Packed with places to eat and an abundance of lines trailing such places during lunch hour, you’ve got to know where you’re eating in Central – otherwise you will likely find yourself queuing for quite some time.
To save you the embarrassment and prepare you for dining midday, we’ve prepared a list of the best restaurants for lunch in Central, compiling the top picks of Cantonese, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Western bites.
The best restaurants for lunch in Central
Cookie DPT
If you’re in the mood for brunch plates and all-day breakfast, you’re in luck at Cookie DPT. Beyond their large selection of American-style cookies on offer, you can treat yourself to buttermilk pancakes (HKD48), a cream cheese and lox bagel (HKD78), a biscuit breakfast sandwich (HKD88), and garlic chicken pasta (HKD108).
Cookie DPT, LG/F, 48 Cochrane Street, Central
Wang Fu
Wang Fu is a homely Beijing-style restaurant specialising in boiled and fried dumplings paired with simple broths and noodles and classic stir-fried dishes. Within the wide selection of dumpling varieties, we recommend ordering the green onion & mutton (HKD78), pork & chive (HKD60), vegetarian (HKD60), and tomato & egg (HKD60), which is served only after 2PM. Be sure to dunk your dumplings in their spicy sauce and vinegar.
Wang Fu, G/F, 65 Wellington Street, Central, 2121 8006
Crazy Noodles
Who said you can’t sweat over spicy food during lunch? Crazy Noodles is unseen to many lunch eaters floating around the escalator area, hidden on the first floor of an office building. They specialise in fiery and devilishly tasty Chongqing noodles. The dan dan noodles (HKD87), noodles with beef shank (HKD87), and potato noodles with spicy and sour soup (HKD87) are all perfect bowls for lunch.
Crazy Noodles, 1/F, Kai Tak Commercial Building, 66–72 Stanley Street, Central, 2311 3905
Big JJ Seafood Hotpot
Hard to book for a hotpot dinner but easier to get in during lunch hour, you still need to be prepared to wait awhile in Big JJ’s long lunch queue. It’s all worth it (even if you have to dash off quickly, with more people trailing in) to try their salty and spicy rice plates. The tomato minced beef stew (HKD55), fried fish fillet corn cream (HKD65), and lamb rib curry (HKD85) all cure lunchtime hunger pangs.
Big JJ Seafood Hotpot, G/F, Wo On Building, 9 Wo On Lane, Central, 2388 6982, WhatsApp 9725 9926, book here
Soho Bánh Mì
Soho Bánh Mì is all about clean and healthy Vietnamese food. Operating a kitchen and a handful of seats at The Center, they craft flavourful bánh mì (HKD78) with lemongrass chicken, signature pork, turmeric and dill fish, and vegetarian avocado fillings. Try their bún salad with spring rolls (HKD98) if you prefer more refreshing flavours.
Soho Bánh Mì, Shop 2D, 1/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 5498 4236
TREEHOUSE
The original location of Hong Kong’s vegetarian fast-food chain TREEHOUSE still endures a continual love with the Central community. Amongst their sourdough flatbreads (HKD78/HKD108) and salad bowls (HKD88/HKD138), we typically go for the Orchid, Snowdrop, and Banyan options. The vegan margherita pizza (HKD118), large in size, suits a lunch split with a friend.
TREEHOUSE, Shop 1, G/F, The Steps, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central, 3791 2277
BÊP Vietnamese Kitchen
BÊP aces the Central lunch game with a great selection on their set lunch menu. Except for the long line, BEP is a suitable Vietnamese spot to fill you up within 30 minutes if you’re in a rush. The phở combo (HKD128), bún chà platter (HKD108), cóm bò lúc lắc filet mignon cubes with rice (HKD138), and càri chay roasted aubergine and okra curry (HKD118) score high on our list.
BÊP Vietnamese Kitchen, G/F, 88–90 Wellington Street, Central, 2581 9992
Shake Shack
Shake Shack never fails to impress, especially at lunchtime. Their soft, buttery buns pair magically with their seasoned beef patties and crunchy chicken. For the full American experience, order the ShackBurger (HKD60/HKD85) or SmokeShack (HKD71/HKD96), cheese fries (HKD37), and a classic vanilla shake (HKD32/HKD47). Be aware, however, that you might fall asleep at your desk following this mega-meal.
Shake Shack, Shop 4018, 4/F, ifc mall, 8 Finance Street, Central, 2522 5611
Green Waffle Diner
A Canadian diner experience that won’t break the bank, Green Waffle Diner scores with its loaded North American recipes made familiar on screen. For lunch, their Cajun chicken mini skillet (HKD108), smoked salmon creamy linguine (HKD98), and BBQ ribs with French fries (HKD138) are best to order if you’re looking to fill up. The lunch sets come with daily salad or soup, dessert, and a drink.
Green Waffle Diner, G/F, 43 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, 2887 9991, book here
Maru De Sankaku
Maru De Sankaku remains a top choice for a bowl of soothing ramen in Central, deviating from the porky and chicken-strong broths familiar in Hong Kong and going full strength with madai, or snapper. The madai broth ramen (HKD138) is simmered over eight hours with snapper and other shellfish that finishes with a cappuccino-like foamy topping. The madai clear broth ramen (HKD138) is topped with oyster oil for a great umami punch.
Maru De Sankaku, G/F, 13 Aberdeen Street, Central, 2346 3889
Beyrouth Bistro
Standing for as long as any Central drinker or lunch-goer can remember, Beyrouth Bistro excels in crafting supremely tasty kebabs. Top picks for lunch hour include the falafel (HKD80), shish tawouk (HKD85), chicken shawarma (HKD85), and shish kebab (HKD88). Prepare to eat and shoot off as seats are limited and many are eager for their Beyrouth fix.
Beyrouth Bistro, G/F, 39 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, order here
Swiss Cafe
Crawl down the dark western Central strand of the famous lanes and you’ll find the bright Swiss Cafe, a decades-old cha chaan teng that delivers the classics. Expect to find Hong Kong-style French toast (HKD29), satay beef and macaroni soup (HKD34), ham and eggs on bread (HKD24), and corned beef and egg sandwich (HKD22) on the menu.
Swiss Cafe, G/F, 12 Li Yuen Street West, Central, 2111 0841/2111 0849
Twins Liangpi Limited
Opened BaseHall 02 earlier this year, Twins Liangpi Limited of Michelin fame brings the beloved Chinese cold noodle craze from Mong Kok to Central with the same great recipes. Be sure to get the Twins signature cold steamed noodles (HKD40), konjac flat noodles (HKD60), and Chongqing-style ramen (HKD70). Make sure you arrive early as a line forms instantly when the lunch hour strikes.
Twins Liangpi Limited, BaseHall 02, LG/F, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central
Uoya ZEN
A newbie to the Central lunch game, Uoya ZEN is a Japanese fresh fish wholesaler operating in Hong Kong that sells sushi, sashimi, and rice bentos in their stand-up restaurant space. Their set lunch includes options of sushi (HKD128), premium sushi (HKD198), sashimi (HKD108), and minced fatty tuna and scallion bowl (HKD88), with accompanying appetisers and miso soup.
