Tsim Sha Tsui Late Night Dim Sum: A Bowl of Warm Soup After the Show

I've already tricked quite a lot of people. The saying "There's nothing to eat in Tsim Sha Tsui" applies to us locals, but tricking other tourists is even easier—they think they can just walk along Victoria Harbour, see the Avenue of Stars, and leave, so of course they don't know there's good food to be found here at night. Tsim Sha Tsui, during the day, is bustling all right, but you only discover where the good stuff is at night around nine or ten o'clock.

As someone who grew up in Kowloon and watched this neighborhood change, operating a cha chaan tang (tea restaurant), I understand that helpless feeling of "Last night's concert/show finished—where can we even go outside?" Tsim Sha Tsui is different from Central—even at 1 AM, there are still bar seats available over there. But Tsim Sha Tsui? After 10 PM, the malls close, and you really need to know the right spots to get something warm in your stomach. This time, I'm specifically telling everyone where to find late-night/night market dim sum in Tsim Sha Tsui—no need to go to Mong Kok or Sham Shui Po and fight the crowds.

Tsim Sha Tsui Has a History with Dim Sum

Actually, many people forgot that Tsim Sha Tsui used to be one of the most vibrant nightlife areas in Kowloon. Those old teahouses—what used to be called "second/third floor" places—stayed open until 2 AM. OLs (office ladies) who finished work or people who were done with their activities wouldn't expect to find food at 9 PM. But now? If you don't have savings or don't want to spend too much, you'd better go somewhere else.

There's a trend lately: more and more young people like going out at night, but they don't want to eat at generic chain restaurants, which makes it harder for local small businesses to survive. So, I've put together this list—not just to tell everyone "Hey, Tsim Sha Tsui has good food at night"—but also to support those old shops that are still holding on. The ones that have been around for a long time really rely on word of mouth.

First Stop: The Long-Queue Old Shop on Nathan Road—Is It星光 (Star Light)?

If you ask Kowloon elders "What's good to eat in Tsim Sha Tsui," eight out of ten will answer: "Star Light." Located near the intersection of Nathan Road and Mody Road, the full name here is "Star Light Tea Restaurant"—don't confuse it with the Avenue of Stars; it's been a classic shop for thirty to forty years.

Their signature dishes are "Swiss Sauce Chicken Leg" and "Onion Pork Chop Rice"—the first is chicken leg soaked in sweet soy sauce; you can't get this taste in Hong Kong without some real skill. The latter comes sizzling on an iron plate—just looking at it whets your appetite. But what's famous here isn't just the regular meals—the "Dim Sum Platter" during late-night hours is the grand finale. Their homemade har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork dumplings), and beef balls only come out after 11 PM, steamed hot—$28 per plate (har gow) / $26 per plate (siu mai). You might not even be able to get this elsewhere, no matter how much you pay.

The issue here? It's crowded. Usually you have to wait at least half an hour. Best to call for delivery, but then you miss out on the atmosphere. Address: G/F, 32-48 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; Business Hours: 2 PM to 3 AM (Tuesday to Sunday); Average Spending: $50-$80.

Second Stop: The Hidden Gem on Granville Road—明記清 (Ming Kee Ching)

Granville Road, this sloping street—those who know it understand its value: "quiet." That's right, it's not as busy as Nathan Road or Astor Road, but the small shops here are the real local hideaways. "明記清" is exactly that kind of place—not eye-catching from the outside, just a simple sign, but the food inside can truly be described as "made with heart."

This place's specialty is its "Xiaolongbao"—the skin is so thin it's translucent, the filling is fresh and sweet; you can eat Taiwanese-style xiaolongbao without going to Taiwan. Another signature dish is "Sour and Spicy Rice Noodle Soup"—the soup has natural sourness, not like those outside with that fake "chemical" sourness. One bowl and the chill of the night disappears immediately.

For prices, this place is positioned at the "good value" level. Xiaolongbao (10 pieces) costs $42, sour and spicy rice noodle soup $38—if you've just finished shopping at K11 or iSQUARE and feel like you haven't had anything substantial, this is perfect for filling your stomach. Address: G/F, 6 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; Business Hours: 12 PM to 2 AM; Average Spending: $45-$70.

Third Stop: The Stylish Soy Product Shop on Sandbox Road—豆品研究所 (Soy Product Research Institute)

Sandbox Road?! Hey, isn't that where people go bar-hopping? If you think that way, you're not wrong. Sandbox Road has become Tsim Sha Tsui's "bar street" in recent years, but at the corner at the end of this street, there's a fusion soy product shop called "豆品研究所"—their concept is to get creative with traditional soy milk/tofu pudding, though this place isn't that famous yet.

What's special about this place is their "Night Exclusive": "Soy Milk Hot Pot" after 10 PM—using soy milk as the broth, it's not fatty, and the key is the layers of flavor in the broth. You can freely choose toppings: fried fish skin, youtiao (fried dough), beef slices, mixed vegetables, etc. For two people, a hot pot with toppings costs about $180, roughly $90 per person.

Besides the hot pot, their "Osmanthus Tofu Pudding" is a must-order—it's as smooth as pudding, topped with osmanthus sugar, the faint floral scent balances the soy flavor perfectly. After eating savory food at night, going back for this is simply perfect. Address: G/F, 13 Sandbox Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; Business Hours: 3 PM to 1 AM; Average Spending: $80-$130.

Fourth Stop: Late Night in Jordan—嘚過 (Deck Gwoh)

Hey, I was just talking about Tsim Sha Tsui, and you're saying: "Huh, these are considered Tsim Sha Tsui?" Fine, if you really want to go somewhere more proper, let me introduce Jordan instead—just one stop away; take the Tsuen Wan Line from Tsim Sha Tsui Station south for one stop to Jordan Station.

There's a snack shop here called "嘚過"—the sign says "Chaoshan Snacks" or "Hong Kong Style Snacks," but their winning formula is actually "lu shui" (braised sauce) and congee. Their "Sampan Congee" is made to order—the congee base is creamy, with fish slices, egg, scallions, peanuts—the ingredients aren't fancy, but it's this "down-to-earth taste" that makes you feel it's worth it.

Also, their "Braised Meat Platter" ($58) is quite impressive—it comes with wings, tofu, egg, and intestine, all braised through and through, not like outside where it's just salty. These go great with beer—if you want to have a drink at night. Address: G/F, 93 Woo Sung Street, Jordan; Business Hours: 5 PM to 3 AM; Average Spending: $35-$65.

Fifth Stop: The Old Classic on Austin Road—瑞香 (Shui Heung)

If we're talking about "old," this nearly century-old "瑞香" is truly deserving of that title. Located at the intersection of Austin Road and Saigon Road—this "Austin" area is actually beyond the Tsim Sha Tsui city center, but the value here is "great value for money"—a "Char Siu Rice" (BBQ pork rice) costs only $28, and the char siu is half-fat, half-lean, sliced thickly—much better than chain stores outside.

Their "Shrimp Paste Rice" is also a signature—the shrimp paste flavor isn't too overwhelming, but just enough to bring out the umami. Order it at night to mix with rice, or add a plate of "Garlic Vegetables" ($18), and that's already a pretty satisfying late-night meal.

One thing to mention—the environment here is average, similar to old shops in Wan Chai/Yau Ma Tei: if you come, expect noise, weak Wi-Fi signal, and possibly having to share a table. Address: G/F, 15A-F Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; Business Hours: 11 AM to 11 PM; Average Spending: $30-$55.

Getting There—What's the Most Convenient Way?

The MTR is the most direct way to these places: you can start from either Tsim Sha Tsui or East Tsim Sha Tsui stations; if you're going to "嘚過" in Jordan, just take one stop from Tsim Sha Tsui Station, i.e., Jordan Station.

But what to note—these shops usually close relatively early (or rather, they don't want to stay open until the wee hours), so the best approach is: call ahead to confirm before you go out for the day. Or if you want to be safe, download the OpenRice App to check their latest business hours—after all, these small shops can change anytime.

Other Tips

First, remember to bring cash—these old shops usually don't accept cards or mobile payments; second, if you have decision paralysis, just order the "usual" or ask the staff "what's popular here," and that usually won't go wrong; third, remember that if you want to order delivery, these shops' delivery systems might have evolved—calling directly or using WhatsApp is much faster.

What I ultimately want to say is, the food in Tsim Sha Tsui doesn't have to be at high-end restaurants with harbor views—the real local flavors are often hidden in the narrow side streets. Once you find the right places, you'll discover: Tsim Sha Tsui's night can be very delicious.