably best if you come prepared with a Cantonese-speaking individual or prepare your order before you arrive.
Price Range: approximately $40 - $50
Location: Shop E & F, G/F Luen Wai Apartments, 136-142 Belcher's Street, Kennedy Town, Western District (3-min walk from Exit C, Kennedy Town MTR Station)
Recommended item ☆: Rice Rolls (Cheung Fan)
*Veg option* Vegetarian Fried rice with gravy
Photo credit: @bz_foodie (instagram)
4. Man Wah Restaurant - Cha Chaan Teng
Man Wah is a chained local Hong Kong restaurant which is also known as cha chaan teng. They mainly serve all-day breakfast items that are popular among locals including french toast, macaroni in soup, toast and scrambled eggs with ham. At first glance, their food may seem simple and plain but the flavours are intact. If you have never visited a cha chaan teng and are broke at the same time, this is one that you shouldn’t miss out on.
Price Range: approximately $40- $50
Location: 12 Rock Hill Street, Kennedy Town, Western District (1-min walk from Exit B, Kennedy Town MTR Station)
Recommended items ☆: scrambled eggs, toast and ham, Ham with macaroni in soup, coffee with milk tea, milk tea
*Veg option* condensed milk with toast and butter, french toast
Photo credits: open rice
5. Sun Hing Restaurant
At Sun Hing, you will find yourself at one of the best dim sum restaurants in HK. Over here, dim sum is of high quality but is extremely affordable at the same time. Like at Ho Ho restaurant, it would be beneficial if you came prepared with your Cantonese ordering skills. Just a reminder that their dim sum is uncontrollably yummy and so, you might go a little over your budget! Bringing a few friends along with you in this food experience will help you reach your budget while also enjoying a traditional Hong Kong meal.
Price Range: approximately $50 - $60 per person
Location: Shop C, G/F, 8 Smithfield Road, Kennedy Town, Western District (3-min walk from Exit B, Kennedy Town MTR Station
Recommended items ☆: custard-filled buns, siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings), har gao (shrimp dumplings), steamed egg cake, deep-fried milk
Photo credits: open rice and Sun Hing
6. Po Kee Restaurant
If you are craving delicious, juicy meat, Po Kee is the place to go. It is a Michelin-star restaurant known for its 40 years of serving roasted meat at a very affordable price. Over rice or ‘lai fun’ which is a bowl of rice noodles, a thick piece of meat such as char siu, roast duck, goose and/or chicken is served. The portion and quality of food are completely disproportionate to its price but in the best way possible! If you want to get a hold of this meal, do come before lunch because it gets sold out within a heartbeat.
Price Range: each meal ranges from $30 - $50
Location: Shop P, G/F, 425 Queen's Road West, Shek Tong Tsui, Western District (MTR Hong Kong University Station Exit B1, walk for about 1 minute)
Recommended items ☆: Roasted Duck set, Roasted Pork set
Photo credits: open rice and slowsloweathk (Instagram)
7. Tim Ho Wan
Tim Ho Wan is a Michelin-starred restaurant that has gained popularity over Hong Kong for its affordability and quality of food. Now, Tim Ho Wan has branched out to the U.S. in New York City but nothing beats the original flavours of dim sum from the place it was created. The famous BBQ pork buns here are coated in a slightly sweet bun and a saucy filling are to die for! It’s one of those eateries where you need to order another round of a food item because it’s just that good! You might spend a little more than you intended but it’s worth it. You will thank us later ;)
Price Range: approximately $60 - $80 per person
Location: Shop 12A, Hong Kong Station (Podium Level 1, IFC Mall), Central (1-min walk from Exit F, Hong Kong MTR Station)
Recommended items ☆: BBQ pork buns, har gao, siu mai, steamed rice flour rolls with deep-fried dough sticks (veg), steamed egg cake (veg), deep-fried bean curd with prawn, cheung fan with prawns.
