Breaking
By Beverly Ngai
20 January 2022
Copyright © 2022 LOCALIIZ | All rights reserved
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Check out Humans of Hong Kong, our newest video series focused on telling Hong Kong stories!
Header image courtesy of @openrice_hk (via Instagram)
When the carnivorous cravings hit and you don’t have the budget or reservations to enjoy a fancy hunk of beef at a white tablecloth restaurant, a Hong Kong-style steakhouse is the place the go. You know, the ones that serve juicy slabs of meat on sizzling iron plates that smell as good as they sound, topped with mounds of rich gravy that’s poured tableside.
Popularised in the 1960s and 1970s, these old-school steakhouses perfectly encapsulate the melting pot of cultures that is our city’s dining scene, bringing a fast and affordable—and, in typical Hong Kong fashion, gloriously messy—take on the Western classic. Undoubtedly, these local establishments are slowly dwindling and becoming harder and harder to find by the year; but if you search around, there are still some great spots to get your meaty fix with a healthy dose of nostalgia. Here’s our round-up of the best Hong Kong-style steakhouses in the city!
One of the pioneering Hong Kong-style steakhouses, Golden Phoenix Restaurant has been a stalwart favourite among Kowloon locals for over half a century, winning loyal diners with its meltingly tender cuts and bargain prices. Now, with five locations scattered across the city, you are never too far from enjoying their sumptuous, time-honoured flavours.
There are over a dozen meaty hot plates to choose from, ranging from sirloin and T-bone steaks and lamb and pork chops. However, for those who struggle with decision-making (we know we do!) or just want to try a bite of everything, their mixed grill set ($98)—comprising pork chop, steak, chicken wing, sausage, and ham—is your best bet!
Among the litany of steak purveyors in the city, you would be hard-pressed to find a better bang for your buck than this hidden gem founded by former head chef of Golden Phoenix Restaurant. For under $90, expect a soft, fluffy bread roll with butter, a steaming bowl of Hong Kong-style borscht or cream soup, followed by an eye-pleasing portion of steak—your choice of tenderloin, sirloin, or rib-eye—layered on top of a bed of crinkle-cut fries and cabbage. For an additional punch of flavour, definitely order your steak with an extra dollop of garlic ($2)!
Golden Jade Restaurant, 68 Lai Chi Kok Road, Prince Edward | (+852) 2398 3232
Easily recognisable by its flashy red-and-green neon sign on the corner of Luard Road and Johnston Road, Boston Restaurant is another oldie but goodie. While its name suggests an American fare, they actually offer an eclectic menu that takes you all around the globe—from Western staples like steaks and pasta to pan-Asian favourites like curries and fried rice.
We recommend starting with the baked mussels with cheese ($80), followed by the beef brochette flambé sizzling dish set ($185). When your steak arrives, kick back (to avoid oil splatters) and witness the theatrical display of smoke and flames filling the air before your eyes! Finally, end the meal on a sweet note with their baked Alaska ($99) or molten chocolate cake with ice cream ($67).
Boston Restaurant, 3 Luard Road, Wan Chai | (+852) 2527 7646
With its Chinese name of 來佬 (loi4 lou2)—a pun for a Cantonese phrase referring to imported Western goods—you know Loyal Dining is the real deal when it comes to “soy sauce Western cuisine.” Occupying a prime location in the heart of Wan Chai, this retro-inspired eatery is more stylish and upscale than your typical Hong Kong-style steakhouse, but nevertheless exudes an old-timey, period charm with its neon-lit sign, snug green leather booths, and geometric patterns.
You will find here elevated versions of many classic Hong Kong comfort dishes like baked pork chop fried rice ($128) and soy sauce chicken wings ($88), and an array of sizzling cuts, like their much-raved US grain-fed rib-eye steak ($258), which is exquisitely presented and served with a side of roasted potatoes, broccoli, and carrots.
Loyal Dining, G/F & 1/F, 5 Tonnochy Road, Wan Chai | (+852) 3125 3000
Prepare to be washed over with a wave of nostalgia as you step into this charming, family-run steakhouse. From the rustic, red-brick interiors to the vintage hanging wall décor and plaid tablecloths, Flying Eagle looks as if it has remained frozen in time since it first graced Sham Shui Po with its presence in the 1970s.
On the menu is a colourful selection of curries and sandwiches, as well as cha chaan teng mainstays like macaroni and baked rice, but the star of the show has to be the sizzling hot plates. We have a soft spot for their tenderloin beef ($98), a thick, juicy cut with none of those frustrating sinewy bits. If that’s not your preference, there are over 10 different meats covering beef, chicken, and pork, so there’s bound to be something for you!
Flying Eagle Restaurant, 256 Lai Chi Kok Road, Sham Shui Po | (+852) 2395 2576
Hidden in the off-radar neighbourhood of To Kwa Wan, this longstanding gem of a diner has gained quiet reverence among locals for its hearty, yet affordable steaks. Their decades of experience perfecting the classic Hong Kong dish shows through the superior taste and flavour of the food. Whether you opt for the T-bone ($135), beef tenderloin ($135), or lamb chops ($135), you are guaranteed an umami-packed, melt-in-your-mouth experience—followed by a complimentary food coma. And while you’re at it, why not wash down your indulgent meal with a refreshing coconut red bean drink?
Goteborg Restaurant, 440 Ma Tau Wai Road, To Kwa Wan | (+852) 2715 1639
Got a voracious appetite? This one’s for you! Whipping up jumbo, nearly-two-inch-thick steaks that are served alongside heaps of veggies and roasted potatoes, Salami Restaurant ensures that every stomach leaves satisfied. The mixed grill plate ($135) is their signature—and what a sight it is to behold. Piled high with an assortment of grilled chicken and beef—all slathered in a rich gravy sauce—the behemoth plate of food seems just a gentle nudge away from toppling over.
Alternatively, their black pepper tenderloin ($160) and New York sirloin steak ($155) are also crowd-pleasing favourites. If that is not enough to tempt you, how about the bonus of free ice cream that comes with all their meal sets? Sweet!
Salami Restaurant, 294 Sha Tsui Road, Tsuen Wan | (+852) 2492 5021
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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