Top photo credit: @sheepsbutler

As a student in Hong Kong, I’m always on a strict food budget. Because of this, I’m constantly on the lookout for food that is not only delicious but also that won’t break the bank. Through extensive research – and plenty of slurping! – I have put together my top 10 list of soup noodle spots that never fail to fill my belly and cover me in soup splatters.

To me, nothing sounds better than digging into a hot bowl of soup noodles on a cold day (although I still think they’re worth the sweat in the summer too!). So treat yourself to one of my favourites.

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Photo credit: @lolleroll

Tsim Chai Kee Noodle

I was first brought to Tsim Chai Kee by a friend in 2015 and have been regularly  visiting ever since. Embarrassingly, Tsim Chai Kee was also the very first restaurant I ate at alone (it took me 16 years – I’m 18), which shows how desperate my cravings were for a bowl of wonton noodles. Conveniently located in the heart of Central, I’ll often stop by for lunch when running errands in town. Tsim Chai Kee is normally packed with people slurping away, with a queue out the door. The restaurant is known for being awarded a Bib Gourmand, which in Michelin language is the “inspectors’ favourites for good value”. The three different toppings make choosing your meal simple: three huge wontons, two big fish balls or delicious slices of beef. This is my number-one choice for a cheap bowl of noodles.

Price: $29

Shop B, G/F, Jade Centre, 98 Wellington Street, Central

Shh… their secret location is in the basement of 153 Queen’s Road Central

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Photo credit: @angelc0712

Perfume River Vietnamese Restaurant

Have a swim in Perfume River Vietnamese Restaurant’s delicious broth! This eatery offers more than just noodles, but I can never deny myself a bowl of hot pho! The menu’s variety keeps me drooling at the myriad of dishes, but we’re here for noodles, so we can talk about those next time. The restaurant has lots of different types of noodles and toppings.

Price: from $55

89 Percival Street, Causeway Bay

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Photo credit: @winwinwen

Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao

A memorable place to bring your tourist friends, bustling Chinese restaurant Crystal Jade has multiple locations across Hong Kong, with huge bowls (I can never finish mine!) of delicious, spicy, peanutty dan dan noodles. There’s entertainment too as the chefs can typically be seen through the kitchen windows making the noodles.

Price: $58

Various locations around Hong Kong

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Photo credit: 肥髀媽

The PHO

Located conveniently in Causeway Bay’s Hysan Place food court, you’ll never have to argue with your friends about where and what to eat again. The PHO offers piping-hot, well, pho that will fill you up and leave you in a blissful food coma. 

Price: $59

Shop 1109, 11/F, Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay

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Photo credit: @leafy_hk_leafy

Toast Box

One of my favourite guilty pleasures is a bowl of instant noodles with Spam and fried egg. Singaporean laksa and even a rice noodles in spicy gravy (mee siam) set are also on offer at wallet-friendly prices. Toast Box is definitely not a place to bring your friends for fine dining, but it’s authentic, cheap and tasty!

Price: $50

Various locations around Hong Kong

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Photo credit: @missfoodieny

Tsui Wah

Tsui Wah, aka heaven for the drunk and hungover. With their LKF branch staying open 24 hours a day, you can treat yourself to a delicious bowl of noodles any time you like. Cheap, filling breakfasts, steaks on sizzling platters and even local Hong Kong dishes are available, and not one of the dishes I’ve tried has disappointed. My favourite is the Kagoshima pork cartilage with vermicelli in fish soup.

Price: $42

Various locations around Hong Kong

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Photo credit: @diettoslimhk

Tai Hing

Known mostly for its Chinese BBQ, Tai Hing’s tasty soup noodles are often forgotten about. But today we’re going to bring them back into the limelight and tempt your taste buds! With a delicious broth (which admittedly can sometimes be a bit watery or plain depending on the restaurant you go to) and lots of yummy toppings, Tai Hing’s cheap noodles make me happy.

Price: from $40

Various locations around Hong Kong

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Photo credit: @anakjajan

Mak’s Noodle

Just opposite Tsim Chai Kee is Mak’s Noodle, known as TCK’s main competitor. Located all across Hong Kong, Mak’s is widely known and loved by many locals. But, personally, I disagree. Mak’s wonton noodles are indeed tasty, served with their infamously tiny wontons, but their portions are small and can best be described as an overpriced snack. Unlike Tsim Chai Kee, however, Mak’s Noodle also offers soupless noodles, with tempting flavours such as beef brisket, minced pork and oyster sauce and shrimp roe. Yum!

Price: from $40

Various locations around Hong Kong

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Photo credit: @beckyfawdry

Hachi Sawa

In desperation, a friend and I stumbled upon this place while looking for a hot bowl of noodles. The least we can say is that we were in no way disappointed. The branch we went to was hidden away in Sheung Wan’s Grand Millennium Plaza. Hachi Sawa not only has moreish food, but it’s also 100% Instagrammable (the only real reason we pay extra for our food). I got the pork bone soup ramen, served creatively in a little saucepan.

Price: $68

Shau Kei Wan: Shop 7, G/F, Eastway Towers, 59–99 Shau Kei Wan Main Street East

Sheung Wan: Shop 101A, 1/F, Grand Millennium Plaza, 181 Queen’s Road Central

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Photo credit: [cipher]

Ko Kee

Whilst we’re on the topic of ramen, we have to talk about Ko Kee, a deliciously cheap Japanese ramen joint that you wouldn’t know about unless you looked for it. Tucked away in Wong Chuk Hang’s Nam Long Shan Cooked Food Market, these noodles (and attached price tag) are worth the journey. It may be harder to order if you don’t speak Chinese… but I’d do anything for a bowl of cheap noodles!

Price: from $58

Shop 4, G/F, Nam Long Shan Road Cooked Food Market, 1 Nam Long Shan Road, Wong Chuk Hang

Have we missed any good ‘uns? Let us know in the comments!

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