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If you want to know where to eat in Hong Kong, perhaps you should ask someone who spends their entire day driving around it.
Hong Kong's iconic red taxis are as much a part of the city as its neon signs, bustling cha chaan tengs and double-decker trams. They're everywhere, weaving through Mong Kok's crowded streets, navigating the hills of Central and carrying passengers across the city at all hours.
But have you ever wondered where the drivers go when the meter stops running and it's time for something to eat?
After all, who knows Hong Kong's streets better than the people who drive them for a living?
From old-school cafés serving strong milk tea to neighbourhood restaurants dishing up steaming bowls of noodles, we're exploring some of the places that have earned a reputation for feeding Hong Kong's taxi drivers.
More Than Just a Red Taxi
There's something wonderfully nostalgic about Hong Kong's red-and-silver taxis.
They've been part of the city's everyday landscape for generations. Whether it's a quick journey across town or a late-night ride home, these unmistakable vehicles are woven into the fabric of Hong Kong life.
And for the drivers behind the wheel, finding somewhere affordable, convenient and delicious to eat is all part of the working day.
Forget fancy interiors and elaborate menus. Sometimes, all you need is a plate of rice, a strong cup of tea and somewhere to sit for twenty minutes before getting back on the road.
It's this everyday Hong Kong that inspires so many of Liz Fry's colourful illustrations, celebrating the familiar sights and little details that give the city its character.
1. For Kee Restaurant, Sheung Wan — Pork Chops and Old Hong Kong Charm
📍 200 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan
Tucked away along Hollywood Road, For Kee Restaurant (科記咖啡餐室) is the kind of place that reminds you why Hong Kong's traditional neighbourhood cafés are so special.
No elaborate presentation. No unnecessary fuss. Just comforting food served in a wonderfully old-school setting.
For Kee has been serving the neighbourhood for decades, building a reputation for its pork chop rice and pork chop buns.
And it's not just hungry locals who have discovered this little establishment.
A 2012 feature in HK Magazine documented For Kee as a popular stop for taxi drivers, office workers and neighbourhood regulars.
Its signature pork chop rice is exactly the sort of straightforward, satisfying meal that makes sense when you've spent hours navigating Hong Kong traffic.
Tender pork chops, rice and a generous helping of savoury sauce. Sometimes the simplest things are the best.
What to try: Pork chop rice or the famous pork chop bun.
Address: Shop F & G, 200 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan.
A Little Hong Kong Tea Break ☕
Of course, no traditional Hong Kong café experience would be complete without a cup of milk tea.
Strong, creamy and wonderfully comforting, Hong Kong-style milk tea is practically an institution in its own right.
And what better way to celebrate two of Hong Kong's most recognisable icons than with Liz Fry's colourful Hong Kong Taxi Mug?
Inspired by the city's unmistakable red taxis, it's a playful reminder of Hong Kong's bustling streets, wherever you happen to be enjoying your morning cuppa.
2. Fu Kee Restaurant, Mong Kok — A Favourite Among Drivers
📍 Historically located at 104 Fa Yuen Street, Mong Kok
Mong Kok is a neighbourhood that rarely seems to slow down.
Between the busy markets, crowded pavements and endless streams of traffic, there's always something happening.
And hidden among all that activity are the traditional restaurants that have kept generations of Hongkongers fed.
One such establishment was Fu Kee Restaurant.
In a 2005 HK Magazine article exploring Hong Kong's taxi-driver dining habits, a driver named Tang Tak-chung spoke about regularly visiting Fu Kee after finishing work.
It wasn't simply somewhere to grab dinner. It was a place to catch up with friends, share stories and unwind after a long day behind the wheel.
At the time, Fu Kee was described as a three-generation business with around 60 years of history.
The restaurant was known for traditional Cantonese favourites, including congee, char siu and roast goose.
It's a lovely reminder that restaurants are about more than just food.
They're meeting places, neighbourhood institutions and, for many working people, an important part of their daily routine.
Historically recommended dishes: Congee, char siu and roast goose.
A note for visitors: Fu Kee's current operating status has not been verified, so this is a glimpse into Hong Kong's taxi-driver dining history rather than a confirmed restaurant recommendation.
3. Yuen Kee Seafood Restaurant, Jordan — A Driver's Recommendation
📍 Historically located at 4–5 Woosung Street, Jordan
Jordan has long been one of Kowloon's most fascinating neighbourhoods for food lovers.
From traditional noodle shops to Cantonese restaurants and bustling evening eateries, it's a place where you can experience Hong Kong's food culture without travelling very far.
In that same 2005 article, taxi driver Cindy Chan Suen-pui, who had spent more than 15 years driving around Hong Kong, recommended Yuen Kee Seafood Restaurant on Woosung Street.
It's exactly the kind of recommendation we love.
Not somewhere selected because it's fashionable or particularly photogenic, but somewhere recommended by a person who knows the city through years of experience.
While we haven't confirmed whether Yuen Kee is still operating, its place in this little piece of Hong Kong food history is worth remembering.
And it raises an interesting question: how many of the city's traditional taxi-driver restaurants have disappeared over the years?
As neighbourhoods change and older businesses close, some of these familiar gathering places inevitably become part of Hong Kong's memories.
Bringing a Little Hong Kong to the Table
There's something special about Hong Kong's everyday dining culture.
The clatter of cups and saucers, the sound of Cantonese conversations drifting between tables and the familiar sight of a red taxi waiting outside.
It's these little moments that make the city so memorable.
Liz Fry's Hong Kong Taxi Coasters celebrate one of the city's most iconic sights, bringing a little colour and personality to your coffee table.
Perfect for your morning coffee, afternoon tea or perhaps a homemade Hong Kong-style milk tea.
SHOP THE HONG KONG TAXI COASTERS
What Makes a Good Taxi Driver Restaurant?
For someone spending much of their working day behind the wheel, choosing somewhere to eat isn't necessarily as simple as picking a favourite restaurant.
Convenience matters.
A good taxi-driver restaurant needs to offer something that fits around the demands of the job.
Quick service, affordable prices and generous portions are all obvious attractions.
But there's another important consideration: somewhere convenient to stop the car.
Hong Kong isn't exactly famous for its abundance of parking spaces, and finding somewhere to leave a taxi can be a challenge in itself.
Then there's the question of opening hours.
Taxi drivers work throughout the day and night, which means traditional breakfast spots, late-night noodle shops and restaurants serving food outside conventional meal times can all play an important role.
And sometimes, the best part of a meal isn't what's on the plate.
It's having somewhere familiar to sit, catch up with fellow drivers and enjoy a little break from the traffic.
A Disappearing Part of Hong Kong?
Hong Kong is a city that never stops changing.
Old buildings make way for new developments, traditional businesses struggle with rising operating costs, and neighbourhoods can look completely different from one decade to the next.
The city's restaurant scene is no exception.
For generations, traditional cha chaan tengs, noodle shops and neighbourhood restaurants have provided affordable meals for working Hongkongers.
But as the city evolves, it's worth asking what happens to the places that once formed such an important part of everyday life.
The taxi-driver restaurants documented twenty years ago offer a fascinating glimpse into that world.
Some may still be serving familiar dishes. Others may have disappeared altogether.
Either way, their stories are part of Hong Kong's cultural history.
And perhaps that's what makes exploring these places so interesting.
Behind an ordinary restaurant frontage, there could be decades of memories, friendships and stories waiting to be discovered.
The People Who Keep Hong Kong Moving
Next time you climb into one of Hong Kong's iconic red taxis, spare a thought for the person behind the wheel.
They might have spent the last ten hours navigating the city's traffic, driven through neighbourhoods you've never explored or stopped for lunch at a little restaurant that's been serving the same dishes for generations.
And if you're looking for somewhere interesting to eat, perhaps ask your driver for a recommendation.
You never know what you might discover.
After all, some of Hong Kong's most interesting stories aren't found in guidebooks.
They're found in the everyday lives of the people who call this extraordinary city home.
Take a Little Piece of Hong Kong Home 🚕
From the unmistakable red taxis navigating the city's busy streets to the familiar sights of neighbourhood cafés, Hong Kong is full of everyday details worth celebrating.
At Liz Fry Designs, we love capturing these little moments through colourful, playful illustrations inspired by the city we call home.
Our Hong Kong Taxi Collection celebrates one of the city's most recognisable icons, with a range of illustrated homeware and gifts inspired by Hong Kong's red taxis.
Whether you're a lifelong Hongkonger, a visitor who fell in love with the city or simply someone who appreciates a little Hong Kong nostalgia, there's something to bring a smile to your day.
🚕 Build Your Own Hong Kong Taxi Bundle!
Love Hong Kong's iconic red taxis as much as we do?
From the bustling streets of Mong Kok to the little cha chaan tengs tucked away around the city, Hong Kong's taxis are part of what makes this place so special.
Now you can bring a little of that Hong Kong charm home with our Build Your Own Hong Kong Taxi Bundle!
Mix and match your favourite taxi-inspired designs from Liz Fry Designs, whether it's a colourful mug for your morning coffee, a playful coaster for your desk or a cushion to brighten up your sofa.
The best part? Pick your favourites, build your bundle and save!
A little Hong Kong nostalgia, your way.
🚕 BUILD YOUR HONG KONG TAXI BUNDLE & SAVE
Suggested image: A lifestyle photograph showing several taxi-themed products together, with the caption:
Your favourite Hong Kong taxi designs, all in one bundle. Mix, match and save!
