One of Hong Kong’s oldest steakhouses, Sammy’s Kitchen, is facing closure following a massive rent spike from the space’s new landlord.
Founded by veteran hotel chef Yip Luen (known as “Uncle Sammy”) and three friends in 1969, the restaurant is known for its “old Hong Kong” vibe and “Sammy’s sauce”. It also had an iconic neon cow sign for decades. Promoting the restaurant’s Angus beef, it was one a Sai Wan landmark until the government ordered it to be taken down two years ago (it is to go on display soon at the West Cow-loon Cultural District).
Yip Luen’s daughter Yip Fung-yee, who runs the restaurant, says the shop space had a change of ownership last month and the new landlord is asking for HK$140,000-160,000 (US$17,930-20,490) a month – almost double the current rent, reports Apple Daily.
Yip says she tried to negotiate for lower rent, but the landlord would not budge. She is now looking for a new space for the business, but if she is not successful the restaurant will close its doors for the last time on September 15.
“It’s so hard to run a business nowadays. Rent is expensive, supplies are expensive,” says her father. The 86-year-old has spent decades in the F&B industry, starting as a dishwasher at a Repulse Bay hotel when he was just 12, and working his way to the kitchens of luxury hotels such as the Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental and the now-defunct Hilton.
Sammy’s Kitchen was a revolution when it first opened as Angus beef then was served only at luxury hotels.
After nine years at its first location in Sai Ying Pun, the restaurant relocated to its current space on Queen’s Road West. During the colonial period its customers included the then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, government officials, actor/director Stephen Chow and singer Alan Tam.
In 2003 the business was badly affected by the SARS outbreak, resulting in its second location in Aberdeen being closed. Rather than let go of the staff from that branch, Uncle Sammy insisted on giving them jobs at the Sai Wan shop.
Photo: Old District via Facebook.
