5 social enterprise restaurants that give back to the community

We're all familiar with the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, but did you know there’s also a cafe quietly tucked away on top? In support of The Nesbitt Centre, a non-profit organisation that provides educational programmes for adults with learning disabilities, Cafe 8 employs and give opportunities to those with special needs. This allows them not only to learn and develop essential skills needed in a workspace, but it also builds their confidence and self-esteem, while feeling a sense of inclusion within the society. Of course, it helps that their food is spot on as well. Boasting a simple menu of salads, sandwiches and wraps, as well as cakes and other beverages, Cafe 8 is a perfect hideout spot for those looking for some light nibbles away from the hustle and bustle.

Established in 2006, Gingko House was founded to promote senior employment in Hong Kong and to help alleviate pensioners' depression as a result of retirement. There are now seven restaurants across Hong Kong, each with a focus on different cuisines including vegetarian, Vietnamese, traditional Chinese, and western – all of which are operated almost entirely by the elderly. 

Located inside the Hong Kong Museum of History in TST, City Cafe is a social enterprise project funded by the social welfare department to create job opportunities for persons with disabilities. Of course, being located inside a museum filled with history, you can expect everything in the cafe to remind you of old Hong Kong. Apart from serving up Hong Kong-style food like dim sum, pineapple buns with butter, and Borscht soup, the restaurant interior is also set up to mimic traditional Hong Kong restaurants and cha chaan tengs.

Inside Hong Kong’s famous Blue House Cluster, Local Ginger Veggie Bistro is set up under St James Settlement to help local production and eco-farming in the city. The bistro menu regularly rotates so you can enjoy a range of seasonal, healthy offerings (the eatery emphasises on using no MSG and low salt, sugar, and oil). The Five Element turmeric rice is a definite must-try.

Merging fine French dining with a social enterprise, La Parole is the first of its kind in Hong Kong. Revenue generated from the restaurant, after deducting the necessary expenses, are all contributed towards Benji’s Centre charity that provides professional speech therapy to children and teenagers with communication problems, especially those from low-income families. If you’re not into French dining, Shou Zen Japanese Cuisine is another great restaurant that also contributes their profits towards Benji’s Centre.