Hong Kong - A chef in a Hong Kong noodle bar was facing a jail term Friday after admitting attacking a woman with a meat cleaver when she complained about his food.

Cheng Chi-wai, 50, hit the 47-year-old woman on the head with the meat cleaver after she grumbled about the meal she was served in the noodle bar in the city's Wan Chai district.

He ran into the kitchen and emerged with two meat cleavers after she made a "rude remark" about his food, a court heard, and only stopped his attack when fellow diners restrained him.

The woman, who was not named, suffered a fractured skull and a 6-centimetre-long wound that needed 11 stitches in the incident which took place in September, Hong Kong's District Court was told.

At a hearing Thursday, Cheng - who has been sacked - pleaded guilty to wounding with intent. He will be sentenced on February 18 after background and psychiatric reports are drawn up. (dpa)