My Search For the Best Avocado Toast in Hong Kong

Well, it’s been a while. This one has been in the pipeline since I ventured back to Asia and Hong Kong in December 2020. But I’m back in full force and coming in hot with a completely arbitrary declaration of the best avocado toast in Hong Kong. 

Consider this more of a diary, rather than a top ten list, as the last spot is the only one I’ve given any definitive proclamation as to its ranking. The others are merely enthusiastic commentary. Scroll to the end if you just can’t wait any longer to see which avocado toast jazzes me up the most.

Disclaimer: I actually achieved the impossible and went overboard on avocado toast indulgence during my quest, so much so that I entered into a self-imposed avo toast moratorium for over two months. Furthermore, if you have a spot that you think I missed, do let me know in the comments and I’ll do my best to check it out!

The Coffee Academics (All Locations) – The Cal Ripkin Jr. 

Let’s start on a high note. The Coffee Academics is the Cal Ripkin Jr. (the ‘Iron Man’) of coffee chains and avocado toast in Hong Kong. What do I mean by that? It’s extremely reliable. 

Keep in mind that not all Coffee Academics boast the same menus, so the avocado toast may vary at whatever location you patronize. However, if I were a betting man (which I am), I would bet that all avo toasts at the various Coffee Academics are of similar quality. 

I frequently posted up at the Coffee Academics Wan Chai branch on Johnston Road after morning Cantonese lessons where I often came unprepared and failed miserably. The avo toast itself was smashed but contained ample chunks of avocado, my preferred way of preparing and/or presenting it. It was topped with nori flakes and thinly sliced radish, the former providing a slightly salty, seaweedy (is that a word?) taste. 

I’m typically an avocado toast purist in the way that I do not like too many additions to the meat and potatoes of the dish, but when executed well I lose all adherence to my principles. 

The sourdough strikes a perfect balance between crunchy crusts and a malleable doughy, tangy middle, and ensures that you won’t lose the bulk of your avocado when picking it up with your hands. 

Website, Address, & Details: https://www.theacademicsgroup.com 

Location: 35-45 Johnston Rd, Wan Chai (my favorite location of the bunch)

Big Body Note: If you missed the reference, Cal Ripkin Jr. is a former professional baseball player who holds the record for most consecutive games played – 2,632. You could always count on him to show up and play. 

NOC Coffee – The Harvey Dent 

Upon returning to Hong Kong, NOC Coffee became a regular spot for me to post up with my laptop, grab a strong coffee, and get my avo toast fix. NOC Coffee is the ‘Harvey Dent’ of avocado toasts – it possesses two faces. But what exactly do I mean by that? 

NOC offers a two-way avocado toast that provides the best of both worlds, sliced and smashed (you can however opt for a single style). First, I never knew one could fit so many thinly sliced pieces of avocado on a single piece of sourdough. The avocado is creamy, topped with a sprinkle of paprika (don’t quote me on that) and seasoning, and garnished with a lemon wedge to provide much-needed citrus. 

The sourdough toast is sturdy, with a nice crunch that yields a nice contrast to the creamy, smooth avocado. This is how avocado toast should be – NOC lets the avocado speak for itself and doesn’t try and “spruce things up” with additional ingredients that ultimately dilute the flavor of the avocado. 

While NOC has countless locations spread out across Hong Kong, the menu is a marble plinth of consistency, offering up the same options no matter the spot. My personal favorites include the Kennedy Town and Whampoa locations due to their proximity to the water, especially the view of Hong Kong Island from the Whampoa location.  

Website, Address, & Details: https://noccoffeeco.com/en/ 

Location: 321 Des Voeux Rd W, Sai Ying Pun

Barista by Givres – The Most Instagrammable 

Normally, I’m skeptical of any sort of food that looks too good to be true on social media. However, Barista by Givres does not disappoint. Not only is Barista by Givres the most Instagrammable of all avocado toasts in Hong Kong but it packs one of the most unique punches. 

Who wouldn’t love avocado slices swirled in the shape of a rose, garnished with pistachio dukkah (an Egyptian spice mix) and chopped lavender petals, atop a sourdough slice spread thin with bright pink beetroot hummus? It’s kind of like the Outback Steakhouse ‘Bloomin’ Onion’ sans the four thousand calories and the shame of ordering it (I am actually a sucker for Outback Steakhouse). 

Barista by Givres offers two styles of avocado toast – the aforementioned avocado toast with beetroot hummus and pistachio dukkah and their avocado toast with poached eggs. Combine the two. You won’t regret it. 

The poached eggs add a much-needed gooey, runny element to crisp sourdough and thinly spread hummus (which does not overpower the avocado), while the beetroot hummus has a slight tang, with earthy and nutty notes to it which gels well with the fragrant dukkah, pistachio mix. The avocado itself is fresh, sliced, and slightly buttery – plus, you can’t hate its rose presentation. 

Pro Tip: For avo toast fiends looking to get crazy, you can ramp things up even further with their ‘Everything Eggs Benny’ – a combination of both styles of avo toast, topped with prosciutto, spinach, and of course hollandaise sauce. This is a Frankenstein’s Monster of breakfast foods, so much so that I would probably just refer to it as an eggs benedict with avocado. Also, Barista by Givres specializes in gelato, so indulge and don’t look back. 

Website, Address, & Details: https://www.givres.com 

Location: 7 Staunton St, Central

Pale Ale Travel Hong Kong Tip: After you and a partner start the day off with a nice avo toast, go burn it off with one of my seven Hong Kong date ideas. 

Oolaa Central – The Quarantine 

First, RIP to the Oola formerly on Bridges Street in Soho. It has now moved to Stanley Street just down the road (also, there are countless Oolaas spread out across Hong Kong). Oolaa was my morning highlight while in quarantine back in December 2020. I ordered here every single day for breakfast and there’s a good reason why. Oolaa’s avocado toast is consistent. 

Is it the best avocado toast in Hong Kong? Probably not (or, maybe for some). But it is a reliable .270 hitter (still talking baseball here) who shows up to play every day and gets the job done. If that reference is lost on you, that’s alright – your main takeaway should be, this is one formidable avo toast candidate. 

Oolaa’s avo toast boasts a generous spread of smashed avocado across a seeded sourdough, garnished with a lemon wedge. Depending on who you get in the kitchen, you’ll get the bonus sliced avocado on top (it has been hit or miss with receiving it). The spread is thick and contains hearty chunks of avocado which is much appreciated in an avocado toast landscape that seems to favor giving a thin spread of avocado paste. 

If you are really looking to ramp things up, Oola offers a ‘Smashed Avocado Bruschetta’ with diced tomatoes, feta cheese, poached eggs, and citrus hollandaise. Having consumed both (countless times), I typically find feta overpowers the base and core element of the dish – the avocado. So, if I had my druthers (which I do), I would opt for the original. 

Website, Address, & Details: https://www.oolaagroup.com

Location: G/F, 28 Stanley St, Central

APT. Coffee – B.Y.O.A.T (Build Your Own Avo Toast)

I’m not sure if I just made this term up or not, but APT. Coffee (located directly under the escalators on Cochrane Street) is the perfect spot for avocado toast enthusiasts who want to customize their order to the nth degree. This is the build-your-own-avo-toast (B.Y.O.A.T.) haven. 

Choose your bread, your spread, and your toppings. There are countless options to choose from, such as prosciutto, meatballs, eggplant, truffle scrambled eggs, and fig and strawberries. And, the combinations get even better should you make it for lunch, with Angus ribeye, Iberico chorizo, and even Japanese snow crab thrown into the pool to choose from.

APT is for brunchers with a far more creative imagination than I have. I typically stick with the standard poached egg and avocado toppings but have dabbled in the smoked salmon and avocado game here on several occasions. Whatever you are feeling, you can’t go wrong.

The sourdough (or raisin and walnut bread) is fresh, with a sturdy frame that supports whatever concoction you think up, and pairs well with the creamier options on the menu (ex. Tomato with mozzarella cheese, poached eggs, and of course, avocado). A nice extra touch was that the avocado came both mashed and sliced, offering some variety between slices. Sometimes you’re in the mood for both.

Website, Address, & Details: https://www.apt-coffee.com 

Location: Shop C, 34 Cochrane St, Central

Elephant Grounds – The People Watcher

Elephant Grounds is my favorite Sunday recovery spot for avocado toast. You know exactly what you are getting when you go to Elephant Grounds, and that is a good quality avo toast with a great people-watching view. I should note that the avocado toast at Elephant Grounds can vary by location. 

For example, the Caine Road Elephant Grounds uses a pea cress and french pea pesto spread underneath a poached egg and sliced avocado. This gives the avo toast a slightly sweet and nutty flavor, which contrasts nicely with the thin slices of spicy radish. The Causeway Bay Fashion Walk location omitted the pea spread on several occasions, placing the poached egg atop the sliced avocado (with no base spread). This gave the avo toast much more of a bite (due to the radish).

I’ve also found the consistency of the bread may vary, with some shops not toasting the sourdough (or toasting it lightly) and others toasting until structural integrity is established. For me, both work and it really depends on what my mood and taste are. No matter the shop, you are in for a treat. 

I always recommend exploring a few of the various Elephant Grounds locations to find the spot that jives with your avocado toast needs. And, I cannot recommend their acai yogurt bowl (pictured in the background) or yogurt granola parfait enough. Their pancakes are also a fan favorite and some of the fluffiest that I’ve tried in Hong Kong. 

Website, Address, & Details: http://elephantgrounds.com/en/ 

Location: Shop C, G/F, 42-28 Fashion Walk, Paterson St, Causeway Bay

Zero One Coffee & Roastery – A Salty Dream

Zero One Coffee is a cozy coffee shop located just under the escalators on Wellington Street (basically Cochrane Street) which serves up a no-nonsense, flavor-packed salt explosion in your mouth.

Zero One tops their avo toast with sturdy helpings of feta cheese and tiny sprigs of basil. This avocado toast is for cheese lovers that are truly looking for a salty, tangy taste to start their morning. What really stood out to me with this avo toast is how well the sourdough was toasted. This offset the creaminess of the smashed avo and almost melty, creamy texture you get from the little feta balls (which were sharper than average in taste) and a drizzle of olive oil you get with every single bite.

I’ve tried several variations of Zero One’s avo toast by now and actually find that I prefer NOT to add on a poached egg (or scrambled eggs). For me, the three simple ingredients (avocado, feta, and basil) are more than enough. I should caution that this isn’t exactly the “lightest” avo toast of the bunch and should have you feeling plenty full by the end of it. 

Zero One isn’t exactly a brunch or breakfast spot that you can post up at for hours at a time but is perfect for an on-the-go bite and coffee (there are only 4-5 stools for bar seating). It reminds me much more of a New York-style bagel shop, where you get in and get out. As an East Coaster, this pleases me. 

Website, Address, & Details: https://zeroonecoffee.myshopify.com 

Location: UG/F, 83 Wellington St, Central

Doubleshot by Cupping Room – The Nonconformist

When I was first served the avocado toast at the Doubleshot by Cupping Room, I wasn’t exactly sure what to do with it. However, I was quickly overcome by hunger and got creative, mixing and matching the various ingredients of this four-way style avocado toast with vigor. This is hands down the most original take on a traditional classic that I’ve encountered in my avo toast travels. 

Burrata cheese, mango chutney, chorizo sausage (more akin to crunchy little bacon bits in my opinion), and Japanese egg yolk. Alone, each one of these four ingredients is a dream. Together, true bliss. I love approaching every bite with a different combination, at points combining all four ingredients on a piece of crisp olive bread. At other points, I would simply pair the burrata and avocado, or egg and avocado… you get the picture. 

Each flavor and texture is such a distinct contrast from one another that you are sure to feel all types of ways eating this. A salty and creamy combination topping freshly sliced avocado? Check. A gooey, sweet (and slightly sour), runny mess atop a sturdy, herby, crunch? Check. Everything in between? Check, check, check.   

You have one delicious DIY project to get started on. And it is 100% worth the assembly. 

Website, Address, & Details: https://www.doubleshot.hk 

Location: 1F, Hilltop Plaza, 49 Hollywood Rd, Central

Fineprint – Simple, Yet Sophisticated

Fineprint will always have a seat at the table when it comes to debate about the best avocado toast in Hong Kong. This is because it stays true to a beloved classic but elevates the profile of the dish with sophisticated, high-quality ingredients (namely, the bread). 

For starters, if you don’t know Fineprint, they are an Australian coffee shop specializing in sourdough and assorted breads (I especially love their pretzels) – all of which are top-notch. Their bread is the defining factor that takes this avocado toast to the next level. Evenly distributed air, a springy and slightly moist texture, and that essential sourdough tang – Fineprint does bread right.

Fineprint’s avocado toast doesn’t try to do too much, yet does so much at the same time. The structural integrity and quality of the two large slices of sourdough are uplifted by a creamy, ripe avocado, sliced and drizzled with olive oil. Topping it off, it is sprinkled with a touch of sea salt, which provides an additional crunch and savory flavor that just comes together in the perfect balance.

A quick squeeze of the accompanying lemon for a hint of citrus and you are in heaven. The thought, the detail, and the execution, all create a perfect avo toast storm that will keep you coming back. This may be my most frequented avocado toast on the list. 

For avo toast enthusiasts looking to push the envelope, Fineprint also offers a smoked salmon avo toast option. I have not indulged in this as, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. 

Pro Tip: If possible, try and snag a seat at the window at either their Peel Street or Second Street location) to get some work done, people-watch, and dig into your avo toast. I also warmed up to their Inedit Damm by Estrella and it is now one of my favorite beers.

Website, Address, & Details: https://fineprint.hk 

Location: 38 Peel St, Central

My Top Avocado Toast in Hong Kong: Mr. Wolf

Maybe it was because it was the perfect day to sit out and soak in the rays on Mr. Wolf’s lengthy, sun-kissed rooftop (a rarity in Hong Kong). Maybe it was the company I was with. Or maybe it was the piping hot banana bread gifted to us by our waitress. But everything about Mr. Wolf that day did it for me. 

To be honest, it was unexpected. I’m sure those of you who call Hong Kong home are probably writing me off with this recommendation, but I assure you, it’s worth it. 

Mr. Wolf’s avocado toast was a combination of all of my favorite ingredients used at the above spots. Two plus-size poached eggs atop a mound of perfectly seasoned and mashed avocado, with chunks of salty feta mixed in across a crunchy, tangy, and chewy sourdough bread.

The avocado was mashed with the perfect balance, in the way that there was a consistent creamy texture but still filled with sizable chunks of this wonderful fruit (yes, avocado is a fruit). For those saying, “But Big Body, there’s no sliced avocado on this…” Order a side of sliced avocado which you can then add on top!  

Website, Address, & Details: https://mrwolf.hk 

Location: 5/F, Crawford House, 70 Queen’s Road Central, Central

P.S. A picture of the banana bread is attached for viewing pleasure. Get yourself a slice and never look back.

If You Think I Missed the Best Avocado Toast in Hong Kong…

A great avocado list wouldn’t be legendary without a little unpredictability. Although I’ve declared my favorite avo toast in all of Hong Kong, that does not mean that every single one on this list is not great and worth checking out. Work your way through the whole list, find what jives with your taste, and report back!

Let me know in the comments or by email! I’d love to hear your thoughts on your favorite avo toast (or brunch) spot in Hong Kong and what makes it great. I hope to continue adding to this list as I come across more avocado toast spots in Hong Kong. 

Keep in mind that most of these avo toast spots have multiple locations. I’ve only provided an address for the main spot I went to and where the picture is from.

Be grand everybody. I’m making a comeback. 

Big Body