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 

Laurel Garden Chinese Shen Zhen

I read in Ellensshoppingnews.com that it was essential to pay a visit to Laurel when we happen to be in Shenzhen so when we went there I was eager to have dimsum at Laurel. Luckily it was located at Lowu shopping mall which just in the same area with MTR station to Hong Kong, so the morning before we went back to Hong Kong, we stopped by at Laurel for morning dimsum. 

The restaurant was located on the 5th floor but it was not easy to find. Since we didn't know the Chinese name of Laurel, we found difficulty to ask for directions as Lowu shopping mall was very large and not many of them understand English. We were desperate and about to give up when we spotted a man with Laurel's name engraved in his chef uniform, so we quickly asked him and he showed us the way. No wonder we couldn't find it as it was located at the same entrance as the alley for toilet! 

The place was quite fancy but not super and even it was a weekday and we reached there around 10am, the place was buzzing with crowds. I was surprised that the service was very polite considering all the rude shop keeper we met during our shopping at Lowu the previous day. 

There were a piece of paper with dimsum list in the table so we can just thick what we want and passed to waiter when he came. We ordered steamed shrimp dumpling, steamed chicken feet w/ black bean sauce, steamed vermicelli rolls Laurel special, Pan fried bean curd skin rolls with shrimp, Deep fried dumpling w/ shrimp & meat and a bowl of Congee w/ preserved egg and pork. 

To me they were all tasted very standard, nothing to be bragged about. The price was not cheap either, it was marked around 18 - 22 Yuan per items. However, considering they were one of the promising restaurant in Shenzhen with branches in Macao and Shanghai too, it was ok to know the place. =) 

Laurel Garden Chinese 

5/fl suite 5010, Luo Hu Commercial City

Railway Station Square

Luohu district, Shenzhen 

Ph. +86 755 82322668

 

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/

Wong Chi Kei

My friend told me that she was having this huge craving for the noodle she had when she came to Macao the last time. She couldn't remember the name but luckily remember well on where it was located. It was very easy to find, located in the famous Senado Square. It was at the left side near the centre of Senado, with a big sign board of black and gold written the name "Wong Chi kei" it was really easy to be spotted. 

The place was crowded, the place was only a small ruko but the dining took all the 3rd level so it was quite many seating. We looked at the menu and started to order. I went with Braised noodle with wonton & dumpling (MOP 35), while my friend chose Sliced of beef with noodle in soup (MOP 28) and we ordered a plate of Deep fried wonton (MOP 26) for share. 

Braised noodle w/ wonton & dumpling

Sliced of beef w/ noodle in soup

Deep fried wonton

I must say that the noodle were cooked perfectly the way I like it. The noodle was very crisp and the dumpling and wonton were delicious, full of crunchy shrimp inside and well seasoned although I found the noodle were quite bland. The deep fried wonton was also a top notch, the skin were crispy fried and the center was filled also with shrimp unlike most of deep fried wonton where you fill find minced meat on it. Love it. A must try. I didn't try my friend's beef noodle. 

We both enjoyed our lunch too much that we went there again the next day for breakfast. This time, I tried their congee. I went for Pig's intestine congee (MOP 27), I thought that it will be a mixed of the liver, meat and the rest of pork, instead it was all only the intestine (colon) so I can't say it was a delightful breakfast although the congee itself were good. My friend went with Shrimp dumpling w/ noodle in soup (MOP26). It was the same as the one I ordered the previous day, only this one came in soup. It was good. 

Pig's intestine congee with preserved egg

Shrimp dumpling w/ noodle in soup

Note: You can use HKD in Macau, no need to change to MOP (Pataca).

Wong Chi kei

17 Largo Do Seal Senado

Macao

Opening hours: 8am - 11pm