Chili Club

Up above all the go go bars at Lockhart and Luard Streets, you’ll find a gem of a restaurant.
Chili Club doesn’t have an ounce of ambiance, the lighting is horrific and it’s loud, but man– the Thai food is good! I went with a small group, and we ordered several items for the table. The fried shrimp was crispy and delicious, the curry tasted fresh. But the star was the basil fried rice. Just an explosion of flavor.
So don’t take your girlfriend here to propose, but absolutely come and enjoy the very reasonably priced and delicious food!

One of my friends is a regular to this place so I know every time we meet, he’s going to suggest we go there, which we’ve always done. Not that there are not Thai restaurants in Hong Kong but we stick to this place for a few reasons.
We’ve never made a reservation and even though it’s a popular place in Wan Chai, we’ve always found a table. It’s usually packed with big groups of both locals and expats and reservation is recommended if you are planning to go with a group.
The space is just ‘basic’: large room with tables placed all around (ask for a table at the window so you can get a view on the street at least!) and a bar facing the dining space. To me, it feels too nude, too much ‘eat and leave’.
The service is not especially friendly, they would come, take your order, and come back to serve you without much of an interaction. But they’re efficient and even at the times the restaurant was full, we’ve never had to wait for too long. I’ve ordered a few things on their menu, the star being their curries. I think between the two of us, we’ve tried them all and we can’t decide which one is best; this is something they do really well. Portions are small though, and unless you order rice on the side, you may not leave with a full belly. Another recommendation, if you like fish, is their steamed fish, that comes with a stove tray and finishes cooking at your table.
Their prices are fair, with starters ranging from 50 – 60 HKD and mains around 70 – 150, on average.
I’m convinced you can find better Thai restaurants in Hong Kong, but this place has the basic to just satisfy anyone: good food, ok service, great location… I’m probably coming back next time I meet up with my friend anyway…