Chicken rice, milk tea, pasta, cake: a Hakka daughter’s go-to restaurants in Hong Kong

Born to a Hakka mum, Michelle Chu recommends a place that serves chicken rice, a cafe for macaroni in soup, and a special Italian restaurant

Food and Drinks

Andrew Sun

Published: 12:45pm, 28 Jun 2024

Why you can trust SCMP

Michelle Chu is the design director of Tai Ping Carpets Asia. She spoke to Andrew Sun.

I grew up surrounded by food at home. My mum, grandmothers and aunts are all very good at cooking, so delicious home cooking is a big part of my childhood memories.

My mum is Hakka so her recipes adapted many Hakka accents – pickled cabbage pork stew, savoury salted chicken, stuffed tofu, fish cakes. I especially love the chewy texture of steamed rice cakes.

Apart from Hakka food, Shanghainese, Korean and Malaysian are also high on my list. Sabah Malaysian Cuisine (Shop 1, Pao Woo Mansion, 177-179 Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai. Tel: 5922 2218) is where I go if I crave a bowl of laksa and a nice sip of teh tarik (pulled milk tea).

My husband first took me there in its old location. We are both Malaysian-food lovers. It’s a joy to enjoy such authentic chicken rice, nasi lemak, chapatti and bak kut teh.

Laksa from Sabah Malaysian Cuisine. Photo: Instagram/@yuko.sekido

I also love Hong Kong-style cha chaan teng, especially those with a heritage background. Cheung Hing Coffee Shop (9-11 Yik Yam Street, Happy Valley. Tel: 2572 5097) is one I always go with my son after his football training. The old-style interior was the thing that caught my eye.

I always have the famous Hong Kong-style milk tea. And I love how it is served in a short tumbler glass with an old-time saucer. My son loves the satay beef noodles, while I order the macaroni in soup. It’s simple local food but nostalgic to me.

I like treating tourist friends to a nice brunch at The Lobby at The Peninsula Hong Kong (G/F, The Peninsula Hong Kong, 22 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tel: 2696 6772).

It’s not just because the Pen is classic, but I want to show them a design that I’m very proud of – the huge carpets at both the East and West wing of the Lobby are by us.

Michelle Chu is the design director of Tai Ping Carpets Asia in Hong Kong. Photo: Michelle Chu

Speaking of iconic spots, I’ll always take friends from overseas to have seafood in Sai Kung. It’s also a big part of my childhood memories because my mum’s Hakka family used to live there. I don’t have a specific restaurant preference, though.

My one and only place for special occasions has to be Royal Garden Hotel’s branch of Sabatini Ristorante Italiano (3/F, The Royal Garden, 69 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tel: 2733 2000).

My husband and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary there 18 years ago. Now, we still spend time there enjoying the wonderful handmade pastas, antipasti, seafood, ham and cheeses. It also has gorgeous pastries and chocolates. My favourite is the Saint Honoré cake, which goes so well with a strong espresso.

Linguine with scampi and clams from Sabatini Ristorante Italiano. Photo: Sabatini Ristorante Italiano

Overseas, Penang is a very special place to me and my husband. We love the simplicity there, especially in old George Town. Joo Hooi Café (475 Jalan Penang, George Town. Tel: +60 14 903 3561) is one of our favourite local cafes.

Inside is like Wong Kar-wai’s movie Days of Being Wild. The small stools, tiny seats, the menu on pale blue peeled walls, it’s very nostalgic.

The cafe is actually a combination of a few local food stalls where you can order different dishes or snacks. I always love the assam laksa (Penang-style with a more sour flavour). Also, the charcoal grilled toast with fragrant kaya is heaven.

Under Penang’s tropical sun, the chendol with little green jellies with palm sugar in ice is so refreshing.

Post