Chan Chi Kee Cutlery Co.

From meat cleavers to woks to solid wood chopping boards and bamboo steamers, Shanghai Street, in Kowloon, sells it all. It’s Hong Kong’s go-to street for kitchen supplies, and one of the strip’s most legendary stores is Chan Chi Kee Cutlery Co.

The current owner claims that the shop was started by his grandfather “Before WWII.” As the name indicates, the brand was originally known for its knives and cleavers. Until the ‘90s, they were made in Hong Kong. When this became impractical, production was shifted to mainland China. 

The specialty here is cleavers for butchers and fishmongers, made from stainless or carbon steel. If you’re not familiar with the world of Chinese cleavers, a good starting point is the wen wu dao, an all-purpose cleaver for both slicing and light chopping. 

These days, Chan Chi Kee knives are exported worldwide; Anthony Bourdain bought one on an episode of The Layover, and the owners claim that French chefs and Michelin-starred foreign chefs also come in looking for knives and other equipment. In the back of the shop is a closet-sized sharpening station; it’s worth having a look to watch them grind and finish cleavers.

Apart from knives, Chan Chi Kee also oversees production of other metal cooking items such as woks, skimmers and strainers. And the store is positively packed with ladles, meat hooks, wok spatulas, massive cutting boards for chopping roast meat, bamboo trays, giant chopsticks and more for the Chinese kitchen.