When it comes to seafood in Central, nine out of ten people's first impression is either high-end fine dining or old-school dim sum houses. But what makes Central so interesting is precisely that it has more than one face. Beneath the glamorous surface of the financial center, there are actually many "hidden gems" — the Cantonese transliteration of the English term "hidden gems," referring to those seafood spots that aren't well-known to tourists but are privately recommended by local young people. These places don't require you to wait for dinner service or weekends — you can even grab lunch there, and some aren't really restaurants at all.
Today, I'll take you into Central's "secret realm" to discover what other seafood treasures exist on this "Fint" — a world completely different from the official establishments upstairs.
Introduction
Central's seafood landscape is actually more diverse than imagined. Besides the dried seafood street and the familiar restaurant groups, there are hidden seafood spots behind Lan Kwai Fong, on the hillside of Johnston Road, and even near the former Central Market site. Some sell Mexican tacos but with Alaska crab meat, some serve Italian oysters paired with cold Japanese sake, and some are just a bar counter with a few stools, run by a single auntie. These places typically have little to no publicity, relying instead on word-of-mouth and returning regulars.
The biggest common thread among these places is that they're "unofficial." No massive renovations, no marketing budget, and no influencer photo spots with endless queues. But precisely because of that, they're authentic — if you're tired of the identical chain stores in Lan Kwai Fong and want to find seafood hidden gems with local soul, this article is for you.
Key Highlights
The hidden gems featured in this article can be divided into three categories:
The first category is "International Seafood." Central's SoHo area has long been a gathering spot for expatriates, and the foreign chefs' hometown seafood dishes are usually of decent quality and quite authentic. There's a Mexican cantina behind Lan Kwai Fong run by an Argentine owner who makes ceviche daily — the classic Latin American marinated raw fish. They use Marl fish delivered directly from Mexico, crisp and fresh, combined with avocado sauce and zesty lime juice — the first bite will keep you coming back for more. The highlight is that their seafood tacos cost only HK$35 to HK$45 each, completely unlike the overpriced items at other Central establishments.
The second category is "Japanese Seafood Bars." Central's office towers are filled with Japanese salarymen, so competition among Japanese restaurants is fierce. But besides the chain conveyor belt sushi shops, there are tiny "omakase" sushi bars of just ten-something square feet at the intersection of Stanley Street and D'Aguilar Street, serving only lunch omakase with the chef sitting face-to-face, handing you each piece one by one. One chef previously trained for two years at Tokyo's "Sukiyabashi Jiro," and the result is about 70% as good — yet you can get a 10-piece lunch set for just HK$200 to HK$350, which is practically divine pricing in Central.
The third category is "Waterfront Hidden Cafes." Central Pier has always been Hong Kong's most important hub for seafood imports and exports, and if you walk by today, you can still see the nearby fish unloading areas. But in the past two years, a cafe owner spotted the concept of "the last flavors of Victoria Harbour" and started selling sea salt ice cream with seaweed flakes directly across from the Star Ferry pier. It sounds strange, but the saltiness of the sea salt combined with the creamy ice cream creates an unexpectedly harmonious texture. Plus, since it's on the waterfront, you can watch the Victoria Harbour sunset while "eating the sea."
Recommended Spots
1. La Casa de la Mar — SoHo Mexican Seafood Hidden Bar
This is the Argentine owner's seafood taco shop mentioned above, hidden on the second floor of Gary's Steps in Lan Kwai Fong. First-time visitors usually can't find it because there's no signage. But as long as you gather the courage to push the door open, you're already halfway there. Their specialties include: "Taco de Camaron" — fried shrimp with homemade yuzu and honey pepper sauce, the shrimp meat is bouncy with a subtle citrus aroma, all made fresh to order. There's also the "Ceviche Mixto," featuring a combination of sea bass, salmon, and scallops, marinated in sour lime juice to just the right doneness, served with corn chips and fresh jalapeño — the portion is generous enough to share between two. The owner says all their seafood comes from the Aberdeen Fish Wholesale Market — no fancy tricks, just daily freshness. Average spending: HK$35 to HK$80 per taco.
2. Itamae — Stanley Street "Ten-Dollar" Sushi Bar
This shop is located in the alley between D'Aguilar Street and Wellington Street — a true "ten-dollar shop" in name only. It's not about ten-dollar transactions; the shop is only about ten square feet in size. Chef Ken previously worked at a high-end sushi restaurant in Central for ten years before opening this small shop last year. His lunch omakase accepts only twenty guests per day and closes once sold out. For ingredients, the fish is delivered directly from Tsukiji, and the sushi rice is a blend of red and white vinegar that Chef Ken mixes himself — the acidity is just right with ideal stickiness. Their "Central Special" ($280) features 12 pieces, including fatty tuna, flounder fin, sweet shrimp, and seasonal Hokkaido uni battleships. Get there before noon for the good stuff — miss the timing and there won't be any seats left.
3. On The Pier — Central Pier Sea Salt Ice Cream Cart
If you're taking the Star Ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central, you can try this pop-up ice cream cart at the pier before boarding. They call themselves "the last taste of Victoria Harbour," featuring ice cream made with Victoria Harbour seawater (of course, blended with imported quality milk), then sprinkled with rock salt and dried seaweed flakes. Flavors include plain sea salt, roasted tea, and a limited-time yuzu salt ($35 per stick). The environment — to be honest — is amazing on a sunny day, but if it's windy or rainy, you might have to stand and eat as there's limited indoor seating. But the experience is unique, and it's perfect for photos with Victoria Harbour.
4. Oyster Station — D'Aguilar Street Rock Oyster Bar
This place has been around for a while and the facade is never very noticeable, but it fills up every happy hour. They mainly serve seasonal raw oysters from the USA, Australia, and France — opened to order — paired with three different sauces: traditional mignonette, Japanese ponzu, or Thai chili yuzu juice. Their pricing is simple: minimum half a dozen, or individual oysters at HK$18 to HK$28 each. If you want to pair with wine, you can add HK$30 to upgrade to a sparkling wine or sake flight. The most special aspect is that they change their menu monthly, launching "Oyster of the Month" according to the season — such as Florida rock oysters in October or South Australian Coffin Bay in November — so it's always different. Even if you go every month, there's always something new to try. Average spending: HK$150 to HK$300 per person.
Practical Information
The common characteristics of these hidden gems are: some don't accept reservations and require queuing on-site; some only accept cash or Octopus, while PayMe and Credit Card may not work. Here's the practical information compiled for you:
Regarding transportation, all are within a 5 to 15-minute walk from Central MTR station. The closest is Exit E, which is only a 3-minute walk to La Casa and Oyster Station. To reach Itamae, you can exit from Central Station's Island Line Exit A, walk to Queen's Road Central, then head up the slope — about 8 minutes. To get to On The Pier, just follow the direction toward Central Pier, and you'll arrive after passing the Star Ferry entrance.
Regarding costs, the average per-person spending at these hidden spots is roughly: tacos or small plates are HK$35 to HK$80, lunch sets are slightly cheaper at HK$200 to HK$300; if you want to go all out with oysters and drinks, the average is HK$250 to HK$400.
Regarding opening hours, these shops have very varied schedules: La Casa is typically open 11am to 9pm, Itamae only serves from 11:30am to 2pm, On The Pier operates with the Star Ferry schedule — when there's a ferry, they're open, closing at 5pm — and Oyster Station is the most consistent: Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 10pm, closed on Sundays.
Travel Tips
If you want to visit these hidden gems, here are a few suggestions:
First, it's best to go Monday to Friday — Saturday and Sunday typically see long queues, which can significantly affect the experience. Second, most of these places prefer cash — many of Central's old-school small shops still operate on a "cash is king" basis, so it's recommended to have some ready. Third, many of these hidden gems are quite well-concealed — places like La Casa and Itamae, many tourists could easily walk right past without noticing. If you're worried about finding them, the best approach is to ask locals — these places thrive on word-of-mouth, and if you ask around, someone will usually point you in the right direction.
Last but not least, if you want to experience the real Central — not just the chain stores and travel agency recommendations, but the secret corners where local young people go after work — these hidden gems are definitely worth exploring.，祝你在金融中心既Secret Sea搵到你既下一個最愛！
