It has always been a custom for me to spend the month of December overseas, so this year is no different. The only difference is the destination! So after much consideration, I decided to fly Hong Kong to have a taste of their festive season this year. I can't hide my excitement when we were booking for the air tickets and accommodation, until a few days before our actual flight, I realised that my passport expiry is 3 months away! Please imagine how much panic I was in. My mom had to call the airlines and confirm that I only require 1 month validity in order to fly hong kong. So YES, HERE WE GO!
There is no argument that the prices of food and shopping in Hongkong is similar to Singapore, or I feel - in fact much more pricier. For example, dining at a normal cafe, which is similar to the ones in Singapore, can cost me SGD $87, with two main courses, an appetiser and two signature drinks. Similar to Singapore? Pretty much. But nevertheless, this doesn't stop me from conquering all the good food here!
Tried Pig Blood Cubes, Pig Intestines with white radish soup before? All of these may sound really unappetising but to be honest, it was crazily good in REAL LIFE. It was so good I had multiple portions of it, and on my last day in Hongkong I went back Sham Shui Po just for it! The soup is so flavourful, and the servings was just adequate. Not too much and not too little, making you come back for more!
1. Pig Blood Cubes, Pig Intestines with White Radish Soup
What's a Hong Kong trip without the curry fishballs, smelly toufu, grilled octopus with their unique sauces, mango+coconut+aloe vera drink, coconut milk drink and egg waffles?
The mango drink that was I posted on instagram, which you can actually pay with your octopus card. So if you're travelling via train just like I did, and during the last few days of your stay in Hong Kong, you do not want to keep so much leftover concession in the card because it would be waste, use it to get your mango mocha and drink! (You can use the octopus card to pay for Lao Po Bing at the airport too! the freshly toasted ones that they packed into boxes are highly recommended by me to bring back for your love ones!)
2. Hui Lau Shan
Shop 6, G/F, Sun Kong House, 2N Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Mongkok
How to get there: 4 min walk from Exit A2, Yau Ma Tei MTR Station
Usually the people there buy and eat at the side of the road, but if you buy more you can actually request for it to be placed into a box so that you can take away to your hotel. That was what I did. I packed all the street food back to the hotel so that I can watch movies, do work like editing the photos and eat!
3. Kai Kei Snack (Smelly Toufu)
41 Dundas Street, Mongkok
How to get there: 3 min walk from Exit A2, Yau Ma Tei MTR Station
4. Fei Jie (Octopus, Pig Kidney, Pig Intestines)
Shop 4A, 55 Dundas Street, Mongkok
How to get there: 4 min walk from Exit A2, Yau Ma Tei MTR Station
Be sure to queue for this!
Be sure to queue for this!
5. King of Coconut (Coconut Milk Drink)
G/F Dundas Square, 43H Dundas Street, Mongkok
How to get there: Exit A2, Yau Ma Tei MTR Station
6. Curry fishballs
Situated right outside the MTR Station, it is a really convenient spot to get the highly raved curry fishballs! Had two servings when I was there! Because a school is nearby, you can actually spot many local students buying from this shop and eating at the roadside. So I joined them! It was mad delicious! I couldn't resist, so I takeaway some back to my hotel too.
通达食店
1-min walk from Exit A2, Yau Ma Tei MTR Station
7. Egg Waffles while finding other Mongkok Street Food
7. Egg Waffles while finding other Mongkok Street Food
Along the mission to find all the street food around the area of Mongkok, you can get this egg waffles there too!
鸡蛋仔小食店
Shop A1-2, G/F, 97 Fa Yuen Street, Mong Kok
How to get there: 3-min walk from Exit D2, Mong Kok MTR Station
8. Bouncy Fishballs 鱼蛋
Special insert : Fishballs with their tasty chilli sauce! highly recommended by the locals when we walked past the shop. I can eat like 5 cups full of these fishballs and add crazy amount of the chilli. It was so appetising!
Lam Cheong Kee Fishballs
How to get there: 5 mins walk from Yau Ma Tei MTR, Exit A1
How to get there: 5 mins walk from Yau Ma Tei MTR, Exit A1
9. One Michelin Starred Roasted Goose
You can also specifically order their roasted goose to be packed suitable for flight so you can actually bring it home! So when your friends actually comment on your food pictures, "Bo Jio (means that you didn't invite them) Takeaway please. Bring me there please." You can actually live up to their comments by actually bringing the goodness of these juicy meat home!
Yat Lor Restaurant
How to get there: 4-min walk from Exit D2, Central MTR Station
10. Chan Kee Roasted Goose
Another roasted goose, not michelin starred but quite famous, with better service (yes probably because it is less crowded), and personally I feel their goose tasted more tender as compared to the Michelin starred one. (Personal recommendation)
If you are craving to have some good roasted goose and do not want to go Tai Hing or the Michelin Starred one, probably due to the service and long queues, you can actually try this one!
Chan Kee Roasted Goose
How to get there: 2-min walk from Exit C3, Mong Kok MTR Station
11. Claypot Rice, Oyster Cake & Fresh Kang Kong with Special Sauce
When you're in Hong Kong, these 3 is a must try! Their oyster cake is so crispy, morning glory (kangkong) is so fresh with the special sauce & last but not least, their claypot rice is one of the best I've ever ate. When you're here, you will see a lot of locals ordering the same stuffs, so just follow them!
I had the chicken & mushrooms claypot rice, BEST I EVER ATE!
Hing Kee Restaurant
G/F, 15-19 Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
How to get there: 2-min walk from Exit C, Yau Ma Tei MTR Station
I'll never forget that unique breakfast experience in Hong Kong. It is a must to try their breakfast options when you're in Hong Kong. Try not to always go to those crazily advertised shops and try some true local food below!
12. Soya Bean Beancurd/Drink with Yong Tau Foo (Sham Shui Po)
Hidden away, soya beancurd/drink(Tofu Fa) with yong tau foo! Match with their flavourful chilli sauce. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY my mom's hong kong friend. When you are there, you will see a lot of locals. So if you truly want a local Hong Kong food experience, you've got to find this and try this! Use your phone's gps to look for it!
Kung Wo Dou Bun Chong
G/F, 118 Pei Ho Street, Sham Shui Po
How to get there: 1 min walk from Exit B2, Sham Shui Po MTR Station
What is it different from Singapore's Chee Cheong Fun? It is softer, when you eat it, it actually melts in your mouth. Bouncier in fact, I don't know if that's the right description but the main difference is that they actually add peanut sauce to it! Order a set and eat it at side of the shop, that's what all the locals do!
13. Famous Chee Cheong Fun (Sham Shui Po)
合益泰小食
G/F, 121 Lam Street, Sham Shui Po
How to get there: 1 min walk from Exit C2, Sham Shui Po MTR Station
14. Freshly Baked Egg Tarts
For delicious and freshly baked egg tarts
Tai Chiong Bakery
32 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central
How to get there: Central MTR, Exit D2, Take the elevator up to the Mid Levels Escalators, find the exit for Lyndhurst Terrace. The bakery is on the right when you head down the stairs.
15. Freshly Toasted Lao Po Bing & Other Biscuits to Buy Back for Love Ones
Lao Po Bing (Can buy in a box to bring back to Singapore, but the best is to get them fresh at the airport because it expires really quickly!)
So besides the Lao Po Bing, you can get gifts for your love ones like their almond cookies, peanut ones and etc! I bought many cookies back because they actually let you taste before you buy. And some of the packaging are really cute so I bought them back as gifts!
Kee Wah Bakery
How to get there: 6-min walk from Exit C, Hong Kong MTR Station
16. 公仔面 & French Toast with Peanut Butter
I don't know why am I addicted to this, but I feel that their maggie mee is much nicer than Singapore's! With the right bouncy texture. You can accompany it with luncheon meet, egg or even sausages. This complete a super filling local breakfast for you to conquer the rest of the touring day in Hong Kong. If you want to experience a truly local life in Hong Kong, this is where you should go! In addition, this is the only shop that has their french toast with peanut butter and my mom is crazy over it. So if you're a fan of peanut butter, it is a most order for you!
Peanut Butter French Toast Below. YUMZ!
德苑粉麵茶餐廳
How to get there: 1-min walk from Exit A1, Yau Ma Tei MTR Station
17. Mak's Noodles (Had mine at The Peak, but there are other outlets available)
My meal in Hong Kong is never complete without their fresh greens & other side dishes! I'm amazed how their vegetables stir-fry with oyster sauce can be so crunchy and fresh at the same time! So different from Singapore. Everytime I order Kai Lan with oyster sauce in Singapore, you can tell that their greens is either too soft and soggy or too hard and in dark green. But here in Hong Kong, apart from Mak's Noodles, other restaurants or small eateries serves really fresh vegetables! My meal is never complete without them.
Mak's Noodles @ The Peak Galleria
Shop 1, G/F, The Peak Galleria, 118 Peak Road, The Peak
18. Scrambled eggs with toast, Ham macaroni and steam milk
Must order at Australia Diary Company! It comes in a set actually, so you can just point to the set shown on the menu on the table.
Australia Diary Company
G/F, 47-49 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong (MTR Jordan Exit C2)
How to get there: Jordan MTR - Exit C2
I recommend that you can also indulge in some local desserts nearby the area after the meal you had at Australia Dairy. Try their soya beancurd with black sesame. Or even those matcha, chocolate lava cakes with their melting chocolates literally gushing out from the moment you cut it! It is really interesting that they call these cakes "心太软 "(if translated it means heart too soft) in every dessert shops in Hong Kong. Look below for the address nearby the michelin goose restaurant if you're craving for some good local desserts.
19. Chung Kee Dessert Shop For Beancurd & Black Sesame
Chung Kee Dessert
How to get there: 2-min walk from Exit C2, Jordan MTR Station
20. Porridge with You Tiao (Another Breakfast Option)
One of the local's favourite breakfast option, will be the porridge with You Tiao! I personally recommend to try the Pig Liver Porridge. The pig liver is bouncy and not hard, really fresh! I'm not a fan of pig liver, but I fell in love the moment I had my first mouth that day. Good to actually order one bowl and one plate of you tiao to share with another partner because I feel that the portion was really big.
生记粥面
油麻地東方街9號地下(Opposite YMCA)
How to get there: 2-min walk from Exit A2, Yau Ma Tei MTR Station
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Actually, I ate a lot of food in Hong Kong, this is only the half of it! But this is enough if you're going only for a short trip. I went there for 8 days, which explains the reason behind the crazy amount of food I ate. Hope this post helps for those that are travelling to Hong Kong in the upcoming months! If there are any enquiries, I'm more than willing to help, drop me an email at cre8tivevanny@gmail.com OR you can follow me and drop me a pm in instagram (vannychoo) where I'm most of the active in!
Have fun! #discoverhongkongwithvanny
