Hong Kong - Sing Kee Dai Pai Dong at Stanley Street, Central (盛記大排檔)

We were intrigued by the glowing light and ascending steam in a distance that we walked towards this part of Stanley Street at Central, Hong Kong. We were very pleased to see this spot along a dark alley teeming with life: sounds of chatter, woks and utensils. We had to be part of this action at Sing Kee Dai Pai Dong.

Dai Pai Dongs are tze char stalls, by the road side. They are pretty amazing - the tiny stall is some sort of a transformer. A small space can be quickly converted into a kitchen, a preparation area, a serving station, a washing area and have enough to serve 10 to 20 tables. Their offerings are extensive too - the menu at Sing Kee was on two A4 paper and they serve the full selection of vegetables, meat and seafood.

We wanted something simple to taste the wok hei, which is the essence of all dai pai dongs, isn't it? We ordered the stir fried tofu at Sing Kee, which came glistening brown with chives and meat slices.

The tofu were sliced before stir frying, giving each piece a nice golden brown colour on both sides. The wok hei was abundant, and we weren't even mad that some of the tofu pieces were charred because they were so fragrant. The tofu skin, though soaked with the goodness of the sauce, was still crispy and the insides remained so soft. The meat was well-marinated and tender, while the fried chives gave an extra omph to this simple dish at Sing Kee.

We wanted to taste the freshness of the ingredients used at Sing Kee and ordered the stir fried clams. Many may shudder at the thought of eating seafood at a roadside stall, but we were game for it. We felt that the ingredients that we have experienced at Hong Kong had been nothing but top-notch fresh so far.

Sing Kee did not disappoint us. The clams were uber fresh - big, juicy and chewy. The sauce was full of wok hei, and I loved the stir fried onions especially. Such simple goodness.

The action and chatter at the roadside stall at Stanley Street continued into the night. There were still bouts of people waiting for their food and waiting for seats after we have polished the two dishes off. The experience of having tze char by the road is definitely something not to be missed when you are in Hong Kong and catch it - quick. Sing Kee could be your best bet in this disappearing scene here in Hong Kong.

HONG KONG FOOD BLOG REVIEW BY KUMORY

☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Sing Kee Dai Pai Dong (盛記大排檔)

82 Stanley Street

Central Hong Kong

5pm to 11pm daily

ps: Check out our ultimate food guide to Kowloon for more goodies in Hong Kong!

Hong Kong - Mak An Kee Chung Kee Noodles at Des Voeux Road Central, Sheung Wan (麥奀記忠記麵家)

Mak An Kee is a traditional family business specializing in wanton noodles in Central, Hong Kong. Chung Kee at Des Voeux Road is opened by the elder son of the founder. Thus, the humble eatery nestled behind push carts along the road bears the long name of Man An Kee Chung Kee Noodles.

It was around lunch time and we saw the office crowds streaming in and taking away from Chung Kee. An employee was wrapping the wantons at the back of the eatery. Everyone was quiet - the patrons concentrating on getting their tummies filled, the employee on getting the wantons filled.

The noodles at Mak An Kee Chung Kee noodles was not cheap - a bowl of wanton noodles cost HKD48, which is almost SGD8. Even by the standards in Hong Kong, this was rather expensive. Comparatively, the wanton noodles which we had at Mak Man Kee Noodles (麥文記) in Jordan was only HKD32 (SGD5).

We were still full from our satisfying brunch at Lan Fong Yuen (蘭芳園) so we ordered a bowl of wanton soup, minus the noodles. There were about 10 to 12 wantons in the soup, so I guess the hefty price of HKD42 was justified.

The dumpling skin was not too thick, and immediately scored points for me. The skin was soft and silky, and did not forbid me from getting to the fillings immediately. The filling was a generous portion consisting of fresh prawns, well marinated minced pork and crunchy black fungus strips. They were very hearty, and an excellent contender to the large wantons that we had at Mak Man Kee.

Perhaps it was the rental on Hong Kong island, or the power of their brand name that led to the hefty price tag on the food here at Mak An Kee Chung Kee. However, they did not scrimp on the quantity of the fillings, or the quality of the ingredients used. They do not open for dinners though, so if you are craving for wanton noodles at night, you would have to make a trip to Jordan and satisfy it at Mak Man Kee instead.

HONG KONG FOOD BLOG REVIEW BY KUMORY

☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Mak An Kee Chung Kee Noodles 麥奀記忠記麵家 

37 Des Voeux Road

Sheung Wan Hong Kong

8am to 7pm daily

MTR Sheung Wan Exit E2

ps: Check out our ultimate food guide to Kowloon for more goodies in Hong Kong!

Hong Kong - Tsui Wah Restaurant at Wellington Street, Central (翠華餐廳)

Right across from the glitz and glamour of Yung Kee Restaurant at Wellington Street, Central is another restaurant with a sprawling signboard that you simply cannot miss- Tsui Wah Restaurant. We headed there for a (light) snack after the roasted goose at Yung Kee.

The interior of Tsui Wah Restaurant reminds me of the diners in the United States. I imagine if Sam and Dean from Supernatural were hunting in Hong Kong, they would be making pit stops and grabbing their meals here. Tsui Wah has branches throughout the island, many of which are opened 24 hours daily, and they even do home delivery.

We were still full from the awesome roasted goose from Yung Kee, but we wanted something sweet after the meal. There is always space for desserts right? What more, the legendary Tsui Wah crispy bun served with condensed milk was just right across the street! We had to get it.

Tsui Wah did not disappoint our sweet palates. The crispy bun served with condensed milk was indeed both crispy and sweet. Though the dish sounds nothing out of the ordinary, it is exactly the simplicity of this dish that makes it so special.

The milk tea at Tsui Wah was served in a pretty porcelain cup that I absolutely adored. It instantly made me feel elated and the milk tea made me over the moon. The milk tea was fragrant and smooth, and not a hint of roughness. It was rich and creamy and so satisfying. I was sad to hear that their signature tea cups are not for sale - Tsui Wah should really consider selling them, I am sure it will rake in another fortune for them.

Here are the two things that you simply cannot miss and are a must-eat when you are at Tsui Wah.  The simple cripsy bun with condensed milk and the authentic Hong Kong styled milk tea would definitely capture both your heart and stomach.

HONG KONG FOOD BLOG REVIEW BY KUMORY

☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Tsui Wah Restaurant (翠華餐廳)

15 Wellington Street

Central Hong Kong

Open 24 hours daily

ps: Check out our ultimate food guide to Kowloon for more goodies in Hong Kong!

Hong Kong - Lin Heung Tea House at Wellington Street, Central (蓮香樓)

Dim Sum has become synonymous with Hong Kong - I am sure many of us have happily proclaimed "I'll be going to Dim Sum Land!" when we tell our friends of our travel plans to Hong Kong. To experience authentic Dim Sum and the chaos that comes with it, you have to visit Lin Heung Tea House at Wellington Street in Central, Hong Kong. It is one of the oldest tea houses in Hong Kong. Only after that you can truly proclaim that you have been to Dim Sum Land.

Seating capacity on the second floor of Lin Heung Tea House is a-plenty, but it was full of patrons, both locals and tourists. We saw many old couples holding and helping each other up the steep flight of stairs, and settling down slowly for their dim sum - such sweet and poignant sight in the midst of the chaos that happened every single time a food trolley appeared on the aisle.

At Lin Heung Tea House, authenticity of the yum cha experience is preserved by not having an orderly ordering system. You could only glance and grab whatever that is available on the food trolley when the servers push them out. We were torn between enjoying our food and keeping a strict eye on the food trolleys to make sure that we were not missing out on any goodies.

After laying your eyes on the item you want, you have to be quick - grab and hold it tightly in your hands and let the server put a stamp on your order chit. Only with the stamp can you proclaim the item as your own, and then head back to your table in jubilee.

Our first victory at Lin Heung Tea House was the beef ball dumplings. The meat was tender and juicy, and the bits of chestnut and spring onion inside added a crunchiness to it. The beancurd skin at the bottom was soft and had absorbed the gravy very well. Very hearty.

The beancurd roll with steam pork and fish maw worked for us as well. The texture was dimensional, and the gravy exceptional. Lip-smacking.

The custard bun was a bit dry- maybe it has been in the food trolley for quite a while. The filling was generous, but the bun was too thick for my liking. This is the down side of having food placed on a trolley and pushed around the restaurant.

The steamed pork ribs at Lin Heung Tea House was a tad sweet and starchy for our liking. The meat remained soft and juicy, but the sauce was not as savoury as we would like it to be.

This was our favourite dish at Lin Heung Tea House. We have not tasted anything like this before, and it was really awesome. Wrapped under a huge piece of huai shan (淮山) are generous portions of goodies which included pork ribs, chicken slices, chinese mushroom and fish maw. Each of the item was very fresh and juicy, and worked together very well in the amazing herb gravy.

The dim sum at Lin Heung Tea House is very unlike the run of the mill items that we have in Singapore. Each item is thoughtfully put together and almost like a fine dining dish on its own ( you just have to place an item on a big plate and then drizzle some gravy haphazardly). The chaos and the buzz of the place also adds to the charm of it. Do not miss out this experience when you are in Hong Kong - Lin Heung Tea House is an important stamp on your journey to Dim Sum Land.

Hong Kong Food Blog Review by Kumory

☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓)

162 Wellington Street

Central Hong Kong

6am to 4pm daily (for dim sum); 6am to 11pm daily

ps: Check out our ultimate food guide to Kowloon for more goodies in Hong Kong!

Hong Kong - Ocean Empire Food Shop at Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei (海皇粥店)

Ocean Empire is a chain selling Hong Kong style congee throughout the entire island. You should not expect anything less at Ocean Empire just because it is part of a chain - the food is of high quality and the service efficient.

Nothing beats a big bowl of warm, hearty congee in the morning. Located just along the very busy Nathan Road at the stretch near Yau Ma Tei MTR, the Ocean Empire Food Shop here was teeming with locals warming their tummies before heading off for a day of work. We did not have any work to head off to, but the congee at Ocean Empire did perk us up for a day of walking and sightseeing at the lazy fishing village, Tai-O.

The supreme seafood congee came packed with a lot of seafood goodies, and the best was the fried fish skin that topped it all. It was so crispy, yet did not feel oily or greasy. It went really well with the white, velvety congee that was so delectable. All the seafood in the congee were fresh, and cooked to the right texture.

The shrimp rice roll at Ocean Empire was also such a beauty. Translucent rice sheets wrapped the glowing pinkish shrimps, and glistening sesame seeds topped it all.

Ocean Empire was very generous with the shrimp fillings, and the shrimps were all big, crunchy and juicy. They worked really well with the thin and smooth rice roll sheets, and the crunchy roasted sesame added a good omph to it.

We ended off our meal with a hot cup of lemon tea. Simple, yet so refreshing. Ocean Empire food shops open early in the morning until the wee hours at night, and would prove to be able to pack you a hearty and warm meal any time. There is also an outlet at the Hong Kong International Airport, and trust me, after trying it in town, you would want to have it again before departing from Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Food Blog Review by Kumory

☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Ocean Empire Food Shop (海皇粥店)

497A Nathan Road

Yau Ma Tei Hong Kong

6am to 1am daily

ps: Check out our ultimate food guide to Kowloon for more goodies in Hong Kong!

Hong Kong - Kum Wah Cafe at Bute Street, Mongkok (金華冰廳)

Long queues are perpetual in front of Kum Wah Cafe at Bute Street in Mongkok. The locals love Kum Wah's polo bun- be it in the morning, afternoon or evenings.

The polo bun at Kum Wah had such contrasting texture that worked so well together- the bun was so soft and fluffy while the top was such a crispy delight. And as if it was not the ultimate yet, the thick piece of butter - which was not too salty or heavy- melted and resulted in such a heavenly bliss. Ultimate comfort food, we would say.

Milk tea is the best companion to polo bun, and Kum Wah does it well too. The tea was smooth and the froth very fragrant. Like any other cha chaan teng in Hong Kong, the milk tea did not come with any sugar and we could add according to our whims and fancies.

Also like any other cha chaan teng in Hong Kong, there were many many handwritten menus pasted all over the walls and menus slipped under the glass on the tables. Our adventurous side prompted us to order the Baked Pork Chop Curry Noodles. Boy, we were blown away by this unique creation. The cheese was wonderfully baked to perfection with the well-flavoured pork chop, and the curry sauce was rich and yet not too spicy or overpowering. It was a good, hearty combination.

It is not difficult to realise why the crowds keep coming in and leaving with a white paper bags in their hands. Warm, fluffy bun topped with a sweet, brown crust with a melting piece of butter in between- the Kum Wah polo bun is such a comfort food. There were also many locals crammed into the booths in Kum Wah itself, eating rice dishes and slurping hot bowls of noodles. And they would almost always finish their meals with a Kum Wah Polo Bun, accompanied with hot milk tea or yuan yang. It is undeniable that the locals love the polo bun at Kum Wah, and in fact, we do too.

Hong Kong Food Blog Review by Kumory

☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Kum Wah Cafe (金華冰廳)

47 Bute Street

Mongkok Hong Kong

630am- 12am daily

ps: Check out our ultimate food guide to Kowloon for more goodies in Hong Kong!

Hong Kong - Mido Cafe at Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei (美都餐室)

Mido Cafe at Temple Street in Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong is a scene right out of the movies. Oh, but wait, Mido Cafe was exactly where many Hong Kong movies were filmed. It exudes immense nostalgia and charm, and this is perhaps the only place in Hong Kong that feels unhurried.

Once we stepped in Mido Cafe, we were transported right back to the 1970s. Beautiful mosaic tiles were laid not just on the floor, but also splendidly on the walls. The wooden earthly green booth seats; cream cushioned chairs; bright red coca cola crates; hand-written menu pasted on the walls - all seemed hapharzardly placed, but it is this exact chaos that makes everything at Mido so poignant.

The menu at Mido Cafe is extensive. Apart from those handwritten ones pasted on the walls, each table had a menu detailing all their offerings in both Mandarin and English. We could not say no to a lot of items on the menu, so we decided to go for a safe option, and an adventurous choice for our beverages and food.

The Yuan Yang (tea and coffee mix) at Mido Cafe was not just safe, it was perhaps the best Yuan Yang that we have had. We could taste both the tea and the coffee, but they were not distinct- they were fused together in a smooth, creamy blend with a slightly salty aftertaste.

Iced lemon tea we have had many, but Iced lemon coffee? Now, that was the first time we heard of it and we had to give it a try. We wouldn't have thought that two acidic components could go well together, but the lemon gave a refreshing twist to the black coffee. And with it iced, the lemon coffee was a pleasant delight.

Everyone loves cripsy noodles, don't we? The crispy noodles was thus our safe choice. The noodles were indeed crispy and very fresh- and there was no remnants of oil or its smell. The sauce, however, was a little too salty for our liking. The beef had the wok hei, but it was a little tough. This dish was a little disappointing for us. Perhaps sometimes, the safest or simplest dish may be the hardest to satisfy.

Our adventurous spirit pointed us to the baked pork ribs rice. The creamy tomato and cheese sauce covered the fried pork ribs and buttered rice in a beautiful, fiery red, and gave a nice flavour to the smokey pork ribs that were well marinated and very juicy. Each grain of the rice was coated sunshiney yellow with butter, but after some time, it could get a little overwhelming. The portion is huge, and with the intense flavour, the baked pork ribs rice definitely has to be shared.

There were hits and misses in the food offering at Mido Cafe, and we would prefer the drinks here more than the main courses. Many Hong Kong actors and actresses have graced the seats at Mido Cafe not just for their roles, but also in their personal lives. Mido Cafe still remains as a humble abode for the locals though it has been extensively featured in reel. There is no cheap, gimmicky marketing stunts like photos of celebrities plastered all over the wall; there is only authenticity, class and timeliness here at Mido Cafe.

Hong Kong Food Blog Review by Kumory

☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Mido Cafe 美都餐室 

63 Temple Street

Yau Ma Tei Hong Kong

830am to 930pm daily

ps: Check out our ultimate food guide to Kowloon for more goodies in Hong Kong!