沾仔記 — Restaurant in Hong Kong

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...

This restaurant is highly recommended by our tour guide, Armie, from free Hong Kong walking tours for their wonton noodles, shrimp dumplings, and traditional noodle shop vibe. The waiting time is not that long, especially if it's during non-peak dining hours.

They have a big serving of noodles compared to nearby similar restaurants. I ate here twice: lunch and dinner, and at both times, I ordered the three toppings noodles. My favourite topping is their huge shrimp dumpling, which is soft, chewy, and fresh.

The dining area is not big, so be ready to share your seat with other people. The servers were pleasant. The ladies behind the counter greeted us and even gave us a big smile when we were about to leave. It seems they improved their customer service. The vibe inside the restaurant is chill and active. Customers are chatting happily about their day.

They accept payments via Octopus card or cash. They also serve drinks for an...

Food - have been eating since 1997, loved their gargantuan fish balls, the wontons were also XXL, but felt like the size had come down a little through the years. Anyhow delicious as always. Beef was tender yet gave you a little “bounce”.

Service - if you understand the traditional culture of these small HK local eateries, they are professional and more than friendly comparatively. I felt the sentiment they are making effort to uphold a long reputable family brand, and not just running business for money.

Atmosphere - nearly always packed. Expect to share table, squeezed and sometimes even felt the back of the stranger behind. Don’t carry big bags or luggages. Consider this...