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You are here: Home / Destinations / Asia / 4 Must Eat Foods in Kowloon, Hong Kong

4 Must Eat Foods in Kowloon, Hong Kong

01/22/15 | Asia, Destinations, Food, Hong Kong


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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

Hong Kong Cha Chaan Tang and Milk Tea | 4 Must Eat Foods in Hong Kong - packmeto.com

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

Breakfast at One Dim Sum | 4 Must Eat Foods in Hong Kong - packmeto.com

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

Hong Kong Roasted Goose at Yat Lok | 4 Must Eat Foods in Hong Kong - packmeto.com

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

Hong Kong Beef Brisket Noodles at Mak's Noodle | 4 Must Eat Foods in Hong Kong - packmeto.com

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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« Things to Consider When Planning a Trip to Kowloon, Hong Kong
The Markets of Hong Kong – A Shopper’s Paradise »

Comments

  1. Perks and Grumps says

    January 23, 2015 at 7:49 AM

    Hmmm.. please tell me you had their egg tart! It’s the best thing ever! How about roasted duck or goose? 🙂

    • Adelina says

      January 24, 2015 at 9:30 PM

      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.

  2. Carey @Blazeadventure says

    January 23, 2015 at 11:06 AM

    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

    • Adelina says

      January 24, 2015 at 9:30 PM

      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.

  3. Rachel@safari254 says

    January 23, 2015 at 12:24 PM

    hmmm …. you just convinced me to go to add Hongkong to my bucket list.

  4. Chanel | Cultural Xplorer says

    January 23, 2015 at 3:35 PM

    Mmmmm… everything looks so yummy – I cannot wait to get back to HK to feast! 😀

    • Adelina says

      January 24, 2015 at 9:29 PM

      Me too! Even though I was just there!

  5. Emma says

    January 23, 2015 at 10:11 PM

    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!

    • Adelina says

      January 24, 2015 at 9:28 PM

      Ohh yum! Were those the BBQ pork steamed buns?

  6. Marie-Carmen says

    January 25, 2015 at 2:59 PM

    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!

    • Adelina says

      February 5, 2015 at 1:55 AM

      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.

  7. Ben Warner says

    January 26, 2015 at 6:03 PM

    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

    • Adelina says

      February 5, 2015 at 1:50 AM

      Thanks Ben! Stay tuned for more posts on food in the city 🙂

  8. Mariah-Food, Booze, & Baggage says

    February 1, 2015 at 3:28 AM

    All of this sounds amazing! I want to try Dim Sum…I’ve never had it before! I love small dishes!

    • Adelina says

      February 5, 2015 at 1:41 AM

      Thanks Mariah! Dim Sum is a lot of fun and I love all the dumplings you can get. So good!

Welcome to Pack Me To!

Adelina is a part time traveler, exploring the world despite having a full-time job. Pack Me To is a collection of stories from her travels and adventures around the world as she packs you to destinations around the world with her.

Adelina has been traveling for as long as she can remember and has lived abroad in the Netherlands and Hungary. She loves telling stories, and eating and exploring her way around the world. Come along for the ride. Read More…

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