On a quest for local eats this weekend, I stumbled across this well-known but barely visible hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Sham Shui Po. Their bestsellers, interestingly, are pork liver noodle soup and kaya French toast – two items that barely sit well next to each other, let alone eaten in the same meal. But I did what people do to blend in and ordered both. And I'm glad I did.
The pork liver broth was fresh with hints of ginger and a taste that was a true testament to the fresh ingredients. The liver was sliced thinly and served with a slight pink centre (which I let soak a little longer in the hot broth for personal preference). When you bite into the liver slices, they are tender and almost melt in your mouth. There are a variety of noodles to choose from, but I recommend the thin, al dente rice noodles (mei fun), which help to soak up the tasty broth. Needless to say, it took me no time to finish the whole bowl, soup included.
A bowl of the pork liver noodle soup ($30) would have been enough on a normal day, but since I was on a quest, I also ordered their famous kaya French toast ($18). Unlike many restaurants, their French toast is not deep-fried but is dipped in egg batter and pan-fried until golden brown. One bite inside, you can taste the kaya in the middle of the toasty sandwich. I must admit the kaya jam could have a stronger coconut taste (I suspect they diluted it), but it is still a very satisfying afternoon snack and goes very well with a cup of freshly brewed tea, with milk, lemon or plain.
At 3pm, the restaurant was packed, and I was lucky to have a short wait. But all the while I was eating, I saw a constant line waiting outside the restaurant. The restaurant has expanded over the years, and there are three outlets (almost next to one other). After having paid a pilgrimage to this well-known eatery, I now understand why it attracts such a following. The restaurant is unassuming (white tile walls, plastic stools and nothing fancy about it), but it serves up some great eats. If tasty food is what you are looking for (rather than decor or ambience) and you're slightly on the adventurous side, I highly recommend a visit to this Sham Shui Po institution.
Wei Kee Noodle Cafe 維記咖啡粉麵
G/F, 62 and 67 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po (MTR Exit B2), 2387 6515
