Ivy's Travel: Hong Kong Food Guide

Hong Kong has always been one of my favorite cities in Asia. I grew up having most of my holidays here since Mom and Dad often take us to China, and we always make sure to transit several days in Hong Kong. I can't exactly recall how many times I've been in the city, probably around fifteen and still a visit here is always, always irresistible.

Where to stay in Hong Kong & Macau

Here are list of places I ever stayed in Hong Kong and Macau. I will also list down some places which I heard also good via friends' recommendation. I will mark which one is personal experience and which one is not.

The Excelsior by Mandarin Oriental (5*)

Address: 281 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay

Comment: Very nice! My personal favorite hotel. Location is superb, near all shopping and food places, MTR station is only 3 minutes walk, across with WTC shopping mall, just steps away from SOGO. Room is not big but very comfy, clean and smells nice. I truly enjoy my stay here. Very recommended.
Oh yes, do go to the cafe espresso in the lobby, they have the famous Macau Lord Stow's egg tart.

**personal experience**

Things to Know about Hong Kong

Ok, I'm no HongKong-ners so the post might not cover all the things need to know about Hong Kong, but I do my best to summarize things that I know from all my trips there. Here it goes:

• Basically Hong Kong is a country with three big area, HK Island, Kowloon and New Territories. Most of the attractions in HK settled in the part of HK Island. The most famous area in HK Island is Causeway Bay. Kowloon's most famous area is Tsim Sha Tsui, where one of the most famous attractions in HK, Avenue of Stars located. While New Territories is more to island, from the most talked about Lantau to Lamma island famous for the fresh seafood.

Things to do in Hong Kong

What I can say about Hong Kong is hands down one of my favorite city in Asia. My first time to HK was during my elementary school and since then the city has took a place in my heart. Yes, the people can be rude, I hate that too but I love the rest. I never once get bored of the city. Even at midnight, you can see that people are still crowding the streets, and most of their diners closed at 2am in the morning. I love the food, the fashion and the fact that it is so convenient to go anywhere with their MTR subway, even to Shenzen. 

Saboten Hong Kong

It was never easy to look for something delightful to eat at airport. Normally to ensure I got at least a decent meal, I will went for a well known fast food. That day, while waiting for our flight back to Jakarta, I spotted Saboten when I was wandering what to eat at the food court. From what I looked from the display, Saboten was specialized in cutlet just like Katsusei. 

My friend and I ordered the same menu, Saboten set (HKD 99). It was a very good deal, a set of deep fried breaded pork loin, tenderloin & prawn comes with rice and miso soup. The cutlet was superb. Very delicious. Now I know what to eat the next time I'm at Hong Kong airport. 

Saboten

7E163, level 7, Departure East Hall

Terminal 1

Hong Kong International Airport

Ph. +852 31711984

Tsui Wah

When we walked out from Yung Kee, I was very happy to notice that Tsui Wah was located just across Yung Kee. Tsui Wah was one of the place I read that was recommended for their fish ball soup. Received many awards and had 20 branches in HK, along with 2 branches in Shanghai was enough to make my friend and I decided to go to Citygate outlet first and on our way back, we will stop by at Central again for a bowl of fish soup at Tsui Wah. Back from City Gate, we were tired and almost thinking to just eat nearby the place we stayed. Luckily we didn't.

As I looked down the menu, I was having trouble on deciding what to eat as they were all looked so tempting. Tsui Wah was famous for the fish soup, but to choose one from their lots of combination to paired with the soup was not easy. I came to the point on selecting Squid balls w/ seaweed in fish soup (HKD 34) while my friend picked Fish combination and seaweed in fish soup (HKD 39). It was superb. The fish broth were tasty, light and beautiful seasoned that I finished all my soup until the last spoon, not mentioning the squid and fish balls were so good. 

Ice milk tea & Lemon with tangerine

A bowl of fish soup in Tsui Wah was truly worth many come back visits. 

Note: 1 HKD = 1180 rupiah 

Tsui Wah

G/F - 2/F, 15 - 19 Wellington street

Central 

Ph. +852 25256338

Central branch open 24 hours 

Other location can be found at: 

http://www.tsuiwahrestaurant.com/eng/info_e.html

Guidance: Stop at MTR Central exit D2, turn right then turn left. You will see across a big store of Coach in the corner. Enter that alley, and you will see a sign on the right, first alley named Stanley street, skip that alley and walk to the second alley sign Wellington street. Enter the alley and you will directly see Tsui Wah on the right.

Yung Kee Hong Kong

One of the meal must eat when visiting Hong Kong is definitely the roast goose. I love roast goose and I hardly ever find any roast goose in Jakarta. Anyway, in the airport used to have a quick fast food selling different kinds of barbeque from duck, goose, chicken to pork and the roast goose was quite but I was told that they no longer selling goose, so I have to find another place. I knew about Yung Kee from the free book of dining places in HK I picked up in airport. It was written that Yung Kee was very famous for its roast goose and the restaurant had won bunch of awards. 

We were lucky to found Yung Kee with only the help of a map. Entering the place, it was definitely an upscale restaurant type. The place was very crowded while it was only 10 something in the morning. I wonder how much money they got in a day. I was informed that we need to go upstairs to put our name in the wait list. The lady upstairs in the reservation desk was very nice, even in the center of a buzzing crowd of wait list, she was still very polite and kind whenever people asked her when can be seated. From her also I learned that first floor was meant for an easy quick dining type with orders of BBQ rice set, while the second floor was meant for a more expensive family dining type where no rice set will be served, instead we can only order ala carte and dim sum. We chose 2nd floor and about 30 minutes wait list, we were seated.

When I opened the menu, I was inhaling while I saw the prices. It was super pricey. The goose itself had different size to choose, from regular, half and one full piece. Regular was a small portion meant for 3 persons and it cost us HKD 150, while all the vegetables were ranged around HKD 65 to HKD 100. We went for a regular Roast goose and selections of Dim Sum where the Dim Sum were around HKD 32. 

Overall to me, the award recognition didn't say much on the food. The dim sum were standard, and the roast goose was not as juicy and tender as I would expected. But it was good to know the place remembering that they are really famous in HK. 

Yung Kee

32 - 40 Wellington Street 

Central, Hong Kong

Ph. +852 25221624

http://www.yungkee.com.hk/

Guidance: Stop at MTR Central exit D2, turn right then turn left. You will see across a big store of Coach in the corner. Enter that alley, and you will see a sign on the right, first alley named Stanley street, skip that alley and walk to the second alley sign Wellington street. Enter the alley and you will directly see Yung Kee on the left.

Yunguixiang Rice Vermicelli Hong Kong

This noodle was also one of my always must have whenever I went to Hong Kong. I first know this place was from my Dad's sister and since then the place had took a very big place in my taste bud. 

It was a little bit hard to recognize this place as it only had the Chinese signage in front of the restaurant and was located in an alley, but a big alley where car can fit in, not a small alley. The place open at 11am and closed until midnight, it was one of the dining where it was still very crowded during midnight. 

Remember to ask for the menu in English as they only put Chinese menu in the table. The waiter can be rude, but hey it's Hong Kong, it will be weird to bump into nice waiter. =) Anyway, these what we ordered. A bowl of small pot rice vermicelli (HKD 22). The original came with bean sprout, chives, salted vegetables but you can choose to add side dishes to complement with the vermicelli for $6 per items. At that time, I chose extra of tofu skin, mushroom and beef balls. 

Need no say, the best vermicelli ever. It was so hot that just fits well with the cold weather, the broth, the noodle and literally everything inside the bowl were delicious. Love it! 

Too bad I really forgot to took a photo of the restaurant inside & outside. In my defense, it was late. We just got back from a tiring Disneyland & City Gate factory outlet and I was cold and hungry, all I can think of at that time was eat! But this is the direction to go there. 

Guidance: From Sogo Causeway Bay, just go straight passing by Causeway Bay Plaza, keep straight until the corner and turn right. Cross the road in your left, enter the first alley. Keep walking and you will see a big red signage with Chinese name in your right. There will be pictures of vermicelli outside the restaurant. 

Or if you are not staying in causeway Bay, exit MTR Causeway Bay station exit B. When you exit, turn right until the corner again turn right, then cross the road in your left, enter the first alley.

Lok Yuen Beef Ball King Hong Kong

The last time I went to Hong Kong before this trip, I picked up the free booklet of places to dine in Hong Kong. Inside one of the recommended place was Lok Yuen which was famous for their meat balls. I didn't have the time to look for the place last time, so this time I was very happy when I found it. 

In the book was written the address was on Fa Yuen street in Mongkok. After wandering around Tung Choi street for the ladies market, we went to Fa Yuen street and I was very happy to found it as it was really uneasy to ask local residents for directions, so I really count on the map. When we reached there, both me and my friend felt full as we just had street snacks around Mong Kok, so we decided to go to Argyle Centre first to do some shopping then head back to Lok Yuen for dinner.

Stepping out Argyle Centre, we spotted Lok Yuen other branch across the street. We went in and looked at the menu. I ordered Beef ball noodle ($26) and my friend chose Lok Yuen specialty noodle soup ($40) which had varieties of meatballs from beef ball, black peppered pork ball, pork ball, fish nugget, fish dumpling, squid ball & fish roll. We can choose the type of noodle, I went for rice vermicelli while my friend went for the noodle. 

Beef Ball Noodle

Lok Yuen Specialty Noodle

I can let you know with confidence that they served one of the best beef balls I ever eaten. It was very savory. Love it!

Lok Yuen Beef Ball King

11 fa Yuen Street, Mong Kok

Hong Kong

Opening hours: 6am - 10pm

Guidance: MTR exit Mongkok exit E2, walk down Nelson rd (many electronic shops) and look for the sign of Fa Yuen street, 2 lines beside Nelson road.

Macau Restaurant Hong Kong

My colleague told me there was a very yummy roasted baby pigeon in Hong Kong located on the ferry terminal of Sheung Wan in Central. Usually I always took the ferry in Tsim Sha Tsui to go to Macao but I had the mission to eat as many as recommended food in Hong Kong so we went to the one in Sheung Wan.

Macau restaurant was located on the 2nd floor of the ferry terminal building. The ticket booth was on the third floor, just go down the escalator and you will find Macau restaurant. It was 45 minutes before our ferry departure so without looking at the menu first, we went straight on ordering the Roasted Baby Pigeon (HKD 35). 

My colleague was right. It was delicious. The pigeon were juicy and tender and surprisingly wonderfully seasoned. If not only it took forever for them to serve the pigeon, I will call for my second plate. 

Note: 1 HKD = IDR 1180

Macau Restaurant

Sheung Wan Ferry Terminal 

MTR Exit Sheung Wan

(Find escalator go to 2nd floor) 

Hong Kong 

Lord Stow's Egg Tart Macau

 

Before I went on my trip, I did some searching on the best egg tart in Macao. Of course, it was a normal view to see many egg tarts in Macao especially along the Senado Square, but there were two that been claimed as the best, Margaret's Cafe e Nata and Lord Stow's. I was in doubt to found both of them as streets in Macao were all in Portuguese language, luckily when I opened Lord Stow's website, I found they have branch in Venetian so it will be definitely easy to find. 

After wandering in Senado Square and taking pictures at St. Paul, we went to Venetian. Lord Stow's located at the Marcopolo district. The place was small with only few tables. At first, I was not really eager for egg tart as I thought it will had this dairy smell which I don't like, but when I looked at the egg tart displayed in Lord Stow's, I know that I had to give it a try and I was so glad I did. It was the best egg tart! The puff was crisp yet the center was moist and not dairy or milky at all. Hands down. The best egg tart I ever tasted. 

The best part was they have an exclusive license at Cafe Espresso, Excelsior Hotel in Hong Kong so when we back in Hong Kong, me and my friend went there twice to satisfy our cravings. My friend even bought 12 pcs to bring back to Jakarta.

The price in Macao is 8 MOP, and in HK is $9 per pcs.

Note: 1 HKD = IDR 1180

HKD can be used for payment in Macao.

Lord Stow's 

Shop 2119, Marcopolo District

Grand Canal Shoppes, Venetian

Macao 

Cafe Espresso

Level Ground Excelsior Hotel

281 Gloucester road, Causeway Bay

Hong Kong

http://www.lordstow.com/

Fairwood Hong Kong

Fairwood is one of the largest food chain in Hong Kong. They can be categorized as fast food although not really like KFC or Mcdonalds type. With many branches more than 90 spread in Hong Kong and China, they served from early AM to late PM with different types of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, this place was one of places to dine for many Hong Kong residents who looked for quick dine beside one of the most famous fast food chain, Cafe de Coral which I also dined there but completely forgot to took picture.

Designed in orange, on the side near the cashier, they put the menu list on the wall. So the procedures are we looked at the menu placed on the wall, go to the cashier to order and pay, go to the pick up corner and bring the order our self to table.

I always love their Lo Ma Kai ($28). It was different with others, as theirs were very big and inside the filling they put shitake mushroom, pork sausage, meat, beans and chicken wing with teriyaki sauce. Yes, it was big enough to be filled in with chicken wing. Definitely a must try. 

Note: 1 HKD = IDR 1180

Fairwood 

Basement of Causeway Commercial Building

No. 1-5 Sugar Street, Causeway Bay

Hong Kong

Ph. +852 28562248

Other branches can be found at: http://www.fairwood.com 

Hui Lau Shan Hong Kong

This place had always been my favorite. I love love love their healthy dessert and drinks. The type of beverages they served was not bubble tea type, more to fresh blended fruit from water melon, mango or grape mixed with choices of aloe vera, sago, aloe jelly, etc. They also served desserts like Mango with Sago and many more. It was amazingly yummy. All were using fresh fruits, that's why they were so popular. For this trip, I think I had more than 5 visits to their place. 

They have many branches from Causeway Bay, Mong Kok, Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and many other places. The one in Tsim Sha Sui nearby Harbour City but the selections were fewer than other branches. They only have Mango selections. 

As I stayed at Causeway Bay, I often visited the one across Sogo. The one in Causeway Bay didn't have the signage name in English, instead only in Mandarin but it was not hard to find. When you saw Sogo, just cross the street and you will see Bee Cheng Hiang in the corner. Hui Lau Shan located 2 stores from it. You will not miss it due to the queuing line.

The price per cup around $26 - $29, where they have promotions if we buy 2 drinks from the same series (example Mango series), the price will be much cheaper. 

I have tried their Water Melon w/ Jelly, Grape w/ Aloe Vera and Mango with Aloe Jelly. They were all great, no comparison although their best seller is Mango series. Missing them right now as I typed. =(

Hui Lau Shan 

MTR Causeway Bay Exit D (Sogo)

Across Sogo, 2-6 Yee Woo Street

Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Other branches: Multiple locations in Hong Kong

Delicious Kitchen Hong Kong

 

Mid December I was desperately in need for a break, luckily my bestie felt the same way so we went for a break to Hong Kong, Macao & Shenzen. It was a week filled with fun, food and shop. I will post all dining places I went on this trip. Start with this one.

This place is absolutely one of my favorite and must dine place whenever I go to Hong kong. I'm sure many people knew and visited here when they went to Hong kong as their pork ribs were famous. I remember I was in college when I first ate here, one of dad's sister live in Hong Kong so she was the one who took me there the first time, and since then I always inform my friends and families who happen to go to Hong Kong to eat here. So far, all of them love the pork ribs.

As soon as we checked in, me and my friend went straight here to had our late lunch. My order was always the same, Steamed rice with vegetables & pork ribs ($42). It was perfect. I loved it how they cooked the veggies with the rice and the pork ribs were delicious. We also ordered 1 bowl of Wonton soup ($42), it was ok, the dumpling skin was not thick but also not thin that break easily. The filling inside was mixed of veggies with minced meat.

Steamed Veggie rice w/ pork ribs

Wonton Soup

Hot & Sour Soup

We went there 3 times during our week in Hong Kong. The second and third time we opted for their special set combo ($68) consisted 1 choice of soup and 1 choice of steamed veggie rice with meat. For the soup, we chose Hot & Sour soup, while for the main course we still stick with Steamed rice with vegetables & pork ribs. The soup was generous with mushroom and slices of meat with perfect flavor of sour. It was a very worth it meals. 

Definitely a must go place! 

Delicious Kitchen 

Shop B, G/F, 9-11 Cleveland Street 

Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Tel: +852 25777720

Opening hours: 11am - 10pm

(Guidance: MTR Station Causeway Bay Exit E, turn left, another turn left, walk through Fashion walk at Paterson street until the corner and you will see Vivianne Westwood Boutique in front of you, cross the road, turn left on the second alley (Cleveland street) across Guess . Delicious Kitchen is at left side).

Another branch:

G/F, 20-20A Ashley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Kowloon, Hong Kong

Tel: +852 23144868