Kowloon Cafe, tucked away inconspicuously in the basement of a building on High Street, initially caught my attention because of Sam Low’s frequent visits. Intrigued, I decided to give it a try. To my surprise, despite its unassuming name and modest prices, the place was impeccably clean and tidy.

Upon entering, I seated myself, unaware that I needed to order at the counter. After a bit of rusty Cantonese, I settled on the BBQ Steam Rice Rolls with Egg and the Salted Fish and Pork Belly Claypot Rice.

The BBQ Steam Rice Rolls turned out to be larger than expected for the price, with the pleasant addition of choi sum. While I wished the rice rolls were slightly thinner, the flavours of the BBQ pork and egg were delightful. I only missed having some chilli sauce on the side.

Moving on to the claypot rice, I was surprised by how spotless the claypot was, which usually retains some flavours from previous dishes. However, the rice lacked the desired crispiness at the bottom and could have used a bit more cooking time. Nevertheless, it arrived piping hot, and mixing in the sizzling sauce enhanced the overall flavour. The dish boasted a satisfying amount of salted fish, and the pork belly was tender and nicely flavoured. My only minor gripes were the less-than-crispy rice bottom and the absence of an option to add an egg.

In summary, Kowloon Cafe is a pleasant spot offering homely Hong Kong-style food. While the service isn’t great, the food quality is very good, and the establishment is kept clean. Next time I go I will have to try their Pineapple bun with butter.