Who has been immune to the Korean wave (known as ‘Hallyu’ in Korean) over the last few years? Korean culture has taken over countries all over the world, with “Gangnam Style” being assimilated into the mainstream consciousness and kimchi being prepared in the White House kitchen.
Of course, the Korean wave’s roots are still solidly in Asia, where K-pop stars are revered like demi-gods (or maybe even full gods). It’s a testament to the influence of Hallyu in Hong Kong that the government tried to distract local students from pro-democracy protests by organising a K-pop concert. Nice try, government.
But where do the most Korea-obsessed Hongkongers go to indulge in their Hallyu desires? Tsim Sha Tsui’s Kimberly Road, that’s where, which is chock-full of Korean restaurants, as well as the nearby (confusingly named) Kimberley Street, which has been affectionately dubbed ‘Little Korea’ in Cantonese.
Here, you can feed your inner Korean self anything from grand Korean dinners and Korean barbeque to Korean-style fried chicken and specialty groceries. Several institutions have been established for decades, but a new breed of Korean-style pubs has cropped up following the rapturous reception of the famous Korean drama, “My Love from the Stars”.
The main character in “My Love from the Stars”, Cheon Song-yi, has a habit of consuming Chi-Mek (Korean fried chicken and beer) on the first snowfall of the year. As a result, demand for Chi-Mek has risen massively in China and Hong Kong, where the drama has a terrifyingly dedicated fanbase.
The owner of “Red Chicken”, a popular Korean pub on Kimberley Road, told Coconuts Hong Kong that people are attracted to more than just Korea’s fried chicken. “Korean culture is generally spreading, it’s not just this street; there are several specialty Korean pubs and restaurants opening up on Hong Kong Island as well.”
Without further ado, here’s our shortlist of the best Korean eateries in Tsim Sha Tsui:
Red Chicken
Red Chicken opened last December, around the time “My Love from the Stars” had just started airing. They’re famous for the fried chicken, but the menu is full of other Korean food and drink and it’s a popular late night watering hole. You should be warned, though: if you don’t get there early, you might find yourself at the end of a 20-30 person queue. Still totally worth it.
Where: Shop B, UG, Pacific Building, 65-67B Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui (Google Maps)
Opening hours: 5pm – 4:30am every day
Lee Family Chicken hof & soju
Ah of course, the big bad Lee Family Chicken. During its long tenure on Kimberly Road, Lee Family Chicken has never taken reservations and has somehow maintained a legion of KFC fans despite its incomprehensibly chaotic “queuing” system.
One particularly high profile Lee Family fan is Matt Abergel. If anybody knows excellent chicken, it’s Abergel: he’s the co-owner and head chef of hipster mecca Yardbird, an izakaya bar renowned for their nose-to-tail chicken… oh, and their no reservations policy.
Leave your apprehension at home and set aside a large chunk of your weekend to sample Lee’s chicken to see what all the fuss is about. If you’re into K-dramas, kill time in the queue by watching an episode of “My Love from the Stars”.
Where: G/F, Kam Kok Mansion, 84 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui (Google Maps)
Opening hours: 5pm – 4am every day
Lee Family Chicken Takeaway
If you want some KFC, but don’t have the time or patience for Lee Family Chicken, fear not! The Lees have answered your prayers and opened a takeaway joint just down the road from their flagship restaurant. Perfect if you’re just looking to grab a quick KFC or Col-Pop (cola & popcorn chicken).
Seorae
Seorae is a famous chain in Korea, and is the first Korean BBQ restaurant in Hong Kong with a special grill to cook eggs and kimchi. Korean expats have remarked that the décor and ambience feel like an authentic KBBQ restaurant, which explains why there is always a small crowd of people clamouring for a table. We recommend making a reservation.
Where: G/F-1/F, Passkon Court, 79-81 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsu (Google Maps)
Opening hours: 5pm – 4am from Mon-Sat, 5pm – midnight on Sundays
Korea Mart
Korea Mart is a must visit for Korean expats or people looking for fresh produce, specialty Korean ingredients and authentic pre-made food. It resembles a typical Korean grocer’s, and you can find a much wider range of authentic Korean goods than the comparatively expensive and limited selection at Citysuper or Aeon.
Where: G/F, 1D Kimberly Street, Tsim Sha Tsui (Google Maps)
Words: Sol Han & Annette Chan
Photos: Sol Han
Got a tip? Send it to us at hongkong@coconuts.co
