Members Only: Private Kitchens

Private kitchens in Hong Kong are very popular and offer a fun and tasty alternative to commercial restaurants. Private kitchens, or speakeasies, are essentially small restaurants run out of a residential space. Originally private kitchens were underground and unlicensed and served as a way to avoid the high costs and high rent of opening a commercial restaurant. Today, many private kitchens operate with a club license, which allows them to serve "members only." From what I can tell, private kitchen dinners range from formal meals to exotic and cutting edge culinary feasts to your mom and pop traditional cooking.  Generally advertised only by word of mouth, the kitchens do not have storefronts or signage so you really have to know where you're going to get there! 

We recently enjoyed a big group dinner at a private kitchen in Wan Chai serving Thai food. The "restaurant" was on the second floor and about the size of a small square living room set up with a few tables and stools. No decor, no fuss, just good home cooking. We moved around the tables to squeeze 16 people to fit, wine was opened, beer was chilled and food was ordered. Before long our table was covered with plates of food: noodles, rice, papaya salad, pomelo salad, green curry, red curry, beef skewers, chicken wings, sautéed morning glory and more. I have no idea how they cooked so much food in the small space or where they kept any supplies! You might be able to tell from the photos, but I'm pretty sure this kitchen doesn't have a Viking hidden in there. But the food was amazing and the vibe was laid back and fun.  

Needless to say, we ate way too much food and enjoyed a bit too much wine. I'd say that's a successful Saturday night!

Our table, overrun with food and drinks! Instead of napkins there were rolls of toilet paper on the table. It only added to the charm of this relaxed dinner.