Hong Kong beef noodle shop the latest victim of protests, coronavirus, and an inflexible landlord
- Hop Hing Noodle Ka in Kwun Tong is closing after almost 50 years of providing delicious beef offal noodles and cuttlefish balls
- Affected by the coronavirus and last year’s protests, owner Ma Kar-for asked for a rent reduction from his landlord, to no avail. He hopes to reopen elsewhere
A noodle shop famous for its beef offal noodles that has been in Hong Kong for almost 50 years will close its doors on Sunday, after the landlord refused to lower the rent because of the impact of months of anti-government protests and now the coronavirus pandemic.
Hop Hing Noodle Ka in Kwun Tong, East Kowloon, was busy on Thursday evening, with customers queuing up outside in the light rain either to dine in or order takeaway.
Owner Ma Kar-for, 57, is upset about having to close the store famous for its beef offal, beef brisket, home-made cuttlefish balls and deep-fried fish skin. He is the second-generation owner of the shop.
Hop Hing Noodle Ka was started by Ma's father in the 1960s as a food stall in Yue Man Square, Kwun Tong. Ma learned the business from his father and moved the shop to its current location at the Shui Wo Street Market in 2012.