Favorite Hong Kong Restaurants – Wu Kong and Chuk Yuen

Whenever someone asks me to recommend a restaurant in Hong Kong I always reply Wu Kong and Chuk Yuen as must eats.

Our first meal in Hong Kong was at Wu Kong with a couple of friends who were in town for a few days. My dad ordered a set menu which had two more dishes which I wasn’t able to take pictures of – sautéed river shrimps and asparagus bundles. 

For me the best xiao long bao in HK is at Wu Kong. Try it and let me know what you think.

Wu Kong - xiao long bao
xiao long bao

 

The mantou was actually shaped like cups with a deep hollow space for the savory chicken and corn mixture. It sounds and looks simple but the mixture was very, very tasty.

Wu Kong- sauteed minced chicken with corn, served Chuanxiong with mantou
sauteed minced chicken with corn, served Chuanxiong with mantou

 

These noodles may look like ordinary but the texture of the noodles were heartier and the sauce had more spices. I think I tasted a little curry powder.

Wu Kong- house fried 'la mien'
house fried ‘la mien’

 

I’m not fond of sweet and sour dishes but I couldn’t this crispy fried Mandarin fish with soft and almost creamy meat.  

Wu Kong- Braised Mandarin Fish (Boneless) w: Sweet & Sour Sauce
Braised Mandarin Fish (Boneless) w/ Sweet & Sour Sauce

 

For me dessert should be sweet and pleasing. Mini rice dumplings  that taste like ‘galapong‘ or naked pichi pichi in a sweet wine soup is an acquired taste that I haven’t acquired. Give me red bean pancake or mango pudding anytime. 

Wu Kong- mini rice dumplings in rice wine & osmanthus
mini rice dumplings in rice wine & osmanthus

 

Chuk Yuen is my favorite restaurant for dim sum. I’m sure there are many other equally good or better restaurants but for proximity to where we stay Chuk Yuen is our choice. Last December we ate there three times.

This meal was supposed to be good for 5 people but due to miscommunications we had already ordered the food when I learned  my friend Deb and her daughter weren’t able to make it. We had so much leftovers it fed our family breakfast or dinner for at least two days.

Their roast goose has very little fat and tender juicy meat. I’m not an authority on roast goose but I like their version. 

Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant- roast goose
roast goose

 

One of our favorite dishes to order is their steamed fresh abalone with soy sauce. You can order a few pieces too.

Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant- fresh abalone
fresh abalone

 

If you like spicy food then the next two dishes are a must order.

Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant- Shanghai wonton in chili & sour sauce HK$28
Shanghai wonton in chili & sour sauce HK$28
Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant- pan fried turnip cake with XO saunce HK$22
pan fried turnip cake with XO saunce HK$22

 

The next two dim sum dishes are available only during winter months. Both are my favorites.

Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant- fried glutinous rice with Chinese sausage HK$28
fried glutinous rice with Chinese sausage HK$28

 

An order comes with two buns wrapped around Chinese sausage called lap cheong. The red sausage is made with pork. The dark brown, pictured below, is make with duck liver. I like this the best. I’ve tried this in another restaurant and their sausage was super fatty and tasted waxy. The one in Chuk Yuen was very flavorful and had no visible fat although I’m sure there was enough fat that’s why it wasn’t hard.

Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant- steamed Chinese sausage roll bun HK$22
steamed Chinese sausage roll bun HK$22

 

On another visit we met up with my cousin Bobby and supposedly with his wife Carol and two kids. Unfortunately Carol and Caitlin was down with a stomach bug so only Bobby and Robbie came. Chuk Yuen is also one of their family’s favorite restaurants. 

Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant- stuffed glutinous rice with abalone stuffed in egg sheet HK$28
stuffed glutinous rice with abalone stuffed in egg sheet HK$28

 

My newest discovery was this steamed rice roll filled with fried spring roll with garlic shrimp inside. I love biting the soft noodle and encountering a satisfying crunch and finally succulent shrimp.

chuk yuen -  rice roll with garlic shrimp
rice roll with garlic shrimp

 

My poor nephew Robbie wasn’t feeling well too and wasn’t his usual exuberant self. His dad gladly ate his share.

Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant-011

Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant- barbecue pork bun HK$17
barbecue pork bun HK$17
Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant- deep fried flavoring dumpling or ham sui kok HK$17
deep fried flavoring dumpling or ham sui kok HK$17

 

This was the first time I ordered the scallop and truffle dumpling. It’s now going to be a regular part dim sum repertoire.

Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant- steamed scallop, truffle & bamboo fungus dumplings HK$28
steamed scallop, truffle & bamboo fungus dumplings HK$28

 

Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant- fried veal bones Japanese style HK$28
fried veal bones Japanese style HK$28
Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant- dim sum menu 2013
dim sum menu

 

They will give you FREE orange juice or hot sugarcane juice too. Don’t order it or they may charge you for it. Just look around for waiters with trays of drinks and ask for one. They will also give you FREE fruits when you ask for your bill. 

If you stay in Tsim Sha Tsui area please do try my favorite restaurants. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. 

Wu Kong
Basement Level Alpha House, 27 Nathan Road,
Tsim Sha Tsui,Kowloon.
telephone: (852) 2366-7244
website

Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant
28 Hankow Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
telephone: (852) 272-20633

6 thoughts on “Favorite Hong Kong Restaurants – Wu Kong and Chuk Yuen

  1. thanks Ms. Leslie! was waiting for this. will leave for TST tom 🙂 tried Chuk Yuen before also based from your past reco. Wu Kong would be more expensive than Chuk Yuen right? Keep on posting:)

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  2. Hi Leslie! 🙂 I will make sure to try these two places. Nasawa na ako sa kaka Sweet Dynasty and DTF! Hahaha.. Will be staying at Prince Hotel lang naman kasi. Thanks for this!! I’m excited for the Ham Shui Gok!!!

    love, Didi

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  3. Hi Leslie! I was wondering what the 12:45 to 14:00 meant on the dimsum menu? We’re planning to have a late night snack at Chuk Yuen. Will the dimsum still be available then?

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