Hung Sheung Hei Tea Stall launches jaw-dropping HK$10 two-dish rice boxes on Staunton Street, available only four days this September.
A new eatery in Central is turning the city’s notoriously pricey lunch scene on its head. Hung Sheung Hei Tea Stall, located at 22 Staunton Street, has announced an unprecedented promotional offer: a two-dish rice box for just HK$10. The flash sale runs on September 23, 24, 28, and 29, with only 100 boxes available each day starting at 11:30 AM. To snag the deal, diners must complete a simple social media step – posting to Instagram and tagging the shop’s official account before paying.
Why This Deal Matters for Central’s Workforce
Finding a hot, filling lunch in Central for less than HK$50 is already a challenge. A standard two-dish rice box (兩餸飯) in the district typically costs between HK$40 and HK$65. Hung Sheung Hei’s HK$10 offer slices that price by up to 85%, making it arguably the most aggressive lunch promotion Central has seen this year.
The promotion comes at a time when Hong Kong’s cost of living continues to bite. According to the Census and Statistics Department, the composite consumer price index for meals bought away from home rose 3.2% year-on-year in the first half of 2023. For office workers in Central – where the median monthly income is among the highest in the city – such deals offer a rare chance to stretch the lunch budget further.
How to Claim the HK$10 Two-Dish Rice Box
The redemption process is straightforward but requires advance preparation. Here is the step-by-step guide:
- Post on Instagram: Before queuing, take a photo or video of the rice box or the shop, and upload it to your Instagram Story or Feed.
- Tag the shop: In the post, tag @hungsheungheiteastall (the official account of Hung Sheung Hei Tea Stall).
- Show the staff: Display the live post to a cashier at checkout to receive the discounted price.
- One per person: Each customer is limited to a single HK$10 box to ensure more people can participate.
Note: The promotion operates on a first-come, first-served basis. With only 100 boxes daily, early arrival is strongly advised.
Timing and Capacity: Plan Your Visit
The sale runs on four separate days – two before the Mid-Autumn Festival break (September 23 and 24) and two after (September 28 and 29). Each day, the countdown begins at 11:30 AM sharp. Given Central’s lunch rush peaks between 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM, arriving early – ideally by 11:00 AM – could make the difference between a HK$10 lunch and an empty stomach.
The shop’s address, 22 Staunton Street, places it at the edge of the SoHo dining strip, a few minutes’ walk from Central–Mid-Levels escalator. For office workers in the core business district, a brisk 10-minute walk from Statue Square or Exchange Square leads directly there.
What You Need to Know Before You Go
- Days: September 23 (Monday), 24 (Tuesday), 28 (Saturday), 29 (Sunday). Note that Saturday and Sunday dates may attract a different crowd – but the 100-box cap remains unchanged.
- Menu: While the exact two-dish combinations are not specified, typical tea-stall offerings include a choice of meats (e.g., sweet-and-sour pork, braised beef brisket, curry chicken) and vegetables (e.g., stir-fried greens, egg-and-tomato, tofu with minced pork). Diners should expect a standard but satisfying selection.
- No advance ordering: All redemptions must be done in person. There is no online pre-booking or takeaway-only arrangement confirmed.
Broader Impact: A Trend or a One-Off?
Hung Sheung Hei’s flash sale mirrors a wider industry trend of aggressive “loss-leader” promotions used by new eateries to build buzz and Instagram visibility. Social-media-driven discounts have become a staple in Hong Kong’s food scene, particularly among younger, image-conscious consumers who value shareable moments over cost alone.
However, the sustainability of such low prices is questionable. Food cost analysts note that a two-dish rice box priced at HK$10 likely operates at a significant loss for the business – possibly as high as 60% to 70% of the retail value. The strategy appears designed to generate word-of-mouth and a flood of user-generated content, rather than to drive immediate profitability.
For Central’s lunch-goers, the opportunity is a rare, if fleeting, reprieve from the district’s high dining costs. Whether Hung Sheung Hei will extend the offer or introduce a permanent low-price menu remains to be seen. For now, the clock is ticking: only four days, 400 boxes total.
Actionable tip: Follow Hung Sheung Hei Tea Stall on Instagram and turn on post notifications. Set an alarm for 11:00 AM on promotion days, and prepare your Instagram caption in advance to speed up the payment process.
For more budget-friendly dining tips in Central, explore our guide to hidden gems on Staunton Street and discover how to eat well without breaking the bank.