Sun Kee Cheese Noodle at Tsim Sha Tsui / Wan Chai

Sun Kee Cheese Noodle (新記餐廳)

Opening Hours: Mon – Sun 7.30am to 3.00am

English Address (Google Map): Champagne Court 16-20, GF 13-14, Kimberley Rd Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Chinese Address: 尖沙咀金巴利道16-20號香檳大廈地下13-14號舖

Click here to view my full Hong Kong Food Itinerary and the 8 must-know about Hong Kong Cafe Culture

Introduction

This place was recommended by a friend’s sister a couple of years ago. Comparing to most of the eateries that i blogged about in my Hong Kong food itinerary, this is a less known to Singaporeans and almost all of my friends have not heard of it.

The outlook of the shop at Tsim Sha Tsui

Upon entering the eatery at Tsim Sha Tsui, the first thing that caught your eyes is definitely the Hong Kong Stars studded photos displayed on their wall. It includes Grasshopper (草蜢), Edison Chen and a few Hong Kong Stars that i can recognize but not name.

This place is not super crowded, but the tables were mostly filled up

Sun Kee’s signature dish is their grilled pork cheek (or pork jowl) in cheese sauce, or I simply call it the cheese noodle.  I visited their two outlets, one at Tsim Sha Tsui and a newer branch is at Wan Chai. And the reason for visiting this place whenever i visit Hong Kong? Matchless Grilled Pork Cheek, be it from Singapore, Bangkok or Hong Kong itself.

Tsim Sha Tsui Branch Menu (as of Nov 2013)

Wan Chai Branch Menu – 1 of 2

Wan Chai Branch Menu – 2 of 2

Cheese Noodle with Grilled Pork Cheek

Pork Cheek refers to the cut at the jaw area, at the hollow of a pig’s cheek. This area is mainly made up of  lean meat, interlaced with thin layer of fats. As pork cheek is not exactly tender, the best way cook is to cook is for an extended period of time until the fiber and fats break down. It’s also one of the best cuts for barbecued pork.

It’s served with the cheese sauce covering the pork cheek

I’d tried pork cheek in various eateries in Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong but my favourite is still Sun Kee’s. Theirs are very well marinated and has an exceptional grilled fragrance. If pork cheeks are grilled properly, the interlaced fat breaks down and melts in your mouth and that is exactly what Sun Kee has to offer.

Ta Da~ After some re-arrangement of the pork cheek

Their cheese noodle is also the reasons for my visit. At first glance, it appears to be really cloying but apparently not. The cheese sauce is not exactly heavy on the stomach. The taste is very balanced and the cheese is not overpowering.  It is especially enjoyable when the cheese mixes with the oil from the grilled pork cheek.

The only thing is they are not too generous with their cheese sauce for the price paid (HK$42 or S$7). As pork cheek doesn’t come cheap because of their limited availability on a pig, i guess this price is still kind of reasonable.

Love their smooth creamy cheese noodle

Grilled Pork Cheese Dry Noodle with Sunny Side Up

I visited their Wan Chai branch on my last visit and I’m glad that the taste doesn’t differs much from Tsim Sha Tsui’s. The menu is slightly different so i ordered their dry noodle with pork cheek. In actual fact, it taste exactly like indo mee (a kind of instant noodle that can be found in Singapore) andddddddd I LOVE IT!

Look at those pieces of meat~

It’s quite dumb to pay such a price (HK$43) for an instant noodle actually but i still get to eat the grilled pork cheek with my favorite instant noodle so who cares. Only order this if you really really like indo mee.

You can order just the grilled pork cheek if you can’t get enough of it, but i thought it taste better when it’s paired with cheese sauce.

I’m pawned by these grilled meat

For my past visits, I tried other dishes like the fried rice, sausage and egg cheese noodle and their chicken wings but they are not exactly worth It. The cheese ball is not bad, and you may order their grilled pork cheek itself but i still think it’s taste best with cheese sauce.

Cheese Ball, drizzled with cheese and the filling is cheese.

The chicken wings. Nothing special and i thought there is an artificial taste in it’s marinate.

Conclusion

Actually I am a little reluctant to write on this eatery because the lesser the people know about this place, the better. Most of the time, there is no queue when I visited and this place so it’s not bad to keep its this way. But I thought my blog is not that influential anyway so I thought I shall just share it for the benefit of my readers.

Out of my five visits, there was one time (the third time) which the Grilled Pork Neck didn’t keep up with the standard while the rest of the fours times were great. I think i actually recommend their Wan Chai branch more because it’s more comfortable and easy to find. In fact, it’s only thirty seconds walk from Capital Cafe. You may read up more on Capital Cafe and their black truffle scrambled egg toast here.

So far, after so many trips to Hong Kong, this is still one of my must-visit. Even if i am really really full, i will just probably share a bowl of noodle among two person. This is so-call die die also must eat. I’d recommended Sun Kee to a couple of friends and some say they love it. Another one say it’s nice, but don’t need to visit every time. Let me know how do you find it.

Click here to view my full Hong Kong Food Itinerary and the 8 must-know about Hong Kong Cafe Culture

The Wan Chai Branch Shop Outlook

The interior of Wan Chai Branch. Actually it’s much more comfortable than Tsim Sha Tsui Branch.

Sun Kee Wan Chai Branch

Opening Hours: Mon to Sun 7.30am to 11.00pm

English Address: 3 Burrows St Wan Chai Hong Kong

Chinese Address: 灣仔巴路士街3號地下

Map and Directions

Wan Chai Branch

I tried different ways of reaching Sun Kee but thought this is not the fastest, but easiest way, to follow the main road – Hennessy Road and turn right at Mallory St

Tsim Sha Tsui Branch

It’s easy to locate Champagne Court by coming out from Exit B1 of Tsim Sha Tsui station, walk along Nathan Road and turn right into Granville Road then turn left on Carnarvon Road. When you reach Champagne Court, you may a little effort to locate the eatery as it is within the building at ground floor.

 

Capital Cafe and their Black Truffle Scrambled Egg Toast

Capital Cafe (Hua Xing Bing Shi 華星冰室)

English Address: Shop B1, G/F Kwong Sang Hong Building, 6 Heard Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Chinese Address: 灣仔克街6號廣生行大廈地下B1號舖

Opening hours: Mon – Sun 7.00am to 11.00pm

Click here to view my full Hong Kong Food Itinerary and the 8 must-know about Hong Kong Cafe Culture

Introduction

The first thing you will notice about Capital Cafe is their walls are decorated with giant signed posters of various Hong Kong stars congratulating them on their opening. If you wonder why, Capital Cafe was opened by the ex-management of a Record Company, Capital Artists (華星唱片).

Capital Artists was in it’s prime from the 1970s to the early part of 1990s which Mega Hong Kong Pop Stars like Leslie Chueng, Anita Mui, Sammy Cheng, Andy Lau, Leon Lai, Tony Leung, Aaron Kwok and Eason Chan etc were signed under them. Due to poor sales, Capital Artists ceased music production in Year 2011.

On the left wall, lots of signed giant posters are hang up including stars from the “Young and Dangerous”

Capital Cafe started their business back in 2010 and is popular since then. Many praised Capital for it’s good service and it was said that Capital Cafe is one of Eason Chan’s favourite hangout.

Capital Cafe’s success came from mimicking the operating model of a very successful Cafe, Australia Dairy Company (Click to see review). They admitted that they are copying Australia Company openly and envisioned to be like them – to sell quality food at an affordable price.

Click on menu to enlarge

Black Truffle Scrambled Egg Toast

Capital Cafe even manage to mimic the signature Scrambled Egg Toast of Australia Dairy Company and topping up with black truffle. I was a bit sceptical initially but realised that the taste is indeed comparable with Australia Dairy Company. The texture is really good and almost exactly the same but there is a slight difference in taste. Capital’s scrambled egg is not as rich in flavour but i consider this as a very good alternative. A Scrambled Egg Toast cost HK$15 (S$2.50) at Australia Dairy Company while it costs HK$20 (S$3.30) at Capital Cafe.

However, Capital Cafe up their ante by dishing out a black truffle version. But the price don’t come cheap as it cost a HK$38 (S$6.30) for egg and toast. I find satisfaction in savoring this smooth creamy scrambled egg that is infused by the slightly pungent (in a good way) black truffle. This is definitely something worth trying in Hong Kong.

The Devil’s Pork Chop Bun

Apart from the traditional dishes of a Hong Kong Style cafe, Capital offers new fusion dishes that seems to target and appeal to youngsters. The black truffle scrambled egg is one and the Devil’s Pork Chop Bun is another. Instead of the ordinary mayonnaise, they added wasabe into their mayonnaise to make it more more interesting and giving it more “punch”.

I thought it taste very proper. Not awful, not fantastic. Their pork chop is lightly breaded and it goes very well with the wasabe mayonnaise.

Principal Toast

Capital Cafe also offers another interesting dish known as the principal toast (校长多士). They pledge that the price will remain at HK$25 every year. The story behind this toast is actually a tribute to a Hong Kong Star Alan Tam (谭咏麟) whose nick name is Principal Tam (譚校長). Alan Tam always cheekily says that he is forever 25 years old and this toast that forever cost $25 is a tribute to him.

Piglet Bun with Condense Milk and Butter (奶油豬仔包)

Capital Cafe actually label it as “Toasted French Bun” in their menu. Piglet Bun is actually a short version of French Loaf and it got this name due to the shape of the bun. I like the generous amount of butter spread on the loaf and toasted to crisp. Moreover what can go wrong with applying condense milk onto a toast?

Conclusion

I happen to come across Capital Cafe from an article of DanielFoodDiary and decided to pay a visit. Wan Chai is only two stops away from my hotel and Capital Cafe opens really early so naturally it became my ideal breakfast place. Note that it’s a short walk from Wan Chai Station.

I visited Capital twice in the morning at about 8 and 9 am and there is no monstrous queue like Australia Dairy Company and in fact, I got a table immediately. I didn’t encounter the fantastic service that people talked about (it’s just normal) but I favour the food rather much, only the price is slightly more expensive than Australia Dairy.

I feel that it is a good alternative of Australia Dairy when you don’t feel like queuing for an extended period of time for a meal. To end this, I am quoting from Eason Chan’s Weibo – “来香港，沒去过华星冰室，就等同白來”. It translates to “It is a wasted trip to Hong Kong if you never been to Capital Cafe”.

Click here to view my full Hong Kong Food Itinerary and the 8 must-know about Hong Kong Cafe Culture

Map and Directions

1. Come out from Wan Chai Station A4

2. Walk against the traffic and walk along Henessy Road

3. Keep walking for about 5 to 8 minutes

4. Keep a look out for a petrol station on your right. It’s about time to turn.

5. You should be able to see Heard Street. Turn in to the right and walk for about 30 seconds and it’s on your left.