The Flying Pan 
Hong Kong’s first 24-hour breakfast diner graces the heart of Soho

By Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

Sometimes in the middle of the night, I crave Chinese food. And then in the morning I love eating the leftovers.

But I imagine if I was in Hong Kong, I might get my fill of Chinese food and crave a good American breakfast. There is something about being on the other side of the world that makes your stomach clock go crazy.

Now I know what to do.

On April 1, Hong Kong’s first 24-hour breakfast diner “The Flying Pan” opened its doors, drawing streams of breakfast lovers.  The restaurant’s motto is all-day breakfast and it means it. Hearty fare is served around the clock, making it one of the few spots in the area catering to early risers, late-night revelers and everyone in between. Comfortable booth seating, blue-tiled table tops and black and white photographs lend to the “nouveau retro” feel of the family friendly eatery.

Like the atmosphere, the food is comforting and reminiscent of home.  The vast menu boasts something for every palate, from 14 different omelettes, including 3 Little Pigs (bacon, ham and sausage) and Ole (salsa, avocado and sour cream), an inventive variety of Eggs Benedict such as Eggs Sardou (with artichokes, tomato and spinach) and Eggs Maharaja (with green pepper, potato and curry), and a wide range of combination plates. The bagels, made especially for The Flying Pan, are some of Hong Kong’s finest. For sweet tooths, challah bread French toast, Belgian waffles and pancakes with toppings like spiced apples, sautéed bananas and strawberries are mouthwatering options.

And for the younger set, the Kiddies menu has favorites like peanut butter and jellywich, grilled cheese sandwiches and silver dollar pancakes. Many of the selections are served with a choice of two sides, juice and toast, spelling unbeatable value for quality food.  The Flying Pan is also home to the bottomless cup of coffee, which means that for $30, diners can enjoy endless refills, along with great music and PCCW wireless access.

Behind the novel concept are Tammy Greenspon of El Taco Loco and Archie B’s fame, Jason Budovitch, co-owner of Gecko Lounge and Wine Bar and Paul Almond of Sydney.

Since I have eaten at Tammy’s other two restaurants, (where homesick Americans seem to gather for food and conversation) I know how good the food must be. Sounds like a good reason to get back to Hong Kong. Now for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

When I did not finish my breakfast, my mother used to tell me the people in China were starving. I guess she was right then. But now those lucky people can go to the Flying Pan no matter wheat time of day or night it is.

Note to Mom: I love my vegetables now, and eat them all.

The Flying Pan
G/F 9 Old Bailey Street, Central HK
Phone 2140 6333
Fax 2524 4111
The_flying_pan@yahoo.com

GREAT GUIDEBOOKS

Knopf MAPGUIDES HONG KONG
The city in section by section maps
www.aaknopf.com

LONELY PLANET CHINA WORLD
WWW.lonelyplanet.com

TRAVELER’S CHINA COMPANION
By Derek Maitland and Chris Taylor
Globe Pequot Press

FODOR’S CHINA
WWW.Fodors.com

HONG KONG TIME FOR FOOD
Thomas Cook Publishing

LONELY PLANET HONG KONG CONDENSED
www.lonelyplanet.com

BORN TO SHOP
Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing
By Suzy Gershman
Frommer’s
Hungry Minds Inc.

WHERE TO STAY

Intercontinental Hong Kong
(formerly the Regent)
This is my favorite hotel in the whole world
18 Salisbury Road
Kowloon
Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2721 1211, Fax: +852 2739 4546
E-mail: hongkong@interconti.com

Sheraton Hong Kong
20 Nathan Road Kowloon Hong Kong
Phone (852) 23691111
Fax (852) 27398707
www.sheraton.com/hongkong
800/325-3535 in the U.S.
and Canada 852/2369 1111 

Peninsula Hong Kong
Salisbury Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR
Tel: (852) 2920 2888
Fax: (852) 2722 4170
E-mail: pen@peninsula.com
www.hongkong.peninsula.com

Mandarin Oriental
5 Connaught Road
Central Hong Kong
Email: mohkg-reservations@mohg.com
Telephone: +852 2522 4466
Facsimile: +852 2530 0180
www.mandarinoriental.com

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