Latke: Please let us know how your dilemma resolved.
I am planning a trip to Hong Kong as well and booked the Sheraton in Kowloon. Wondering pros and cons of Shabbos meals at KZ vs. Chabad, as well as Shabbos davening. Also, I read that Sheraton is "Shabbos friendly" but wonder how they accommodate. Do they accompany you to your room with a master key?
After spending Shabbos in Kowloon at the Popway Hotel here is what I can report:
I decided, based on input from here, that KZ was the place to be Friday night. Davening was quite different than what I'm used to, as it's Edot Hamizrach- which means they say a VERY long Shir Hashirim, while the rest of davening is shortened (no kabbalat shabbat). It still took over an hour. It was a jewelry convention, so there were more people there than a plain Shabbos. And too many talkers during the Rabbi's speech, which i found so disrespectful. Met a few jewelry businessmen, but for the most part, the crowd was there for the food, and not too interested in social interaction. If you've even eaten at the now closed Pardes in Brooklyn, you'll understand when I say the meal was served Pardes-style. So many things kept coming out, but since each platter of food barely served the whole table, if you didn't take it as soon as it came out, it was gone. There was sushi, 3 kinds of fish, gefilte fish, salads, soup, rice, chicken, veal?, and minute steak. And more. It was insane. But not necessarily a good insane. The food was spiced a little more Meditteranean than I would have liked- cinnamon on the chicken, for example. And because it kept coming out every minute, I didn't have a chance to actually enjoy my meal because I kept having to take something or pass something. I know, i know, it sounds like an odd complaint, but contrast that to my Chabad experience the next day, and you'll see why i much preferred Chabad.
Chabad: Fast davening, no page numbers announced- this was not your trypical Chabad experience. Davening moved along quite nicely (likely too fast for some) except for the auctioning of aliyot.
Lunch was amazing. Lovely assortment of salads (not only dips, salads like cucumber, egg, israeli, etc), all delicious. 2 kinds of kugel and chulent, all made by the Rabbi. Very heimish. Lovely dessert spread, including phenomenal fruit and cakes made by the Rebbetzin. Nice brightly lit shul. Great younger crowd, but again, this is because of the jewelry convention. I was not there for Friday night, but heard they had a chef and a similar insane menu to KZ- I was sorry I missed it.
I went back for Mincha/Shalosh Seudos/Maariv to Chabad and it was very chill and relaxed.
Chabad asked me to come for Minyan sunday morning (atypical but since the convention was there they were able to have a minyan for an avel) I didn't commit, because hey it's 7am on sunday- I don't even to go to shul in the US, let alone a sunday morning haha. Well, due to jetlag, I was up and went. and they had an amazing breakfast! All prepared fresh- Shakshuka, eggs, pita, israeli salad. And the next day add tuna salad to that. It was amazing and unexpected. One newlywed was there on his honeymoon and an older gentlemen brought him containers and told to bring food back to his wife, and he did- how lovely!!
The difference between the two shuls were night and day. At KZ, the food was fantastic and plentiful, and a required $75. At Chabad, the food was also amazing, yet the warmth and the relaxed atmosphere, and the friendlier crowd are making me donate more than $75- I was that impressed. They don't charge upfront, but it's expected you contribute. And I will.
Before the trip, I read almost nothing about Chabad of Kowloon except that it was a Purim Seudah. I had such reservations about going. My experience couldn't have been any more amazing. It was great, met some nice people, and the atmosphere was so much better than KZ.
I hope this helps people on the fence about where to Daven/eat.