Top 10 Time-Honored Brands in Hong Kong’s Restaurant Industry That Closed in 2024

The 70-year-old Chung Kee restaurant closed its doors in Hong Kong on Feb. 8, 2024. Courtesy of Liu Yongkang

In 2024, Hong Kong’s local restaurant industry witnessed a wave of closures of time-honored stores. The closure of old shops became a much-talked-about topic throughout the year. These businesses not only carried decades of history and a sense of belonging, but were also part of the fond memories of countless residents.

However, factors such as the owners becoming older, high rent, the economic downturn, Hongkongers going north of the border for consumption, and community reconstruction continue to bring more pressure that made it difficult to maintain a viable business, resulting in these shops that have witnessed the changes of time with no other choice but to “exit with grace.”

Chung Kee Restaurant (70 Years Old)

Chung Kee Restaurant, which was open for 70 years, was located on Fuk Wah Street, Sham Shui Po. The restaurant was famous for its chicken fried rice, deep-fried chicken thighs, satay beef sandwiches, and Hong Kong-style milk tea. It retained the traditional Hong Kong tea parlor layout.

Chung Kee chose to quietly close on Feb. 8, 2024, due to the retirement of its owners. It started as an outdoor food stall on the street in front of the current address, moved inside more than 40 years ago, and has been operating there ever since. The Chung brothers, the second generation of the Chung family, ran the business together. They both retired due to old age.

Yuen Long Yan Shun Fat Noodle Shop (60 Years Old)

Yuen Long Yan Shun Fat Noodle Shop was founded in 1964 and has gone through three generations. It was famous for its special beef brisket and roast duck noodles, with a soup base made especially flavorful with homemade chili oil. It was a favorite of many in the Yuen Long neighborhood and became a key de facto representative of the Yuen Long food culture.

On Oct. 3, 2024, the noodle shop announced its impending closure on Oct. 9, citing the economic downturn, coupled with the continued rise in rent and food prices, as the main reasons making it no longer viable to continue operating.

Shatin Inn (60 Years Old)

Shatin Inn, an Indonesian-style open-air teahouse with a history of over 60 years and located at the 7.5 milestone mark on Tai Po Road in Sha Tin, closed on Sept. 30.

Since its opening, Shatin Inn has been a popular shooting location for a number of local movies, including the 1965 Cantonese feature film “Triple Romance” (starring Cheung Ying-choi and Lee Heung-kum), the 1989 film “All About Ah Long” (starring Chow Yun-fat and Sylvia Chang Ai-chia), “The Longest Nite” in 1998 (starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Lau Ching-wan), and the 2018 TV drama series “Demon’s Path” (starring Power Chan Kwok-pong, Ai Wai, Jim Chim Shi-man), among others.

Shatin Inn, an Indonesian-style open-air restaurant in Sha Tin with a history of more than 60 years, closed in Hong Kong on Sep. 30, 2024. Courtesy of Liu Yongkang

In recent months, Ms. Kwok, patron of the restaurant, said that there were only two or three tables with customers every day on weekdays. Even regular clients also reduced their frequency of visiting, and most customers were strangers who came only once and never returned. So, after more than one year of losses, they had no choice but to end the 60-year business and leave.

Ying Fat Restaurant (52 Years Old)

Standing tall in Kwun Tong, Ying Fat Restaurant had been serving the neighborhood community since 1972, for more than 50 years. It offered a wide range of food options, such as various rice combos, pasta, butter on toast, satay beef noodles, etc., as well as freshly baked breads and nostalgic pastries, including egg rolls, cakes, and Chinese stuffed croissants. It recently announced that it would close on Dec. 31, 2024.

Hung Wan Restaurant and Bakery Shop (50 Years Old)

Hung Wan Restaurant and Bakery opened in 1974. It was chosen as a shooting location for Stephen Chow’s movie “The Lucky Guy.” It was a traditional attic-style tea restaurant and used to attract many movie lovers and diners with its special Chinese and Western cakes and nostalgic decoration.

Some pastry chefs were working at Hung Wan for more than 40 years. The bread, chicken patties, paper-wrapped cakes, and other items served there were all handmade by the chefs. The stairs, lofts, and ceiling lights inside were all unique.

Once a popular filming location for local films such as "The Lucky Guy," the Hung Wan Restaurant and Bakery in Prince Edward was open for 50 years and closed in Hong Kong on Dec. 25, 2024. Kiri Choy/The Epoch Times

Hung Wan closed on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. The reasons were that the owner was retiring, the baker was also elderly, and business was not as expected after the border reopened post-pandemic. Business fell one-third lower than during the pandemic, creating tremendous pressure on its continuation as a viable business.

Kam Wing Tai Fish Balls (48 Years Old)

Kam Wing Tai Fish Balls in Cheung Chau has a history of 48 years. It was a specialty snack shop in the Cheung Chau area. It specialized in hand-beaten white fish balls, Cheung Chau large fish balls, tofu puff stuffed with fish paste, four-component meat balls, and shrimp balls.

Its closure was abruptly announced in early August, and it “ended with grace” on Aug. 15, leaving behind only fond memories of its regular diners.

Hing Wah Restaurant (46 Years Old)

Hing Wah Restaurant in Chai Wan was a popular rendezvous spot for neighborhood communities since its opening in 1978. It was most famous for its homemade deep-fried chicken with garlic.

The restaurant officially closed on July 31. The restaurant emphasized that its closure was not due to a rent increase, but because the owner and chef who had been working there for more than 10 years were getting old, so they decided to close after the lease expired.

Hing Wah Restaurant in Chai Wan closed in Hong Kong on July 31, 2024. Courtesy of Leung Chi Ling

The second-generation owner Ah Fung stated he will retain the “Hing Wah” brand and continue to sell hairy crabs, cakes, and other items on different platforms. He has not ruled out the possibility of future business development in the UK to carry forward the brand left by his father.

Perfume River Vietnamese Restaurant (45 Years Old)

The 45-year-old Perfume River Vietnamese Restaurant on Percival Street in Causeway Bay quietly closed its doors on Oct. 28. The restaurant is known for classic dishes like carpaccio and fried spring rolls, as well as other signature dishes, including fried soft-shell crab, shrimp, pork rolls, and many more.

After Mr. Fung, its owner, passed away in 2019, his daughter took over the business. After facing social movements, the pandemic, and waves of emigration, the shop could not survive the decrease in customers and rent pressure and had no choice but to close after its lease expired.

Lao Sanyang (43 Years Old)

Lao Sanyang, which was in business for more than 40 years and specialized in selling traditional southern Shanghai products such as hairy crabs and Jiahu glutinous rice dumplings, officially closed in April 2024 after clearing its stock.

Qi Yufeng, the second-generation owner, said that its Tang Lung Street shop is a heritage property, and the reason for the closure was not the poor economic environment but the fact that she worked year-round there for 43 years and she wanted to retire.

Lao Sanyang, which was in business for more than 40 years and specialized in selling traditional Shanghai products such as hairy crabs and Jiahu glutinous rice dumplings, closed in April 2024. Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times

Lao Sanyang first started its business near the Central Market and later moved to Pak Sha Road, Causeway Bay. In 2023, it moved and continued at this branch on Tang Lung Street.

Hong Kong Tea Restaurant (40 Years Old)

Located in Yue Wan Estate, Chai Wan, the Hong Kong Tea Restaurant was in operation for more than 40 years. It was popular among nearby residents for its large plates and its affordable prices.

It was a neighborhood canteen and was most famous for its fried noodles with shredded pork and fried toast. It posted a notice recently that it would close on Dec. 30, which saddened many in the community.