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Header image courtesy of Uma Nota
Originally published by Catharina Cheung. Last updated by Annette Chan and Celia Lee.
Lunchtimes over weekdays can be a chaotic affair, especially in Central. But once you go up a little further up the hill onto the slopes of Soho, you’ll find a lot more choices open for your picking. Trudging uphill in this insanely hot weather may not sound appealing, but you’ll have a nice meal at the end of it to look forward to! Here are some of the best lunch options in the area between Hollywood Road and Aberdeen Street, all under $200.
If you are craving a good sourdough toastie, Frenchies is your new go-to. The cosy French bakery offers four mouth-watering and filling options, but we always go for the chicken and brie or mushroom and spinach, each going for $80. A selection of daily sandwiches is also available. Just drop by and see what they have on offer behind the counter!
Frenchies, G/F, 39–43 Hollywood Road, Central
Seoul Bros offers a selection of wallet-friendly lunch options for the busy worker in Soho and beyond. The Korean fusion joint offers everything from salad bowls (from $118), brioche sandwiches (from $75), and quesadillas ($78) to bentos (from $108), bibimbap (from $68), and fried chicken ($68). We recommend the beef bibimbap and teriyaki tofu with grilled veggies bento for a filling mid-day meal, while its signature Korean fried chicken is a perfect light bite or side dish.
Seoul Bros, UG/F, 66 Hollywood Road, Central
Café-hoppers are sure to be familiar with Ninetys. As a cosy café serving award-winning brews and quality food, Ninetys has branches across town. Its Soho location is perfect for a chill lunch with light options, such as the smashed avocado toast ($138), as well as hearty mains such as the red curry cauliflower with poached eggs ($98) and Thai basil spring chicken ($128).
Ninetys, G/F, 2–4 Shelley Street, Central
Although a little far removed from the heart of Soho, Le Jardin is definitely worth the trek up to Staunton Street. The cosy café offers a wallet-friendly lunch set from Tuesday to Friday that goes for $138 and includes a soup of the day, a choice of mains, and a cup of tea or coffee. For mains, you are treated to as many as eight options, ranging from smoke salmon and avocado sandwich with fries to pumpkin rigatoni with amber walnut, or pan-seared barramundi with herb and butter sauce (for an additional $50). You could even elevate your lunch experience with a glass of $40 house wine.
Le Jardin à Soho, Shop E, 36–36B Staunton Street, Central
A mid-day pick-me-up doesn’t get any better than a good burger and fries, and Burger Circus is your best bet. The retro-inspired American diner serves everything from a classic burger ($88), an American cheeseburger ($98), a veggie burger ($108), and a spicy chicken burger ($108). If these classic options are not for you, go for Burger Circus’s seasonal specials—just look for the latest offering on the board.
Burger Circus, 22 Hollywood Road, Central
Let’s be real—most people cannot finish a large pizza on their own, let alone during lunch hour. Size down your pie (and bill) with one of the petite pizza set lunches (from $138) at La Camionetta, which includes an eight-inch pizza, a side salad, and a mini tiramisu if you have room for dessert, or a cup of coffee. Their set lunch is available on weekdays, and most of La Camionetta’s full-sized 11-inch pies go for under $200, so you can keep this option in mind for lazy weekends.
La Camionetta, G/F, 12A Elgin Street, Soho
Of course, how could we talk about bang-for-your-buck meals in Soho without mentioning The Globe? This gastropub’s enormous portions and well-priced set lunch—starting from $160 for two courses and $185 for three—have cemented it as a favourite among office workers in the area. The menu is always changing, but examples of its lunch offerings include smoked salmon toast, Wagyu and pork meatloaf sando, and walnut pesto penne. If you are in the mood for something a little heartier, then its popular traditional British pies ($180) are always a good shout.
The Globe, 45–53A Graham Street, Soho | (+852) 2543 1941
This lively eatery combines fresh Brazilian ingredients with Japanese techniques to best reflect the colourful flavours of São Paulo. The star of the lunch are the sharing unlimited starters. Load up on soba noodles with carrots and cabbage in sesame dressing, roasted eggplant and zucchini, and pickled salad with white miso dressing. Coming next is a choice of mains with mouth-watering items such as vegan udon, half-roasted spring chicken, and beef donburi. Weekday lunch at Uma Nota goes for $195—a little on the high end, but definitely worth the try.
Uma Nota, 38 Peel Street, Soho | (+852) 2889 7576
Some days, you just feel that you need greens aplenty, and that is when you will be grateful for Fresca. What sets these guys apart from Hong Kong’s many other salad bars is their creative range of toppings. Think Sichuan veggie mix with soy chicken, king trumpet mushroom in sand ginger sauce, or cashew cream coleslaw. You can choose from a three-topping ($97) or four-topping salad ($120), and add $22 for each additional choice. The toppings change daily with specials each day, so go regularly to taste a wide variety!
Fresca, 54A Hollywood Road, Central | (+852) 2770 2282
Of course, we would not be able to leave out everyone’s favourite pasta bar! For the uninitiated, Pici specialises in hearty Italian dishes and fresh, handmade pasta that tastes homey and satisfying. For just $158, you will get a starter, a pasta dish, and a dessert. We highly recommend the burrata (for an additional $25) or the cold cuts to start with, then the tagliolini truffle pasta (for an additional $38) or the fettuccine spicy pork ragu, and finally the panna cotta, tiramisu, or simply an espresso and biscotto to round it all off with. Food coma, here we come.
Pici, 24–26 Aberdeen Street, Soho | (+852) 2755 5233
The walk up the hill of Aberdeen Street is worth it because the unassuming Bun Cha serves some fantastic phở and spring rolls. Our go-to is always the phở bò ($78), and the chả nem ($90) fried spring rolls, or the chả lá lốt cuốn ($72) grilled pork rice paper rolls. If you would prefer not to sweat over a steaming bowl of soup noodles, then the bún thịt co ($85)—lemongrass pork neck vermicelli—is also a great choice.
Bun Cha, G/F, King Ho Building, 41–49 Aberdeen Street, Soho | (+852) 2858 1900
It is rare to find one place that does a fantastic cup of coffee, lip-smackingly good food, plus a great cheeky tipple, but Doubleshot is one of those places that you never knew you needed, smack bang in the middle of Hollywood Road, no less!
Its daily brunch menu is separated into sharing plates and mains; of the former, we highly recommend the roasted cauliflower ($78) as well as the beautiful “MF” potatoes ($88). For mains, order the katsu sando ($158) served in toasted brioche with house-made aioli, or the breakfast carbonara ($168) for some indulgence. If you order a main, you can also get a side for free, including choices like crispy Brussels sprouts or 24-month Ibérico ham. Got room for dessert? Finish on a high with a Basque burnt cheesecake ($68) from La Viña or refresh your palate with the yoghurt foam with berries and granola ($58). Good luck trying to nab one of the famous window seats though.
Doubleshot by Cupping Room, 1/F, 49 Hollywood Road, Central | (+852) 9225 6639
It might be quite easy to walk past Bouchon and not even notice it there among its flashier neighbours, but that’s what we like about them: that they’re not uppity like a lot of other French restaurants have a tendency to be. Instead, its overtly Parisian bistro décor is unpretentious and inviting. Their lunch set is priced at $138 for two courses and $158 for three courses. Do order the soupe à l’oignon or the artichoke and peach salad hors d’oeuvres, and the chicken Forestière or steak tartare (at an additional $48) for the plats principaux.
Bouchon, 49 Elgin Street, Soho | (+852) 2525 9300
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