Budget Brunches for Under $300
People often say how expensive it is to live in Hong Kong. Yes, it can be pricey – the cost of rent can send one into a state of shock – but there are deals to be had, especially when it comes to dining out. In fact, we’ve found some particularly enticing brunches that are very budget-friendly, all for under $300. Dig in.
Cafe Siam
Fresh and healthy Thai cuisine is a nice change of pace from steak and eggs at brunch, and Cafe Siam treats you to consistently good, fresh Thai dishes at an awesome price. Fill up on a combination of sweet and spicy appetizers, mains ranging from noodles and rice-based dishes, plus curries (the green curry is an extra $20 but so worth it), and a daily dessert. Refreshing homemade fruit soda, mango and lychee smoothies go well with any of the above, but we wouldn’t say no to a crisp Singha.
When: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 12.00pm to 3.00pm (LKF); 12.00pm to 4.00pm (Kennedy Town)
Cost: $168 per person (add $18 for Thai iced milk tea or Thai iced coffee; $28 for homemade daily fruit soda, mango or lychee smoothie; $38 for Singha beer or house wine)
Where: 2-3/F, The Plaza, 21 D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central; G/F, 38 Forbes Street, Kennedy Town
Book: 2851 4803 or [email protected] (LKF); 2855 0810 or [email protected] (Kennedy Town
Ciao Chow
The open kitchen and communal tables at Ciao Chow make for a lively brunch experience, so fans of one-on-one quiet meals should look elsewhere. However, you would be missing out on the all-you-can-eat gourmet brunch buffet of Italian food that will leave you full until well after dinner: delicious antipasti and unlimited pizza (they’re known for their authentic Neapolitan kind), pasta, meat dishes like the classic pollo alla cacciatora, and something for sweet tooths too.
When: Saturdays and Sundays 12.00pm to 4.00pm
Cost: $298 per person (add $198 for free flow Champagne, prosecco, wine, cocktails and beer)
Where: G/F, California Tower, 30-32 D’Aguilar Street, Central
Book: 2344 0005 or [email protected]
Picada
Picada’s five-course Latin brunch is made to share, but there’s lots to go around, even for picky eaters (there’s vegan and gluten-free options). First up is soup of the day or spicy Caesar salad, done Latin-style with chipotle dressing. Second course is a heavenly Colombian empanada, a deep-fried pocket filled with chicken, beef or mushroom, while third and fourth courses are a pick of Latin favourites from ceviche to chicharrón, ending in homemade dessert of the day.
Read our review of Picada here.
When: Saturdays and Sundays 12.00pm to 3.00pm
Cost: $298 per adult (add $198 for free flow prosecco, margarita, mojito, mimosa, beer, red and white wine)
Where: 2/F, LKF29, 29 Wyndham Street, Central
Book: 3425 4037
La Paloma
Sai Ying Pun is the setting for this bright, cheery and casual brunch, where shorts and flip flops are welcome, like at the “chiringuito” beach bars in Spain that La Paloma is modelled after. We always get excited for the end, after we’ve gorged on unlimited crispy suckling pig and paella, for the churros. The warm, fried dough sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar is served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce, and an extra order is just $40 (trust us, you need to know this information).
When: Saturdays and Sundays 12.00pm to 3.00pm
Cost: $288 per person (add $208 for free flow cava, sangria, wine and beer)
Where: 1/F, 189 Queen’s Road West (entrance on Wilmer Street)
Book: 2291 6161
Jamie’s Italian
There’s been a lot of closures lately in Jamie Oliver’s restaurant empire, but Hong Kong fans can still hit up the TST and Causeway Bay locations, which have recently seen an overhaul under head development chef Atisha Kumar from New Zealand. Thankfully, the weekend brunch, one of the best in the city for families, is still offering the all-you-can-eat anitpasti buffet brimming with appetisers, pizza, pasta (freshly-made daily), and an egg station churning out fluffy omelettes. Children get yummy food and fun in the form of games, magic shows, balloon animals and live entertainment.
Cost: $295 per adult, $195 per child aged 4-11
Where: 2/F, Soundwill Plaza II-Midtown, 1 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay; Shop 412, Level 4, Ocean Centre, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Book: 3958 2222 (CWB); 3758 3333 (TST) or [email protected]
Three Blind Mice
This relaxed hideaway on the upper side of Ship Street in Wan Chai has one of the cheapest, yet tastiest, brunches on this list. Three Blind Mice’s head chef Jack Lamming brings British influences to a recently revamped menu, which at brunch changes weekly. Expect starters like ham hock and black pudding terrine with piccalilli, mains such as pan-fried barramundi with pea puree and pancetta, and a delightful dessert trio featuring the most famous of British desserts, banoffee pie and Eton Mess.
When: Saturdays from 11.30am to 6pm
Cost: $228 per person (add $158 for two hours of free flow Pilsner Urquell draught; $218 for two hours of free flow beer, wine, prosecco, spirits and mixers, cocktails)
Where: G/F, 35 Ship Street, Wan Chai
Book: 2447 7793 or [email protected]
Francis
Heading towards its one-year anniversary, Francis now offers Hong Kongers a Middle Eastern-style brunch, and we couldn’t be happier. Sometimes, you just don’t fancy the usual eggs Benedict, and here you can dip into an exotic mezze to share with hummus, halloumi with pomegranate and wild oregano (plus lots more), then choose a main (we’re looking at you, classic kafta with spring lamb, beef, tahini and onion), and end with a sweet spot of vanilla poached peach, buttermilk cream and sumac. For an extra $90, start off with a “Pick Me Up”, a harissa-infused vodka and tomato juice aperitif sure to wake you up.
When: Saturdays and Sundays from 12-3pm.
Cost: $280 per person (add $90 for accompanying aperitifs)
Where: 4 and 6 Francis Street, Wan Chai
Book: 3101 9521 or [email protected]
Komune
Wong Chuk Hang is a burgeoning area for good drinks and dining, and Komune is right in there, be it for weekend brunch or post-brunch cocktails at its cool rooftop bar Above. The tantalizing buffet is well-stocked with assorted fresh bread, salads, seafood and cheese. It gets even better with Spanish-influenced options like gazpacho with crab meat, or flatbread draped with tomato, pancetta, fried egg and manchego from the “I had a snaccident” and “I’m kinda a big deal” menus, leading you to declare “I’m in a sugar rush” after a visit to the dessert buffet.
When: Saturdays and Sundays 12.00pm to 3.00pm
Cost: $268 per person (add $258 for two hours of classic free flow Chandon Brut, house red and white wines, beer and cocktails; $358 for two hours of premium free flow Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, Longview Shiraz-Cabernet, Pale Cloud Sauvignon Blanc, Lowry Pass Chenin Blanc, beer and cocktails; $128 for two additional hours of classic free flow or $178 for two additional hours of premium free flow at Above)
Where: Ovolo Southside, 64 Wong Chuk Hang Road
Book: 3460 8157 or [email protected]
Uma Nota
Brunch, Brazilian style, with fresh octopus salad or vegetarian ceviche to start, and a little taste of pasteís de carne seca (Brazilian-style fried wontons with beef and cheese) or dadinhos de tapioca (Brazilian tapioca and cheese with sweet chili sauce) to follow. We always lean to the traditional costela de porco (slow cooked ribs in chilli marinade) for our main, but the berinjela (that’s eggplant in Portuguese) with miso, goat cheese and cashew nuts sounds like a lovely alternative. You can’t leave without drinking a caipirinha, sipped in the colourful setting containing vivid art and chill vibes.
Read our review of Uma Nota here.
When: Saturdays 12.00pm to 3.30pm
Cost: $295 per person (add $195 for two hours of free flow prosecco, draught beer, homemade sodas, iced tea, soft drinks; $245 for two hours of free flow caipirinhas, Shiso spritz, red and white wine, draught beer, prosecco, homemade sodas, iced tea, soft drinks)
Where: 38 Peel Street, Central
Book: 2889 7576 or [email protected]
12,000 Francs
Executive chef Conor Beach delivers a brunch of beautifully-presented food in a stylish setting, with friendly service to boot that caters to families. Smaller bites of “kimchi devils” (soft boiled eggs with house kimchi, aioli and coriander) and other enticing options will kickstart your tastebuds for a hearty main like the towering wagyu beef house cheeseburger with pastrami, BBQ sauce, reblochon, spicy kraut salsa, aioli and sweet potato chips. Wipe off that greasy grin with spoonfuls of sorbet and gelato in tempting flavours.
When: Saturdays and Sundays first sitting 11.30am, second sitting 1.30pm
Cost: $290 per adult; $150 per child aged 5 to 11 (add $190 for 1 hour 45 minutes of free flow prosecco and wine; $290 for 1 hour 45 minutes of free flow Champagne, cocktails and wine)
Where: 43A Elgin Street, Elgin Building, Central
Book: 2529 3100 or [email protected]
Braza
Meat, meat and more meat, and you don’t have to get out of your seat. Braza brings tender and grilled rodízio (Brazilian all-you-can-eat) served right at your table: endless beef hand-carved from giant skewers, plus different cuts of lamb, chicken and pork. Do your body some good and get up once in a while for a trip to the gourmet salad bar, and load up on fresh-cut vegetables and speciality sides from the Brazilian-style buffet.
When: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 12.00 to 3.00pm
Cost: $278 per person (add $128 for two hours of free flow homemade lemonade, fresh juice and soft drinks; $220 for two hours of classic lemon-orange and berries caipirinhas, beer and house wines; $268 for two hours of all caipirinhas, signature Latin cocktails, beers, house wines and non-alcoholic beverages)
Where: 3/F, Grand Progress Building, 15-16 Lan Kwai Fong
Book: 2890 9268 or [email protected]
MEATS
The brunch vibe at MEATS, is very laid-back, with three starters to share (everyone at the table must participate in the brunch deal): roasted chicken croquettes, beef lettuce cups and pumpkin salad. Choose from seven mains, including “The Works” – smoked pork belly, jalapeno sausage, slow-cooked egg, “ugly” potatoes and Béarnaise sauce. Dessert brings more sharing, in the form of a coconut cream pie, and kids get vanilla ice cream after they’ve finished their chicken schnitzel and fries, mac’n’cheese, or mini burgers and fries.
When: Saturdays and Sundays 12.00pm to 5.30pm
Cost: $248 per person; $78 per child (add $180 for two hours of free flow assorted cocktails)
Book: 2711 1812 or [email protected]
Where: G/F, 28-30 Staunton Street, SoHo, Central
Mak Mak
Avoid crowded buffet tables and overzealous dessert hunters at Mak Mak’s unlimited weekend brunch, where fresh Thai dishes are served at the table. Delectable appetizers, fragrant curries, sizzling wok-fried mains, plus rice and noodles to accompany already packed plates will make you swoon, and you haven’t even had dessert yet. Here it’s refreshing coconut, Thai milk tea or dragon fruit ice cream served with palm seeds and roasted peanuts, or the ultimate sticky rice with mango.
When: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 12.00pm to 2:30pm
Cost: $298 per adult; $180 per child 4 to 12 years old (add $498 for free flow Veuve Clicquot NV Champagne, Aperol Spritz, house red and white wine and Singha beer)
Where: Shop 217A, 2/F, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road, Central
Book: 2983 1003 or [email protected]
208 Duecento Otto
The endless Italian buffet at 208 Duecento Otto has no shortage of scrumptious antipasti, seafood, salad, cheese and dessert for only $218 a pop ($118 for kids). But if it’s a feast you’re after, add a main course, from wagyu and mortadella meatballs to linguine vongole, and pay $348. Parents with hungry bambinos in tow can also opt for a main for a bit extra, like a sunny-side up egg with pancetta and toast, or fried calamari, a nice change from boring chicken strips and fries.
Read our review of 208’s brunch here.
When: Saturdays and Sundays 11.00am to 3.00pm
Cost: $218 per adult; $118 for children under 12 ($348 per adult for buffet plus one main course, $218 for children under 12; add $200 for two hours of free flow prosecco, draught Peroni, Aperol Spritz, Bloody Mary, Bellini and wines; add $300 for two hours of free flow Veuve Clicquot Chandon Sparkling Rosé Champagne, draught Peroni, Aperol Spritz, Bloody Mary, Bellini and wines)
Where: 208 Hollywood Road, Sai Ying Pun
Book: 2549 0208 or [email protected]
Want more brunch options? Find our pick of Hong Kong’s best free flow brunches here and our pick of the best family friendly lunches and brunches here!
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