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

You've tricked me into tricking quite a lot of people, haven't you? The phrase "there's nothing to eat in Tsim Sha Tsui" works perfectly on us, but tricking other tourists is even easier—everyone thinks they'll just walk along the harbour, take a look at the Avenue of Stars, and then leave. Of course they wouldn't know there's something worth supporting here at night? Tsim Sha Tsui, you see, is bustling during the day, but you only discover its true gems when it's nine or ten o'clock at night.

As someone who grew up in Kowloon and watched this area evolve, a tea restaurant that truly understands that helpless feeling of "did the concert/show finish last night? No? We don't know where to go on the street outside." Tsim Sha Tsui is different from Central—even at 1am, there are still bar stools available over there. What about Tsim Sha Tsui? After ten o'clock, the shopping centres close, and you really need to know the right spots to find something warm for your stomach. This time, I'm specifically telling everyone where to find late-night/Supper Dim Sum in Tsim Sha Tsui—no need to head to Mong Kok or Sham Shui Po to fight the crowds.

There's a story behind dim sum in Tsim Sha Tsui

Actually, many people have forgotten that Tsim Sha Tsui was once one of the most thriving nightlife districts in Kowloon. The old tea houses in the past—what were called the "second/third floor" places—stayed open straight through until 2am. Office ladies after work or people finishing up, they didn't expect to find food at nine o'clock at night. But now? If you don't have some savings or don't want to spend that much, you might as well go elsewhere.

There's a trend lately: more and more young people enjoy going out at night, but they don't want to eat at ordinary chain restaurants, which is making it increasingly difficult for local small businesses to survive. So I've compiled this list not only to tell everyone "hey, there are good eats in Tsim Sha Tsui at night," but also to get everyone to support the old shops that are still holding on—they've usually built their reputation through word of mouth.

First stop: The queue-worthy old shop on Nathan Road—Star Light?

If you ask Kowloon locals "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, this "Star Light" is fully named "Star Light Tea Restaurant"—don't confuse it with the Avenue of Stars, as it's been a decades-old establishment for over thirty to forty years.

Its signature dishes are "Swiss sauce chicken leg" and "onion pork chop rice"—the former is chicken leg soaked in sweet soy sauce; it's a flavour that takes some effort to get right in Hong Kong. The latter is served sizzling on a hot iron plate—just looking at it whets your appetite. But this place is famous not just for main meals—it's the "dim sum platter" during the late-night hours that's the grand finale. Their homemade dumplings, siu mai, and beef balls only come out after 11pm at night, steamed piping hot—$28 for dumplings / $26 for siu mai. You might not even find this elsewhere, no matter how much you're willing to pay.

The problem here? It's crowded. You usually have to wait at least half an hour; it's best to call in for takeaway, but then you miss out on the atmosphere. Address: G/F, 32-48 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; Opening hours: 2pm to 3am (Tuesday to Sunday); Average spend: $50-$80.

Second stop: The hidden gem on Granville Road—Ming Kee Ching

Granville Road, this sloping street—those who know it understand its value is "tranquillity." That's right, it's not as busy as Nathan Road or Ashley Road, but the small shops here are the real local hideaways. "Ming Kee Ching" is exactly that kind of place—unremarkable from the outside, with just a simple sign, but the food inside can truly be described as "made with care."

What makes this place special is its "xiaolongbao"—the skin is so thin it's translucent, the filling is fresh and sweet; you can enjoy Taiwanese-style xiaolongbao without going to Taiwan. Another signature dish is "sour and spicy rice noodles"—the soup has a natural sourness, not like those with artificial "chemical" sourness outside. One bowl and the chill of the night instantly disappears.

For prices, this place is positioned at a "good value for money" level. Xiao long bao (10 pieces) costs $42, sour and spicy rice noodles $38—perfect if you've just finished walking around K11 or iSQUARE and feel like you have nothing in your stomach. Address: G/F, 6 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; Opening hours: 12pm to 2am; Average spend: $45-$70.

Third stop: The stylish soy product shop on Hillwood Road—Soy Research Institute

Hillwood Road?! Hey, isn't that where people go pub-crawling? If you think that way, you're not wrong. Hillwood 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 "Soy Research Institute"—its concept is to get creative with traditional soy milk and tofu pudding, though it's not particularly well-known.

What makes this place special is its "night-only" offering: the "soy milk hot pot" after 10pm at night—using soy milk as the broth, it won't make you feel heavy, and the key is the depth of flavour in the broth. You can freely choose toppings: fried fish skin,油條 (fried dough sticks), beef slices, mixed vegetables, and more. If two people go, a hot pot with toppings costs around $180 in total, roughly $90 per person.

Besides the hot pot, their "osmanthus tofu pudding" is also a must-order—its texture is as smooth as pudding, topped with osmanthus sugar, the subtle floral scent balances the beany taste perfectly. After having something savoury at night, going back for this is simply perfect. Address: G/F, 13 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; Opening hours: 3pm to 1am; Average spend: $80-$130.

Fourth stop: Late-night eats in Jordan—Dek Wu

Hey, we were just talking about Tsim Sha Tsui, and you're saying: "Huh, can these even be considered Tsim Sha Tsui?" Fine, if you really want to go somewhere proper, let me introduce Jordan instead—just one stop away. Take the Tsuen Wan Line from Tsim Sha Tsui Station heading south for one stop to Jordan Station.

There's a snack shop here called "Dek Wu"—the sign says "Chaoshan snacks" or "Hong Kong-style snacks," but its real strength lies in "braised dishes" and "congee." Its "sampan congee" is made to order—the congee base is silky smooth, containing fish slices, egg, spring onion, peanuts—the ingredients aren't fancy, but it's this kind of "humble, genuine flavour" that makes you feel it's worth it.

Additionally, its "braised mixed platter" ($58) is quite impressive—featuring wings, tofu, eggs, and intestines, all braised through and through, not like outside places that are just salty. These go perfectly with beer—if you feel like having a drink at night. Address: G/F, 93 Woo Sung Street, Jordan; Opening hours: 5pm to 3am; Average spend: $35-$65.

Fifth stop: The old establishment on Austin Road—Sui Heung

If we're talking about "old," this nearly century-old "Sui Heung" is truly deserving of that title. Located at the intersection of Austin Road and Saigon Road—this "Austin" area actually extends beyond the centre of Tsim Sha Tsui, but the value here is "great food at reasonable prices"—a "char siu rice" costs just $28, and the char siu is still fatty and lean, sliced thick into strips, much better than chain restaurants outside.

Their "shrimp paste rice" is also a signature—shrimp paste flavour isn't overpowering, but just enough to bring out the freshness. Have it with rice at night, or add a plate of "garlic vegetables" ($18), and you've got a satisfying late-night meal.

One thing to mention—the atmosphere here is pretty average, similar to old shops in Wan Chai or Yau Ma Tei: if you come, expect noise, weak WiFi signal, and possibly having to share a table. Address: G/F, 15A-F Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; Opening hours: 11am to 11pm; Average spend: $30-$55.

Getting there—how to get there most conveniently?

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

However, one thing to note—these shops usually close relatively early (or rather, they don't want to stay open until the early hours), so the best approach is: before you head out today, call ahead to confirm first. Or if you want to be extra safe, download the OpenRice app to check their latest opening hours—these small shops here can change at the drop of a hat.

Other tips

First, remember to bring cash—these old shops usually don't accept cards or mobile payments; second, if you're indecisive like me, just order the "usual" or ask the staff "what's popular here," which usually won't let you down; third, remember that if you want to order takeaway, these shops' takeaway systems may 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 fancy restaurants with harbour-view seats—the real local flavours are often hidden in the narrow side streets you wouldn't normally notice. Find the right spots, and you'll discover: Tsim Sha Tsui at night can be absolutely delicious.

Official Hong Kong Dining Resources

Hong Kong is a world-class culinary destination with more Michelin stars per capita than almost anywhere, famous for Cantonese cuisine, dim sum culture, and international dining.

• Michelin Guide Hong Kong
• HKTB Dining Guide