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There is no better way of getting to know a culture than through eating its food and visiting its markets. Hong Kong, due to its history as a British colony, is in the unique position of mixing Chinese tradition with western influences. This is demonstrated in Hong Kong food, but sometimes it cane tough to know where to start. Here are a few must-eat items while in Kowloon.
Cha Chaan Tengs and Milk Tea
Baked pork chop rice with a cup of milk tea – perfection.
Hong Kong Cafes, also known as Cha Chaan Teng, are popular for quick meals that feature local cuisine and Hong Kong-style western dishes. These restaurants open early and close late, offering items from noodles to steak to dessert. Breakfast sets mix east and west with scrambled eggs and toast served with a bowl of noodles and milk tea. Hong Kong style milk tea is no ordinary tea. Made from a mix of several types of black tea, condensed milk sweetens it, giving the drink a richer feel. The tea is filtered using a sackcloth bag that closely resembles a stocking, earning this tea the nickname “stocking tea.” The tea is strong, making it the perfect wake-up drink.
Dim Sum
Dim sum for breakfast is the best!
Dim sum is the Chinese answer to Spanish tapas. Small portions of food, usually served in steamer baskets or small plates, offer dumplings and buns to noodles and rice. Plentiful cups of hot tea wash everything down. While most restaurants today offer dim sum by the order, traditionally, dim sum is pushed around the restaurants in carts, and you pick what you want. Classical dishes to try are shrimp dumplings, pork dumplings, rice rolls, and egg tarts.
Roasted Meats
Mmm delicious roasted goose. Perfect with a big bowl of rice.
Wandering the streets of Hong Kong, you’re likely to see meats hanging in windows, enticing those walking by to have a taste. There are many different roasted meats to try while in Hong Kong. A favourite is char sui (BBQ pork), which is slightly sweet and sticky. Another must eat is roasted goose, with its crispy skin and tender meat. For those not feeling as adventurous, a soy sauce chicken is a good option. Typically, these roasted meats are served with a bowl of rice or noodle soup. A warning though: none of these dishes are good for the waistline.
Noodles
Can’t say no to a bowl of Beef Brisket Noodles
Noodles come in all shapes and forms in Hong Kong. They are found in soup or fried, thick or thin, flat or round. You can find rice noodles, egg noodles, and glass noodles among others. A must eat are wonton noodles, which features shrimp in a delicate wrapper with egg noodles. For those feeling more adventurous, a steaming bowl of beef brisket soup is worth a try. Look out for cart noodle shops, where you can build your own meal by choosing the noodle and toppings. It is perfect for those wanting to sample unusual offerings.
While there are many adventurous dishes to try when visiting Hong Kong, eating these foods introduces you to the basics of the city’s cuisine. All are familiar to the western palate, yet have a Chinese twist.
Have you been to Hong Kong? Do you try any of these Hong Kong specialities? Did I miss any?
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Hmmm.. please tell me you had their egg tart! It’s the best thing ever! How about roasted duck or goose? 🙂
Yup ate plenty of roast duck / goose. I’m not a fan of egg tarts unless they come out fresh right away from the oven. Growing up I ate too many bland tasting ones. Kind of jaded.
I miss the food in Hong Kong. I would like to add a personal favorite: Hui Lau Shan (sp?) mango mochi
Thank you for this! Keep em coming
I’m missing the food too! I did try the mango sago at Hui Lau Shan but I didn’t really like it. Maybe its cause mango wasn’t in season, but it really didn’t have much flavour.
hmmm …. you just convinced me to go to add Hongkong to my bucket list.
Mmmmm… everything looks so yummy – I cannot wait to get back to HK to feast! 😀
Me too! Even though I was just there!
Oh I miss the food in Hong Kong so much! I think my favourite food was the first thing I ever ate after I landed there – Sweet BBQ Pork Dumplings. I’ve still never found any food quite like it!
Ohh yum! Were those the BBQ pork steamed buns?
I’ve got a confession: in Hong-Kong I mainly had western food or even Japanese… (well except the egg tart ) but I guess coming from the mainland I saw it as an opportunity to finally get some nice food from home!
But I love roasted meat, they do that so well around here! Nom!
Haha, fair enough! I’ve heard plenty of people do the same as you because of that strong western influence in the city. If I had spent a long time on the mainland, I think I would probably do the same.
Bookmarking!
We’re headed to HK at the end of the year and have a limited amount of time there. Gotta pack as much food (and drink) as we can.
Thanks,
Ben
http://www.HugePartyTravel.com
Thanks Ben! Stay tuned for more posts on food in the city 🙂
All of this sounds amazing! I want to try Dim Sum…I’ve never had it before! I love small dishes!
Thanks Mariah! Dim Sum is a lot of fun and I love all the dumplings you can get. So good!