If food isn't your ultimate goal in Hong Kong then you are missing a significant fraction of the Hong Kong experience. After all, who takes pleasure in traveling without a gustatory adventure, not to mention that Hong Kong is actually a home to a number of Michelin Star restaurants.
The Chinese has blessed the world with their cuisine and I could barely survive my bad days without a dose of chinese food. And since Hong Kong spoils its visitors to an endless array of culinary experiences beyond your appetite could handle, I buckled myself up to storm the busy city scene to where my taste buds are calling me.
It is insane to confine the options in a single list because the choices are always innumerable, and while I believe in randomly selecting where to eat while I am out on the streets, it always is a clever idea to have a handful of names already registered in your mind, just in case. And here's mine:
Hing Kee Restaurant
I first learned about Hing Kee when a local friend brought us here for dinner. It is nowhere fancy and if the tables inside the restaurant are full (which are often times the case), you'll be dining alfresco on the tables outside. Either way, it is such an experience to dine here with their signature claypot rice and mussel omelette, I must say that I always think about eating here again and again.
Fat Chai Kee Restaurant
Parkes Street, Jordan
Living in the middle of Jordan and Yau Ma Teo, Fat Chai Kee has become my personal breakfast club. Before I hit the road, I always spend at least half an hour in this place for a good start. From Dimsums, to Steamed Cake to Rice Toppings, they have every Chinese breakfast staple I would crave for early in the morning.
Hong Kong offers a variety of restaurants that with the same cuisine. While Fat Chai Kee is in a tight competition, their service is actually pretty good at a very reasonable price. So if you're staying around the area anyway, Fat Chai Kee is a fair choice.
Maxim's Palace
The Peak
Maxim's Palace is actually famous in Hong Kong being a Michelin Star restaurant. There's quite a number of branches sprawling out across the city but the one I got to try was at the Victoria Peak. It was running around 5 degrees when I went up the mountains so a hot beef brisket noodle soup served me really well. On the downside, it is a bit expensive.
Mak Man Kee Noodle House
51 Parkes Street, Jordan
A tiny room filled with hungry customers - this is how I would identify this noodle restaurant. It is famous amongst the locals within the area although little is written about them online. Because of the limited space, you'll probably be sharing your table with a few others, which I totally didn't mind.
One DimSum
Shop 1 & 2, G/F, Kenwood Mansion, 15 Playing Field Road Prince Edward
One DimSum, a Michelin Star restaurant probably sits on the ranks of the famous restaurants in the city. For a brand that is well-known and is top caliber, this restaurant is actually reasonably priced.
Some of the must trys in One DimSum are the Pork Barbeque Buns, Meat Balls and Chicken Rice Topping. A new dish to my taste buds is the Fried Egg Sticks with Condensed Milk and Coconut shreds although it is too starchy for me.
DimDimSum
G/F, Man Wah Building, 23 Man Ying Street Jordan
DimDimSum is definitely my favorite restaurant amongst all those that I have tried, although it is always a tight competition in the HK culinary scene. It isn't exactly cheap but it is not too far off the average dining budget as well. Considering that it has a place in the 101 Best Places to Eat in the World, it is undoubtedly worth it.
Hakaw, Xiao Long Bao, Glutinous Rice in Lotus Leaf, Chicken Rice Toppings, Meat Balls, Steamed Fish Maw and Mushroom Pao are just a few of what is considered as best sellers.
Australian Dairy Co.
G/F, 47-49 Parkes Street Jordan
A local breakfast favorite, Hong Kong people have developed this liking for western breakfast. I wasn't such a fan of dining western food in an oriental city like Hong Kong but it is such a novelty in Hong Kong that I had to find out for myself why people actually fall into long queues outside the restaurant. If you aren't too engrossed about the hype, then you can pass up at this.
Yee Shun Milk Company
Tai Wo Commercial Building, 513 Nathan Rd, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
The last time I had a milk pudding with red beans is at Macau. Unfortunately, when I visited Macau, the shop I used to visit has already closed. However, Yee Shun in Hong Kong also serves this popular Chinese dessert. This is such a personal favorite that I could finish an entire three cup full.
Arome
Shop KP02, Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui
As a huge fan of everything matcha, Hong Kong is heaven on Earth with a lot of specialty shops offering matcha-based beverages, ice cream and cakes. I passed across the Arome Cafe before hopping on the ferry and I could not take my eyes off the green fluffy slice of matcha cake. It tastes very light, a little kick of bitterness which is the green tea identity and a touch of sweetness to make it dessert worthy.
Street Food
I grew up a tad careful on what I eat because while I consider myself brave, my stomach isn't. Everytime I travel, I try street food to a certain degree to which I think I can tolerate, but once I had my stick start pinning on the goods of the streets of Hong Kong, it makes it impossible to halt. For the entire duration of my trip, I didn't experience trouble with my stomach so either it got used to it instantly, or there's just nothing to worry about this kind of dining at all.
There are so many districts to find these stalls with overflowing skewers of food, but above them all, there's Jordan, Prince Edward (cheapest) and Yau Ma Tei where I spent a valuable amount of time enjoying my chews.
Not only are street food significantly cheaper than the restaurants but they are also very amusing to guzzle.
My mom's not going to be happy when she hears this news but I am really starting to be a lot more open to street food. A little inside note, walk along the street next to the Temple Street in front of Bridal Tea House hotel and you will find the best grilled sausages! I had three in a span of ten minutes so that should prove something.
Hong Kong isn't really the cheapest place, a stick of fish balls would even cost around $1USD, a lot more expensive than the price I am used to back home, but along with great food is a remarkable culinary experience that one doesn't get to take pleasure in everyday.
The variety might be too much to bear in such a limited time and the looks of a few might be too overwhelming, but it is always worth a try.
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