When it comes to more affordable dining options, Hong Kong Island’s northwestern neighbourhood of Kennedy Town is a go-to spot for those looking for a range of delicious international eats at more reasonable price points. We also like the laid-back vibe of this seaside neck of the woods, with its lower-rise residential blocks and myriad of green spaces helping to destress us.
Dig into our guide to the top restaurants to try out in Kennedy Town, which we think competes with its neighbours Sai Ying Pun and Shek Tong Tsui for the most vibrant and happening foodie ‘hood in Western District.
Best restaurants in Kennedy Town
Yuan Is Here
A Bib Gourmand pick for the fourth year in a row, this buzzy, down-home eatery serves some of the best Taiwanese food in town courtesy of the ingredients and recipes imported from Taiwan by the native owner. We can’t get enough of Yuan Is Here’s braised pork rice (HKD38), deep-fried salty chicken (HKD44), and oyster omelette (HKD40); savouring these stick-to-your-ribs Taiwanese dishes transports us straight to Shilin Night Market. The bubble tea here is pretty great too.
Yuan Is Here, 31 North Street, Kennedy Town, 3579 2460
MOMO Moment
MOMO Moment is right next to the MTR station, so it’s a super-convenient stop-off point on a midweek evening after work when we can’t be bothered cooking. As its name suggests, the USP at this hole-in-the-wall spot (it has just a few seats) is the Nepalese dumpling known as the momo. The momos come in several varieties, including steamed or pan-fried chicken, steamed or pan-fried pork, and pan-fried veg potato. The pricing is extremely good value – HKD35 for five momos, HKD50 for eight momos, and HKD60 for 10 momos.
MOMO Moment, 34 Forbes Street, Kennedy Town, 9846 6569
11 Westside
Netflix-famous chef Esdras Ochoa’s brought his Mexican concept 11 Westside to Kennedy Town in 2017, and it’s been thriving here ever since. Tacos are Esdras’ speciality, and at this snazzy, LA-inspired restaurant, the tacos come thick and fast in authentic varieties like al pastor (HKD50), carne asada (HKD60), and Baja fish (HKD60). When we’re craving something carby and cheesy, the carne asada fries (HKD158) and queso fundido (HKD138) are surefire blues-busters. Check out 11 Westside’s weekly Taco Tuesday to get yourself some half-price tacos and save a lotta bucks.
11 Westside, 1/F, The Hudson, 11 Davis Street, Kennedy Town, 9300 8068, book here
Comptoir
Cosy tapas and wine bar Comptoir has been a fixture of the Kennedy Town F&B scene for over a decade. The open-fronted corner location is very inviting and great for people-watching perched on one of the stools with a glass of wine in hand. For party-planning, we recommend the upstairs private tasting cellar, which holds more than 100 French bottles. Enduring menu favourites at Comptoir include the clams à la Basque (HKD148), beef tartare (HKD238), and roasted lamb loin (HKD198).
Comptoir, 42 Forbes Street, Kennedy Town, 2453 9873, book here
Little Cove Espresso
You will know you have found yourself at Little Cove Espresso if you chance upon their lengthy queue, a hallmark of their memorable brunch plates and sharp coffee. Their all-dining menu features American, Aussie, and Middle Eastern touches. Brunch plates ricotta hotcakes (HKD125) and hazelnut French toast (HKD112) do justice for your sweet tooth with tangy and sugary flavours, whilst slow cooked lamb (HKD145) and merguez tagliatelle (HKD145) bring the spice and umami.
Little Cove Espresso, Shop 3, G/F, New Fortune House, 3-5 New Praya, Kennedy Town, 6737 6242
Timur Takeaway Corner
Though it’s not a spot for a leisurely lunch, Timur is perfect for lunching al desko or an at-home dinner gathering with a bunch of mates. The Indian and Nepalese dishes on offer here are the real deal, spiced to perfection and generous in portion. The chilli momos (HKD50/5pcs), samosas (HKD32/4pcs), chicken tikka (HKD50), saag paneer (HKD55), and lamb biryani (HKD60) are our addictive must-orders, washed down with a Thums Up soda or Kingfisher beer.
Timur Takeaway Corner, Shop B1, G/F, Hau Wo Court, 25–33 Hau Wo Street, Kennedy Town, 6970 0709
Mendel’s Delicatessen
Brought to us by the team behind Honky Tonks Tavern, Shady Acres, and Quality Goods Club, Mendel’s is the closest K-Town gets to a bona fide Big Apple delicatessen. It’s always packed with diners (both inside and on the small outdoor terrace at front, often with pups in tow) tucking into classic deli staples like all-day breakfast plates, bagels, and deli sarnies. For us, when we want a taste of New York, it’s a toss-up between the house-smoked salmon bagel (HKD108) with dill-cucumber salad, capers, and scallion cream cheese and house-smoked pastrami sandwich (HKD118), topped up with just the right amounts of sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Russian dressing.
Mendel’s Delicatessen, 66 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town, WhatsApp 9220 4344
POPMAZE
Kennedy Town is awash with cafés, but POPMAZE is our pick of the cool-cat café lot, featuring a colourfully quirky interior, angsty vibe, and hip-hop tunes. The café’s croffles are the brunch-meets-lunch-meets-dessert standouts – in particular, the apple crumble croffle with vanilla ice cream (HKD88) and caramel popcorn croffle (HKD48) – but if you’re feeling more savoury, the bacon grilled cheese (HKD68) is a worthy contender. POPMAZE’s drinks menu also deserves a look-in, from the Insta-worthy blue Earl Grey soda (HKD58) to the rose lemonade (HKD40).
POPMAZE, G/F, Kennedy Mansion, 10B Davis Street, Kennedy Town, 6011 4771
Tak Kee Chiu Chou Restaurant
Tak Kee Chiu Chou Restaurant is yet another Bib Gourmand recipient, straddling the border with Shek Tong Tsui. It’s been around since the 1990s, now passed down to the second generation serving up traditional Chiu Chow dishes like pork tripe and peppercorn soup, marinated goose liver, oyster omelette, and fried duck with taro purée. Dine here for a no-frills yet deliciously adventurous experience filled with nostalgia, but be sure to come prepared with a solid language-translation app!
Tak Kee Chiu Chou Restaurant, G/F, Yick Fung Garden, 3 Belcher’s Street, Kennedy Town, 2819 5568
ENSŌ
Seaside yakitori specialist ENSŌ is a stylish and chilled spot to scarf down top-notch chicken skewers in K-Town. The homemade minced chicken stick (HKD48) is a winner on the skewers menu, alongside meaty beef tongue (HKD58) and Kurobuta pork belly (HKD48). You can supplement your yakitori with classic Japanese snacks that include grilled pollock roe (HKD98) and deep-fried chicken cartilage (HKD48).
ENSŌ, 25 New Praya, Kennedy Town, 3126 9899, WhatsApp 6899 0960, book here
