The weather is steaming hot again and the sun is out. Do you know what that means? Junk boat season is finally here! Gone are the shivering weekend brunches – we’re now getting bad suntans and knocking back heaps of water. Yay to summer in Hong Kong!
To stop ourselves from gorging exclusively on free-flow beer and wine, we need to plan accordingly for our summer junk boat trips. Read below for our top picks of the best junk catering options to feed your party this summer.
The best junk catering in Hong Kong
Shamrock Catering
Catering over 200 junks each year, Shamrock is a leading caterer for the summer season, with multiple packages designed to stuff you tight. Shamrock’s BBQ menu invites a chef to cook for a minimum of 15 people (HKD250/hour for 5-hour minimum), serving up a selection of cold canapés, BBQ chicken, pork, and seafood, a choice of beef to sear on the barbie, Western- and Asian-style salads, and dessert. The price is dependent on the number of people and the chosen junk menu, so it’s best to coordinate with the friendly staff at Shamrock.
Shamrock Catering, 2547 8155, WhatsApp 5928 5447
Gingers
This well-known catering company recently launched updated menus for their At Sea offerings, a collection of sets, platters, buffets, and cocktail party programmes for planning your bougie junk trips. In Gingers’ new Light Set (HKD270 pp for 10), enjoy portions of prosciutto, mozzarella, and pesto sandwiches, soba and eggplant salad, a cheeseboard, dips with crudités, and chocolate-toffee brownies. The Simple Buffet (HKD440 pp) is a great choice for those wishing to eat tonnes, with options including harissa roast salmon, chicken satay, cauliflower, kale, and pine nut mac ‘n’ cheese, Caesar salad, banoffee pie, and fresh fruit skewers.
Gingers, 2964 9160, order here
Bengal Brothers
Nothing goes better than junks and Indian food that can fit into the palm of your hand. Bengal Brothers’ kathi rolls are the perfect choice for junks to ensure you can handle both spicy bite-sized food in one hand and something alcoholic in the other. The Bay of Bengal Junk Menu (HKD188 pp) is a recommended option. Share cucumber and coconut koshimbir salad and sweet potato chaat, choose between chicken tikka, lamb seekh, achari paneer, and chickpea kathi rolls, and finish with a summer fruit chaat.
Bengal Brothers, 9245 8774, order here
Burger Circus
With their Anchor’s Away! (HKD178pp for 10) option, Burger Circus is feeding the seagoing hungry with a sharing-style menu for a minimum of 10 guests. Choose between the American cheeseburger, spicy chicken burger, or veggie burger and share a hearty side of classic fries and then apple pie for dessert. Beyond excellent burgers at their retro diner in Soho, enjoy grease and salt on the high seas!
Burger Circus, 2878 7787, order here
Pomegranate Kitchen
Caterer and private dining host Pomegranate Kitchen leads the pack with the most affordable junk catering option with their signature Feasting on the High Sea (HKD1,500 for 15) menu, ideal for light nibbles. The Middle Eastern menu features a range of dips, including cumin-infused hummus, labneh with pistachio dukkah, and baba ganoush, freshly baked Turkish bread, crudités, almond cake, and pomegranate brownies.
Pomegranate Kitchen, 6192 2014, order here
Bain Marie
Catering company Bain Marie mainly assists corporate clients and creates meal plans for busy bodies, yet their junk boat package (HKD200 pp for 20-person minimum) is a solid bet, offering a spread of three sharing platters, two main dishes and sides each, and three desserts. Top picks include the crispy pork belly, mezze platter, mini sandwiches, eggplant parmigiana, quiche Lorraine, Vietnamese salad, mini madeleines, and red fruit skewers.
Bain Marie, 5649 6048, order here
Dough Bros.
Hong Kong’s beloved local pizza brand Dough Bros. is the saving grace of our junk parties, presenting great deals and free delivery on a combination package of both pizza and doughnuts. For 20 guests, enjoy a selection of 14 pizzas and 24 doughnuts selected from the main menu for HKD2,500. Free delivery is included when ordered via their website.
An Choi
Recently clinching a sought-after Bib Gourmand title, An Chơi’s Vietnamese home cooking is second to none in the city. For junk catering, the restaurant offers three different packages for a minimum of 10 guests. At HKD100 per person, enjoy a half banh mi with your choice of filling, summer rolls or pork netted spring rolls, and a choice of fruit platter, tea, or soft drinks. Add on BBQ pork sticks with peanut sauce, Vietnamese chicken wings, and a salad tray with prawn crackers for a total of HKD180 per person.
