17:45 Waiting outside the Gyukaku, a Japanese barbecue chain restaurant, holding a ticket given by a polite waitress. The number of the ticket was 35, the last number called was 8.
19:30 The last number called was 9.
20:00 The second round of tickets were given to a queue of thirty people, which had started to gather since 07:00.
20:30 The last number called was 12.
21:00 We were in the restaurant; a waitress handed us a menu and she kindly reminded us that last order should be made before 22:30
It is not uncommon to wait for better-than-average food in Hong Kong, but most people will not be persistent or patient enough to witness the above, i.e. they will resort to second choices. To be frank, there are numerous eat-outs or diners in Hong Kong if you want to have a quick bite. Despite its reputation as "Food Paradise", however, Hong Kong has a lack of good or better-than-average food places. While there are numerous Cafe de Corals, Maxims and Fairwoods, good and warm and home-feeling diners are running out because of high rent and landlords kicking them out to embrace big brand names. The lucky survivors would either be too expensive (like famous goose restaurant, Rong Qi, in Central) or too crowded with queues long enough to kill your appetite (like the Michelin one-star dim sum restauwant, Tim Ho Wan, in Mong Kok).
Waiting is a pain in the ass. When I arrived in Hong Kong for the first time I was very patient and I could wait in whatever kind of queue you need to do in HK. After almost two years I can't stand waiting in queues unless it is necessary. Therefore, thanks for your advice and I think I'll never step up in this place. If you like nice restaurants that do not belong to big chains you can go to Kam Wah (http://www.openrice.com/restaurant/sr2.htm?shopid=1587) in Central. In my opinion they have the best chaa siu that I've ever tried in Hong Kong.
ReplyDeleteCheers!