Why are Hong Kong eateries selling ‘poor man's meals' bucking closure trend?
One expansive player is Kuen Fat Kitchen, which recently came under the spotlight for spending HK$180,000 (US$22,900) a month on renting a 372 square metre space on the touristy Humphreys Avenue in Tsim Sha Tsui for what the company has called the city's largest two-dish-rice restaurant.
It is set to become Kuen Fat's fifth branch, joining others in Causeway Bay, Yau Ma Tei, Kwun Tong and Jordan.
'This-this rice has become a habit of Hongkongers, like how they frequent cha chaan teng,' said Kitty Chan, a Kuen Fat person-in-charge, referring to Hong Kong-style cafes. 'The dining routine has really changed since the government's Covid policies.'
Such chains are known for serving no-frills dishes and are sometimes called 'this-this rice' servings as customers order two to three of their stir-fried Cantonese favourites with a generous serving of rice, all for around HK$30 or more.
The format became popular in Hong Kong in 2022 when the government banned restaurant dining after 6pm for more than four months during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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