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Header image courtesy of Sun Hing Restaurant (via Foodpanda)
While Kennedy Town may be known for its laid-back waterfront bars and chic Aussie-style cafés, it’s not just big bills and brunches here—there are also tons of cool neighbourhood noodle spots, authentic eats, and reasonably priced snacks around these parts. Read on to discover some of the best affordable lunch spots in Kennedy Town!
Ho Ho Restaurant, known almost exclusively by its Chinese name, is a favourite among local students for its signature cheung fun rice noodle rolls, which come slathered in peanut and sweet soy sauces. A combo of Ho Ho’s bestsellers—the oyster and pork bone congee, with a side of fried cheung fun, and fried pork chops—makes for a thoroughly filling meal. For home-style cooking, stop by Ho Ho after work and order the steamed egg with dried scallops and minced pork, as well as the stir-fried flat noodles with beef and scallions. You’ll enjoy a delectable meal while saving time and money!
Ho Ho Restaurant, Shop E &F, G/F, 136–142 Belcher’s Street, Kennedy Town | (+852) 2818 3658
If you’ve ever found yourself longing for handmade dim sum in the middle of the night, check out Sun Hing in Kennedy Town to satisfy your cravings. This popular dim sum spot, which has been around for more than 60 years, is the neighbourhood’s go-to restaurant for midnight munchies. Thanks to its 3 am opening time, shift workers like cab drivers, bartenders, as well as hard-partying students have become Sun Hing’s most loyal customers. Even with its early hours, you will still have plenty of time to sample the restaurant’s scrumptious bites as it stays open until 4 pm. Remember to try the famous prawn dumplings and molten salted egg buns. You’ll even see staff pushing carts of steaming-hot dim sum around, a restaurant custom hardly seen nowadays!
Sun Hing Restaurant, Shop C, G/F, 8 Smithfield Road, Kennedy Town | (+852) 2816 0616
Boasting a wallet-friendly menu and authentic Vietnamese fare, this fuss-free eatery has quietly become a Western District favourite since its opening in 2015, with three branches across Soho, Sai Ying Pun, and Kennedy Town. As per its name, the speciality here is the bún chả Hànội—white rice noodles topped with grilled pork patties, served alongside herbs and a spicy-sweet dipping sauce. For something a little more zingy, try the bún thịt cổ, which is the same noodle dish but with lemongrass pork neck.
Bún Chả Vietnamese Café, Shop A & B, G/F, Full Harvest Building, 6–18 Hau Wo Street Kennedy Town
The food served at Yuan is Here will effortlessly transport you to the bustling streets of Taipei. In this Michelin-recommended restaurant, you will find a wide-ranging spread of authentic night-market fares with ingredients directly imported from Taiwan. We’re big fans of Yuan’s signature braised pork rice, which you can pair with salt-and-pepper green beans and wash down with honey green tea. Finish off with a bowl of taro ball sweet soup and a cup or two of iconic bubble tea.
Yuan Is Here, 31 North Street, Kennedy Town
In case the name isn’t enough of a giveaway, this cheap and cheerful spot serves lip-smacking hot and sour noodles. We’re fans of the Yunnan-style Ah Yat’s pork chop hot and sour rice noodles, but the numbingly spicy shredded chicken crystal noodles are also highly popular. Between the toppings, carbs, and delightfully tangy soup, a bowl of noodles at Ah Yat works out to be a surprisingly filling and economical lunch.
Ah Yat Pork Chop Hot & Sour Noodles, Shop C1, G/F, 7–11 Belcher’s Street, Kennedy Town | (+852) 2884 1090
No matter the season, this long-standing restaurant draws snaking queues and thousands of Instagram posts for a good reason: it offers a massive menu of comforting, reasonably priced claypot rice dishes. Each bowl is loaded with stomach-filling ingredients that make sure you get your money’s worth! The classic preserved meat and spare rib rice is a popular choice, but the more adventurous eaters among us may be interested in trying the eel and frog claypot rice, an unexpected but welcomed combination that makes a bestseller.
Sheung Hei, G/F, 25 North Street, Kennedy Town | (+852) 2819 6190
Fish and Chick may not be the cheapest option on the list, but its classic beer-battered fish and chips dish is guaranteed to keep your stomach sated for the rest of the day. Opt for the set lunch that includes one main course and a salad or soup. You can choose from an assortment of fish for your meal, such as the hoki fish from New Zealand, halibut from Greenland, and local sea bass and groupers that are sourced fresh daily. The batter is perfectly fried to a crisp and flaky texture, while the fish inside is tender and falls apart on your tongue upon contact. Moreover, its waterfront location also makes it worth the cost.
Fish and Chick, Shop 6, 25 New Praya Kennedy Town, Kennedy Town
Hidden inside Kennedy Town’s cooked food centre, Sing Kee frequently garners a crowd of hungry patrons craving its classic satay beef noodles. Not only is it wallet-friendly, but the rich satay broth and bouncy noodles make this old-school eatery an irresistible option. Besides the noodles, other popular choices include the Hong Kong-style French toast that’s soaked in egg and drenched in condensed milk and peanut butter. We recommend arriving early, as the restaurant can form quite a crowd during busy lunch hours.
Sing Kee, 2/F, Cooked Food Centre, Smithfield Municipal Service Building, 12K Smithfield, Kennedy Town | (+852) 2817 6931
Those who live on Hong Kong Island may have come across queues outside this unassuming dumpling branch. Promising a delightful experience for both your palate and wallet, Nom Nom offers fresh Chinese dumplings that have become the ultimate comfort food for many. The medium set features seven to eight pieces, while the large set has a whooping 10 to 12 pieces. As for fillings, take your pick from traditional mushroom and pork and crispy shrimp and pork to innovative takes like the pan-fried cheese dumplings.
Nom Nom Dumplings, G/F, Man Kwong House, 12 Smithfield Road, Kennedy Town
First published on 9 November 2020. Written by Annette Chan. Last updated by Stella Li.
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