For years, office workers and residents in Wong Chuk Hang had to endure a frustrating lack of variety when it came to dining after work or on weekends. This narrative has officially been rewritten with the grand opening of The Southside, a sprawling five-story complex situated directly above the Wong Chuk Hang MTR station. While the mall houses over 130 merchants, the biggest draw is its ambitious culinary ecosystem of nearly 40 dining concepts, bringing Michelin-starred ramen, Bib Gourmand pho, specialty coffee, and global cuisines to Hong Kong’s southern doorstep.
Award-Winning Anchors
The food lineup at The Southside punches well above the weight of a typical suburban mall. Brass Spoon, a Bib Gourmand recipient for eight consecutive years, serves its signature beef pho using a broth simmered for over twelve hours from over 100 catties of beef bone. On the ramen front, Tokyo import Konjiki Hototogisu marks its territory. Holding a Michelin star for five consecutive years, it is famed for its clam-based shoyu ramen—a clean yet deeply savory broth that offers a refined alternative to richer tonkotsu varieties.
A World Tour on a Plate
Beyond the accolades, the mall delivers a comprehensive global tour. Carnivores can head to Chef’s Cuts, a steakhouse known for its dry-aged Black Angus ribeye and an impressive seafood platter featuring Boston lobster and Hokkaido scallops. At Taiwanese import Duan Chun Zhen, the beef noodle broth is inflected with 23 herbs and slow-cooked for hours. Meanwhile, Bamboo Thai presents modern Thai cuisine in a space adorned with a custom mural by a Japanese artist, and Shandong Shikdang provides a moody, cave-like setting for Korean BBQ. Italian eatery Ombra makes high-end dining accessible with a value-packed set lunch, while fusion spot MUSEe draws a happy-hour crowd with daily cocktail deals.
Cafes, Casual Bites, and Happy Hour
For those seeking lighter fare, the scene is equally robust. Hong Kong-born NOC Coffee Co. opens its first branch ever to serve ice cream, joining industrial-chic roaster stain+. Japanese tea house Nana’s Green Tea offers an authentic Kyoto-style matcha experience, while N+Burger grinds its own meat from an Australian ranch for its signature sourdough sandwiches. These spots, coupled with the mall’s pet-friendly policies, make The Southside an inviting destination for a relaxed afternoon.
The emergence of The Southside signals a major shift in Hong Kong’s dining geography. The area is no longer a culinary afterthought but a genuine destination in its own right. For anyone used to trekking to Central or Causeway Bay for a quality meal, the convenience of an MTR-linked Wong Chuk Hang provides a compelling new alternative. The “food desert” has officially bloomed into a thriving oasis worthy of a dedicated trip.