The weather is steaming hot again and the sun is out. Do you know what that means? Junk boat season is finally here! Gone are the shivering weekend brunches – we’re now getting bad suntans and knocking back heaps of water. Yay to summer in Hong Kong!
To stop ourselves from gorging exclusively on free-flow beer and wine, we need to plan accordingly for our summer junk boat trips. Read below for our top picks of the best junk catering options to feed your party this summer.
The best junk boat catering services in Hong Kong
1. Shamrock Catering
Catering over 200 junks each year, Shamrock is a leading caterer for the summer season, with multiple packages designed to stuff you tight. Shamrock’s BBQ menu invites a chef to cook for a minimum of 15 people (HKD250/hour for 5-hour minimum), serving up a selection of cold canapés, BBQ chicken, pork, and seafood, a choice of beef to sear on the barbie, Western- and Asian-style salads, and dessert. The price is dependent on the number of people and the chosen junk menu, so it’s best to coordinate with the friendly staff at Shamrock.
Shamrock Catering, 2547 8155, WhatsApp 5928 5447
2. Gingers
This well-known catering company recently launched updated menus for their At Sea offerings, a collection of sets, platters, buffets, and cocktail party programmes for planning your bougie junk trips. Gingers’ Simple Buffet (HKD480 pp) is a great choice for those wishing to eat tons, with options including lamb rump, beef flank steak, grilled halloumi, caesar salad, nicoise salad, matcha cake, chocolate toffee brownies, and banoffee pie.
Gingers, 2964 9160, order here
3. Bengal Brothers
Nothing goes better than junks and Indian food that can fit into the palm of your hand. Bengal Brothers’ kathi rolls are the perfect choice for junks to ensure you can handle both spicy bite-sized food in one hand and something alcoholic in the other. The Bay of Bengal Junk Menu (HKD188 pp) is a recommended option. Share cucumber and coconut koshimbir salad and sweet potato chaat,choose between chicken tikka, lamb seekh, achari paneer, and chickpea kathi rolls,and finish with a summer fruit chaat.
Bengal Brothers, G/F, 6 Johnson Road, Wan Chai, 9245 8774, order here
4. Burger Circus
With their Anchor’s Away! (HKD178pp for 10) option, Burger Circus is feeding the seagoing hungry with a sharing-style menu for a minimum of 10 guests. Choose between the American cheeseburger, spicy chicken burger, or veggie burger and share a hearty side of classic fries and then apple pie for dessert. Beyond excellent burgers at their retro diner in Soho, enjoy grease and salt on the high seas!
Burger Circus, G/F, 22 Hollywood Road, 2878 7787, order here
5. Pomegranate Kitchen
Caterer and private dining host Pomegranate Kitchen leads the pack with the most affordable junk catering option with their signature Mediterranean Delight Platter (HKD1,580 for 15) menu, ideal for light nibbles. The platter features a range of dips, including cumin-infused hummus, labneh with pistachio dukkah,and baba ganoush, fresh crudites, warm Turkish bread, and almond cakes.
Pomegranate Kitchen, 6192 2014, order here
6. Bain Marie
Catering company Bain Marie mainly assists corporate clients and creates meal plans for busybodies, yet their junk boat package (HKD190 pp for 20-person minimum) is a solid bet with a spread of four bites, two main dishes, two side dishes, and three pieces of desserts per person. Top picks include the mini sausage rolls, Impossible meatballs with tomato sauce, mashed potatoes, quinoa mango salad, mini financiers, and mini egg tarts.
Bain Marie, 5649 6048, order here
7. Dough Bros.
Hong Kong’s beloved local pizza brand Dough Bros. is the saving grace of our junk parties, offering great deals and free delivery on a combination package of both pizza and doughnuts. For 20 to 40 guests, enjoy a selection of 20 pizzas selected from the main menu for HKD2,600. Free delivery is included when ordered via their website.
8. Ăn Chơi
Recently clinching a sought-after MICHELIN Bib Gourmand title, Ăn Chơi’s Vietnamese home cooking is second to none in the city. For junk catering, the restaurant offers three different packages for a minimum of 10 guests. For HKD100 per person, enjoy half a banh mi with your choice of filling, summer rolls or pork netted spring rolls, and a choice of fruit platter, tea, or soft drinks. Add on BBQ pork sticks with peanut sauce, Vietnamese chicken wings, and a salad tray with prawn crackers for a total of HKD180 per person.
Ăn Chơi, G/F, 15-17 Mercer Street, Sheung Wan,5286 1517, order here
9. TM Eats
Based in Sai Ying Pun but serving junk parties across the whole of the city, TM Eats brings the salt and meat to your party with their build your own junk package (HKD1,800 for 15). Rounding out to HKD120 per person, the package includes two starters, one salad, and a main, with dishes like BBQ ribs, teriyaki chicken rolls, wagyu beef sliders (+HKD20), grilled pork neck salad, and chicken curry with rice fitting for your junk trip.
10. FRANCIS
Beloved Israeli restaurant FRANCIS in Wan Chai offers free delivery for their junk catering packages when spending more than HKD2,500 for your order. For HKD350 per person, their shawarma package rates supreme with plates of pita, hummus, roasted eggplant, beef cigars, cauliflower, majadra, and a pick of either a beef shawarma or lamb shawarma.
11. Winest
If you have your food portion covered for the junk but need alcohol to make the trip a memorable one, head to online liquor store Winest for a great deal on a drinks package. Their junk boat party package (HKD1,988) caters for 24 guests with a whopping 12 bottles of wine, 48 cans of beer, 48 cans of soda, 24 bottles of water, 50 plastic cups, and 10 kilograms of free ice. They have selections of prosecco, cava, white and red wine, and Asahi, Corona, and Tsingtao beer.
