COMMUNITY

Have Your Say – Wendy Cheung

Author/ Being Neighbourly
18 July 2024

Wendy Cheung is an education recruiter from Australia who’s lived in Western for the past eight years and Hong Kong, by extension, due to family and the convenience of life here. She says she’s tried to consider living elsewhere including places she’s lived before but hasn’t been able to find good enough reasons to leave. She is a member of Buy Nothing, Western.

What’s true/untrue about your neighbourhood?

What’s true is it’s very local with loud eateries; and amenities. It houses affordable living and restaurants with lots of variety of different cuisines.

Best places to eat breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner and to grab a drink?

I love my bap for breakfast at Feather and Bone off of Des Voeux Rd West. It’s always consistent quality, and the decor there always eases me into my day.

My favourite place for lunch is outside my area a bit in Sheung Wan. It’s called Sushi Masa. They have great lunch sets at reasonable prices. Also, Hakka in Hillier Street has amazing soy chicken. Por Kee, a Michelin-rated goose restaurant on Queens Road West is a gem, but lines start early.

For dinner, it’s Pici hands down.

I want to say that their pasta tastes as authentic as it is delicious! High Street Grill is a pretty cool place to hang out with friends and they have everything from light appetizers or snack foods to a full meaty main.

They seat for small and large groups too. Thai on High for Thai food is another and Kwong Kee on Water Street is the best for old school Hong Kong food/dishes.For a drink, Winston’s is an old favourite.

What’s so great about your neighbourhood?

Access to all types of restaurants, access to public transport and its general location is absolutely superb. The longer answer is that I’ve lived in Western District for the eight years that I’ve been here in Hong Kong and selected the area since it was super convenient for my 75 year old mother.

The roads are generally flat and you can find pretty much everything here from fish sauce to a wrench for a stubborn nail.

The area is super old school in that it retains a lot of the seafood, and what they call the ‘Five Gold’ shops (which sell metals, nails and building materials). I’ve never had a problem at home I couldn’t find a fix for there.

I’ve found its location between Victoria Peak and the Western Praya perfect. I can challenge myself with a walk up the Peak and be done in two hours, or if I feel lazy I can take a walk along the Praya. Over the last two years, I’ve also rekindled my love for cycling and have found a route going from my house to Mt Davis Rd and even to Cyberport!

My love for this area is immense. It gives you so much life to live (if only you have the time to enjoy it) within such convenience.

I know that a lot of expats hit the Midlevels or Happy Valley for their target living spaces, but if you want the uber authentic, old school convenience, vibrancy and efficiency – it’s here in Sai Wan, Western!