HakaKings: Paramaribo's Hakka Chinese Institution
Where Suriname's Chinese diaspora goes for a proper Hakka feast
Why Go
Follow the color-shifting neon sign on Copernicusstraat and you'll find one of Paramaribo's most beloved Hakka kitchens — a place where whole steamed fish arrive buttery-tender, private air-conditioned dining rooms fill up with big Surinamese-Chinese families, and the wok fire doesn't slow down until nearly midnight.
The Experience
Suriname's Chinese community is one of the oldest and deepest-rooted in the Caribbean, and HakaKings (often written HAKKA Kings) is where that heritage still hits the plate. The dining room is functional rather than fancy — think tiled floors, big round tables built for sharing, and private rooms with their own AC controls so a party of ten can settle in without competing with the buzz of the main hall. The staff greet you in Mandarin or Hakka first, but an English- or Dutch-speaking server will find you quickly. This isn't a spot for a quick bite: kitchen tickets can run 40 minutes or more on a busy night because dishes are cooked to order, whole fish are steamed from scratch, and duck is roasted whole. Come with a group, order a spread across the table, and treat the pace as part of the ritual.
What to Try
Steamed pike (snoek) with fermented black beans is the dish regulars swear by — the fish comes out silky and the sauce is deeply savory without drowning it. Deep-fried kubi in sweet-and-sour sauce is the other standout: firm white fish, crackling batter, a bright glossy sauce that avoids the cloying trap most kitchens fall into. For duck, skip the standard roasted duck (heavy on bone) and pre-order the Peking-style presentation if you can. Round out with a claypot tofu, a plate of gai lan in oyster sauce, and a bowl of hand-pulled noodles.
Insider Tip
Reserve a private room if you're four or more — they're free, cool, and let you actually hear each other over the clatter. And if you want the roasted duck done properly, call ahead in the afternoon and ask them to prep a Peking-style bird for your evening booking; it's not on the standard menu but the kitchen will oblige regulars.
The Practical Stuff
Copernicusstraat 113, roughly at the corner of Anamoesstraat, a short taxi from the historic center. Open Monday and Wednesday through Sunday, 11:00–15:30 for lunch and 18:00–23:00 for dinner; closed Tuesdays. Phone +597 457-821 for reservations (strongly recommended on weekends). Cash in SRD is safest; card acceptance is inconsistent. Mid-range pricing — expect to eat very well for the price of a mediocre meal back home.
Pair It With
- 101 Suites Guide — Closest comfortable hotel base — walk or grab a five-minute taxi back after a long, lazy dinner.
- Aanansi ATV Tours Guide — Big Hakka lunch fuels an afternoon of jungle riding; book the tour for the day, then reward yourself with the pike and black-bean sauce at night.
- 597SpeedUp Watertubing Guide — A morning on the river burns real calories — HakaKings' shareable platters are the reset your group will be craving by sundown.
- 4x4xJankie Guide — Rent a 4x4 for interior day trips and swing back into town in time for the 18:00 dinner service; there's easy street parking on Copernicusstraat.
