There’s no doubt about it: Hong Kong is foodie heaven. You can indulge any whim, with restaurants all over the city featuring cuisines from around the world. Hong Kong also has a number of classic dishes and street food snacks for which it is famous. Here’s a quick guide to some of the must-try HK foods.
#1 Dim Sum
A Hong Kong version of dining with small dishes, dim sum includes classics such as har gao (steamed shrimp dumplings wrapped in a thin, translucent skin), char siu bao (barbecued pork bun) and siu mai (Chinese dumpling).
#2 Fish Balls
A classic Hong Kong snack, these are balls of deliciousness made with fish meat, often cooked in a piping hot curry and commonly sold at street food stalls.
#3 Egg Waffles
Affectionately called gai daan zai (“mini chicken egg”), this is Hong Kong’s version of a waffle. A crispy exterior hides the soft, sweet sponge inside. Can be served plain or with toppings such as chocolate.
#4 Pineapple Bun
A pineapple bun (bo lo bao) is a soft sweet bun topped with a crumbly cookie style crust of sugar, eggs, flour and lard. When cooked, the crust cracks open, giving a pineapple-like appearance on top. There’s no actual pineapple in the bun!
#5 Egg Tart
Two types of egg tarts have emerged since they first became popular, one with a flaky, pastry shell, the other with sweet shortbread. Whichever you pick, it encases a soft, creamy custard.
#6 Milk Tea
Hong Kong milk tea is a creamy drink traditionally made with Ceylon black tea and evaporated or condensed milk.
#7 Chinese Barbecue
Known as siu mei, Chinese barbecued meats are very more-ish. Our faves include char siu (barbecued pork), barbecued goose and roast pork.
#8 Wonton Noodles
A succulent meat and shrimp filling is encased in a silky smooth dumpling wrapper before being served in a clear, light broth swimming with chewy egg noodles. What’s not to love!?
#9 Fresh Seafood
Hong Kong is surrounded by water, so you can bet there’s some great seafood to be had, from stir-fried clams in black bean sauce to whole steamed fish. Even better if you can dine beside the lapping waves; try Lamma or Sai Kung for starters.
#10 Tofu Pudding
If the only tofu you’ve tried is the leathery version in a burger or salad back home, a Hong Kong tofu pudding should be a sweet surprise. This warm pudding is served with syrup or sugar, and often eaten to top off a dim sum feast.
See more in our Wine & Dine section.
This article first appeared in the City Guide issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue!
