Get a taste of Hong Kong at Hamilton Mountain’s Hong Kong Takeout Restaurant

Hong Kong is a beautiful and vibrant city that is hustling and bustling. I might be biased being born in Hong Kong, but this city has a special energy to it. If you haven't visited Hong Kong, I highly recommend you add it to your travel bucket list, especially if you love food. The food scene in Hong Kong is phenomenal. You can get any dish you like at pretty much any time of the day. In many Asian cultures, food is what brings families and friends together. Whether you are celebrating or mourning a loss, food is always there, ready to bring some smiles to the event.

Most Hong Kong restaurants and homes serve dishes in a family-style setting, which is just a fancy way of saying large platters of food that are perfect for sharing with your guests. I love this style of dining since you can experience so many more dishes and try something new.

When we first moved to Hamilton a few years back, we noticed a restaurant called Hong Kong Takeout Restaurant on Upper Wentworth Street and we knew we had to try it right away. I feel like no one talks about this restaurant much since it is not in downtown Hamilton, they don't have a social media account, and it really does feel like a hidden gem. Well, I am here to change that today. I am very excited to share with you the lovely people behind Hong Kong Takeout Restaurant and the amazing food they serve.

Henry Tsang and his sister-in-law Ann Wu are the proud owners of Hong Kong Takeout Restaurant. They have been a staple in the Hamilton community for more than 20 years now. Henry was born and raised in Hong Kong and was working as a housekeeper at the famous Shangri-la hotel in Hong Kong before immigrating to Canada in 1983. Henry first moved to Brantford when he arrived in Canada. He started working as a chef at a local Brantford Chinese restaurant. After experiencing life in Canada for a while and working in a Chinese restaurant, he decided to venture into opening his very own Chinese restaurant in Hamilton.

The menu at Hong Kong Takeout Restaurant is quite extensive and it has a combination of traditional Chinese food and western Chinese food. Like many Chinese restaurants, their menu is divided into sections of appetizers, noodles, rice, and by proteins such as chicken, beef, and shrimp. They mainly focus on Szechuan and Cantonese cuisines. Szechuan cuisine is generally spicier, so think of lots of peppers in their dishes. This part of China is generally quite hot and humid, so they use many spicy dishes to cool them down. Cantonese cuisine is a little different in that it is not as spicy as Szechuan. Also, Cantonese cooking consists of using a wok with very high heat to cook things quickly. Notice how when you order food from most Chinese restaurants, it comes out quickly? Not only does cooking in a large wok on an open flame result in fast service, but it creates a beautiful taste of wok hei." Wok hei translates to breath of a wok, which is created by using a wok on top of open flames that results in a smoky and caramelized flavour.

Here are some dishes I would highly recommend you try at Hong Kong Takeout Restaurant:

Appetizers

Spring Rolls: You really cannot go wrong with these. They are large and filled with flavour. They sell them individually so order accordingly.

Chicken Wings: I love chicken wings but only like dry-rubbed wings with not a lot of sauces. They have delicious deep-fried chicken wings with just a touch of seasoning and no sauce on them which I loved. If you do like sauces on your wings, they also have a honey garlic one on their menu.

Main Dishes

Cantonese Chow Mein: One of my all-time favourite dishes. Stir-fried vegetables and meats are served on top of a bed of egg noodles. Simple and delicious every time.

Shrimp Egg Foo Yong: Think of a fluffy egg omelette with shrimp inside. The eggs are beautifully cooked and silky smooth.

Orange Chicken: Crispy chicken served with a delicious orange sticky sauce. Unlike many other Chinese restaurants that use food colouring, they leave their orange chicken sauce natural so it's not going to glow in the dark. Just has a hint of orange and compliments a bowl of white rice perfectly.

Beef with Broccoli: Another classic dish that I get every single time. Thinly sliced beef with broccoli that is served with a light sauce.

They also have set dinners for 4 people ($37.95 + tax) and set dinners for 6 people ($69.95 + tax) on their menu.

So, whether you are looking for a new go-to Chinese restaurant in Hamilton or a place to order Chinese food for Christmas, give Hong Kong Takeout Restaurant a try and let me know what you think!

Restaurant details

Hong Kong Takeout Restaurant is located at 1216 Upper Wentworth St., Hamilton.

(close to Lime Ridge Mall) and they are a takeout-only restaurant. You can see their menu on their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/chinesefoodinhamilton and you can place your order in person or over the phone by calling (905) 388-1123. Dishes range from $1.70-$14.95 per dish. You can also order large platters for parties as well.

Joyce Leung is a food writer blogger who lives in Hamilton. Find her teaching Asian cooking classes when not dining out and trying all the restaurants of Hamilton. Joyce will not write about any organizations she has a separate business relationship with. You can reach her at joyce@joyceofcooking.com