Mak’s Noodle

Living in mid-​levels I’d walk by everyday. There are wanton places all over Hong Kong but this is my favorite. I usually order noodles, shrimp wantons, and greens with oyster sauce.
This is a joint, so don’t expect much. You can buy wantons to take home.
FYI– no napkins, someone will bring you a tissue box.

Too salty noodles, soup, and dumplings. Everything’s too salty! Guess Cantonese dishes aren’t for me.

OMG the bomb!!! I love this place. The soup is out of this world!!! Literally ethereal. How can they get so flavor in a clear broth like that? The noodles are fresh and chewy, the dumplings are light and always with a shrimp inside. And the soup is amazing. Only thing is you’ll want to eat 2 or 3 bowls maybe more. They are small, so order more. No one’s counting, it’s worth it. You’ll be amazed!!!

I almost never dish out a 1 star unless the place is just flat out closed. They have definitely earned it.
A couple of us airbnb a room in hong kong to go on food tour. Over our trip, we had hit 7 wonton noodle specialty establishments. On our last day, we hit 3 and save Mak’s for last. We thought we would be getting the best, since they started this whole thing.
We did have high hopes since every noodle place we went to was so amazing in their own way.
To say that we were disappointed would be the understatement of the century.
The noodles were soggy and mushy. The wonton had no taste. The soup tasted like dish water. There was literally nothing acceptable about this place, not to mention good.
It’s possible that they might have been good in the past, but that’s … well … the past.
This one is off my list forever.

Another Michelin spot in Hong Kong. This spot is as authentic as it comes. The place was packed full of locals. They started us with warm tea. I got 2 noodles 1 wonton and another I really don’t remember. Both were pretty watered down, not much flavor. The meal was pretty cheap! Despite the great reviews, its not for me. The noodles seemed like something I would eat if I had a cold. But then again I might have ordered the wrong things.

Came by for weekday lunch around 11:30 and was immediately seated. I got the noodle and shrimp wonton soup. Portions are a bit small, and although it was filling for me, my guy friends probably would need at least two bowls. The noodles are very thin, and I was surprised at how al dente they were – it created an interesting texture in my mouth. The shrimp wontons were excellent – large, flavorful, and tender. Broth was amazing – yum! Cash only.

Mak’s noodle is an institution in Hong Kong. Legend has it that this is Li Ka Shing, the richest man in HK, favourite noodle shop. I couldn’t agree more! The noodles are perfectly al dente and are just so soothing to the soul. My favourite is by far the noodle soup with Tendon. It just has so much more flavour than the typical Wonton Noodle soup, which is also good by the way.
Whether you are a tourist or a local, this is a must try in HK. Lunch is usually packed, so my advice would be to come during the off hours! Enjoy!

Todas las guías y todo el mundo habla maravillas de este local. Pues bien, fui con todas las expectativas del mundo a probar los que serían «los mejores noodles de Hong Kong» y bueno… Noodles finos, muy bien hechos y con gamba rallada por encima, muy sabrosos, pero en una ración bastante pequeña y mucho más básico de lo que me esperaba. Una decepción no solo por el tamaño, sino porque aunque el producto se nota que es muy bueno, le falta bastante «gracia» al plato.
La sopa de wonton de gambas sí que estaba buena, la gamba muy fresca, y las verduras con salsa de ostras bastante aceptable, pero algo lejos de lo esperado para pagar más de 130 HKD por persona, y, sinceramente, quedarnos con un poco de hambre!
Supongo que la cosa mejora si pides platos de carne y sus especialidades de cerdo, pero, si no comes carne, mejor intenta probar otros sitios :-)

Praise the Lord!!! I have never had such a delicious bowl of Shrimp Wonton Noodle Soup! Let’s break it down.
Noodles:
Ridiculously springy, bouncy, crunchy, or however you want to describe it. I think the locals describe it as, QQ.
Shrimp Wonton:
Two whole fresh shrimps will be found in each thin skinned wonton. On point.
Broth:
So flavorful! You can tell that it’s not made of MSG. I think the bits of yellow chive really adds to it too.
Yes this was the best I’ve ever had, but I was a bit disappointed with the portion size. I guess it’s not meant to be a meal, more like a snack? The restaurant itself is small and people don’t stay long. So yes, this place is more like snack bar?

Hands down, without a doubt, THE BEST wonton noodles I have ever eaten! The noodles are cooked to perfection. It’s thin, just the way I like it, but still retains its… not firmness, maybe al dente is the word I’m looking for? The noodle itself also has flavor. The wontons is literally fresh shrimp wrapped in wonton skin. Simple, to the point, no fillers here. And the soup is equally delicious. I never drink the soup when I order noodle soup but this bowl was completely dry when I was done with it.
Now if you’re from the States, the portion may be a bit on the small side for you. So keep that in mind while ordering.
Also do not be surprised that you may end up sharing a table with other people during their peak hours.
Mak’s also has another location in TST, close to iSquare (as well as a handful of other locations). And I can vouch the branch there is just as good as this one. Went and had a bowl of the day we left HK, haha!
Seriously. Stop in and have a bowl. Your tastebuds will thank you!

My friends had eaten here the night before and liked, so they brought me here to eat. This place kind of has a hole-​in-​the-​wall look — the interior isn’t really fancy or special or anything. The kitchen is viewable from outside of the restaurant. We were seated immediately and given menus and hot tea. As soon as we sat down, the server came over to take our order, before we had even had a chance to read the menu! We asked for some more time. The staff doesn’t really speak English. I had asked what the most popular thing on the menu was and he didn’t understand me. So I just went with the shrimp wonton noodle soup. It came out pretty quickly. It was really tasty — the noodles were cooked perfectly and the wontons were yummy. But the portions were really small. I could’ve easily eaten two of these. We also ordered the seasonal vegetables with oyster sauce. The green veggies (which I don’t know what they were) were really delicious. The oyster sauce was kinda salty. But they had this savory, mildy spicy sauce on the side that tasted good with the veggies.
In the noodle war versus Tsim Chai Kee across the street, I have to give it to Tsim Chai Kee for having bigger portions and tastier shrimp wontons, and also a nicer ambiance. But bonus points to Mak’s for the complimentary hot tea and the better spicy sauce!

The booths are small. The tables are cramped. It is a typical Hong Kong eatery where the staff don’t really care if you’re there or not.
But my god, the noodles. They’ve been in business forever and you can tell. You get a small bowl but it is packed with noodles and flavour and my god, you could just eat and eat and eat and be happy.
It is not expensive, it is good food. And this alone should make you add it to your list.

I came here on a walking tour of Hong Kong with a couple of girlfriends while visiting «the peak». Our tour guide directed me towards the wonton and beef brisket noodles, which I absolutely loved! The spicy sauce at the table was also delicious. Great spot for a quick dish in the galleria!

Great wontons and noodles.
I wish there was a Mak’s closer to where I live.

Let’s face it — this is Hong Kong, and when a place is as well-​established and old-​school as Mak’s in the heart of crowded Central it’s going to be a small, divey eatery. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Don’t let the fact it’s the exact opposite of a fancy restaurant fool you — this place is top-​notch and a must-​try. Is it pricey? Yes. Are the bowl sizes small? Well, sure, if you’re looking at this place as a 21^st century westernized restaurant … which Mak’s is most certainly not. It’s well engrained in the 1980s style and serving portions. I think we’d all be a lot less fat if we returned to these more human-​like serving portions!
What you’re coming here for is a taste of absolute heaven in every bite! For me, the must-​try was the wonton noodle soup. It really doesn’t get much better than this!
Ok, so perhaps I need to visit their rivals which are literally across the street from them. They’re both considered the best at their craft. But for right now, all I know is, Mak’s wonton noodle soup was the best I’ve ever had.

Yes the wontons and noodles are tasty but:
— Don’t expect a fancy restaurant! The restaurant is small and run down with old dirty tables, seats and cutlery. I only sampled for flavour as I was concerned about the hygiene of the place.
— The prices look cheap but the bowl of noodles and wontons was much smaller than expected. One serve is more of a snack. I’d estimate 2.5 bowls to be the equivalent of a normal sized noodle dish that would fill you up for lunch /​dinner.

I consider Mak’s to be my «happy place» in Hong Kong with the best wonton soup in the city. Both the Central and the Causeway Bay branches serve up consistently wonderful wonton and noodle soups. The wontons are cooked to perfection and packed with firm, flavorful shrimp, complementing the slightly spicy broth perfectly. Every time I go back I am surprised again with just how GOOD the soup broth is – so many layers of flavor always leave me wanting more.
I tend to skip the noodles and go for the wonton-​only soups (my wife does just the opposite) and drop a bit of chili paste in to kick up the spice a notch. The consistent complaint about Mak’s is the size of the bowls, which I conceptually understand. But I would rather be served ²⁄₃ of the best than a bowlfull of something else. And at around $ 35/​bowl you can happily order a second! Which I often do if I am feeling a bit piggy. Sure you can get a bigger bowl for less elsewhere, but you can also get a big value meal at McDonald’s for less, as well. And even for noodle soups you won’t have much luck getting a better deal in Central or CWB. For me, Mak’s is about cozying up into a booth and enjoying my favorite wonton soup. The bang-​for-​your-​buck comes from the quality, not the quantity, and that is definitely OK by me. I’ll continue to be back often!

I guessing that this place is so expensive is because they have Anthony Bourdain’s picture plastered all over. On the walls, windows, and at each table.
Comparing to the rest of Hong Kong’s (including Kowloon) noodle joints this place is expensive, they have very small bowls, and in my opinion very salty broth. Yes the wontons have great shrimp and the beef brisket is soft and the noodles have nice texture. But you can find the same quality at other places that are not so stingy and pricey.
But if you need to come here for your photo opps then make sure you also try the dry noodles with shrimp roe.
But 1^st and last time for me.

Super tiny portion … But the noodles are so firm, and crisp and perfectly made!
Wonton and soup was just OK but for $ 34 I expected more wontons though

To price a bowl of Wonton noodles at $ 37 for a standard bowl is considered to be quite pricey. I was able to palm the bowl with one-​hand, and I am considered to be a pretty small guy. The price justification would be most likely because that this is located in a area filled with tourists and expats.
Otherwise, onto the review of the wonton noodles. I felt that the shrimp wontons were average, as they were filled with 1 shrimp per wonton. The shrimps were flavored only with salt and green onions, so it didn’t meet the expectations and standards of a place considered for 1 Michelin star. Noodles were perfectly executed as each noodle was neither overcooked nor undercooked and had a soft, springy consistency. Noodles are carefully seasoned by the chef prior to placing the noodles in the broth. The broth is most likely the saving grace of the entire meal. Broth was lighter in color than most places and had the nicest scent. It was mild in flavor, but the freshness of the sea can be tasted from the broth.
This place is a good to-​try spot for breakfast, but I believe that the best wonton noodle soup that I had was in Jordon.

To me, it’s just OK!
Portions are definitely small — smaller than the size of my hand.
Broth did’t have too much of a taste/​kick. I guess they do this for me to put in some sauce to my own liking. I did like the texture of the noodles. It was just the right amount of chewiness.
Anyway, if you have a big appetite, you probably won’t be satisfied with one bowl.
This is a no-​fuss, in-​and-​out joint.
Enjoy!