A Local Foodie Takes Us On Tour Of Hong Kong's Best Late-Night Eats

Welcome, night owls and culinary adventurers. Hong Kong is a feast for your eyes and tastebuds, especially after the sun sets and the city lights up. We’ve teamed up with Charmaine Mok, the Culture and Food Editor at South China Morning Post, for her take on the best late-night eats in this vibrant city offers.

“The sheer convenience of Hong Kong makes it incredibly easy to ping pong around some of the city’s best eateries,” Mok tells Concrete Playground. “Everything is about comfort and big, punchy flavours — there’s nothing like powering down after a long day with a bowl of hot soupy noodles or ending a bar crawl with some late-night momos or junky fishmeat siu mai with lashings of soy and chilli oil.” 

Big JJ Seafood Hotpot

Cult-favourite Big JJ is one of Charmaine’s favourite spots. “Hands down the best place to enjoy local beef hotpot with a backdrop of nostalgic Cantonese pop, unexpectedly paired with an intriguing natural wine list,” she says.

The no-frills cash-only locale is a haven for hotpot enthusiasts. Proudly a ‘BYOB-not-too-friendly’ eatery, pair your bubbling flavourful broth and fresh fish with one of the wines from the team’s considered selection or sample some of Big JJ’s brewed beer.

Find it at: G/F, Wo On Building, 9 Wo On Lane, Central

Hing Kee

This bustling family-owned eatery is the ultimate spot for traditional fare.

“Tight quarters, but a legendary venue with some of the best traditional typhoon shelter crab (a classic Hong Kong dish of shellfish stir-fried with mountains of garlic, chilli and black bean) and roast goose noodles,” Charmaine tells us.

The spot is renowned for its variety of dishes ranging from the classic to the adventurous, and customisable spice levels on many dishes to suit your taste.

Find it at: 1/F Po Wah Comm Building, 180 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Kai Kai Dessert

Are sweet cravings hitting you late at night? Head over to Kai Kai Dessert in Jordan. This dessert shop was once a hidden local gem until the Michelin Guide discovered it. 

Serving up Cantonese sweet soups and other traditional dishes such as Chinese almond tofu skin soup with ginkgo and Job’s tears or black sesame soup and mango and pomelo sago — all freshly prepared and boasting rich flavours. 

“There’s a reason why this Cantonese dessert spot has a song written after it,” says Mok. “The sweet soups are sensational. Get the black sesame paired with walnut cream. You won’t be disappointed.” 

Find it at: 29 Ning Po Street, Jordan, Kowloon

COA

Tequila and tacos are at the Mexican-inspired craft cocktail bar COA in Wah Shin House. 

“This agave spirits bar put Hong Kong’s bar scene on the map with its three-time ‘Asia’s Best Bar‘ accolade, and the skilled staff have remained driven and inventive when it comes to their cocktails,” says Mok.

COA combines industrial and cosy elements to create a unique spot with an infectious laidback energy. It’s a standout choice if you love agave spirits. Either browse the 41-page spirit menu or ask the bartenders to mix up the perfect tipple. 

Find it at: Shop A, LG/F Wah Shin House, 6-10 Shin Hing Street, Central

Ladies Street Sik Faan Company

Take a step back in time at this neon-lit nostalgia-fuelled restaurant. 

Mok describes it as “a wildly fun and popular spot with all the perks of dai paai dong (streetside stall) dining, with the added benefit of indoor air-conditioning, located above an iconic outdoor market street.”

Whether you’re craving salt and peppercorn shrimp or fried lotus root cake at night, this eatery promises a taste of Hong Kong’s culinary heritage.

Find it at: Shop B, 1/F, Witty Commercial Building, 1A-1L Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok

Tai On Building

It might look like a slightly rundown 1960s apartment building on the outside but inside the Tai On Building you’ll find a treasure trove for foodies on its ground floor.

“A unique dining destination that may be on its way towards extinction,” Mok laments. “Tai On Building is known for its warren of snack and food stalls, from crisp and tender egg waffles to grilled skewers and Hainan chicken rice.” 

Find it at: 60-64 Shau Kei Wan Road, Sai Wan Ho

Terrible Baby

Named for the French phrase ‘L’Enfant Terrible,’ referring to a group of daring young creatives inspired by the Dadaist art movement. The venue features a lush outdoor terrace with epic views of Jordan’s iconic buildings, the Kowloon neon lights, and Nathan Road — the oldest major road in the city. 

“Effortlessly cool and irreverent, with live music and vinyl nights, convivial atmosphere and creative bartending without the bells and whistles,” Mok says.

Terrible Baby has a healthy lineup of weekly homegrown Hong Kong DJs, live music sets and concerts that take place in the bar and music room.

Find it at: 4/F, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Jordan

Sun Hing Dim Sum

Do you dim sum? Sun Hing Dim Sum is a self-serve eatery, plating up handmade dumplings and buns from 3am until 4pm daily. Yep, you read that right: it opens its doors at 3am.

“Small but powerful, one of the few dim sum places in Hong Kong opening till the wee hours, attracting both bar-hoppers and early birds hankering for one of the city’s best flowing steamed custard buns,” says Mok.

Take your dish of choice from the roving trolley carts and tuck into baskets of char siu bao, dumplings of all varieties, salted egg lava buns or even curry tripe and wash it down with classic loose-leaf tea. 

Find it at: G/F, 8 Smithfield Road, Kennedy Town

WooSung Street Temporary Cooked Food Hawker Bazaar

Have you even gone to Hong Kong if you don’t check out the food scene at Temple Street? Open until the wee hours, this bustling market offers a variety of traditional Hong Kong street food, from fish balls to siu mai.

“Cha chaan teng (Hong Kong-style diner) food by day, dai aai dong cuisine at night, all wrapped up in a unique barrel-shaped building with casual outdoor seating,” describes Mok.

Find it at: 29-39 Woosung Street, Yau Ma Tei

Go where the night vibes take you. To find out more about Hong Kong’s night vibes and night treats, head to the website.