It's a rude place. It's not just an unkind level. It's rude.
Actually, I had planned to visit this restaurant even before my trip to Hong Kong. And finally I had my last meal there on the last day of the trip. But, as a result, I regret my choice. My family and I were delighted, enjoying the romance of the tram ride early in that morning and the stunning views from Victoria Peak. We visited Tsim Chai Kee with great joy, but they took that happiness away from us. Our trip was ruined. My family of four arrived at the restaurant at 10:50 a.m. on Saturday, October 11, 2025. When it opened at 11 a.m., we entered and were seated at a table for four. A man came to take our order. I don't know if he can't speak English or not, but he kept talking loudly in Chinese. I'm Korean, so I don't speak Chinese at all, and my English isn't that great either. However, I've never had a problem ordering dishes anywhere in the world. To be honest, even if you don't know any foreign language, pointing to a menu and indicating the number of items with your finger will work in any country. Was there something wrong with my expression? Or did I ordered wrong way? The man's voice get louder and more daunting. To this completely unexpected reaction, my family and I were absolutely shocked and bewildered. What’s going on here? Because of this situation, I could neither argue nor speak a word. As I sat there dumbfounded, the man grew even more enraged. Here's the highlight. I'm over 50. My glasses don't fit properly because I've developed presbyopia. I took them off and placed them on the table to look at the menu up close, wondering if I'd read it wrong. At that moment, he picked up my glasses, waved them in the air, and shouted at me. I couldn't understand what he was saying. But I could guess it meant something like, "If you can't see, put your glasses on and read clearly before ordering." How could this happen? I've never seen such rudeness in my life. It's shocking that someone could so carelessly touch someone else's belongings and yell at them. Was it because I was a tourist he would never see again? The man can’t be an employee, can he? Is he the owner's family? I also run a business in Korea, but I can't have an employee anyone who has such attitude. If someone do business like this in Korea, he will soon have to close down the business. How can he be so rude to a customer? He kept speaking Chinese, even though he knew I won't understand. And of course, he shouted even louder to the tourists who couldn't say anything. I wanted to know what the problem was and how to solve it. However, it didn't seem important to him. After all, he'd found his prey, and he wanted to take out his stress on it. This was his little kingdom. He could do whatever he wanted, and everyone had to obey him. The man left, and a female server came to our table. I pointed to the menu again, indicating the number of items with my fingers. All I said was, "This one." She understood immediately. Ordering was easy. Why so different? Would I have been able to eat in such a situation? I left all my food behind. After returning to Korea, I looked into Koreans' opinions on Tsim Chai Kee. Most reviews were positive. Of course this kind of rudeness doesn't always happen. However, there were quite a few negative reviews about the staff, especially this man. Surprisingly, more people than I thought had similar experiences.
Don't go here. The food may be good, but it's right not to go to...
Read moreOur recent visit to Tsim Chai Kee Noodle left us with an unforgettable culinary experience that we simply couldn't wait to share. From the moment we stepped foot inside the cozy restaurant, it became apparent that we were in for a treat.
One of the highlights of our meal was the three-toppings noodle dish, which consisted of succulent beef, flavorful dumplings, and delightful fish balls. The combination of these ingredients in one bowl was an explosion of taste and texture that had our taste buds dancing with delight. The noodle had the perfect consistency, with just the right amount of firmness that added a satisfying bite to each mouthful.
The beef, while not exactly melt-in-your-mouth like Wagyu, was tender with a slight firmness that added a pleasing texture to the dish. Cooked to perfection, it exuded rich flavors that contributed to the overall depth of the meal. The beef was certainly a star ingredient that added a memorable element to the three-toppings noodle dish.
Beyond the delectable cuisine, Tsim Chai Kee Noodle showcased exceptional service that enhanced our dining experience. Despite the small size of the restaurant, the staff provided us with a dedicated area to stow our strollers, which made our visit much more comfortable and convenient. We were particularly touched by the kindness of one staff member who took the initiative to offer assistance without even being asked. She graciously helped us cut the meat into smaller, more manageable pieces for our children, demonstrating genuine care and thoughtfulness for our family's needs. This attention to detail and customer service left a lasting positive impression on us, and we truly appreciate the effort the staff put into making our meal enjoyable.
Overall, our experience at Tsim Chai Kee Noodle was outstanding. The three-toppings noodle dish was a symphony of flavors and textures that pleased our palates in every way. The well-cooked, tender beef, along with the flavorful dumplings and fish balls, crafted a harmonious combination of ingredients. While the beef didn't melt in our mouths like Wagyu, it still offered a satisfying tenderness with a hint of firmness, adding to the overall enjoyment of the dish. The attentive and kind staff further enhanced our dining experience, ensuring that we left the restaurant feeling satisfied, grateful, and already looking forward to our next visit.
In summary, Tsim Chai Kee Noodle is a hidden gem that offers an exceptional dining experience. With their delectable noodle dishes, impeccable service, and thoughtful attention to customers, this restaurant is a worthy addition to anyone's culinary journey...
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Tsim Chai Kee, Central - Hong Kong Three Topping Noodle I’m off on my three week adventure of South East Asia via a couple of days in Hong Kong. A world city where East meets West. Tsim Chai Kee is my first official stop of this soup tour. This restaurant every year since 2009 has been in the Michelin Guide, at lunch and dinner times the line is always out the door and for this very reason, I chose to avoid some overcooked hotel poached eggs and head here for breakfast. Just as I like it my order of the three topping noodle’s came out swiftly, piping hot and full to the brim. The three toppings include an absolutely ginormous home made (mud carp) fish ball, two massive prawn wontons and fresh cut beef filled the bowl. A surgical and precise movement of your chopsticks and spoon is required here to not spill any of the very fine deep and aromatic broth over the edge of the bowl. If i’m honest - The prawn wonton’s here are the shining light - succulent juicy prawns wrapped tightly with pork mince. The fish ball while huge isn’t necessarily super flavourful. Noodles are a very essential part of any dish and the yellow noodles here at Tsim Chai Kee don’t miss a beat. They come out al dente, the way we like and slowly soften during your meal. The texture is springy, there is no fear in my mind here that these noodles would ever be too soft and mushy. They are perfect. If you are a fan of spice be sure to dip into Tsim Chai Kee’s home made chili oil, it’s a delicious accompaniment to the wonton soup and mixes in very subtly with the well balanced ingredients. If like I did you are staying in the central area of Hong Kong be sure to head to Tsim Chai Kee, the soups are around $7.50 AUD so comparatively a very good deal for something that has been made with such loving care!
🥢🥢🥢🥢🥢 Broth Flavour: 🍜🍜🍜🍜/5 Soup ingredients: 🍜🍜🍜🍜/5 Service: 🍜🍜🍜🍜/5 Overall:...
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