The açai bowl placed in front of me now couldn’t be more befitting. It’s post-Hong Kong gluttony cleansing time.
The food scene in Hong Kong buzzes with life, heightened by the angry shouts of impatient waiters, the clanking of cups as nai cha is served, and the merciless butchering of roast meat. Street food ain’t the cleanest, but it clearly is cheap and bursting with local flavour. In contrast, Michelin stars shimmer over 63 restaurants. And somewhere along that spectrum between grime and glamour, you get the covert hole-in-the-wall gems that only those in the know would line up for.
Much like Harry Potter, this store had its humble beginnings at the bottom of the escalator in the building that Holiday Inn Express is housed in. You’d never think much of it because of its location, until you see the post-clubbing supper queues. Made famous through word of mouth, their durian with crystal seeds has won the hearts of many. But for those who detest the stench, the mango sago would make a far second. The high turnover rates leaves you hopeful in line, but take-outs get you the food the fastest should your hunger pangs get to you first.
Locations: Mongkok, Sham Shui Po, Wan Chai and Tseung Kwan O
Opening hours: 12pm – 1am daily (Mongkok and Sham Shui Po), 2pm – 1am daily (Wan Chai), 3pm – 1am daily (Tseung Kwan O)
This pudding cake brims with nostalgia to most Hongkongers, and is a common feature on TVB dramas as a childhood snack. Sold by a grandma from a food cart in the middle of the CBD, you’d have to try your luck to score some freshly steamed cake. She certainly knows how to play a hard game of catch, cuz she chooses when she’d like to be there and leaves when she has sold out. The steamed cake is soft and shaped in a bowl, and is made of brown or white sugar with a little corn starch. The generous will scatter loads of red bean in it, though some prefer it plain. Master some acrobatic skills before you make your purchase, for you’d have to balance the cake on just two skewers!
Location: Intersection of Wellington Street and Lan Kwai Fong
Opening hours: 1pm – 3pm (not open daily)
This bakery teaches you that patience is a virtue. Only one tray of six pineapple buns is pulled out of the oven every five or ten minutes, so imagine the frustration if the person lined in front of you decides to bag the tray for the fam. The size of the bun easily feeds a pair or trio. A huge slab of butter is tucked right in the middle, which slowly melts into yellow gooeyness with the heat of the bun. It’s crunchy, sweet, warm on the outside yet cool on the inside. Oh, and it doesn’t have a bit of pineapple in it, apart from its shape. Best consumed when it’s fresh out of the oven, better still if you learn to share.
Location: G/F, 6-7 Hoi Pong Square, Sai Kung
Opening hours: 11am – 3pm and 5.30pm – 11pm (Mon to Fri), 11am – 11pm (Sat to Sun)
Everything will taste good if you have to hike to get to it. The steep slope’s a killer, but once you reach the doors of Teakha, it’s as if you’ve arrived at a haven filled with the aromas of tea and bakes. The scones have that perfect doughy texture – not overly crunchy nor chewy, which pairs perfectly with any of their signature teas. Take the time to engage in a conversation with the staff, for their recommended pairings would serve your tastebuds well. With small stools, round tables, and complimentary wi-fi all snugged in a cosy environment, this brand surely lives up to its philosophy of bringing people together through tea.
Location: Shop B, 18 Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan
Opening hours: 9am – 6pm (Mon, Wed to Fri), 8.30am – 7pm (Sat to Sun, Public Holidays)
Tucked away in the corner of Tai O lies an old dessert shop that supposedly serves the best tofu pudding you’d find on the island. That’s if you can find it in the first place. The limited menu makes decisions easy – black sesame, walnut paste, almond paste and the tofu pudding. If anything, it also ensures quality. But for those who still face decision paralysis, have half of each. Otherwise, sprinkle a dash of brown sugar over some silky tofu to have a taste of the original. Syrup’s overrated.
Location: 57 Wing On Street, Tai O
Opening hours: 12pm – 6pm daily
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HomenHawker Travels 