Big Wife Noodle
It’s a bit of a hit or miss here. Order the wrong thing and you’ll hate us for mentioning this place, but ordering the right dish will make you think we sing the words of food gods. Taiwanese beef noodles: yes. Dumpling noodle soup in beef base: no. Deep fried chicken bits: yes. Sliced pig’s ears: no. $22 and up. G/F, 5-9 Fuk Lo Tsun Rd, Kowloon City, 2718 2889.

Bodhisattva Vegetarian Cuisine
No funny magic tricks with fake meats here (well, okay, just a little…), but plenty of classic vege dishes using tofu, local vegetables, and grains to keep even the most fussy gut happy. There’s also a good selection of veggie dim sum. Some of the produce comes from organic farms. Meal for one: around $50. Shop B107-108, Kowloon City Plaza, Kowloon City, 2382 7688.

Ceres Boulangerie et Patisserie
Savoury and sweet pastries unite! All oven-baked wonders come together under this one roof. You can follow up a savoury bacon scone or sausage breadstick with a scrumptious chocolate dome here. The reason why they made this list: Paillete Feuilletine ($50). 19 Fuk Lo Tsun Rd, Kowloon City, 2716 3383.

Da Bino
It’s hot pot, but not on a grand scale. Diners sit a row of small tables elbow to elbow, picking over fresh sliced fish, fish balls and fatty beef. Order a plate of still-kickin’ live shrimp skewered on sticks to top off the experience. Open for dinner only. Meal for one: around $100. 12 Shing Nam Rd, Kowloon City, 2718 6000.

Euro Go Go
So many things are buried under cheese here that it’s sometimes difficult to tell what’s what. But rest assured: what lies beneath is a treasure trove. We recommend the escargot with spinach cream sauce ($50). Shop G254-255, Amoy Plaza II, 77 Ngau Tau Kok Rd, Kowloon Bay, 2754 9393.

Ginza Nichome Curry
You’ll struggle to find a cheaper Japanese curry in Hong Kong – and that’s why this place attracts the hoards. Try the pork cutlet katsu curry, which is sweet and moist with a great panko crust. $15 buys a plate of curry sauce over rice, but if you add meat, the prices start from $32. 3/F, Shop 327, Kowloon City Plaza, Kowloon City, 2642 1888.

Hot Dog Formula
More than 30 hot dog combinations – think of it as Subway without the dieters. First, choose the bun, then the dog, and top it up with one, or many, of the array of toppings and sauces. You can funk it up with wasabi mayo or Mexican cheese dip or Korean chilli sauce. A loaded dog rings in at about $35. G/F, 128 Amoy Garden Phase I, 77 Ngau Tau Kok Rd, Kowloon Bay, 2331 3319.

Mammy Pancake
Whether you call them waffles or pancakes, these little balls of batter don’t get any less tasty. This shop is dedicated to the wonderful rip-and-eat treats, and there’s much more on offer than your usual streetside cart. Try the greatness of the sweet melted -chocolate chip dough ball – a steal at only $12. Shop 2A, Whampoa St, Hung Hom, no phone.

Sun Shing Chiu Chow Restaurant
Braised goose, oyster pancakes, oyster and scallion congee, fried basil chicken, ox blood, deep-fried fish, pepper tofu soup… the list of Chiu Chow goodies goes on. If you don’t care much about décor, you’ll love this family diner, which serves up some of the best Chiu Chow the town has to offer. Meal for one: around $80. G/F, 30 Nga Tsin Long Rd, Kowloon City, 2716 9949.

Sweetacy
If you’re a celebrity, you’re in luck – there’s a private room for you to enjoy your sweets without the watchful eyes of the paparazzi. But if you’re plain old Joe, you’ll still have a fine old time feasting on the walnut cakes, bird’s nest in roast coconut, soufflés, cream caramel and mango sago pudding in public. Sweetacy goes that extra mile with preparation, presentation and décor. Dessert for one: around $30. Shop No 201-202, 2/F, Kowloon City Plaza, 128 Carpenter Rd, Kowloon City, 2718 8850.

Thai Good Food
Cheap Thai curries, grilled pork neck, tom yum soup and yummy garlic bread. A filling meal here shouldn’t run you more than $40. Cash only. 2 Shing Nam Rd, Kowloon City, 2382 4622.

Cheap Eats by Neighbourhood:
Mong Kok and Jordan
Wan Chai and Causeway Bay
Kowloon East and Hung Hom
Hong Kong Island East
Tsim Sha Tsui
Central and Western