HK Ultimate Food Guide : Top 10 Must Eat Dishes And Where To Find Them
- Zane Balmaceda
- May 5, 2017
- 9 min read
For many tourists, expats and even locals, Hong Kong is notorious for its unique and exquisite taste in entertainment, fashion and even in food.
In this Hong Kong food guide, we will discover the top ten dishes and snacks that you don’t want to miss when you’re in Hong Kong. We'll also walk you through a guided map on where to find them.
Ok, let’s jump right in and get started with this Hong Kong mini food guide.
1. WONTON NOODLES
A handful of freshly made thin egg noodles, paired with dumplings usually filled with mostly shrimp, but sometimes including a bit of minced pork, all submerged in a hot, lightly seasoned salty broth, and finally sprinkled with some chopped green onions, completes a bowl of wonton noodles.
This staple dish of Southeastern China is common in Hong Kong, and even though it’s simple, it’s a must eat food in Hong Kong.
Similar Cantonese wonton noodle soup dishes have been exported all over Southeast Asia, and throughout the world. Even in Thailand I’m a huge fan of eating Thai style bamee as well.
Here's where to find it:
Kwan Kee Bamboo Noodle (坤記竹昇面)
They do still make all their noodles with a bamboo shoot. If you're lucky, you might be able to see how they make them. I've tried it myself and I must say the noodles were very tasty with an amazing texture. The owner told me they make the noodles in the afternoon about three times every week.
Address: 1 Wing Lung St, Cheung Sha Wan, Hong Kong Opening hours: 10:00 am – 10:30 pm daily Prices: 40 – 50 HKD per bowl of noodles
2. DIM SUM
One of the best reasons you should travel to Hong Kong is to eat dim sum. There is an ancient Chinese tradition of drinking tea, known as yum-cha, and with tea it’s common to eat little bite-sized dishes which are known as dim sum. That’s why dim sum is often served at teahouses and always comes with hot tea.
For this Hong Kong food guide, for the sake of not mentioning dozens of common dim sum dishes, I’ll include them all under this single dim sum category. Dim sum can range from braised chicken feet, to porky siu mai, shrimp-filled har gao, all guzzled down with hot tea.
Not only is dim sum one of the most popular food to eat in Hong Kong, but eating dim sum is one of the most fun and delicious food experiences you can have.
Here's where to find it:
Dim Sum Square (點心廣場)
Dim Sum Square is great value for money, and you’ll definitely leave the place feeling satisfied. Get there early for lunch though, the queue can go round the block!
Address: 88 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Opening hours: 10:00am – 10:00 pm daily Prices: 40 - 60 HKD per dim sum order
3. ROAST PORK
Roast pork, usually the belly of the pig, is roasted until utterly crispy on the outside skin, yet creamy and soft from the high quantity of fat on the underside. The result is simply one of the most superb bites of anything you could possibly eat.
Typically in Hong Kong you’ll find roast pork at any roast meat shop throughout the city. You’ll see some hanging chickens, char siu, possibly some ducks, and then a few bellies of roast pork. It’s delicious to eat on its own, but even better over a plate of hot rice.
Here's where to find it:
Yau Wun Roast Meat (有運燒味飯店)
This Hong Kong roasted meat restaurant at Quarry Bay serves the best roast pork belly I’ve had in Hong Kong. They also have incredibly good boiled chicken, and their ginger scallion sauce will wake up every taste bud in your mouth.
Address: 985 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong Opening hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm daily Prices: 40 – 80 HKD per person
4. CHAR SIU
Char siu, which can also be referred to as a Cantonese style of barbecue pork, is one of the staples at any Hong Kong roast meat shop.
The pork is marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey or sugar for sweetness, and a seasoning blend that includes five spices.
Char siu is typically not my favourite, due to it typically being on the sweet side. However, I have had some delicious char siu in Hong Kong, and when it’s good, it’s really good.
Here's where to find it:
Kwan Yu Roasted Meat (君御燒味)
Kwan Yu Roast Meat is a roast meat shop that has all the awesome meats like roast pork and duck and chicken. But along with their braised pigeon, I really liked their char siu. Again, it was mainly because it was less sweet than some places, and the flavour penetrated all the pieces of the tender meat.
Address: G/F, 102 Electric Road, Tin Hau Opening hours: 9 am – 10 pm daily Prices: Local Hong Kong prices, about 40 HKD per plate
5. CURRY FRIED RICE
Made in an extremely hot wok, while keeping the flame at a precise heat, egg, ham, and some bits of seafood are fried with rice and curry flavouring. The fried rice has a brilliant wok hei taste, and the curry flavour just makes it one of the greatest types of fried rice to eat in Hong Kong.
I like Thai khao pad and Indonesian nasi goreng, but this Hong Kong curry fried rice is brilliant.
Here's where to find it:
Yuk Kin Fast Food (郁健快餐)
This one is a real hidden gem. There’s no other way to put it other than this little Hong Kong fast food restaurant that sets up tables outside in the cul-de-sac, is awesome. It’s little more than a corner shop with a series of woks inside, and for seating you can find a table outside or even sit at one of the bar counter seating.
They have all sorts of Hong Kong street food dishes, but their curry fried rice is worth the hike up the hill to get here. My only regret is that I didn’t get a fried egg on top of my plate of curry fried rice, that would have even been better. I came here with my friends from work and I must say I wasn't pleased when I saw the place but the food definitely changed all that. You know what they say - don't judge a book by its cover. It bit me hard, alright!
Address: Shop A, G/F, Po Wan Building, 6 Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan Opening hours: 7:00am – 6:00pm on Monday – Saturday (closed on Sundays) Prices: 30 – 50 HKD per person
6. EGG TARTS
Originally invented at a monastery in Lisbon, Portugal and known as pastéis de Belém, egg tarts were adopted in Guangzhou and spread most notably to Hong Kong and Macau.
Known as dàn tǎ, they have slightly been altered from the original Portuguese egg tarts, but they remain a combination of an egg yolk-based creamy custard in the center of little cups of pasty dough. Today, both Hong Kong and Macau are extremely well known for their egg tarts.
Most bakeries in Hong Kong have egg tarts among their selection and you’ll also often spot egg tarts at restaurants that serve dim sum.
Here's where to find it:
Kam Wah Cafe & Bakery (金華冰廳)
Along with their pineapple buns, coming up, you can also try Hong Kong egg tarts are the legendary Kam Wah Cafe & Bakery (金華冰廳).
Address: G/F, 47 Bute Street, Prince Edward, Mong Kok, Hong Kong Opening hours: 6:30am – 12:00am daily Prices: 20 – 40 HKD per person
7. EGG WAFFLE
Known in Hong Kong as gai daan jai (鷄蛋仔), and one of the most more popular Hong Kong street food sweet snacks, egg waffles are another example of the Western influence embedded into Hong Kong culinary favourites.
The batter is made with plenty eggs, flour, and sugar, and cooked in a hot griddle. You’ll immediately know that sweet eggy smell when fresh egg waffles are being made in your near vicinity.
One of the most famous places in Hong Kong for egg waffles is Lee Keung Kee North Point Egg Waffles, but you’ll find egg waffles throughout the streets of Hong Kong and especially common on busy places like Mong Kok.
Here's where to find it:
Hung Kee Top Quality Egg Waffles (鴻記極品雞蛋仔)
Located on the ground floor of an old building, this little stall at Sai Wan Ho is famous for their egg waffles. I happen to be staying in Hong Kong at a friends house in this neighborhood and that’s when I had a chance to try it. After researching, I found out this place is rated as one of Hong Kong’s best egg waffles.
Address: Shop A34C, second corridor, Tai On Building, Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong Opening hours: 2:00pm – 2:00am daily Prices: 15 HKD
8. HONG KONG FRENCH TOAST
Hong Kong has a long history of foreign influence, and French toast is one of those that became popular at street food stalls and local cafes. But Hong Kong style French toast isn’t just a thin slice of bread dipped in egg and fried in a skillet - It’s more than that.
Using white bread and a mound of butter, the bread is often layered in peanut butter before being deep fried (yes, deep fried), and then topped with syrup and more butter. It’s really more of a dessert than a breakfast dish.
Here's where to find it:
Aberdeen Fish Market Yee Hope Seafood Restaurant
After finishing an exquisite seafood meal at the Aberdeen Fish Market, the set menu of food we ordered came as complimentary with Hong Kong French toast for dessert. What came out of the kitchen, totally blew me away – cubes of deep fried bread, layered with peanut butter, and drizzled with condensed milk (here’s a nearly identical recipe).
I’m not really a desserts fan, but this was something pretty remarkable.
Address: Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market, 102 Shek Pai Wan Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong Opening hours: 4:00am – 4:00pm daily Prices: 20 - 30 HKD
9. PINEAPPLE BUN
If you read any Hong Kong food guide or travel guide, a pineapple bun will undoubtedly be listed as one of the must eat foods in Hong Kong. And rightfully so, because not only are they considered a part of the Hong Kong cultural heritage, but as soon as you take your first bite of this legendary pastry, you’ll know why it’s so famous.
Known locally as bor lor bao, a pineapple bun is fluffy and crusty with a crumbly crust at the same time, sweet but not overly so, and sometimes served with a tongue sized slice of butter right in the warm middle. But where is the pineapple? To my understanding, there’s not actually pineapple in the recipe, but it got its name because the outside top of the bun looks kind of like a pineapple.
Especially if you love sweets or baked goods, a pineapple bun is not to be skipped in Hong Kong.
Here's where to find it:
Kam Wah Cafe & Bakery (金華冰廳)
Probably the most well known place to eat pineapple buns in Hong Kong is Kam Wah Cafe & Bakery (金華冰廳), located in the heart of the busy shopping district of Mong Kok. Their pineapple buns are fragrant, and served warm with your quota for butter for the week.
Address: G/F, 47 Bute Street, Prince Edward, Mong Kok, Hong Kong Opening hours: 6:30am – 12:00am daily Prices: 20 – 40 HKD per person
10. TOFU PUDDING
In the western world we often have a very limited view of tofu; It’s a food made only for vegetarians that is always tasteless. However, in China, tofu is quite the contrary, and it’s extremely diverse.
Along with all sorts of savoury types of tofu, a common dessert throughout China is soft tofu pudding known as douhua (豆花). The texture is extremely soft and silky, similar to a really fine pudding. The dessert can be topped with a number of different sweet toppings, but in Cantonese cooking, it’s usually either topped with ginger or sweet syrup.
Traditionally, Chinese tofu pudding in Hong Kong is served at dim sum restaurants, and so after taking your fill of shrimp dumplings and salty pork ribs, you can satisfy your taste buds and stomach with a soothing, slightly warm, bowl of tofu pudding.
Similar to tofu pudding, another dessert, this one originally from Gurangdong Province is steamed milk. Yee Shun Milk Company and Australia Dairy Company are two of the most famous places in Hong Kong to eat steamed milk pudding. However, on my trips to Hong Kong I’ve been so busy eating roasted meats and dim sum that I haven’t had a chance to eat at either.
Here's where to find it:
Kung Wo Dou Ban Chong
Address: 118 Pei Ho St, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong Opening hours: 7:00am – 9:00pm daily Prices: Affordable street food prices, about 15 – 40 HK per person
As impressed as you’ll be marveling at the famous skyline of Hong Kong (check out my Hong Kong travel guide here), nothing will impress you more than the food.
Spanning from local traditional Cantonese favourites like dim sum to Western influenced comfort food like French toast, Hong Kong is a food paradise where your taste buds will have the time of their lives.
In this Hong Kong food guide I’ve shared ten dishes to eat in Hong Kong and the restaurants to try them at. I hope this guide gives you a few ideas of must eat foods to try when you’re in Hong Kong.
Comments