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Writer's pictureAnahita Labh

Five Hidden Gem Indian Restaurants In Hong Kong

So you’re a fan of Indian food, or looking to try something new, aside from the typical butter chicken and naan? I’ve got you covered. Here are five lesser-known and yet more enchanting Indian restaurants, whose food and flavours will leave you craving more and more. If you’ve been to one of these places, or are inclined to visit them now, leave a comment down below about what you really enjoyed.


Branto Indian Vegetarian Restaurant

1st Floor, 9 Lock Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui

Just two streets from Tsim Sha Tsui Station and up a creaky old elevator is a little room with beautiful light arrangements, bursting with flavour. Specialising in vegetarian food, Branto serves everything from chaat to parathas to pav bhaji. They’re particularly famous for their South Indian variety of idlis, dosas and many more. If you’re looking for fusion food, try their vegetable or mushroom pizza or salad. Out of every restaurant on this list, they have the most varied menu, with sections for North, South, Fusion, and even Punjabi and Gujarati food. If you’re already a fan of desi dishes, why not extend your palate to their rich and flavourful thalis. They also feature the famous kulfi, a kind of ice cream made from khoya and flavoured with saffron, nuts or fruit. Of all the kulfi places in Hong Kong, Branto is undoubtedly the best, and that’s my recommendation from here. As always, I will sing the praises of chai, but if you want something different, try a milkshake or fresh fruit juice.


Chaiwala

55 Wyndham St, Central

Barely a minute’s walk from the bus stop on Wyndham Street, you can’t miss the cerulean blue brick wall and the contrasting bright orange doorway. Tiptoe slowly down the spiral staircase, through the door to your left and enter paradise. A quaint dimly-lit room, the soft chatter of patrons and the unmistakable scent of spices wafting through the air. Chaiwala. Their menu spans all of India. North to South, East to West. From the mouthwatering staple pani-puris to the lesser-known malabar scallops, this restaurant perfectly encompasses the taste of India. Their menu not only tells you what’s in the food, it also takes you on a little trip through history, explaining the origins of India’s most famous foods: chaat, tandoor and biryani. My personal favourite here? The aloo tikka chaat. And of course, the chai. And if you’re looking for something a little bit stronger than chai, Lan Kwai Fong is just two streets away.


Corner 90 Restaurant & Bar

90 Hung To Rd, Kwun Tong

Barely ten minutes walk from Lam Tin Station is the more introverted cousin of the famous Bombay Dreams. A skip and a hop down the road from Laguna City, you might miss it at first. But as soon as you walk in through those glass double doors, be prepared to be amazed. In the daytime, sunlight fills the room, reflecting over the glass countertops and shining onto the dizzyingly beautiful art. And in the night, soft lamp light flickers over the walls, adding a delicate glow into the air. The menu features everything from the Bihari chowk ki tikki to the Goan fish curry (and pasta for some odd reason). If you’re not a fan of the a-la-carte, try the Saturday brunch buffet, which features both staple dishes and lesser-known ones, plus a sweet. Or if you’re looking for fusion food, try the nanza; it’s like pizza, but made on soft chewy butter naan. My personal favourite here? Ooh… either the chowk ki tikki or lamb seekh kabab or the gulab jamun. They’re all so good, I can’t choose. Finish off your meal with their steaming creamy masala chai, you won’t regret it.


Sangeetha Vegetarian Restaurant

Wing On Plaza, UG 1-4 & 31, 62 Mody Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui


A short walk from Tsim Sha Tsui Station and past the Shangri-La Hotel into Wing-On Plaza is Sangeetha. Sunlight cascades over the faded upholstered chairs. In the back, the whistles of a pressure cooker waltz with the aroma of freshly ground spices. As in the name, this is a fully vegetarian restaurant, serving mostly South Indian dishes: dosa, vada and upma, uttapam; but also a few select North Indian dishes: onion kulcha, palak paneer and Delhi chaat. Of all the Indian restaurants in Hong Kong, Sangeetha is the one that most closely resembles home. It serves authentic, commonly eaten and well-loved food, all made fresh. And there’s always a selection of sweets, ranging from halwa to jalebi, mysore pak to kalakand. See, butter chicken and garlic naan are found in basically every Indian restaurant, and so rarely eaten in Indian homes. If you’re looking for the true taste of India, Sangeetha is the place to go. Anything on the menu is guaranteed to be splendid, dripping with ghee and spices, and topped with chutneys. I can’t choose a favourite food, so I’ll recommend my favourite drink: the rose lassi is to die for. And for something to soothe yourself after a heavy meal… good luck deciding between the steaming chai, or the Bombay Filter Coffee.


Tulsi

Hoi Kwong Court Shopping Arcade, 13-15 Hoi Kwong St, Quarry Bay

Just two minutes from the Quarry Bay MTR, down a dimly-lit corridor and through the wooden door to your right, a bell chimes your arrival. The interior is dark and cosy, shadows flit along the walls and old Bollywood music plays softly in the background. Out of every restaurant, this is the one that feels most like home. It serves food from North to South and East to West. Aloo gobhi, baingan bharta, fish curry, malai kofta and many more; including Delhi-style chaat and a range of sweet dishes. This is the one place I’ll actually recommend butter chicken and garlic naan because it’s so well-made that it reminds me of home. Chicken doused in tomato gravy and cream, a little sweet, a little spicy, and it’s so soft it practically melts in your mouth. Garlic naan, crispy on the outside, fluffy and chewy on the inside; glazed with butter and topped with freshly chopped coriander. For drinks, pick any one of the lassis; and if you’re unsure, try the rose. But if you’re looking for something warmer, chai is always the way to go.


Whether you're a foodie looking for your next great meal or just someone who enjoys trying new things, these hidden gem restaurants are definitely worth a visit. So why not step outside your comfort zone and explore the delicious surprises that await you? And always remember, if you’re unsure, chai is the way to go.



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