Finding an eatery that ticks all the boxes for a family meal can seem daunting. Happily, Hong Kong is blessed with plenty of places with menus to please adults and kids alike, and an atmosphere welcoming of prams and other parent paraphernalia. Here, the EL team puts a number of venues to the test with children of varying ages in tow, including two tweens. Read on for our picks of some of the best family-friendly restaurants in Hong Kong, which offer play areas, colouring sheets and special kids’ menus.
TokyoLima
Within minutes of ordering at TokyoLima’s new family-friendly brunch, my daughter disappeared. She’d been lured by the twin delights of a well-equipped play area and a well-stocked sweet station, which is all part of the restaurant’s very family-oriented weekend offering. She returned only long enough to eat the Japanese karaage-style fried chicken she’d selected from the kids’ menu, which also included sushi, a pork belly bun, chicken skewers and ice cream.
The uncharacteristic peace at the table meant my husband and I could make the most of the main four-course omakase (“chef’s choice”) brunch menu. TokyoLima offers Nikkei cuisine, which consists of dishes combining Japanese techniques and Peruvian flavours. The brunch starts with sharing dishes – we loved the Nikkei-style soba salad and made the most of a pork chicharrón platter. Raw-bar dishes of ceviche and sushi are offered as the next stage of the brunch – there are plenty of different flavours on offer, with the Ceviches Japones my personal favourite. Mains are then ordered from the menu. We highly recommend the tender pincanha grilled rump steak and succulent grilled cod. The meal is nicely rounded off with a selection from the dessert station. Brunch comes with free-flow options and, if you needed any more incentives, a DIY Bloody Mary station.
– Melissa Stevens
TOKYOLIMA
G/F, 18-20 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong
2811 1152 | tokyolima.hk
Dockyard
Close to Hung Hom Ferry Pier and Whampoa MTR is the innovative Dockyard, offering a fun, fast and fresh approach to informal dining. Once seated in the open, airy, industrial-style space, simply download the menu from the App Store and punch in your order. Watch in wonder as the “10 kiosks to your table” concept works its magic.
A mouthwatering choice awaits: plump dumplings from Korea’s Dongsan mountain, sushi direct from Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji market, homemade ramen by global award-winning chef Hide Yamamoto, silky fresh pho, curries and that Hong Kong classic of slow-cooked beef brisket with homemade noodles – pretty much every Asian delight imaginable, or so it feels.
You can also build your own salads or tuck into crab brioche rolls, heavenly burgers or Guinness black-bun sliders. The choice is breathtaking and it all magically appears at your table before you know it. After a few clicks, our order arrived.
The Korean fried chicken was crisp and delightful; satays fell off their sticks; Thai green curry added a heady perfume; and the Indian butter chicken, vegetable samosas and cumin potatoes all offered great depth and spice. Ice creams and a warm skillet cookie with fudge sauce made for the sweetest of endings.
Dockyard is chilled, sociable and fun. Your kids will love navigating the app with its easy ordering system – and what a great way to introduce them to so many exciting tastes. With family and friends, this is indeed the perfect place to dock.
– Karl Woodbury
DOCKYARD
Level 1, Kerry Hotel, 38 Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom Bay, Kowloon
2252 5228 | dockyardhk.com
Best of the rest
Spiga
Head to Central’s LHT Tower and indulge in a taste of Italy in its purest form. Pasta aficionados will be salivating at Spiga’s fresh pasta, which is made each day in all its delicious forms. If you’re watching your carbs, don’t sweat it, Spiga is famed for its main dishes too, so you can get your traditional Italian fix. Meat dishes include roasted lamb shoulder, whole roasted chicken and slow cooked pork belly; and yes, there’s a free-flow package on the weekends for mums and dads who have earned a treat.
The kids’ menu offers everything from pizza and pasta to chicken and chips and more. Plus, there’s an option where they can access the dessert buffet too. Little diners are also treated to colouring books and crayons to keep them occupied before their food arrives.
3/F, LHT Tower, 31 Queens Road, Central
2871 0055 | sandshospitality.com/portfolio/spiga
Frites
Equipped with play areas at all its locations across Hong Kong, Frites is a no-brainer when it comes to family-friendly restaurants. The main menu is extensive and includes delicious meats, seafood and even a good range of vegetarian options. There’s a crowd-pleasing menu for the little ones, with spaghetti bolognese, mini burgers, and fish and chips.
Multiple locations frites.hk
The Pawn
The Pawn offers a mix of traditional and modern British fare using ethically sourced ingredients. Kids up to the age of 12 get to eat for free (limited to one child per adult) with a brunch set, which includes a main and milkshake. You’ll want to head to the second floor as there is a well-sized play area where the kids can let off steam in between courses.
62 Johnston Road, Wan Chai
2866 3444 | thepawn.com.hk
Beef & Liberty
With locations across Hong Kong, Beef & Liberty’s burgers are a hit with all ages. The Stanley restaurant is particularly well located for family dining as it faces onto a kids’ playground and a big open plaza, meaning you can send the tots and the teens outside when they get restless. Aside from their legendary burgers, there’s plenty of other family fare, and they do brunch on the weekends.
Multiple locations
beef-liberty.com/hk
Tango
If you’re on the Kowloon side, Argentinian restaurant Tango offers a great kids’ deal with its brunch menu. Order a main course at brunch and you get a free kid’s main course, with dishes including beef burgers and gnocchi. The restaurant is spacious and the staff are relaxed and friendly, making it a good choice for a family meal. You can also burn off the meal by letting the kids run around the rooftop playground at Elements.
Shop R008, 3/F, Rooftop Garden, Civic Square, Elements, 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
2780 1181 | diningconcepts.com
Zuma
Zuma’s Japanese brunches are legendary, not the least because of the way they cater for kids. There’s a play area, a fab kids’ menu and, at weekend brunches, those under three get to eat for free! The restaurant is currently undergoing some renovations, so make sure you book.
Level 5 & 6, Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road, Central
3657 6388 | zumarestaurant.com
208 Duecento Otto
208 is a beautiful two-storey Italian restaurant with a play area on the second floor for the kids. Go for the buffet brunch, which has a nice selection of antipasti, seafood, salads and cheeses at the bar. The Bambino menu for children features kid-sized pizzas, baked mac and cheese, and a sunny-side-up pancetta toast.
208 Hollywood Road, Hong Kong
2549 0208 | 208.com.hk
Divino Patio
Every Sunday from noon to 2.30pm, kids aged four to ten can roll their own dough and make pizza, while their parents enjoy a leisurely brunch from either the à la carte menu or the three course power brunch. There’s also an indoor pop-up playroom for when the cooking and eating is over. It’s HK$198 per child for pizza making (available on weekends and public holidays), and that includes an eight-inch pizza with the child’s chosen toppings, and free-flow juices and sodas. Dining vouchers go to the best pizza maker, and all participants get a certificate.
Shop 11, 1/F Causeway Centre, 28 Harbour Road, Wan Chai
2877 3552 | divinogroup.com
Zak’s
Zak’s in Discovery Bay has a spacious 5,000-square-foot outdoor terrace and play area that’s perfect for the kids to run about under watchful eye. With a wide range of Western and Eastern food options, there’s something for everyone on the menu. Spend HK$120 at the restaurant and get a free ferry ride back to Central, too!
G04, Block A, Discovery Bay Plaza, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island
2987 6232 | casteloconcepts.com/our-venues/zaks
W Brunch
At W Hotel, for every paying adult at the lunch buffet, one child between the age of four and eleven gets to eat for free. You’ll get a fantastic view of the harbour from the restaurant and can expect an impressive buffet spread, with the dessert options a hit with junior diners.
1 Austin Road West, Kowloon Station, Kowloon
3717 2222 | w-hongkong.com/kitchen
See more in our Wine & Dine section!
Best brunch spots in Hong Kong
Where to eat in Hong Kong
This article first appeared in the August/September 2018 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
