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.
The 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 (HKD41), deep-fried salty chicken (HKD47), and oyster omelette (HKD40). The bubble tea here is pretty great too.
Yuan Is Here, G/F, 31 North Street, Kennedy Town, 3579 2460
MoMo Moment

MoMo Moment is 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 recently relocated and spruced-up spot is the Nepalese dumpling known as the momo. The steamed or pan-fried momos come in several varieties, including chicken, pork, potato chickpea, and soya squash. The pricing is extremely good value – HKD38 for five momos, HKD52 for eight momos, and HKD60 for 10 momos.
MoMo Moment, G/F, 6 Sai Hong Lane, 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.
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 duck confit with mustard sauce (HKD188).
Comptoir, G/F, 42 Forbes Street, Kennedy Town, 2453 9873, book here
Little Cove Espresso

You’ll know you have found yourself at Little Cove Espresso if you chance upon their lengthy queue, a hallmark of their memorable brunch plates and quality coffee. The all-day-dining menu features American, Aussie, and Middle Eastern touches. Dishes such as the ricotta hotcakes (HKD134) and bricohe-based French toast (HKD122) are ideal for the sweet-toothed, whilst the slow-cooked lamb (HKD148) and beef ragù pappardelle (HKD148) bring the salt and umami.
Little Cove Espresso, Shop 3, G/F, New Fortune House, 3–5 New Praya, Kennedy Town, 6737 6242
Timur

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 steamed chicken or vegetable momo (HKD60/10pcs), samosa (HKD25/2pcs), chicken tikka (HKD75), paneer butter masala (HK88), and lamb rogan josh (HKD98) are our addictive must-orders, washed down with a mango lassi (HKD35). Timur’s kathi rolls (from HKD65) are great for snacking on the go.
Timur, Shop B1, G/F, Hau Wo Court, 25–33 Hau Wo Street, Kennedy Town, 3614 5248, WhatsApp 6970 0709
Mendel’s Delicatessen

Brought to us by the team behind Bourke’s, Honky Tonks Tavern, 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, G/F, 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 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 (HKD54) is a winner on the yakitori menu, alongside meaty thick-cut beef tongue (HKD68) and Wagyu beef rib (HKD78). You can supplement your skewers with classic Japanese snacks that include grilled dried cod strips (HKD48) and deep-fried chicken cartilage (HKD48).
ENSŌ, G/F, 25 New Praya, Kennedy Town, 3126 9899, WhatsApp 6899 0960, book here
Sheung Hei

Specialising in claypot rice, with more than two dozen varieties on the menu, Sheung Hei is a Kennedy Town stalwart. Chef-owner Lam Weng Hong also serves up a wide variety of homestyle Cantonese dishes, from seafood and mixed vegetable vermicelli (HKD98) to pan-fried tiger prawns with soy sauce (HKD188). Of course, the claypot rice is a must-order at Sheung Hei; we tend to stick to the classic Chinese pork sausage claypot rice (HKD92) or minced beef with raw egg claypot rice (HKD102) when we’re feeling sentimental.
Sheung Hei, G/F, 25 North Street, Kennedy Town, 2819 6190
Shiba

An intimate and inviting izakaya, Shiba is favoured for its kushiyaki (grilled skewers) complemented by more than 30 different sake imported directly from Niigata. Some of the authentic Japanese bites we recommend here include the grilled eel (HKD65), grilled beef tongue (HKD48), grilled pork belly (HKD42), and grilled rice ball with pollock roe (HKD40). If the Aomori white corn (HKD68) is on as a daily special, add it to your hit list too. This spot is our go-to for a casual date night in the ‘hood.
Shiba, G/F, 11 Smithfield, Kennedy Town, 3568 2425, WhatsApp 9384 7598, book here
Bistro du Vin

Bistro du Vin by Piccolo Concepts is a bustling French bistro that’s been a favourite in the area for yonks. We’re fans of the quirky interior, dressed with vintage plates and newspapers and general Gallic bric-a-brac, and the hearty, rustic French fare. The chalkboard menu is handwritten daily, featuring signature dishes like beef bone marrow (HKD210), lobster linguine (HKD290), and bouillabaisse (HKD698 for 2). The fresh-from-the-oven madeleines with chocolate ice cream (HKD140) are our dessert of choice at this bistro.
Bistro du Vin, Shop A, G/F, 39–41 Cadogan Street, Kennedy Town, 2824 3010, book here
Sun Hing Restaurant

For late-night or early-morning dim sum, it doesn’t get much better than Sun Hing, a local institution that has been serving up handmade dim sum for around 50 years. The humble spot is open daily from 3AM till 4PM, with aunties tirelessly carting around bamboo baskets filled with dim sum delicacies ordered from a paper checklist (for English, you’ll need to ask for the menu-with-pictures equivalent). Although Sun Hing is not a place to head to when you’re seeking comfort, its noisy chaos might be just what you need when you’re craving a piece of old-time Hong Kong.
Sun Hing Restaurant, Shop C, G/F, 8 Smithfield, Kennedy Town, 2816 0616