Questions about CookWhatHK
The short answers. For the long story, see the landing page.
- What is CookWhatHK?
- A multilingual cooking companion for Hong Kong households. We help you find recipes, plan the week's meals, and share them with everyone at the table — even when each person reads a different language.
- Who is CookWhatHK for?
- Hong Kong families who cook at home, especially households where employers and domestic helpers prepare meals together. It works just as well for any multilingual kitchen.
- Is CookWhatHK free to use?
- Browsing recipes and sharing a single recipe are free and need no account. The weekly meal planner is part of a paid membership that starts with a free 30-day trial. The subscription belongs to one person (the household manager), and everyone they invite shares the same coverage at no extra cost.
- How much does a membership cost, and is there a trial?
- Every new household gets a free 30-day trial of the planner — no card needed to start. After that, membership is HK$12 a month or HK$88 a year (about 40% less), billed to the household manager and auto-renewing until cancelled. One subscription covers everyone in the household.
- Do I need to create an account?
- You can browse recipes without signing in. To save a meal plan or share with your household, sign up with your email — no password needed.
- What languages does CookWhatHK support?
- The site interface is available in English, 繁體中文 (Hong Kong), Tagalog, and Bahasa Indonesia. Recipes come in the same four languages, so everyone in the household can read along in the language they know best.
- Why are recipes available in four languages?
- So one recipe can travel across a household: the employer reads it in English or Cantonese; the domestic helper reads the same dish in Tagalog or Bahasa Indonesia. Same ingredients, same steps, no kitchen-floor translation.
- What is a "household" and how do I share with my family or helper?
- A household is a shared space inside CookWhatHK for everyone who eats together. Once you create one, invite family members or your domestic helper with a one-tap code; they see the same meal plan and recipes you do.
- Does my domestic helper need their own account?
- Yes — that way they see the meal plan update instantly, can mark themselves in or out for each meal, and read recipes in their preferred language. Sign-up is free and only needs an email address.
- Does CookWhatHK work on my phone?
- Yes — CookWhatHK is mobile-first. Open it in any browser; if you like, tap "Add to Home Screen" to use it like a regular app. There is no App Store download required.
- Can I plan meals for the week?
- Yes — this is the membership's core feature. The weekly planner gives you a 7-day grid with breakfast, lunch, and dinner slots; add any recipe to any meal, or clear the week to start over. Every new household can try it free for 30 days.
- Can my family tell me who is home for dinner?
- Yes. Each household member can mark themselves "in", "out", or "maybe" for each meal, so the person cooking knows how many to prepare for without having to ask around.
- I don't know what to cook tonight — can CookWhatHK help me decide?
- Browse the recipe library and narrow it by main ingredient, protein, cooking method, dish form, or cuisine to surface ideas fast — then add what you like straight to your meal plan. With a growing collection of Hong Kong home cooking, there is always something new to try when nobody at the table can decide.
- What kind of recipes will I find?
- A growing library of Hong Kong home cooking — Cantonese classics, weekday family dishes, simple soups and rice plates — alongside Asian and international staples that suit a HK kitchen.
- I spotted a mistake or want to suggest a recipe — what do I do?
- Please tell us through the contact form. We read every note and will follow up if your message needs a reply.
- Can I delete my account and my data?
- Yes — open Profile and expand "Danger zone" to remove your account and personal data. One caveat for a household manager: the manager role cannot be handed to anyone else, so you can only delete once no other members remain (ask them to leave, or remove them) and your auto-renew is switched off. The recipes you shared stay with the household.
- How can I contact you?
- Through the contact form. We do not publish a phone number; if your message needs a reply, we will email you back at the address you provide.
Still have a question? — we read every note.
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