Tsim Chai Kee Noodle

Found on busy Wellington Street, a stones throw from Central Station, this old-​school, Michelin Star noodle house is legit as it comes.
Famous for its wonton Noodle Soup, Tsim Chai Kee Noodle House has been in fierce competition with its neighbor, Mak’s Noodles for years. Due to the popularity of both, it’s extraordinarily easy to imagine all out mafia style street brawl; machetes drawn in the name of noodles.
While I can’t settle the Romeo & Juliet style war over these popular noodle houses, I can vouch that Tsim Chai Kee makes a tasty bowl of wonton noodle soup.
The egg noodles here are surprisingly chewy & the prawn wontons plump & juicy. The broth is delicate & at only $ 3.50 AUD a bowl, this place is quite the find.
Without question, include this place on your hit list when visiting Hong Kong.

Good but versus mak there’s a difference in their specialty bowl. I love the noodles lo mein type but their addition of mince fish is a bit hard to digest for me. It’s super fresh but there’s a hint of herb that overpowered the taste. The broth itself is good. I know a bunch of reviewers compared this to mak … But their best noodle dish isn’t the same. Just depends on what you like!

I usually don’t like wonton noodles. Actually, since my mother used to drag me to wonton places all the time as a child where they served hot water, which is just not pleasant for a child, I started to boycott the meal, but when I came to HK, I decided to give it a shot. When in HK!
It was fairly easy to find this location, which was only a few minutes walk away from where I was staying. The lady who took my order had such an attitude and treated me like she wanted me gone. Thanks. I know Cantonese and can order food but with her scowling and finishing my sentences, I felt like a child and wanted to get out as soon as possible.
I ordered the wonton with yellow noodles and they were pretty delicious. Springy, bouncy. The wonton were pretty good too. I enjoyed it!
When I went to pay, the lady was so slow in handing me the money that I almost left without realizing that she was still pulling bills out. Yup, that’ why you should be more familiar with your money before heading out in a country. Oh, and the roof freaking leaks! It kept dripping on me as I ate. Yeah, pleasant…

Apparently there were 2 of these in close proximity. I had no idea why until I saw the lunch time crowd. The lines were out the door everywhere!
Anyway, we lucked out. Since we were just food crawling, we got here early. We even had time to get a drink. We were going to grab some iced tea from 7 11, but the waitress told us about this nice milk tea place just around the corner. If I can find that little shed, they’d get 4 stars as well:-D
After we got the drinks, we sat down and asked the waitress for her best suggestion. Again, we were on a food crawl, so the 3 of us were gonna share one bowl. It had better be good.
Well, it was not just good. It was excellent. The noodles with 3 topping were excellent. All 3 toppings were solid 4 stars. The noodles were nice and bouncy. It’s more than just your typical al dente. These were the 2^nd best noodles on the wonton noodle soup tour. the soup base tasted fresh and flavorful. I did NOT get a headache or back spasm, so MSG had to be minimum to non-​existent.
I would absolutely visit again if I hit hong kong again.

I was craving for wonton noodles and stumbled on this place through Unilocal.
It was exactly what I was looking for — perfectly cooked egg noodles; giant wontons and fishballs. Soup was also quite flavorful.
All for under $ 7 USD.
You can’t really go wrong w/​this place — really hit the spot.

One of the best bowl of wonton noodles I’ve had in HK. I ordered the shrimp wonton and fish patty combination ($ 33) while my parents ordered beef noodles and wonton noodles each ($ 27). Mine came with 2 wontons and 2 fish patties, with hor fan (a mistake because the noodles ended up absorbing all the soup to my discontent). Stick to the egg noodles (yao min) in the future. I only wish you could order wontons in soup on the side. The fish patties were alright as I’ve had them before in other dishes. My father finished his bowl of beef noodles before ordering another bowl of wonton noodles — to my delight as I wanted more shrimp wontons. Service was attentive, fast and prompt as there is limited seating. Will be back for more!

Above average wonton noodles. Shrimp dumplings were juicy, soup was flavorful but not overwhelmingly salty. Had both the triple ball variation and the shrimp dumpling wonton noodles. The shrimp dumplings were better imo. Not a bad spot. Cheaper than mak’s as the bowls here were much bigger.

probably my favorite soup noodle dish that i tried during my trip to Hong Kong. me and justin b. had walked by this place prior in the week around lunchtime and noticed a long line so we were worried that we’d experience the same thing when we came around 7pm on a friday night for dinner… but lucky for us, no line at alll! as per usual HK etiquette, we were seated with another party of 2 so we had to share a booth with strangers, but no biggie. ordered the the three topping noodle choice which comes with won ton, a fish ball, and beef for about $ 36 HKD (only like $ 5 USD! haha). the soup broth was super flavorful and i loved it. i probably preferred the fish ball least out of the toppings so next time i’d prob just get the 2 choice one with the beef and won ton… but i totally enjoyed my meal. the bowls may seem small but they are deceivingly filling. i couldnt even finish it all. service is super quick and i think we were out of there in like 20 minutes and it’s cash only. oh yeah bring your own napkins too haha.

Came back to eat the wontons we have missed in a while and we used to go to their shop in Richmond, BC too: they were still good but not as GOOD as they used to be. I remember them as more flavorful with more levels of depths. The ones that I had a week ago was nice, but plain. I can taste the wonderful taste and texture of the prawns but that’s it. It used to have a more complex taste with some a hint of salted egg yolk. Price is still more competitive to that of the neighbor Mak’s.

This is one of those places that seems highly rated on Unilocal and TripAdvisor, but again, I must disagree. Also, for those saying that this place earned a Michelin star — no freaking way. «Michelin-​recommended» is in no way the same thing as earning a star, and unless there were drastic changes, this restaurant is nowhere close to that level of excellence.
Tsim Chai Kee is located in Central right below an incline and for two people around 7pm, we didn’t have to wait. We both ordered the king prawn wonton [thin egg] noodle, since that was one of the dishes we were really looking forward to eating in Hong Kong. The bowl is topped with chopped green onions and the spicy oil at the table adds a nice kick. Unfortunately, their broth is laden with MSG, which to us, totally cheats the flavor system — not to mention, the terrible thirstiness that follows. I also cannot say that the wontons were particularly notable. Noodles were springy, but I’m sure you can find similar ones in a package from a store.
After finishing the meal, I was left wanting something more (and not more of what I just had). There must be better wonton noodle soup restaurants out there, as this is just a quick, fast-​food quality joint.

Pretty great noodles
The fish balls were slightly bland.
I would recommend the beef and wonton.
That is wonderful.
The line goes very quick so worth standing around for 10 min or so.

Inexpensive, fast, efficient, delicious.
I got the 3 choice soup noodles ($ 37), and all 3 (wonton, beef, and fish ball) were solid. They have three options of noodles: the yellow noodles, flat noodles, and vermicelli. I got the flat noodles. No regrets there. The soup was flavorful, but not in an overwhelming, salty kind of way. It was just right! My wait was very short because of the fast-​paced environment. If you’re looking for a place to sit down and have a nice, long conversation with company, don’t do it here. You’ll get the hint that they want you out in order to give the seats to those waiting, especially during busy hours.

So after we ate dinner at Mak’s Noodle across the street, we decided to do round 2 at Tsim Chai Kee. The portions at Mak’s had been small, so I still had room for more noodles. We were seated and immediately, someone came to take our order. I guess you need to know what you want to eat before you sit down. There is a menu outside, and it’s not a very big menu. I had just eaten the shrimp wonton noodle soup at Mak’s, so I decided to get the shrimp wonton noodle soup here. But we saw that you could pick the kind of noodle, which I thought was awesome. So I picked the rice noodles. In retrospect, I wish I had just stuck with the traditional yellow noodles, but it was still good. The portions here are bigger. And the wontons are huge. And the little shrimps are whole, instead of chopped up. And they taste amazing. The broth is good too. They have a spicy sauce here, but I found it to be a little too oily and thick. But I did put some in my noodles to add a bit of flavor. I liked this place better than Mak’s, although this place doesn’t offer complimentary hot tea! Everyone was drinking the bottled soy drinks. I wish I had gotten one!

Came here to meet a friend. Cute little place. Very clean. Staff was very friendly. There was a good amount of patrons that would come and go. Our friend said their wontons have huge prawns. I was excited because their minced fish balls looked ginormous in the pictures. The noodles and flavors were good. The wonton did have huge prawns. The minced fish balls were like the size of my fist. I was impressed with the size!
I would have given it 5 stars but then my tummy was not feeling well. I love food but if something is not fresh my tummy would let me know a little after the meal.
Definitely won’t be going back there. I cannot tell if it was the prawns or the fish balls. I did the combo with egg noodles. They offer dry version if you don’t want soup. I had the soup version. Sadly something was not fresh.

Met up with an old buddy for lunch and he recommended coming here for noodles. I personally am not a huge fan of wonton noodles but after seeing a few pics, the wifey wanted to check it out.
After a quick 5 min walk from the MTR station, we found ourselves lost within the general area. Keep in mind, the numbering system is slightly off but were pointed in the right direction with the help of a local business owner.
It was hot as hell so naturally I chose a seat near the front entrance so that the fan would keep blowing air onto me. As I sat down, the first thing I wanted was a cold drink and ordered a soy milk. This place fills up quickly but the turnaround time is quick.
Naturally, the wife ordered the wonton and fish ball noodles while I ordered the beef noodles. Not sure why some reviewers mentioned that the beef was chewy as mine was perfectly fine. The wifey loved her bowl of noodles and said that the fish balls were super tasty and had a nice chewy texture unlike anything we could find back in the States.
Would definitely head back again in the future but may opt for their dry noodles on a hot day.

I often see the long queues at lunch time walking past this competitor of Mak’s wonton on Wellington. Well as hunger pangs hit at a very random 4.30pm (what is this, late lunch? Early dinner? Or just afternoon tea the size of a meal??) I found myself popping in with no queues and a seat in the booth!
My order of 3 choice soup noodles and a serving of veges arrived literally in a flash. The soup noodle had wonton, their fish ball and fresh beef. Along with the egg noodle was delicious at a mere $ 37. I must say the wontons were spectacular. As you bite in you see the whole prawn in the silken wonton wrap, full of flavour and fresh. I don’t think I could make wontons this good for these prices! The giant fish ball was also tasty and beef tender. But what took my breath away were those wontons. I know where I’ll just get a snack of wontons next time the cravings hit! The veges were also pretty good — it had preserved bean curd sauce on it and was a decent serving for $ 15. I rolled out of this establishment needless to say…

Wonton noodles is a must when I visit here! So I was excited to try another wonton noodle place other than Maks or some hole in the whole place I use to eat in at Stanely Market.
I came for a late lunch and it wasn’t packed at all. I ordered the shrimp wonton noodles and it lived up to the hype! The noodles were more than perfectly al dente, bouncy, and long! The wontons were pretty yummy too. I love how there was chunks of shrimp and they give you three per each bowl.
I’m not going to lie but I do like Maks broth a lot better. It’s more clear and savory and doesn’t feel like there’s MSG like this place.
The size of the bowls are worth the price!

I tend to pop in here for a snack if I know I’m having a late dinner when staying in Central. I prefer it here than across the road at Mak’s — I’m sure there are equal supporters of both :)
This was also my first taste of HK Wonton Mee years ago and I’ve been hooked since, from the thin but crisp egg noodle to the succulent prawn wontons. When feeling indulgent I add some tender beef strips which rounds out the bowl very well. The broth is probably heavy on MSG but this doesn’t faze me. I add some chilli oil and a little red vineger and I’m a content camper.
There is an English menu for all the tourists and expats but that doesn’t stop the money collector being grumpy when you pay with a large note.

Espectacular!!! no duden en entrar, los mejores noodles, yo comí el two toppings noodle, riquísimo y muy barato.

I decided to check out what the local Unilocalers are raving to be one of the top eats here. This spot is also Michelin rated! So I decided to see what the hype was all about!
I walked over here from the shopping area in Central, and it was a little sketchy going down Wellington (perhaps that’s because I’m a foreigner and I am not familiar with the streets and neighborhoods). As you would have it, it was crowded. It was crowded enough that I had to share seats with strangers. It was a little strange having to sit across from folks I don’t know. I don’t know what’s worse: sitting across people you can understand the language (Tagalog or English) or not? I don’t think they knew I understood what they were saying. So my dining experience was a little off because of that. I’m just glad I didn’t have to wait for a table.
The menu offering is simple so there’s not too much to choose from: noodles, meat, soup, and drinks. I kept it simple and went with the shrimp won ton soup. I never thought of noodles being «bouncy» until I read other people’s reviews. Now that I am aware of that, I definitely noticed the «bounce». The noodles here are bouncy, and not soggy. It was really good, to the point that they’ve perfected the perfect timing for their noodles. You know like that 112/​Biggie song «everybody know I got more bounce than an ounce» … Ya that’s what their noodles remind me of! It makes me wanna rap and sing that song!
I’m sure the broth is MSG laden and so it was flavorful! For sure! Definitely much more flavorful than anything I’ve ever had at home. I would say this is one of the best bowls of authentic won ton soup that I’ve ever had. My Mom makes a mean bowl of won ton soup, but it’s far from the Cantonese style.
I hate how they don’t give napkins at restaurants in Asia, but I’ve learned over time to bring my own supply at all times (whether it’s for the bathroom or restaurant). You have to buy napkins here if you don’t bring your own supply. They offer bottled water, lemon tea, and soy milk for drinks. For my soup and lemon tea, I paid $ 34 HKD.
The food is simple and good. However, the service is not the greatest. Obviously folks don’t come here for the service. Don’t expect much from the service (or lack thereof).
When in HK, definitely check it out. Local, cheap eats! And it’s tasty! After dining here, maybe you’ll come out singing that 112/​Biggie song, too!

This noodle place serves a bouncy noodles with bouncy shrimp wonton with optional house made fish balls and/​or optional beef. Forget the beef. Its quality cannot come close to the beef sold in the States. It is the chewy China beef that’s been treated with baking soda to be softer, but it’s still not very soft. The fish balls are magic. They’re house made by hand by a guy with a big meat cleaver. Most places that attempt this end up serving tiny bone bits in the fish balls, but not here. The fish balls are perfectly smooth. bouncy, and made from fresh fish. The wontons are bigger than and just as good as Mak Man Kee Noodle Shop. The noodles are 99% as bouncy as Mak Man Kee Noodle Shop. The noodle portion is also larger and the price is lower (see my pic of the menu). This place is worth going out of your way to try and it is my favorite won ton place in Hong Kong.
The place is very clean and tastefully decorated. The service is quick. They have English menus.

This place is worth the hype. Come at an off hour to avoid a long queue… but even if you do have to wait, the line moves quite fast.
Simple and delicious noodle soup with big ol’ honkin wontons and homemade fishballs. A side of vegetables with oyster sauce, a coke, «baby, you got a stew goin’!» (oh please oh please let someone get that quote :))
Service is curt, but that’s par for the course in places like this, and on the upside your bowl of deliciousness will be in front of your face in about 90 seconds!
Come in for lunch then take your lazy ass up the escalator to Soho for a brew! I mean. That’s what I’D do if I had a free afternoon :)

Probably the best wonton noodles I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting.
Tsim Chai Kee had a simple menu with only a few items, but even on that small stage the wontons, the yellow noodles and the broth are the sun, moon and stars.
The sun: these wontons are huge! Bite into them and sneak a peek to find succulent whole prawns tucked inside with tons of delicious flavor. Halfway through our bowls, we got an extra bowl of 4 wontons to share…
The moon: the yellow noodles are wonderfully al dente and stay chewy and springy the whole bowl through.
The stars: the broth is deeply flavorful… I even found myself dipping my non-​oyster sauce covered veggies into the broth for extra delightful flavor!
PARTING THOUGHT: apparently lunch time queues can be over 50 strong, but on Saturday night, we sat right down, albeit at a shared table… Service was lightning fast and the place was rather quiet save for the symphony of contented slurping…

Yummy in my Tummy! I love this place!
My husband says, «Would you like to eat at your favorite today?» He’d be referring to this place.
For about 30HKD, you get a good portion of noodles with HUGE Wontons, beef or fish balls OR All 3! I personally don’t prefer the fish balls. but the Wontons are the best. The noodles are «al dente» — just right!
Service is fast. The line outside can get long, but never stays long for too long.
CASH ONLY! Try to bring small bills. The lady at the counter wasn’t happy when we paid with 500HKD bill. LOL. Ohh well!!!
Happy Taste-​buds!

Awesome place. Their wontons are HUGE and their broth: savory, earthy, deep flavor… so delicious. Noodles have a good bite. Def one of my top two places for wonton noodle soup… in the world.
It’s amazing how lucky we foodies are to have TCK and Mak across the street from each other. Mak wins on the noodle and TCK wins on broth/​wonton and serving size/​price. The latter has a Michelin star (seems like they’re being passed around like candies in HK), but it’s a toss up for me on who’s better. I say go to both!
I love HK!

Salty and MSG-​laden soup, but the wontons and the noodles are SO GOOD!
Wontons were huge and filled with shrimp. Not the best I’ve had but they were still really good. The fish balls were even more massive and had such a nice bounce that you look for in fish balls – spongey and flavorful.
And the noodles? Perfectly cooked. Had a nice bounce and chew to them. This is something I haven’t had in a while, and I am glad to have had it here!
Drinks are about $ 8 HKD, even for a small box of Vita Lemon Tea.