Do you still remember McDonald’s Road and the rumored “Get Rich Quick Street” from half a year ago?
Hong Kong has so many interesting street names, but are there any places in Hong Kong with names so boring that people lose interest just by looking at them?
Yes, today, let’s head to Sai Ying Pun, where you’ll find possibly the most boring street names in all of Hong Kong: three of them.
Fortunately, the “boredom” stops at the street names. It’s possible that the destinations hidden here are included in the Hong Kong travel guides you’ve made.
3, 2, 1, are you ready to explore First, Second, and Third Street?
First Street
Ching Kee
The first shop on the street already embodies the style of this neighborhood: small, low-key, not necessarily very famous, but the products are by no means sloppy, and the ratio of good reviews is excellent.
Ching Kee is a small shop specializing in Japanese-style skewers and teppanyaki omakase, entirely managed by the owner Larry alone. The open kitchen allows you to watch the culinary show while chatting with the owner, and e-people will love this model!
Remember to communicate your budget and preferences when making a reservation, and the owner will cater to the customers’ requirements. In other words, it’s tailored just for you.
The skewers here are served on a salt plate. The better the ingredients, the simpler the seasoning. The owner uses fresh ingredients and has a precise control over the cooking time, so you can boldly choose seafood and steak.
If you have a large group, you can order a serving of sukiyaki, which is prepared in a sand pot in a localized way. The beef is selected to be flavorful and tender, and having a warm pot on the table in winter is always a good choice.
But don’t think that you can only eat Japanese-style cuisine here. The fish maw, abalone, and chicken soup is also the owner’s killer dish.
The grilled lamb chops are as tempting as those in Western cuisine, and you can even have freshly made macarons and bird’s nest as an ending.
Although dining at Ching Kee may not be considered too exquisite, it finally gives the feeling that “omakase hasn’t been overplayed! There can still be surprises!”
- Address: G/F, 121 First Street, Sai Ying Pun
- Hours: 11:00-15:00/19:00-02:00
- Reservation: 54058432/OpenRice
Burger Joys
Burger Joys, selected as one of the world’s 50 best burgers, also has a branch in Sai Ying Pun. Although the dine-in seating is limited, it doesn’t deter the enthusiasm of diners.
The burgers are made to order, and it usually takes ten to twenty minutes. Once served, dig in while they’re fresh and hot, and you’ll feel that the waiting time was all worth it.
Considering people’s pursuit of burgers nowadays, the more gimmicky and eye-catching, the better. But at Burger Joys, eating the basic options is impressive enough.
If it’s your first visit, order the cheeseburger. It’s worth mentioning that the patties here are made with red wine and butter, making the beef juicy and exceptionally flavorful.
For those who don’t eat beef, the fish burger is recommended. The fish is tender, the seasoning is balanced, and you can see large chunks of fish texture when you bite into it, making it very substantial.
The veggie burger is also a pleasant surprise. The “patty” made from mushrooms can provide a meaty sensation, which is not simple.
The buns they use are also relatively thick, but don’t worry, the texture is absolutely soft. After being toasted with butter, you can only say that just smelling the aroma of the bread makes you feel guilty.
As for the must-have sides with burgers, apart from soda, there’s nothing else but fries and fried foods.
Burger Joys’ twisted fries are quite famous, but regardless of the type of fries, it’s highly recommended to order truffle sauce or cheese sauce, which instantly elevates the simple fries.
Finally, there’s a small detail. Who would have thought that in a fast-food burger joint, there would be a book corner? While waiting for your made-to-order burger, why not dig into some fragmented reading time here?
Address: G/F, Tai Yik Building, 27-29 First Street, Sai Ying Pun
Hours: 12:00-22:00
Second Street
Hemma
The allegedly best Basque cheesecake in Hong Kong is hidden on this seemingly ordinary Second Street.
To be honest, eating at Hemma is not easy.
Given that most of the time there’s a queue, and Hong Kong’s summers are long, it’s not easy to find weather comfortable enough to queue outside. I sincerely suggest you seize the opportunity in the near future.
Alternatively, you can avoid weekends and arrive before noon, but never go on Mondays or Tuesdays, as you’ll be greeted by a locked door.
After all, being delicious means being capricious. Which cake (afternoon tea) shop opens early, closes before dark (remember, last order at 4 pm), and is almost always fully seated?
If you have to queue, you can ask the staff about the estimated waiting time when taking your number. If there are few people queuing at the door, don’t leave. If there’s a large flow of people, you can walk around nearby and come back later. It’s easier to get a seat if you’re alone.
Although Basque cheesecake has become somewhat commonplace, Hemma can still be so delicious that you forgive the whole world the moment you take a bite.
Each piece of Basque cheesecake here is just the right level of semi-cooked, with a tender exterior and a semi-flowing but not collapsed center. (Therefore, the shop reminds that it’s not suitable for those with sensitive stomachs, pregnant women, and children. Friends who mind this, please take note and avoid it.)
The basic vanilla flavor is usually the fastest to sell out. If you want to try this textbook-level Basque cheesecake, you must go early.
However, other flavored versions are all delicious. It just depends on your preference: lemon for freshness, black sesame for a rich and nourishing taste. The Oreo flavor manages to keep the cookies crispy. Pistachio surprises everyone with the addition of cranberries, and there’s even a chocolate whiskey option for the alcoholics.
Despite the substantial amount of cheese, they manage to make it flavorful without being greasy. The flavors are well-integrated, and the texture is delicate enough to be perfect in all aspects.
By the way, they have a minimum spend of one drink per person. I suggest not pairing it with milk-based drinks. Pure tea or hand-drip coffee goes perfectly with the cheesecake.
My fanatic friend always likes to bring several people together, ordering multiple flavors at once, avoiding the need to choose. They also offer light meals, so if you’re with a group, you can order a few savory items to balance it out.
In her words, from the moment the cake is served, everyone enters silent mode, afraid that speaking one more word means eating one less bite.
The production threshold for Basque cheesecake is not high, but at Hemma, you can truly taste the meticulous care put into each ingredient and every step.
Address: Shop A, G/F, 2 Second Street, Sai Ying Pun
Hours: 10:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
Coffee Ya M Goi
Across from Hemma is an eye-catching orange storefront that can give everyone a bright, sunny feel even on cloudy days, making it very photogenic.
This Coffee Ya M Goi is the coffee shop of radio DJ Ah Ching.
It’s not unusual for celebrities to open shops. There are also many coffee shops on these three streets, and you can get a stable output of Americano or latte anywhere. But if you want to drink a special blend, coming here won’t be a mistake.
The shop has two signature drinks. Whether you come in summer or winter, or whether you prefer a rich or refreshing taste, you can choose between the two.
Dirty Gone Nuts, as the name suggests, is a rich dirty that tastes a bit like a liquid version of peanut butter French toast – sinful but warming. Can you nut heads still resist?!
The Salty and Wet is not hard to guess, right? It’s an espresso tonic with salted kumquat. Having a glass to cool off when you’re sweating profusely from walking around in the summer is very satisfying.
By now, you probably know why I recommend coming here for special blends. Both drinks incorporate classic flavors from Hong Kong-style tea restaurants for creative inspiration. They’re not complicated, have a low threshold for trying something new, and are also very suitable for bringing friends who are unfamiliar with Hong Kong’s food culture to explore.
Address: Shop B, G/F, Tung Cheung Building, 1 Second Street, Sai Ying Pun
Hours: 8:00-18:00 (Monday to Friday) / 9:00-18:00 (Saturday and Sunday)
Among the three streets we explored today, I personally found Second Street to be the most interesting. In addition to the two places mentioned above, the public bathhouse and Ping Pong Gintonería are also worth checking out.
Don’t the names sound quite mismatched with Hong Kong?
At the intersection of Second Street and Western Street, there’s a pink building that is actually a public bathhouse.
Many friends may not expect to see such a facility on the streets of Hong Kong, which just goes to show the warmth of this city. This is also Hong Kong’s first rated public bathhouse, having witnessed a period of Hong Kong’s history in combating the plague.
I have to say, this building is very photogenic. The soft pink color is tranquil and warm under the afternoon sun. I wonder if friends who have passed by here have ever noticed it?
As for Ping Pong Gintonería, it’s a gin bar run by foreigners!
It’s not surprising that it has this name. It used to be a ping pong practice venue. After being turned into a bar, it still retained the original storefront, leaving unsuspecting folks utterly confused.
Even on the bar’s liquor cabinet, the four large characters “锻炼身体” (exercise) are installed (though there’s no more ping pong to play). It seems that late-night tipsiness and a healthy lifestyle aren’t so conflicting after all?!
The menu has a wider selection of Gin and Tonic series, with the alcohol flavors not being too prominent, making them very easy to drink.
It’s said that some film and television works have been shot here. Any friends who find it familiar care to decipher?
Third Street
The biggest highlight of Third Street is the classic camera angle that produces great photos, so classic that what shops are there isn’t even the point (just kidding~).
👇🏻The magical feeling of ifc being far away in the sky yet close at hand, familiar right? It was taken right here.
Netizens advise that at the intersection of Third Street and Western Street, shooting downhill is stunning.
Friends with the means must bring a telephoto lens, which will infinitely double the compression and atmosphere.
From the position on Third Street, shooting downwards towards the main street, you can capture the folded street and a small piece of the sea in the distance through the gaps.
The classic pose at this location is to look cool in front of the red railing. Don’t look at the camera for a more immersive feel in the city~
As for what I said earlier about the stores not being the point, that was really a joke! I still dug up two places from the locals’ pocket list. Want to take a look?
Friends in the area who want to come for an interesting and appetizing meal will mostly think of El Macho, a Mexican restaurant with a truly high number of repeat customers.
A Mexican restaurant that does guacamole and salsa well won’t be bad!
Their pies and tacos are outstanding, with fresh and flavorful fillings. A quick online search shows overwhelmingly positive reviews.
Another place hidden in a small alley is 茶咖里 (Tea Café). At first, I thought it was another milk tea and coffee shop, so I directly ignored it.
Later, I found out that this is a cha chaan teng where you can sit under a big tree and casually have a hearty meal, with an environment much more chill than a dai pai dong.
The food has a bit of a fusion feel. You can have char siu and instant noodles, as well as an English-style breakfast.
Almost all the diners who have patronized it say it’s better than expected, especially the scrambled eggs. No matter what you order, remember to choose the scrambled eggs~
By the way, their latte is served in a chicken bowl, a very bonus small detail!
The three streets we explored today, I’d like to call them the low-key essence of Sai Ying Pun.
Who says simple names are boring?
