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Kau Kee Restaurant / Central (Hong Kong) -- I heard their beef brisket noodle soup was mythic. Multiple vloggers praised it to the skies on YouTube, but I asked myself, "Should I trust the unproven tastes of monetizing youngsters whose primary motivation is eliciting a Like vote from me?". However, I read the Michelin recommendation and realized there might be something to this online folderol. Jamie W and I made a beeline here after checking into our hotel nearby on Jervois Street. Mind you, it was a Saturday evening at 6:30, and the queue was staggering. We gave up that night and went to Mak's Noodles a few blocks away, but returned Monday evening where we saw tables were occupied, but gratefully there was no line. We were thinking we'd have to wait, but they pointed to two empty seats at a round table where four people were already busy slurping. No problem. Nobody even lifted their heads to acknowledge our presence. Their menu was comprehensive but we realized it came down to whether you want soup or not and what kind of noodles you prefer. Curry and oyster sauce looked to be other options. With due consideration, it was one of their signatures for me, the HK$70 Beef Brisket with Flat Noodle in Broth (photo: https://yelp.to/tt8_RDDGTI). They managed to make the meat velvety tender and the noodles had just the right consistency. The broth was clear and yet intensely flavorful. Jamie switched out the brisket for Beef Slices (photo: https://yelp.to/FgTqy9AO18). Same flat noodles, same broth, same price. Genuinely delicious. That was it. There were no appetizers, side dishes, or desserts to consider. Nothing that would encourage lallygagging. We were here for no more than fifteen minutes. No one rushed us out. Two people took our places in seconds. It was like clockwork. Life goes on. FOOD - 5 stars...yep, the YouTube kids are right for a change AMBIANCE - 3 stars...clean but a tad on the prison cafeteria side SERVICE - 3.5 stars...I can't say we made new friends TOTAL - 5 stars...it's all about the brisket, noodles, and broth RELATED - Exploring Hong Kong? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3AGgadg
Exactly as described. Arrived after a short hike from the Central MTR. Waited about 13 minutes in an initially daunting line extending down a set of stairs. Moves quickly though. Waiter directed us to a tiny table that wouldn't fit 2 back in the states but we had 5 there. Small bowls of soup noodles with brisket. The soup is clear, light and tasty. The meat is chewy and flavorful. The noodles have a good texture, soaking up the noddles but also still requiring a few bites before giving way. Tiny and rustic. But trust the lines and the hype. Just be prepared to order and eat quickly and you might avoid getting yelled at. Do as I say, not as I do.
Although we had to wait in line, the service is fast so you don't need to wait long. You must spend minimum $70 HKD and its cash only. The noodles with the beef brisket tasted delicious-- 10/10 for flavor. It seems to be tourist friendly as the menu is provided in multiple languages. Be prepared for very no frills service. You must know exactly what you want as soon as the server comes. Each bowl was about $9 USD ($70-75 HKD) which is not expensive but not the cheapest given the size of the bowls. I would come here again next time I go to Hong Kong.
Ambiance: family style beef stew place, packed and crowded inside, and you have to share the table with other strangers Service: self serving utensils and dressing, attention they don't have napkins here Food: simple menu items and variety combinations of beef and noodles Beef Brisket with Flat Noodles in Broth - ***** the broth is so good, soft and juicy meat, highly recommend Beef Tendon with E-Fu Noodles in Curry - **** flavorful curry with spice enhancement, rich in broth and chewy meat, recommend Price: moderate portions and affordable prices, which vary from HKD 65 to 210, they don't take cards, cash payment only and be prepared to have exact change
Great beef noodles. So much so there is always a line. I waited 30 minutes in the rain to eat here today. Although I enjoyed it, I don't think I am willing to wait again for it. When I left around 1PM the line was a third the size. Generous portions of beef and very affordable. I had the curry version. A lady next to me ordered a second one because she joked, "I waited long enough and want to make it worth it." Oddly mine had a red coating while hers didn't. The coating added an extra layer of spice. Overall the dish was mildly spicy, but the broth was too concentrated.
We came here right before they opened and there was already a line out the door. We were in the area the next day or so around 2-3 pm and there was almost no line. The service isn't great... you'll have to sit next to strangers at a table and be ready to order when you sit down. If you're able to, I would recommend sitting in the front because the back (even though you may get your own table) is very hot and uncomfortable as the kitchen is back there. The beef noodle soup with flat noodles was soo good, the meat was juicy and tender. There are different type of noodle options. I would highly recommend this spot! The line may seem long but it does move fairly quickly.
This is my second time eating here and it definitely did not disappoint. When I first came pre-pandemic, I lined up about 30 mins before opening and the line was out the door, down the stairs and I still had to wait about an hour total before getting a seat. The restaurant is pretty small but probably fits about 30-50 people squeezed into tables. I remember the first time I came I had both the curry and the beef noodles and I loved the beef noodles way more. This time I tried just the beef noodles but with different noodles types: 1. Beef noodles with e mein: SOOO GOOD! I liked it with the classic e-mein and it was so perfectly cooked The broth was so rich and beef so tender. I also liked the size of the bowls that it wasn't too big where I was stuffed and couldn't continue my HK food adventures but enough to fill me up. 2. Beef noodles with glass noodles: broth exactly the same as above but the glass noodles gave it more of a pho feel and was basically a bowl of pho with brisket instead. Still good but I liked the E-mein better. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overall, I loved this place. I like that there aren't any lines anymore post pandemic (came around 2pm) and you can just walk in to get a table. Each bowl is very fairly priced. The service was also really good. I didn't know what I was ordering and I assumed what they were famous for was item #1 but they corrected me telling me that #1 is just a huge bowl of beef and pointed me in the right direction. Im sure that happens to them a lot but it was nice of them to tell me.
So I came on Monday, 11:30am, and waited in line for about 45 minutes, while being entertained by staring at the butcher who was setup outside the place cutting up meat. They were supposed to open at 12pm, but they seemed to be getting the place ready at 12p. Finally sat down for a seat for two at 12:15pm and ordered curry brisket with e-fu noodles, and one with regular wide rice noodles. The brisket was melting my mouth and had a nice spicy heat. Iced Milk tea definitely was a great addition to the meal and must be ordered with your bowl of noodles. Worth the wait.
Im going to break this down into 3 parts 1. Food - 4 stars for the beef brisket noodle soup. Beef was tender and soup was flavorful. The soup broth is unique here because it's clear, not dark. I ordered the beef brisket with flat noodles, but I didn't recieve flat noodles?? I was given a curly looking egg type noodle. Still good, but not what I ordered. Portions are small for the price of $55 HKD. So if you're a big eater, one bowl won't be enough. 2. Abiance - if you want to experience real Hong Kong local dining atmosphere (crowded, tight, rushed, dirty) then this is the place for you. Restaurant is tiny and tables are cramped. If you have a small party, you will probably share a table with strangers. Felt super rushed when I was eating. Not a place to lounge around and chit-chat with friends. This is a "eat quickly and leave" type of place. 3. Wait time - if you come at peak hours, be prepared to wait. I came on a week night at 6:30-7:00 with a party of 3 and had to wait 30 mins. Good luck on weekends. Luckily the weather was nice that night since the line goes out the door. Overall, good noodles, but small portions and certainly not worth the wait.
This restaurant and Yat Lok were two of our favorite spots in Hong Kong and after visits to both can understand why Hong Kong is a foodie's paradise. We originally hadn't planned to visit Kau Kee on our trip. We noticed it on our walk for late night ice cream one night and were surprised to see a long queue at 10 pm waiting to get in. With the line looking like many locals, one knew it had to be good. The service was so friendly and they managed to seat our party of six together after 15 minutes in line. (It was a long line on our night to visit too but it moves quickly). Four of us opted for beef brisket and egg noodles and two days later and half a world away I'm still dreaming about it! The broth was so flavorful and the amount of brisket was generous in each bowl. It was piping hot but not unpleasantly so. It was the perfect bowl and loved the scallions as well that were added to it at the end. We also had a side of steamed vegetables (boy Choy I'm guessing) and enjoyed those so much added a second one quickly. Until my next visit to HK, will be dreaming about a return visit to Kau Kee.
I'm not normally a fan of beef brisket noodles but I'll make an exception for Kau Kee. Locals say that this place is "OK la!" but for me, it was just more than OK for me. We got there at 12:30 and saw the queue. At least 50 people (mostly mainland, Singaporean and Korean tourists) were ahead of us, and in the sweltering heat and humidity we waited patiently for over 30 minutes. By the time we got up to the front we only wait a minute before the lady barked at us to sit down in the back. Yelpers raved about the Curry Beef Brisket Noodles and that's exactly what we ordered. The steaming hot bowls of noodles literally arrived 3 minutes later and the office ladies who were sharing a table with us took one look at the noodles and ordered the same thing. This was AFTER they finished their beef brisket noodles with clear broth! The bowl was small (perfect portions for us) and we dug in. It came with egg noodles, the curry flavor was nice and spicy and the beef brisket was tender. This was one of my favorite bowl of noodles I've had on this trip. Would I wait over 30 minutes in the heat for this bowl of noodles again? Why yes I would...
Pretty delicious noodz here and pretty cheap too. I got the beef brisket with rice noodles in the "clear" broth. Damn delicious and pure tasting. I tried my bf's curry noodz and it was packed with spices if you wanna go that route. I didn't think they were rude at all, it was actually a fun experience for me to share tables and to be rushed because you know they're busy. () be aware that you will 99% he sharing a table with other peeps. It gets hot in there and man- I was sweating and people stared LOL. But enjoy your noodles and be conscious of the space you take up cause it's tight in there. Cash only and make sure to bring your own napkins! Come at an off hour time, probably after lunch rush to get in fast. We waited like less than 20 mins to come in. :)
The food is 5 stars, but the service is 1 star at best. When we arrived, there was a LONG line out the door. The shop is super tiny with only a handful of tables. After waiting about 20-30min, we finally got a seat crammed into the corner with 4 other strangers at a tiny round table, I could barely move my arm. The restaurant requires a minimum spending of $48HK per person, so each person has to order 1 items. We got the classic beef brisket, and the curry beef tenderloin flat rice noodle soups. Portion sizes are extremely small compared to other noodle shops, the food is very tasty, and the beef was cooked perfectly. Service was super rude, almost abusive to the customer, and they make you eat super fast so they can turn over the tables. I guess that's their way of getting more revenue. I would come and order a to-go, but would not recommend dining in.
Part of Hong Kong legends are 90 year old noodle shops. When I think of this, I think of Kau Kee. When I'm in Sheung Wan (because it's where my hotel is) and I want a casual meal that's no fuss but tasty and comforting, I think of walking 10 minutes to Kau Kee. You might even hear me say it's THE place for beef brisket noodles. Other (likely amateur) things tourists like me say: My favorites are the broth, flat noodles and on occasion, tendon. I think most people would go for the broth or curry. E-Fu noodles seem to be the most popular, often being sold out. Once they even sold out of broth. I'm lucky or an unpunctual eater or very late to the Kau Kee club as I've never waited in a line. Know that long queues have been said to be the welcome. The first time I visited was thanks to its Michelin recommended status. At the time of writing this review it has since been awarded the Bib Gourmand. The experience was quintessentially Asia. The two of us sardined on a table with a family of four who were either local or no stranger to the land and culture. Normally patrons respectfully dine quickly in silence and leave. This group was indeed quick with typical stoic expressions but also gifted us a smidge of their efforts when looking up from their bowls for the slightest seconds, pointing at their drinks: cokes with lemons, wordlessly suggesting we try some and gesturing their hands to show us how to. Lemon first on the ice, coke poured on. Of course we copied and it was the most extravagant part of our meal. ;) read more
my mom & i stumbled upon this cha chaan teng while wandering near our hotel, which ended up being one of our favorite restaurants the entire trip. in fact, we ate here 4 times! at first, we were drawn by the freshly baked pastries showcased at the front of the restaurant. we ordered their breakfast set one day & tried our their lunch set the following days. everything was extremely good & flavorful. my favorite is their buttered pineapple bun & warm milk tea. Overall, I would recommend this to friends & family. I would definitely come back if I'm ever in HK again! read more
Kau Kee Restaurant / Central (Hong Kong) -- I heard their beef brisket noodle soup was mythic. Multiple vloggers praised it to the skies on YouTube, but I asked myself, "Should I trust the unproven tastes of monetizing youngsters whose primary motivation is eliciting a Like vote from me?". However, I read the Michelin recommendation and realized there might be something to this online folderol. Jamie W and I made a beeline here after checking into our hotel nearby on Jervois Street. Mind you, it was a Saturday evening at 6:30, and the queue was staggering. We gave up that night and went to Mak's Noodles a few blocks away, but returned Monday evening where we saw tables were occupied, but gratefully there was no line. We were thinking we'd have to wait, but they pointed to two empty seats at a round table where four people were already busy slurping. No problem. Nobody even lifted their heads to acknowledge our presence. Their menu was comprehensive but we realized it came down to whether you want soup or not and what kind of noodles you prefer. Curry and oyster sauce looked to be other options. With due consideration, it was one of their signatures for me, the HK$70 Beef Brisket with Flat Noodle in Broth (photo: https://yelp.to/tt8_RDDGTI). They managed to make the meat velvety tender and the noodles had just the right consistency. The broth was clear and yet intensely flavorful. Jamie switched out the brisket for Beef Slices (photo: https://yelp.to/FgTqy9AO18). Same flat noodles, same broth, same price. Genuinely delicious. That was it. There were no appetizers, side dishes, or desserts to consider. Nothing that would encourage lallygagging. We were here for no more than fifteen minutes. No one rushed us out. Two people took our places in seconds. It was like clockwork. Life goes on. FOOD - 5 stars...yep, the YouTube kids are right for a change AMBIANCE - 3 stars...clean but a tad on the prison cafeteria side SERVICE - 3.5 stars...I can't say we made new friends TOTAL - 5 stars...it's all about the brisket, noodles, and broth RELATED - Exploring Hong Kong? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3AGgadg read more
Exactly as described. Arrived after a short hike from the Central MTR. Waited about 13 minutes in an initially daunting line extending down a set of stairs. Moves quickly though. Waiter directed us to a tiny table that wouldn't fit 2 back in the states but we had 5 there. Small bowls of soup noodles with brisket. The soup is clear, light and tasty. The meat is chewy and flavorful. The noodles have a good texture, soaking up the noddles but also still requiring a few bites before giving way. Tiny and rustic. But trust the lines and the hype. Just be prepared to order and eat quickly and you might avoid getting yelled at. Do as I say, not as I do. read more
10 months ago
Although we had to wait in line, the service is fast so you don't need to wait long. You must spend minimum $70 HKD and its cash only. The noodles with the beef brisket tasted delicious-- 10/10 for flavor. It seems to be tourist friendly as the menu is provided in multiple languages. Be prepared for very no frills service. You must know exactly what you want as soon as the server comes. Each bowl was about $9 USD ($70-75 HKD) which is not expensive but not the cheapest given the size of the bowls. I would come here again next time I go to Hong Kong. read more
Ambiance: family style beef stew place, packed and crowded inside, and you have to share the table with other strangers Service: self serving utensils and dressing, attention they don't have napkins here Food: simple menu items and variety combinations of beef and noodles Beef Brisket with Flat Noodles in Broth - ***** the broth is so good, soft and juicy meat, highly recommend Beef Tendon with E-Fu Noodles in Curry - **** flavorful curry with spice enhancement, rich in broth and chewy meat, recommend Price: moderate portions and affordable prices, which vary from HKD 65 to 210, they don't take cards, cash payment only and be prepared to have exact change read more
Great beef noodles. So much so there is always a line. I waited 30 minutes in the rain to eat here today. Although I enjoyed it, I don't think I am willing to wait again for it. When I left around 1PM the line was a third the size. Generous portions of beef and very affordable. I had the curry version. A lady next to me ordered a second one because she joked, "I waited long enough and want to make it worth it." Oddly mine had a red coating while hers didn't. The coating added an extra layer of spice. Overall the dish was mildly spicy, but the broth was too concentrated. read more
We came here right before they opened and there was already a line out the door. We were in the area the next day or so around 2-3 pm and there was almost no line. The service isn't great... you'll have to sit next to strangers at a table and be ready to order when you sit down. If you're able to, I would recommend sitting in the front because the back (even though you may get your own table) is very hot and uncomfortable as the kitchen is back there. The beef noodle soup with flat noodles was soo good, the meat was juicy and tender. There are different type of noodle options. I would highly recommend this spot! The line may seem long but it does move fairly quickly. read more
4 years ago
This is my second time eating here and it definitely did not disappoint. When I first came pre-pandemic, I lined up about 30 mins before opening and the line was out the door, down the stairs and I still had to wait about an hour total before getting a seat. The restaurant is pretty small but probably fits about 30-50 people squeezed into tables. I remember the first time I came I had both the curry and the beef noodles and I loved the beef noodles way more. This time I tried just the beef noodles but with different noodles types: 1. Beef noodles with e mein: SOOO GOOD! I liked it with the classic e-mein and it was so perfectly cooked The broth was so rich and beef so tender. I also liked the size of the bowls that it wasn't too big where I was stuffed and couldn't continue my HK food adventures but enough to fill me up. 2. Beef noodles with glass noodles: broth exactly the same as above but the glass noodles gave it more of a pho feel and was basically a bowl of pho with brisket instead. Still good but I liked the E-mein better. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overall, I loved this place. I like that there aren't any lines anymore post pandemic (came around 2pm) and you can just walk in to get a table. Each bowl is very fairly priced. The service was also really good. I didn't know what I was ordering and I assumed what they were famous for was item #1 but they corrected me telling me that #1 is just a huge bowl of beef and pointed me in the right direction. Im sure that happens to them a lot but it was nice of them to tell me. read more
So I came on Monday, 11:30am, and waited in line for about 45 minutes, while being entertained by staring at the butcher who was setup outside the place cutting up meat. They were supposed to open at 12pm, but they seemed to be getting the place ready at 12p. Finally sat down for a seat for two at 12:15pm and ordered curry brisket with e-fu noodles, and one with regular wide rice noodles. The brisket was melting my mouth and had a nice spicy heat. Iced Milk tea definitely was a great addition to the meal and must be ordered with your bowl of noodles. Worth the wait. read more
8 years ago
Im going to break this down into 3 parts 1. Food - 4 stars for the beef brisket noodle soup. Beef was tender and soup was flavorful. The soup broth is unique here because it's clear, not dark. I ordered the beef brisket with flat noodles, but I didn't recieve flat noodles?? I was given a curly looking egg type noodle. Still good, but not what I ordered. Portions are small for the price of $55 HKD. So if you're a big eater, one bowl won't be enough. 2. Abiance - if you want to experience real Hong Kong local dining atmosphere (crowded, tight, rushed, dirty) then this is the place for you. Restaurant is tiny and tables are cramped. If you have a small party, you will probably share a table with strangers. Felt super rushed when I was eating. Not a place to lounge around and chit-chat with friends. This is a "eat quickly and leave" type of place. 3. Wait time - if you come at peak hours, be prepared to wait. I came on a week night at 6:30-7:00 with a party of 3 and had to wait 30 mins. Good luck on weekends. Luckily the weather was nice that night since the line goes out the door. Overall, good noodles, but small portions and certainly not worth the wait. read more
This restaurant and Yat Lok were two of our favorite spots in Hong Kong and after visits to both can understand why Hong Kong is a foodie's paradise. We originally hadn't planned to visit Kau Kee on our trip. We noticed it on our walk for late night ice cream one night and were surprised to see a long queue at 10 pm waiting to get in. With the line looking like many locals, one knew it had to be good. The service was so friendly and they managed to seat our party of six together after 15 minutes in line. (It was a long line on our night to visit too but it moves quickly). Four of us opted for beef brisket and egg noodles and two days later and half a world away I'm still dreaming about it! The broth was so flavorful and the amount of brisket was generous in each bowl. It was piping hot but not unpleasantly so. It was the perfect bowl and loved the scallions as well that were added to it at the end. We also had a side of steamed vegetables (boy Choy I'm guessing) and enjoyed those so much added a second one quickly. Until my next visit to HK, will be dreaming about a return visit to Kau Kee. read more
I'm not normally a fan of beef brisket noodles but I'll make an exception for Kau Kee. Locals say that this place is "OK la!" but for me, it was just more than OK for me. We got there at 12:30 and saw the queue. At least 50 people (mostly mainland, Singaporean and Korean tourists) were ahead of us, and in the sweltering heat and humidity we waited patiently for over 30 minutes. By the time we got up to the front we only wait a minute before the lady barked at us to sit down in the back. Yelpers raved about the Curry Beef Brisket Noodles and that's exactly what we ordered. The steaming hot bowls of noodles literally arrived 3 minutes later and the office ladies who were sharing a table with us took one look at the noodles and ordered the same thing. This was AFTER they finished their beef brisket noodles with clear broth! The bowl was small (perfect portions for us) and we dug in. It came with egg noodles, the curry flavor was nice and spicy and the beef brisket was tender. This was one of my favorite bowl of noodles I've had on this trip. Would I wait over 30 minutes in the heat for this bowl of noodles again? Why yes I would... read more
3 years ago
Pretty delicious noodz here and pretty cheap too. I got the beef brisket with rice noodles in the "clear" broth. Damn delicious and pure tasting. I tried my bf's curry noodz and it was packed with spices if you wanna go that route. I didn't think they were rude at all, it was actually a fun experience for me to share tables and to be rushed because you know they're busy. () be aware that you will 99% he sharing a table with other peeps. It gets hot in there and man- I was sweating and people stared LOL. But enjoy your noodles and be conscious of the space you take up cause it's tight in there. Cash only and make sure to bring your own napkins! Come at an off hour time, probably after lunch rush to get in fast. We waited like less than 20 mins to come in. :) read more
The food is 5 stars, but the service is 1 star at best. When we arrived, there was a LONG line out the door. The shop is super tiny with only a handful of tables. After waiting about 20-30min, we finally got a seat crammed into the corner with 4 other strangers at a tiny round table, I could barely move my arm. The restaurant requires a minimum spending of $48HK per person, so each person has to order 1 items. We got the classic beef brisket, and the curry beef tenderloin flat rice noodle soups. Portion sizes are extremely small compared to other noodle shops, the food is very tasty, and the beef was cooked perfectly. Service was super rude, almost abusive to the customer, and they make you eat super fast so they can turn over the tables. I guess that's their way of getting more revenue. I would come and order a to-go, but would not recommend dining in. read more
I was in Central and near LKF so I figured I stopped by this famous beef brisket noodle place in HK. My friends had raved about how good it is, so I was pretty excited to give it a try. I was there on a Saturday afternoon and the place was pretty empty, could be due to the current activities so there are less tourists visiting. Shared at a table with another couple, and got myself the curry beef brisket noodle with ho fun. I did regret not ordering the yee meen since that's apparently what you should be getting, but oh well. The curry brisket and tendon ho fun came relatively quickly. It's quite a small bowl, so don't expect you will be full if you order just one item, unless you have a lighter appetite. My first impression of the broth was actually quite mediocre, lacking that deep beefy broth umami flavor. Brisket pieces were a bit too broken apart. The best part of the bowl were the beef tendons. They were super tender and soft. I loove tendon! The ho fun noodles were too soft and were falling apart. Thought it was an average bowl of curry brisket noodles, not worth traveling here for! read more
3 years ago
Another cheap priced food place that I must eat when I am in Hong Kong! On a hot sunny day, the line wraps around the stairs ! Bring an umbrella or something because you're gone be sun burnt. The line isn't all too bad because it moves pretty quick. The customers don't take long to eat. People just eat, finish then pay and leave. The space is compact and they fill in every seat. All the tables are communal so be ready to eat with strangers, we all just keep to ourselves. They have a rule that everyone has to order at least HK$50 per person. This is some basic beef noodle soup, it's not out of this world amazing but it was good, cheap and filling. Let me tell you how good it was... or maybe I was just super hungry at the moment. It was so good when I slurped, some broth got in my eye and my face on multiple occasions. I first ordered the clear beef noodle soup and ordered another bowl but the curry one right after I finished my first bowl. read more
OK BOMB. When I was searching for food places in HK, I stumbled across Kau Kee. When I saw pics, I got so excited. I was told that this place was famous by all my aunts and my mom so naturally, I made it a point to come try it. Here's the situation with the lines. There's a to go line and a sit down line. The to go line was what we opted in for but still took 15+ minutes just to order. All good. When we went for dinner time, they ran out of their rice noodle. I opted in for e-noodles and mmmm it was still good. I had the curry beef tendon noodles. I was so worried that it was only tendon and no brisket but it can out with both! My cousin got the beef brisket noodle and she loved the broth. However, by the time we walked back to our place, most of the soup was soaked. It was probably only a 10-15 min walk. Still so good. Highly recommend. Be prepared to wait, but it's so worth! Cash only. read more
Came here our first night in HK. Busy even at 9:30pm on a Thursday but got seated quickly sharing a table. Bowl was small but filling. Broth was very flavorful but a bit salty. They don't have napkins so be prepared. Very quick service. read more
Get ready to wait in line (surprisingly no wait for us) Get ready to sit elbow to elbow with fellow beef brisket/tendon noodle lovers unless your party is big enough to occupy entire table for which you'll likely have to wait even longer Get the curry beef brisket, much more flavorful than the original one Get your pick of noodles (yee mein and flat rice noodles are my preferences) Get out read more
8 years ago
Huge shout out to my pal Michelle, who came with me to all my HK must eat spots. I let her shop around while I held our place in the 45+ minute line. (It was a weekend night) Once we were inside everything moved so quickly. We sat near the kitchen where I just stared at this flawless assembly line of noodles. The bowls look small, but the have this Mary Poppins magic in them where it feels like your bowl never empties. I had the tendon curry noodles and she had the brisket noodles. Even though I was full 3/4 of the way, I couldn't let a noodle go uneaten. I sometimes dream about living in HK and being a regular here. Maybe one-day my noodle dream will come true read more
If you want the beef brisket you should give this place a try, said my friend who used to live around the area, and since I was on vacation everything is pretty much game, I just didn't expect the line-up going about 15 people deep when we arrived around 2:30 PM. One of the true motto's of any place that is popular in HK is that if there is hype... usually the wait follows when you get there. Amazingly enough we got here after using my horrible GPS and once I saw the lineup the expectations rose. Waiting around I noticed a sign posted at the door saying, "no baby strollers, no luggage"... until you enter, you realize how small and tight the seating situation is. Any time of day this place has it's fandom of people, whether visiting or local, wanting their popular hyped beef brisket, it's in their name in Chinese that this is what they do. A warning to all you non-beef eaters... this place is really not for you and if you are coming with a friend who doesn't eat this variation of meat.. well just remember, as stated on the menu, there is a minimum $40 per head to sit in here. Our orders for the three of us consisted of a curry beef brisket with ho fun, their regular house beef brisket with ho fun, an order of their lo mein beef brisket with wonton mein and a side of greens to balance it out. This place is no nonsense, once the order gets put in, you are there waiting, not too long, and magically the bowls are appearing right in front of you. This place is not a place you sit around and enjoy, you wolf it down, and you GTFO... before paying for your food right at the exit. We were obviously pretty hungry on this hot day, and when you get in here the a/c is blowing hard, so best way to warm up is with a nice hot bowl of noodles. The bowls come, and you need to fend for yourself for the spoons and chopsticks and sauce dishes that are in the centre of each table. How did I find this place, more hype than anything else, I found just eating through this bowl to be a heavy experience on the internal system. Everything in the bowl tasted the same, from going from my own 'lo mein' to my friends 'ho fun' soup, it was just so beefy in taste that I was thankful there was a dish of greens on the side. The curry dish our other friend ordered was the same, not much in terms of curry flavour, just color. If you're in for a meaty, beefy, tasting bowl of noodles, by all means... come here, you will not be disappointed one bit. If you are not one who likes cramped spots, waiting in line, over beefy goodness.. well walk right past and check out another place, this is one of those fan favorites.. either you are a fan or you are not... I'll let you decide. read more
The noodles here are freaking bomb!! I can't believe that I only tried this place recently and not the prior trips I've taken to HK. This place was recommended by family members and friend so I had to come and wait in that line to try for myself. I came here on a week night and waited about 20 minutes, which isn't that had. However, given HK's humidity, it felt 20 minutes too long. Upon being seated, I ordered their beef tendon in e-fu borne with curry (#14). Pictures don't do you justice but it's literally an orgasm in your mouth. The beef is so tender and juicy, unlike certain places where it takes you over 10 chews before you can even swallow. The types of noodles they use is an interesting combination because I've never had e-fu noodles with beef tendon, especially in a curry broth. For about $55HKD (~$7USD), it's worth your money and time. The bowl is small compared to what you think in pictures but that gives you room to try other dishes either here or at restaurants nearby. Give this place a shot and you will not be disappointed! read more
Come in. East fast. Get out. Those are the rules of this restaurant. Tried dropping my napkin and they did not pick it up and fold it. Don't make the mistake of making too much eye contact, and don't take more than 20 seconds to order. If you can follow these simple rules you will enjoy your experience here. Like everyone else I recommend the curry tendon bowl. It looks like a small bowl, but it is mighty mighty. E-fu noodles and other popular ones run out early, so be prepared with a plan B. Careful... or else it's "no soup for you!" read more
Yelp-found. Let me down. To be fair, I did read a review or two ahead of time that they sometimes run out of their better dishes early on. And I did come here at 9:30pm (half an hour before closing) on a Saturday night. So I know my timing wasn't the best. But I came for the beef brisket with flat egg noodle (looks soooo delicious in the Yelp pics), and all they had left for the night was vermicelli noodles. So I got that, plus an order of vermicelli noodles in the beef curry (the only other dish available). Noodles were cheap quality and not so great consistency, like the add-water type of rice sticks in an instant noodle package. Brisket and soup were not as tasty as I expected. Curry broth/meat was the best thing there. But nothing beats the giant cockroach on the ground that wandered onto my bare toes. I really shouldn't have switched into sandals on my way out :( Be prepared to find a better place, unless you come at a better time of day OR do not mind roaches running around the kitchen where your food is cooked! Might have been a coincidence, but my me-time in the bathroom a couple hours later was not enjoyable. read more
8 years ago
This place is pretty famous for their beef brisket and for good reason. The brisket is soft, chewy, and full of delicious fat that you sink your teeth into and it just melts. Prepare to line up. The mainland tourists all have heard of this place and so they all flock here for great beef brisket. You sit down communal style and quickly order your food. From what I remember, the food came out after 3-5 minutes, a little slower than how fast these types of hole in the wall Chinese restaurants usually serve. Whatever. Food was great. Noodles were chewy. I was happy read more
I HONESTLY DONT GET THE HYPE. yeah the meat is pretty tender but apart from the curry one, the other flavors are whatever. The curry flavor is pretty good but it's not out of the world or anything. I don't know if I'm such spoiled being from SoCal and coming to Taiwan all the time but this is not something super amazing at all. I'm not a food snob or anything, good food is good food but this is really just average, and along with the wait and the service, this place is below average. Hong Kong service is pretty bad, we all know that, but this restaurant is even worse. If you're not ready for the pressure, don't come. Along with the ingredients in the bowl, the server adds a little extra flavor with his thumb in the bowl when he delivers the food to you. Wonderful and sanitary. Of course this isn't a classy 5 star restaurant so I know what I'm getting into, but that doesn't justify the finger in the food. There's a reason why the store that they opened in Taiwan awhile ago had to close. It doesn't come close to some of the things you can find in Taiwan. Service - 1 Star Ambiance - 1 Star Food - 2.5 Stars read more
9 years ago
Very good beef noodles, but not life-changing. Disclaimer: My hometown is Lanzhou, home of the famous Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles, so my biases should be clear. That said, I still really enjoyed this style of beef noodle. I got an order each of both the signature beef brisket noodles and the curry tendon noodles. Never had this style of noodle before, but it passed my universal noodle benchmark of having ample chew, so all was good on that front. Meat in both bowls was fall apart tender, which I liked. I slightly preferred the curry variation, as it had a stronger kick to it from the curry and also more interesting textural variation from the tendon. Portions are on the small side, but definitely worth trying if you're a beef noodle lover! read more
A small nook sort of restaurant that is always packed. I came here at around 9pm and there was a line out the door. The wait is not bad since it's a very fast food and fast eating type of restaurant. Expect to share a table with some nice strangers for sure! I got the beef brisket and tendon curry noodles (on their menu it will only say beef tendon but have no fear, it comes with brisket too!). My bf got the regular noodle brother with flat noodles. I thought both bowls were amazing. You get a small dainty bowl but don't judge it too soon like I did because I was actually not able to finish all the noodles in my bowl. It was packed with tons of noodles and beef! Overall I liked the curry noodles better since I always tend to steer towards very thick and savory noodles. But the regular broth is better if you are looking for a light broth. :) read more
BEEF BRISKET HO FUN (not to be confused with "hoe fun")!! this is the OG spot in HK for this dish. i kind of stumbled onto this place on my way to PMQ but it wasn't open yet (even though it was 11:30AM! dafuq kinda hours is this?!). i wasn't sure if it was the Kau Kee of legend since there was no line out the door but then i realized they don't open til noon (!) so i kept it pushing and went to PMQ first. fast forward a couple hours and $$$ in souvenirs later and this place is poppington! yoooooo, the line was down the dang block like they was giving food away. whatever, i'm here already so i might as well get in line. i was travelling dolo today because my partner in food was out doing some other sh*t. this worked out in my favor because they could cram my big body onto a shared table with some randos way ahead of parties with 3-4 peeps. yasss! the staff here is slightly more friendly than the seinfeld soup nazi, but only just slightly. i felt pressure to order quickly lest the glares from the peeps outside burn a hole in me. i went with the basic brisket ho fun soup and i was not disappointed. portions are small (by american standards) but YUUUUGE in flavor. noodles were top notch (idk if made there or not but super fresh). again, the portion was small-ish but that left room for my next bang anyways. if anything, next time i go, i'm going to order a side of brisket and noodles in plain broth. that's what it looked like the dolo girl next to me did and i was wild envious. #rookiemistake 10/10 would come back again. read more
8 years ago
After reading about how famous this place is, I was super excited to try it. Everyone is right about the service: it stinks. Especially if you're clearly a tourist, like me. I'm clearing not from anywhere is Asia.... but I digress. I thought I was going to be blown away. There was a line but we only waited 20 minutes. When we say, I followed the advice of other yelpers and got the brisket and tendon with E-fu noodles. And honestly, they were just okay. Not amazing, not horrible. There was hardly any tendon, it was mostly fat, which neither me or my husband ate. Both broths were fairly good, but again, nothing I felt like I HAD to have. Maybe I expected to much? Not sure. But I definitely am not going back. read more
3 years ago
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More info about 九記牛腩
G/F, 21 Gough Street
歌賦街21號地下
Hong Kong
Central, Hong Kong Island
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2850 5967
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