Best Korean cafes in Hong Kong

A cafe that transforms into a bar in the evening, this Korean coffee shop that has fast become a hotspot in Sai Ying Pun for those looking for quality drinks and chill vibes. Using ingredients imported from South Korea, and menu items inspired by local Korean trends, JMT offers a range of Korean-style drinks. Take your pick from fruit teas or sodas, and their coffees which include the crowd favourite Dirty Coffee ($58). Taking inspiration from ‘dirty buns’ – a chocolate pastry bun covered in cocoa powder – this hazelnut-flavoured coffee is as indulgent as they come. But if you’re feeling peckish, then JMT’s Spam Box ($52) featuring luncheon meat fries will go down well or opt for the Angbutter ($35), a mini muffin served with red bean paste and a generous slice of butter, as a sweet complement to coffee.

Previously located near HKU (Hong Kong University), Seoulmate Cafe relocated to Causeway Bay and adopted a more localised approach to their menu while retaining elements of Korean culture and aesthetics. Aside from everyone’s favourite fried chicken, Seoulmate’s cute Cloud Meringue Rice ($148) is simply irresistible – made with kimchi and eel rice stuffed inside a fluffy cloud of meringue - complete with a smiley face. The Volcano Meringue Rice ($148) is just as cute and comes dressed as an angry mountain of black truffle meringue, filled with eel and sakura shrimp rice. Wrap up the meal with something sweet, and try Seoulmate’s tiramisu ($58), which is made with makgeolli, or Korean rice wine, for a twist on the classic dessert. The designs of all menu items change from time to time, so keep your eyes peeled for more charming and creative dishes to come.

Tucked away in an alley in Sham Shui Po, Kactus Koffee occupies a small corner of Kactus Hotel, with some seats spilling out towards the street art outside. With these colourful walls, stylish wooden furniture, and photogenic pots of cacti, it’s not hard to see why Kactus Koffee is so popular with the Instagram crowd. The menu features drinks inspired by the tastes and trends in Korea, such as the Einspanner, or Viennese coffee with whipped cream ($50), which is rarely seen in other Hong Kong cafes and uses a light cream that goes well with milky coffee. For a stronger caffeine fix though, avid coffee drinkers may opt for the three shots of espresso found in the Ice Triple Dolce Latte ($50) which should do the trick.

Currently in its soft-opening phase, My Ahjussi is a fusion cafe and restaurant in Tai Kok Tsui offering an array of Korean-western foods. They offer pizza, pasta, and rice dishes, along with various flavours of fried chicken, including honey garlic, sweet chilli, and salted egg yolk flavour ($118 for six pieces). Expect tender juicy chicken, as European whole spring chickens are used, which are deep-fried to perfection. For those that need carbs though (yep, us too!), the soft shell crab with cream sauce pasta ($98) will surely satisfy. Not only is a whole soft shell crab served, but the sauce is thick, creamy, and clings well to the pasta. Another reason to support My Ahjussi is that the restaurant actively hires members from the disabled community, and encourages other business owners to do the same. So hats off to them for advocating equal opportunities in Hong Kong.

A new addition to LCX in Tsim Sha Tsui’s Harbour City, Kinabaji has been drawing attention with its endearing mascot Kitarou - a foodie with an enormous appetite. Apart from a stunning view of Victoria Harbour, Kinabaji also offers a selection of Korean dishes and drinks, such as spicy fried chicken with tons of cheese ($198), sea urchin udon ($188), and the cheese flooded kimchi beef burger ($168). Hello, cheese lovers! Also, most dishes have sauces specially created by the chefs at Kinabaji, so you’ll definitely be tasting something unique to Kinabaji.

Nun Desserts Cafe in Mong Kok is one of the best spots in Hong Kong when it comes to bingsu, or Korean shaved ice. If you find it hard to choose from the extensive list of flavours, go for the best-selling honeydew melon sherbet ($68). It has a scoop of melon ice-cream on top of a small mountain of fresh melon chunks, all resting on a bed of soft ice flakes and condensed milk. Alternatively, opt for the lychee smoothie with vanilla ice-cream as a refreshing cooler, featuring an ocean-blue soda that brings visions of clear seas and the summer breeze.

With clean white walls, oak-wood furniture, and hand-crafted decorations, Between Haru integrates perfectly with its calm surroundings inside The Mills, an art and commercial hub in Tsuen Wan. Opened by Studio Sweet Petite K, a bakery that specialises in wedding cakes, Between Haru sells freshly baked goods, savoury bites, as well as an assortment of teas and coffees, all presented with a Japanese-Korean-inspired floral aesthetic. Besides providing a space for relaxing lunches and afternoon teas, Between Haru also hosts baking workshops in its studio with instructors from different parts of the world, which is ideal for budding bakers.