Keeping your cool in Hong Kong’s summer heat is as easy as popping by one of the city’s many well-established food joints. From legacy shops selling classic traditional Cantonese sweet soups to modern joints offering fusion desserts, Hong Kong guarantees you a summer full of delicacies.
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Egg Waffles – Oddies and Master Low-Key Food Shop
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Cutesy and mouthwateringly addictive, the bubblewrap-esque Egg Waffle is a street food classic in Hong Kong. Affectionately known as “Gai Daan Zai” in Cantonese, egg waffles are crispy on the outside and chewy within. Some dessert shops in Hong Kong have since put a sweeter twist on the iconic street snacks: Oddies’ sweet treats often feature them with ice cream, crumble, and even more contemporary pairings like panna cotta and gelato. At Master Low-Key Food Shop, tradition meets perfection with every bite of their crispy egg waffles, which are filled with old-school picks like peanut butter, sugar or condensed milk.
Get your egg waffles at:
– Oddies, 149 Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai.
– Master low-Key food shop, Shop B3, 76A Shau Kei Wan Main Street East, Shau Kei Wan.
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“B-Boy” Grass Jelly – Kai Kee Dessert
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What could possibly be cooler than a bowl of chilled grass jelly than a bowl of the black, cooling stuff topped with insane heaps of fresh fruit and extra-large sago pearls? A signature dish of Michelin – starred dessert spot Kai Kee Dessert, the “B-Boy” Grass Jelly is a summer treat of epic proportions — so epic, in fact, it usually takes 4 people to finish this!
Chill off with a bowl at:
– Kai Kee Dessert, Kau Yuk Road, Yuen Long, New Territories.
Gold-Coated Ice Cream – i Cremeria
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Soft – serve is rarely something to rave about, but I-Cremeria’s one-of-a-kind vanilla cone really steals the show. Made fresh and coated with a delicate layer of edible gold, this ice-cold dessert literally puts the money where your mouth is. Totally worth it for the ‘gram, plus no need to worry about having to deal with a dripping mess!
Cool off with cold gold at:
i Cremeria (Multiple Branches)
– 4/F Langham Place Shopping Mall, 8 Argyle St, Mong Kok.
– 1/F Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay.
– P125 World Trade Center, Causeway Bay.
– B2-13B Sogo, Causeway Bay.
– OG-G03A, Ocean Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui.
Curry Fishballs
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Nothing screams Hong Kong street food louder than the ubiquitous curry fishball, and these deep-fried curry-soaked delights can practically be found just about anywhere in the city for cheap. Beloved by generations of Hongkongers, the simple curry fishball is no overhyped fad. Every bite packs a mild kick that draws you in for more, and even fishing these fishballs out from the cauldron is a cheap thrill itself!
Egg Tarts – Tai Cheong Bakery, Central
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Widely regarded as the best in Hong Kong, Tai Cheong Bakery’s velvety egg tarts are by no exaggeration legendary – their trademark buttery, multi-layered crust is unique and found nowhere else, and fans of the melt-in-your-mouth sensation include even Chris Patten, Hong Kong’s last British governor. Tai Cheong has branches located all over Hong Kong, but for a taste of nostalgia, getting your egg tarts from their flagship store at Lyndhurst Terrace, Central is an absolute must.
Grab your share of sensational egg tarts at:
– Tai Cheong Bakery, Shop C, G/F, Lyndhurst BLDG 35 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central.
Dai Pai dong-style dinner – Sing Heung Yuen in Old Town Central
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Hong Kong’s thriving street food scene reads like a well-curated museum, but not all dishes get to keep their share of the spotlight. Literally “eatery with a huge license plate”, Dai Pai Dongs are the once-ubiquitous open-air roadside stalls that sell homely dishes like tomato noodles, fried oyster omelette and pork chop for cheap.
Many of these stalls have since closed down, and the few that hold the fort today continue to serve the same mouthwatering dishes. Little can rival the dishes cooked up at Sing Heung Yen – a stalwart in the Dai Pai Dong scene, dining at Sing Heung Yen is as quintessentially local as it can get.
Eat like a local at:
– Sin Heung Yuen, 2 Mee Lun Street, Central
Pancake-like imagawayaki – Ms Wheel Pie in Sham Shui Po
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Also known as imagawayaki in Japan, “wheel pie” is a pancake-esque snack that’s often filled with either a sweet or savoury filling and served piping hot. This street snack may not have local roots, but those sold at Ms. Wheel Pie in Sham Shui Po certainly do — with unique fillings like “Golden Pillow Durian”, crushed Oreo and Uji Matcha, it’s little wonder why locals and visitors alike swear by them.
Get a taste of wheel pie at:
– Ms. Wheel Pie, Shop 50B7, 19 Glee Path, Mei Foo Sun Chuen Mei Foo
Tofu Puffs – Kung Wo Beancurd Factory
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We’re all familiar with sweet Taho or the beancurd pudding, but how about Tofu-in-a-puff? Deep-fried to a nice crisp, Kung Wo Beancurd Factory’s tofu puffs still bear that signature silky-sweetness found in all their beancurd dishes. Rich and bursting with soybean flavour, their tofu puffs are done authentic and traditional, with beans grounded by hand-operated millstone. If you’re looking for the flavoursome, healthy and affordable goodness with every bite, Kung Wo’s tofu puffs are the way to go.
Grab a bag of tofu puffs at:
– Kung Wo Beancurd Factory, 118 Pei Ho Street, Sham Shui Po.
Put Chai Ko, Kwan Kee Store
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Also known as steam rice pudding, Put Chai Ko is a classic Chinese snack made from a mixture of red beans, sugar, long-grain rice flour plus a hint of starch. Traditionally served in porcelain bowls or aluminium cups, Put Chai Ko is often sold in plastic bags or on bamboo skewers in Hong Kong.
Deceptively simple in appearance, Put Chai Ko is extremely time-consuming and difficult to make. A real challenge indeed, which explains the Michelin star Kwan Kwee Store proudly holds. Stepping up to the challenge since the 1960s, Kwan Kee Store insists on sticking to traditional methods and churning out only the best Put Chai Ko in Hong Kong.
Enjoy the best put chai ko at:
– Kwan Kee Store, 115-117 Fuk Wa St, Sham Shui Po
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Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out Discover Hong Kong’s great list of to-dos and to-eats this summer! If you plan to visit Hong Kong for 3-7 nights, consider Cathay Pacific’s Extended Stay Promo. Either you want to experience the Old Hong Kong or hop on a sightseeing bus tour, they got your back!
