8 best hidden food courts in Hong Kong

Have you ever seen a prettier food court in Hong Kong? One of the newest food courts to pop up in the city, Wor the Food in North Point’s Worfu shopping mall is engineered to be 100 percent Insta-worthy. Its flashy, multi-coloured interior is inspired by Middle Eastern mosaic glass, while the floor tiles and ornamental lamps hanging from the ceiling harken back to the intricacies of Turkish art.

Once your camera has had its fill, escape the Arabic vibes and snap some photos at their pastel-themed corner on the other side of the food court, featuring a floral spread against a backdrop of a cute pink bar as well as a rainbow tunnel. As for the food itself, most stalls sell Asian fares, such as Hainanese chicken and Singaporean laksa, but you’d probably be too busy looking around to eat.

Wor the Food, B/F, Worfu, 21–53 Wharf Road, North Point

Most food courts are inside a shopping mall of some sort, but Food Creative is out to break the mould. This stand-alone, two-storey food court is actually sequestered in a corner of Cheung Sha Wan. And they sure are creative with their food: Other than staple ramen, sushi, and Cantonese fare, you can also find food stalls such as 80’s Golden Age, which sells Korean street toast and Korean fried chicken. Is that still too mainstream for you? Check out the Burmese mains at Myanmar May May, and finish the meal off with a nice cup of flame dalgona latte ($35) from Taiwanese drink shop Happy Holidays.

Food Creative, G/F & 1/F, Tone King Building, 413 Castle Peak Road, Cheung Sha Wan | (+852) 6574 3400

Another unconventional food hall is the one burrowed inside the Eaton HK in Jordan. A lot classier in nature compared to other food courts—courtesy of its hotel location—Eaton Food Hall gives off an artsy vibe not only because of the iconic movie posters that line their walls or their stylish furniture. For if you’re lucky, you might catch a performance by local DJ talents performing on the radio station in the middle of the hall. Now, this is not a food hall where you feel like you have to rush your meal before moving on: Kick back and relax over a hearty steak set meal from Confusion STEAK under the soothing dim lights of the place.

Eaton Food Hall, LG, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Jordan

OP Mall at Tsuen Wan West is always overshadowed by its famed tenant, the Japanese superstore Don Don Donki. While there are several Donki branches in the city, this is the only one that adjoins a food court. Step inside for a taste of Japan: True to the chain’s focus on Japanese products, the food court offers an array of Japanese specialities from Tetsu’s tsukemen (つけ麺; dipping ramen) to Gindaco’s takoyaki (たこ焼き; “octopus balls”). If you only want a small bite, grab some sushi or a bento box from Donki or line up for one of their made-to-order street food stalls. Be sure to stop by the baked sweet potato stall at the entrance, too.

Don Don Donki, 2/F, OP Mall, 100 Tai Ho Road, Tsuen Wan

Now for a true hidden gem: Tucked in the basement of a chic shopping centre is Chef’s Society, a food court whose exotic selection stands out even in the midst of the food paradise that is Mong Kok. Have you ever had dim sum at a food court? Well, now’s your chance; order some from Lin Heung, a sister branch of the time-honoured Lin Heung Tea House in Central. If you’re looking for something even less common, how about a bowl of fragrant khao soi with curry beef in soup ($58) from Khaosoi House or—for all you Americans out there—some fried chicken from the only Popeye’s in Hong Kong?

Chef’s Society, B/F, T.O.P This is Our Place, 700 Nathan Road, Mong Kok | (+852) 2462 6500

In a large mall already teeming with restaurants, Foodeli distinguishes itself by curating the best of street food, food-court style. Catch some freshly prepared takoyaki ($32) and okonomiyaki ($40) at Hanshin, or some fluffy soufflé pancakes ($44) for a killer price at Bove. Don’t go before you’ve tried some pork & mushroom siu mai ($15) from Yuen Long speciality brand The Queen of Siu Mai, whose chewy, umami goodness will have you ordering seconds before you’ve had the chance to stop and think about what you’re doing.

Foodeli, 2/F, YOHO Mall, 9 Yuen Lung Street, Yuen Long | (+852) 3421 2999

While there’s already plenty to eat in Sham Shui Po, there’s even more all gathered in one place on the eighth-floor food centre at the landmark mall Dragon Centre. Almost all of the food stalls here are independently-owned, so you won’t be seeing much chains unlike in most other malls. Unfortunately (or fortunately), this also means that shops here close and change hands a lot, so unless you’re a frequent visitor, you’d probably be seeing some very different food options each time you drop by. But don’t worry—our favourite shop is here to stay. A long-standing staple, the food court’s ice cream shop sells fine scoops for just $12 a bowl. Pick from 20-plus flavours, including more outlandish ones such as Japanese sea salt and Ferrero Rocher!

Dragon Centre, 8/F, 37 Yen Chow Street, Sham Shui Po

Kwai Chung Plaza does not technically have a food court—there’s no seating to be found in the packed mall—but we thought the wildly popular local haunt deserves a shout-out because of their mind-numbing range of food stalls. Though the mall is only three-storeys high, it boasts over 500 independent small shops. Many of these sell street food bites and takeaway with cuisines from all over the world: and for cheap, too! Because competition is so fierce, shops race to get innovative with their food, creating tasty curiosities such as deep-fried milk and carbonara tteokbokki (떡볶이; stir-fried rice cakes). Head on over for a never-ending feast on foot!

Kwai Chung Plaza, 7 Kwai Foo Road, Kwai Fong