Hong Kong Street Food
There’s no denying my street food addiction.
Hong Kong is a city loaded with culinary street food delights – from the greasy grinds of Mongkok to the international recipes surrounding the Chungking Mansion, Hong Kong has it all!
This is not the most in-depth guide to Hong Kong street food cuisine – the culinary roots run deep through the foundation of the city and there’s so much to discover.
This is however what my body was able to handle in a mere 3 day visit to Hong Kong with a purpose to eat!
Hong Kong Street Food
Mongkok Street Food in Hong Kong
In Mongkok, there are a number of street food restaurants that jet into the middle of the sidewalk to tempt pedestrians with strange skewers of bacon wrapped meat and various forms of fried chicken!
Mongkok is one of the best Hong Kong street food destinations.
Wonton Noodle Soup with Beef Brisket
Wonton noodle soup with giant meaty chunks of beef brisket – it had an incredible pure taste of beef to it.
Price: 46 HKD
Normal Bowl of Hong Kong Noodles
Normal bowl of wonton soup with wontons – 30 HKD
Restaurant: Mak’s Noodles (Above)
Address: G/F 77 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong
I was psyched to go here because I thought the name was Mark’s Noodles (my name), but when I arrived it was actually “Mak’s.” The fresh egg noodles and shrimp wonton were splendid, though the portions sizes were severely lacking.
Dim Sum in Hong Kong
The beancurd rolls (called San Juk Guen – pictured on the right) were loaded with fatty pork and tasted outstanding! They are one of my favorite dim sum items.
Hong Kong Dim Sum
Another personal favorite comfort food of mine is Chinese glutinous rice steamed in a lotus leaf (Lou Mai Gai). I grew up eating it and every opportunity I have, I will always order it.
Steamed Buns with Barbecue Red Pork
Hong Kong is perhaps the most famous city in the world for dim sum, and I was not about to miss out.
Lin Heung Teahouse
Address: G/F 160-164 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong
Line Heung Teahouse, though well known by tourists, serves pretty decent dim sum in a somewhat traditional atmosphere.
Shanghai Soup Dumplings
At a random restaurant I indulged in a few Shanghai style soup dumplings for an afternoon snack – not the best I’ve had, but they weren’t bad.
Hong Kong Street Food - Rice, Beef and Morning Glory
There are many hole in the wall restaurants in Hong Kong that serve rice or noodle dishes for about 24 – 30 HKD a plate.
Look for small restaurants plastered with colorful posters and menus displayed all over the walls. This particular bowl I ate was a bit greasy but the beef chunks were amazing!
Yamakazi Bakery
Yamazaki Bakery which is actually a Japanese company, bakes up some wonderful creations to satisfy sweet or salty cravings.
Roasted Duck and Quail
Restaurants that serve roasted duck, quail, or pork are easy to spot throughout the streets of Hong Kong. They always display their roasted artwork in the glass windows so it’s easy to get tempting into eating.
Hong Kong Street Food - Cream Filled Pancakes
Don’t miss the cream filled pancakes on the streets of Mongkok!
Street Style Hong Kong Buffet
I ate a delicious meal at a random restaurant directly outside of the Yau Ma Tei MRT station located on 11 Waterloo Road.
The mass of people trying to get in the door was my indicator that I should follow. Soon I was fighting for a position in line and the chance to eat the cheap and delicious freshly cooked Hong Kong street food style buffet.
A large plate of rice, 2 dishes, and a bowl of soup cost me 23 HKD.
Plate of Rice and Pork
At 5 am I found myself hungry so after finding a late night restaurant, I ordered a steaming hot plate of rice topped with tofu and fried pork belly in a thick gravy sauce. The thick gravy was plainly cooked, yet in the morning it tasted so good.
Price: 30 HKD
Hong Kong Red Barbecued Pork
Don’t miss the Hong Kong red barbecued pork that can be found all over the streets.
Hong Kong Street Food - Steamed Glutinous Rice and Sausage
Conclusion
Get lost and confused, but make sure you go a little crazy sampling Hong Kong street food!
I’m full and I’ve only been reading your article. What did you do after these three days of eating??? and fried pork bellies at 5am??? I salute you!
John in France recently posted..Neighbors at War: the joys of Paris apartment living
Haha! I couldn’t do too much apart from eat while I was in Hong Kong. After eating all that food, I returned to Bangkok where the food is a bit cheaper and I can afford to eat more!
HI Mark is $100 HKD enough for my girl and me to eat those kinds of food in one day? thanks!
Hey Timmy, yes, you’ll be able to eat quite a bit in 1 day for $100 HKD, you should be alright. Happy eating!
geeeezzzz…now i’m STARVING!! I want to go to Asia JUST to street food it up!! have you ever gotten ill from eating stuff from the food carts?
jenjenk recently posted..Paris: Notre Dame
Thanks Jen! You know, over the past 3 years, I think I got sick once in the Philippines, and I’m quite sure that I drank a cup of bad water. I grew up as a kid in Africa, so I think my stomach developed a resistance to a lot of the food germs. Hope you can make it to Asia to start eating!
Honestly, Mark, I don’t know how you are not the size of a whale. You ate all that IN THREE DAYS???? Have you ever being a competitive eater?
Barbara – The Dropout Diaries recently posted..Meet The Dropouts – Locationless Jason Batansky
That would be my dream!!! Being able to travel and eat for a living would be my ultimate goal. I’m actually in mainland China right now visiting my cousin – and we are eating so much amazing food too! I hope my body can continue to handle it…
Make that “have you ever considered” …
Barbara – The Dropout Diaries recently posted..Meet The Dropouts – Locationless Jason Batansky
Damn it Mark! That food looks absolutely amazing. We are in Denali and would pretty much wrestle a bear for that bowl of noodles with wontons.
Caanan @ No Vacation Required recently posted..There’s a Grizzly Living Behind Your Outhouse
Haha! Wouldn’t it be an amazing thing to be able to order food delivered straight to us from any country in the world? You guys are enjoying the amazing scenery though!
It’s been a long time since I’ve been in HK and now I want to go if just to eat, yes I have to go shopping at Stanley Market. Too many places to visit and revisit, and so little time!
Nancie recently posted..Magnificent Monday — Flower Power — Sun Flower Madness
Yes, there are just so many places and there are so many delicious foods to eat!
Nobody ‘does’ Asian food better than you. When is your next book coming out, this time about Chinese Street Food? It’ll be a runner.
inka recently posted..Inspired by a book – memories of the Congo
Ha! Thanks Inka!
I’m releasing a street food e-book coming out in September about food in a few different countries – I’ll send you a copy asap! You need to compile your guide for Turkish food too!
I was in Hong Kong several years ago but wasn’t nearly as daring with street food that I am now. Great photos–everything looks so delicious!
Michael Figueiredo recently posted..Side Trip: Catalina Island
Thanks Michael!
Wow – I can’t believe the variety of things on offer – they all look so delicious!
Andrea recently posted..Exploring Hundertwasser’s World in Vienna
And there’s still so much more too!
You really did well in only 3 days! I need to plan an excursion with the only purpose being to eat. Everything looks delicious, especially the cream filled pancakes. Yum!
Thanks Cathy. Most of the time all my trips just revolve around food. If I ever have the choice between food and attractions, I normally go for the food!
This looks awesome – you’ll really have to bring me with you next time…haha. Three days of glorious street food in Hong Kong is definitely my ideal trip.
Ashley recently posted..ArtSmart Roundtable: When You Really SEE a Painting
Yes, definitely Ashley! If I take a short trip to any city, I try to get in as much food as possible in the amount of time I have!
Lots of interesting foods!
Sailor recently posted..Cruise Line Reputation Clean-up After Hurricane Irene
Thanks Sailor!
Hey Mark,
I’d like a link to your e-Book for food around the world. I’d like to surprise my wife with a tour of “foods around the world”. Since we live in Hong Kong, it shouldn’t be too hard to accomplish huh?
Awesome Mike,
Here is the link to The Dirty and The Delicious: http://migrationology.com/the-dirty-and-the-delicious/
It’s a brand new e-book that I’m just releasing now about food from a few countries that I’ve visited. I’d love to hear your thought about it – feel free to send me an e-mail migrationology@gmail.com
Hope you enjoy and good luck with the surprise food from around the world!
I was reading along like normal and then when I got to the cream-filled pancakes my mind was just blown! Why didn’t I think of that?!? I’m sure it won’t turn out the same, but I know what I’m making for breakfast tomorrow… =)
Christy @ Technosyncratic recently posted..Princess Di Lived Here?! London’s Creepiest Palace.
That is awesome Christy!
You have to let me know how your cream filled pancakes turn out – I want a taste also! I’m sure they will be delicious!
How many pounds did you gain on this 3-day bender?
The Travel Chica recently posted..What Will It Be Like to Come Home?
Ha ha! I have a constantly fluctuating body weight.
I’m right there with you, Mark. This food jumps off the screen. I could taste it and wouldn’t mind one bit the pounds I just packed on. Just looking at it makes me hungry. If you ever want to go on a food bender, I’d say HK looks like the perfect place to do it.
Bon Appetit! (How do they say that in HK?)
InsideJourneys recently posted..Travel Photo Thursday – Harlem
Haha, yes, the few extra pounds are irrelevant when faced with glorious street food. It’s just the trade-off we must make!
haha love all the remarks on how amazing it is that you can eat so much, because that is exactly what’s going through my mind when I read your blogs! well, let’s see what happens once you hit 30 :p
meanwhile looking through your blogs for food inspiration for my upcoming trip to HK and the Philippines in October!
keep it up and I’d love to see the food you’re having in China! Hope you’ve been to Beijing because food is amazing there!
Haha, thanks for the comment Carmen…I think I will have to slow down my eating habits here in a few years – or exercise for 1/2 of everyday and eat the other half – I think that would be alright! I haven’t been to Beijing, this time I’m only in the South of China, but I surely will return – there’s just soooo much to eat in China. Posts coming soon!
Hi Mark,
Great photos. My mom is in HK right now and wants to eat street food. Where in Mongkok should we start? Is there a particular street and does it start only in the evenings or can we venture out there around lunch time?
Thanks so much!
Hey Vikki, thanks for dropping by.
I think that food is there from the morning to the night – basically all times. All around Mongkok you’ll find plenty of street food. Just browse around the general shopping district and you’ll bump into plenty of stalls. Hope you can find some great things to eat!
I need to leave this page immediately, you make me hungry
I love Hong Kong street food and am lucky to have Cantonese friends there who take me out to the best spots. Great photos, Mark!
Christina recently posted..An island paradise in Switzerland: Brissago Islands, Lago Maggiore
It’s so good to have local friends who are able to show you the best food, and order it for you! Hope you can find some good food right now Christina!
All of this looks amazing and I shouldn’t be reading this right before lunch!
Claire recently posted..I Am Giving Away Some Lost Girls. Do You Want Them?
Go eat lunch now Claire!!!
Argh! I’m sooo jealous. I totally love Chinese food! A bowl of wonton noodle soup would be perfect for this cold, spring day in Oz.
gayE @ pinaytraveljunkie recently posted..Temple Of The Tooth
Yes, I’m with you Gay, growing with my mother Chinese, Chinese food and its influenced food around the world rates at the top of cuisines for me!
MM , everything looks so tasty , but I wonder if the street food is hygienic enough…
Hey Nansy,
In Hong Kong the street food is quite clean. I’ve never had a problem and also most of it is served piping hot!
I used to have a Chinese girlfriend who teased me about liking the steamed buns with bbq pork saying that’s what farmers like. I told her, you can send me out to the field then!
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Working Overseas | Interview with Wandering Earl
Yes sir – out to the fields it is!
Great blog! I’ll be flying to HK this December and I’ll surely check out these places! Hope you made a list of restaurants that we MUST never miss to visit in HK. Hats off to your blog!
Thanks Andie!
Thanks for checking out this list.
I don’t have a full list of restaurants published, but I can recommend checking out Lin Heung Dim Sum if you like dim sum: http://migrationology.com/2010/10/dim-sum-dining-at-lin-heung-restaurant-in-hong-kong/
Have a great time in HK and eat a few dumpling for me too!
My stomach actually hurt just looking at that BBQ pork. Wow!
Hahah, thanks for sharing that!