where jess ate

Like many other great restaurants in Hong Kong, Kau Kee only specializes in one thing. Their specialty is beef brisket noodle soup. And like many other restaurants in the city, it’s a no-frills joint with cramped quarters. In other words, you’ll be sharing a tiny round table with strangers with your neighbors chopsticks in your face.

While Kau Kee is popular with the locals, it’s also popular with tourists as it’s listed in practically every travel site/book. There’s always a long line during peak hours so I suggest going during off-hours. We went at 3pm on a weekday afternoon and the place was still packed. We lucked out and snagged the last 2 seats.

There’s not much in terms of ambiance. Cramped quarters (i.e. no personal space), plastic tables/stools and as always in Hong Kong, you have to supply your own napkins. It’s a place where you want to get in and get out…fast!

I ordered the Beef Brisket with E-fu Noodles. Despite it being incredibly hot and humid outside, I managed to inhale my hot bowl of noodles in record time. The melt-in-your-mouth chunks of brisket were delicious, as was the broth. Don’t let this clear broth fool you. Just because it’s clear, doesn’t mean there’s no flavour in it.

You have a choice of noodles here: vermicelli, e-fu noodles (my favourite!), flat noodles and rice noodles. I had to go with e-fu which are a little thicker and have this spongey texture to them.

Mike decided to go with the Curry Beef Tendon with Flat Noodles. There’s a lot going on in this bowl of noodles. The thick and spicy curry coated all the gelatinous pieces of tendon and chunks of beef. As you’d expect, the flavours were more in-your-face than the clear broth. While I enjoyed this bowl as well, my preference was the clear broth. Mike preferred the curry. You really can’t go wrong!

There’s a reason why this place is always packed. They make a damn good bowl of beef brisket noodles!

At a glance:

• Located on Gough Street in Central
• Specializes in one thing: beef brisket noodle soup
• Small, cramped, communal tables; not much in terms of ambiance
• Service is quick
• English menu is available upon request
• Expect a line during peak hours; visited in the middle of the afternoon to beat the line

Ratings (out of 5):

• Food: 4.5 stars
• Service: 2 stars
• Atmosphere: 1 star