The Lowdown
Restaurant Name: Tsim Chai Kee Noodle or 沾仔記
Cuisine: Guangdong Noodles
Average Price per Person: $20 to $50 HKD or $2.50 to $6.50 USD
Location: Central, Hong Kong (please refer to the map below for details)
Recommendations: King Prawn Wonton and Fresh Minced Fish Balls Noodle SoupRatings (out of 5)
Taste: 3.5
Creativity/Authenticity: 4
Atmosphere: 2
Service: 1
Bang for Buck: 5Crayscale !!!
Tsim Chai Kee is one of my regular lunch spots during workdays mainly because it’s fast, clean, tasty and cheap. Eating in the financial district during the workday lunch hour can be a biotch sometimes. Most people are given an hour to get it in which sounds like a reasonable amount of time but not when you spend more than half the time walking through mobs, searching for a restaurant with a short line, and waiting around for a table. This is why Tsim Chai Kee is always my back up plan.
Tsim Chai Kee is purdy popular in Hong Kong amongst both locals and tourists and it was recommended in the 2010 Michelin Guide. It is right across the street from its famous rival Mak’s Noodle which is known for their killer wontons. The line up at Tsim Chai Kee may look intimidating but it moves quickly as only full parties are seated, expected to order while in line and forced to share tables with strangers – no seats are left vacant (this is normal in Hong Kong). Tsim Chai Kee only offers 3 toppings on their menu including wontons, beef slices and gigantic fish balls (seriously these balls are HUGE, definitely more than a handful)! They also allow you to choose from 3 different noodles including egg noodles, rice noodles and vermicelli. I was surprised when I first saw the prices listed on their menu. This place is HELLA cheap. Their most expensive bowl of noodles is $28 HKD or $3.60 USD which includes the works – 2 wontons, a few beef slices and a ginormous uni-ball. The portions are fair considering the price. I am normally satiated after one bowl but I’ll order an extra side of steamed veggies and soy milk to prevent any pre-dinner snackage.
One of the major reasons I prefer Tsim Chai Kee is because it is cleaner than most spots you’ll find in this price range in Central. A majority of budget restaurants in central are usually tiny and cramped with lower sanitary conditions. Where as Tsim Chai Kee, has a relatively clean modern Chinese décor, furnished with antique wooden benches and tables. Nothing against the other restaurants but for it just seems be seated in a better environment within the same price range with a higher probability of enjoying your meal.
The King Prawn Wontons are big compared to their competitors. They definitely are not stingy with their prawns.
The Fresh Minced Fish Balls are made of puréed dace, a Chinese mud carp. Dace fish balls appear and taste different than the more common smaller fish balls served on skewers at the local street cart vendors. They have a fishier taste to them that not everyone likes. I usually dip my balls in red vinegar which helps alleviate the fishiness.
The Fresh Beef Slices are fairly ordinary and similar to the beef you would find in Chinese beef fried noodles (gon chow ngo whore).
Tsim Chai Kee offers 3 variations of noodles just in case you’re not huge on the alkaline tasting lye water/egg noodles.
Yum, I love soy milk!
Shop B, G/F Jade Centre
98 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong
p: +852.2850.6471
Man, I love Tsim Chai Kee – but actually I really really loved them when they had these crappy formica tables, harsh fluorescent lighting and old tile floor. Now that they’ve “upgraded” it doesn’t seem as . . . HK? I dunno. I feel they lost something. The fu yu tong choi is still legit though.
Haha I agree, the decor is definitely “bougier” and feels less authentic than regular HK local joints. But doesn’t the cleaner exterior make you think that the kitchen would be cleaner as well? :p
I can’t believe that I’ve now been in HK for over 2.5 years and only found this place recently. It really is great, although the prices have slightly increased (soups start from 23 HKD) – but it’s still very cheap and great value for money!
It’s definitely a killer deal! Love it there!