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Header image courtesy of Nomad_Burger (via Facebook)
If you have even a passing interest in the health food world, then you might be familiar with the term “ketogenic diet” (or keto diet). For the uninitiated, the keto diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that aims to send your body into the metabolic state of ketosis, wherein fat becomes the main source of energy. Over recent years, it has been widely adopted by fitness enthusiasts and dieters, who claim benefits from its effectiveness in promoting weight loss, lowering blood sugar levels, and improving health conditions.
Whether you’re new to the keto diet or have followed it for a while, trying to stay on track when dining out is never easy. Luckily, more and more restaurants in Hong Kong have been providing keto-friendly options so you don’t have to bail on your diet or social plans—and contrary to popular assumptions, there’s more out there than just steak and vegetables! Here are our top picks for keto-friendly restaurants in Hong Kong.
Normally, the mention of burgers would send anyone on a keto diet running in the opposite direction, but Nomad Burger makes it so that their burgers can have a place in any dietary lifestyle—be it keto, vegetarian, or vegan. Adopting a build-your-own approach, it offers endless options for you to customise your order exactly how you like it!
Start with a keto bun (starting from $46) and choose from hearty patty options like Angus beef, chicken thigh, and portobello; followed by decadent toppings including mashed avocado ($12), bacon ($5), caramelised onions ($5), cheese ($5), and fresh veggies. Rest assured that they haven’t forgotten about the dressing—and neither should you! For the final step, add on a smear of creamy keto mayo ($10) to pull it all together.
This moody, vintage-chic restaurant bar is like a godsend for low-carb dieters missing their starches. With keto-friendly alternatives for bread, pasta, and even fries, you can still enjoy your favourite high-carb foods without throwing your whole diet off track!
Whether you’re on diet or not, the keto fries with black truffle mayonnaise ($98) will not disappoint, delivering satisfying crispiness and delicious flavour using almond and coconut flour instead of potatoes! Equally worth a spot on your table are the Provençal salmon with zucchini pasta ($218), roasted lamb chop with pistachio presto ($278), and marinated mixed berries with vanilla mascarpone ice cream ($88). If you’re really looking to up the ante, opt for a keto Old Fashioned ($158) or keto mojito ($118) to pair with your feast.
The Wall Street Bar & Lounge, 1/F, MW Plaza, 40 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Eschewing rice altogether and centring its menu around a healthy, low-carb “rice” made of cauliflower, king oyster mushroom, and quinoa, Not Rice Kafé is practically custom-calibrated for the keto diet. Step inside the charming French blue storefront and you’ll find a short yet tasteful range of “rice” bowls on offer for surprisingly affordable prices.
Its menu draws inspiration from Japanese donburi, with options like beef with hot spring egg ($68) and hormone-free chicken and egg ($68). Keep an eye out for limited-edition offerings like the unagi and egg cauliflower rice ($88) as well.
Not Rice Kafé, Shop C, G/F, Greenland Court, 88 Ma Tau Wai Road, Hung Hom
When it comes to food variety, few coffee shops can compete with Heart Coffee. The keto menu at this minimalist, pet-friendly café in Jordan is packed with high-fat, low-carb breakfast plates, hearty mains, muffins, cakes, and even lattes!
Taste your way around the world with a wide selection of mains like Indian spice butter chicken ($120), Mexican spicy chicken chop ($120), and Thai basil stir-fried minced pork ($120), or treat yourself to an afternoon pick-me-up with a keto basque burnt cheesecake ($59) paired with a keto green tea cream latte ($50). We’d argue that the rich and creamy beverage rivals its conventional counterpart!
Heart Coffee, G/F, 285 Temple Street, Jordan | (+852) 2668 3588
Plant-based restaurant Years, along with its sister offshoots The Park, Friends, and BE, are known havens for vegetarians and vegans in the city, but did you know that this home-grown restaurant group has also quietly built up a loyal fanbase among keto dieters?
Each of the branches flaunts its own exclusive keto options—Years offers a hearty Buddha bowl ($88), Friends serves up a veggie-packed zoodle salad ($88), while The Park by Years whips up a stellar Japanese okonomiyaki ($148), complete with teriyaki oyster mushrooms, avocado puree, and a homemade okonomiyaki sauce. No matter what you settle on, you are sure to leave feeling nourished and satisfied.
A wanderer, chronic overthinker, and baking enthusiast, Beverly spent much of her childhood in the United States before moving to Hong Kong at age 11 and making the sparkling city her home. In her natural habitat, she can be found baking up a storm in her kitchen, journalling at a café, or scrolling through OpenRice deciding on her next meal.
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