Dining @ Tin Hau

There are several know of restaurants located at Tin Hau, which is a small residental area near Causeway bay. You can find BBQ, Japanese food, Korean food, dessert, traditional cha chaan teng, fast food, Thailand food etc there. Let have a look there, you can reach Tin Hau directly by MTR.

Transport: MTR Tin Hau Station

Guiling Gao (龜苓膏)

Guiling Gao, is a kind of black jelly like chinese medicine. Guiling, means the powdered shell of three-lined box turtles. It is mixed with several kind of chinese herb to become Guiling Gao.

It is normally slight bitter in taste, however, it become a chinese style dessert nowdays, people take Guiling Gao with honey or sugar. It is enjoyable and have medical value to skin, especially for ladies.

You can find Guiling Gao and several kind of chinese style herb tea in a chinese herb tea shop.

Steamed Rice

"Steamed Rice" is one of the famous food provided in Chinese restaurant, you can order it during "Yum Cha", especially in morning session.

It is simple, just rice, steamed with some meat, for example, chicken legs, pork chops or beef meat. However, it is one of the very traditional chinese style breakfast in the old chinese society. Since most of the Chinese are farmers in the past, they need engery for their daily work, rice is a good source of energy, so they ate rice in the morning.

Have a good feel of steam rice, you can find it in most Chinese Restaurant, those place of "Yum Cha"

Bird's Nest / Dried Seafood

Famous dried seafood and bird's nest can be found in Hong Kong.

Dried abalone 鮑片
Dried mushroom 冬菇
Dried scallop 元貝
Dried whelk 螺片
Fish maws 花膠
Nostoc 髮菜
Sea cucumber 海參

The above are famous Dried Seafood can be purchased in Hong Kong. Together with Bird's Nest.
The following link introduce some basic knowledge of Chinese Dried Seafood.

http://www.consumer.org.hk/website/ws_en/news/press_releases/p33902.txt

You can find some of the shops selling such products at Wing Lok Street, near Western Market. More of the shops can be found further at Des Voeus Road West, west to Wing Lok Steet. You can find road sign at Western Market.

Another Chinese Style Breakfast

Besides "Yum Cha" and "Yum Sai Cha", congree, "Rice noodle roll (Cheung Fan, 腸粉)" and fried noodles are typical canton style breakfast in Hong Kong. Last week, I went to have this for my breakfast. We also ordered "Yao Tiao" and "Soy Milk" (豆漿).

It is yummy that this kind of Chinese Style Breakfast are still very popular in Hong Kong, especially in Winter. The hot congee make people feel very warm. This kind of restaurant is normally known as "Congee Shop" (粥鋪, 粥店).

"Yao Tiao"(油條, 油炸鬼) are only deep fried flour, however, it is cripsy, so it is very good taste.

"Cheung Fan" is maded by rice noodle, it delicious by adding a little bit soy and sweet sauce.

Rice Noodle Roll is also translated as "Steamed Noodle Roll".

You can find these food at Oceanic Empire Restaurant (海皇粥店), which is a chained congee shop, also, those food are provided for the whole day, not only breakfast.

Price:
Congee - $6 - $25
Yao Tiao - $6

Cheung Fun - $8 - $15

Fried Noodle - $8

Steamed Rice - $21

A set meal can be DIY, about $30-40 per head.

Coffee Shops

Have a tea break! Your choices of Latte, Mocha, Espresso, cake, sandwich @ any coffee shop nearby...

Starbucks: over 80+ stores
- wireless broadband service is available with your notebook computer, PDA, or any other portable Wi-Fi devices.

http://www.starbucks.com.hk/

Pacific Coffee: over 50+ stores
- wireless broadband service with limited desktop computers available, be sure you login in secure mode while using a public computer :)

http://www.pacificcoffee.com/eng/store/st_sto_hkm.html

Put Chai Ko (砵仔糕, Canton Style Pudding Cake)

Put Chai Ko is another famous Hong Kong style snack. However, it is originally from somewhere is Guangdong (Canton). It is a soft, palm size sweet pudding, placing is a small bow., whioch is the name "Put Chai" come from. The "Kao" means puddings, is a kind of white or yellow sugar, with red beans insides.

It is a steamed cakes, yummy and most Hong Kong children loves it. :)

You can get these pudding at some old style bakery, and some traditional vegetarian restaurant . Moreover, most supermarket named "SUPERSTORE" also sell this pudding. It cost about HK$4-5 each.

According to wikipedia, Put Chai Kao have several english translations, here is a list for your reference: Put chai pudding, Earthen bowl cake, Bootjaigo, Red bean pudding, Bood chai ko Sticky rice pudding.

Cocktail Bun and Pineapple Bun (雞尾包與菠蘿包)

Cocktail Bun and Pineapple Bun are two of the famous Hong Kong style food. However, Cocktail Bun is not related to Cocktail, and there is no Pineapple inside Pineapple Bun . By the way, both buns are sweet pastry. It is a typical food for breakfast or tea-break.

The fillings of Cocktail Bun shredded coconut, sugars and shattered bread.
The topping of Pineapple Bun is just sugar, however, it is fried and place as a checkers pattern originally, the style is like a pineapple, so it was named. However,the pattern is no longer like this nowadays, it is just a piece of fried sweet toppings.

You can get these buns at bakery, especially those old style bakery. Moreover, most supermarket named "SUPERSTORE" also sell fresh buns.


Cocktail Bun (Right) and Pineapple Bun (Left) are two famous Hong Kong style food. It is mostly for breakfast of lunch time tea.

Cha Chaan Teng (Hong Kong Style Restaurant in Western Cuisine)

Want to have a cheap but nice western style breakfast in Hong Kong? Go "Yum Sai Cha".

Yum Cha is very common in Hong Kong, however, normally it takes an hour to complete a meal, because people like to read newspaper, gossiping during yum cha. However, for a fast breakfast in the modern city, I'd like to recommend you to go to "Yum Sai Cha", besides having fast food.

So, what is "Yum Sai Cha"?
In Cantonese pronunciation: "Yum" means "Drink", "Sai" means "West or western" and "Cha" means "Tea".

One of the majority role in "Yum Cha" is the chinese style tea. Therefore "Yum Sai Cha", is to have a meal with western tea or coffee.

Cha Chaan Teng are very common, they provide cheap western style cuisine, such as sandwich, toast, fried egg, ham, sausage etc. This is normally good for fast breakfast for me. If you haven't book breakfast from hotel, or don't want to "Yum Cha" every morning, let's try to find a Hong Kong style restaurant for "Western Tea". However, Cha Chaan Teng also serve lunch, tea and dinner, beside the above food, they also provide noodles, pasta, rice etc. Maybe you can have a trial during tea break, for a bowl of noodle there.

The chinese character of Cha Chaan Teng is 茶餐廳. Although you can find Cha Chaan Teng in almost every street, but they may not have english speaking staff and menu in residental district, so it is suggested that you can go to those in Central, Causeway Bay or Tsim Sha Tsui.

The photo is a typical breakfast in Hong Kong style restaurant.

Egg Tart (蛋撻)

Egg Tart is another popular pastry in Hong Kong. It is manly egg custard inside, with the a baked outer crust. The shape is similar to this English style tart served during tea time. In Hong Kong style, the crust of egg tart is "Butter-flavoured shortcrust pastry" OR "Puff pastry".

Hong Kong people usually have Egg tart during tea-break in the afternoon. Normally, it is sold by dozen, or half-dozen.

You can find egg tart in most bakery is Hong Kong, however, most supermarket named "SUPERSTORE" also sell egg tarts.

Bakery? French Fries? Wings?

There are many Hong Kong style snacks along the streets in crowd areas like Causeway Bay and Mongkok. I just recommend this "cake shop" - Danish Bakery. People always queue up not because of its bread and/or cake, but they are looking for the famous hotdogs, french fries and chicken wings. You can located Danish Bakery at the corner of Caroline Hill Road in Causeway Bay.

Transport: Bus Route 10 from Central

Roasted Chinese Chestnut

It's getting cold in Hong Kong, wouldn't it be great if you find something hot and delicious for your snack?

I would highly recommend the Chinese Sweet Chestnut! I know you must have ate chestnut before, but not the Chinese one. These chestnut are native in China and we still roasts it with the anicent method. Personally, I do not prefer those using a machine to roast the chestnuts, it's because those chestnuts do not smell as good as that using the traditional way. (Maybe I'm a old-fashion guy, haha)

I bought 1/2 lb roasted chestnuts and it costs HK$12 only. If you've bought them, you must not set them aside to let them cool! The marvellous thing of roasted chestnuts is that you must eat them as soon as possible! Feel the heat and smell it! I could not stop eating them. I wish I could also let you smell them instead of just showing the photos.

Besides chestnut, the hawkers also sell roasted sweet potato and roasted eggs, give it a try!

It's not easy to find those hawkers selling roasted chestnuts. You need to find it by chance, however, you may try to find them in these locations:

1. Near the entrance of Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui
2. Under the bridge between Argyle Street and Yim Po Fong street in Mong Kok

Tai Fung Lau Peking Restaurant

Last night my family and I went to try Tai Fung Lau in Tsim Sha Tsui for its famous "peking duck" dish. We ordered cold pasta with cucumber and peanut butter, fried egg white with milk and serve with vinegar, vegetables with chinese ham, and the main dish - roasted duck. It was served with a piece of wrapper and sauce. The skin of the duck was so crispy and not much fatty. And finally the dessert of sweet fried banana. We rated this restaurant 5 stars.

Address: 29-31 Chatham Road, Windsor Mansion, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (Tel: 2366 2494)

Transport: Exit P3, East Tsim Sha Tsui KCR Station

Street Snacks

I love Hong Kong street snacks so much. You can easily locate one of them almost everywhere. Some big stalls in Causeway Bay and Mongkok, some small ones just around any corner.

Foods are mostly deep fried pepper/eggplant with meat, deep fried beancurd, fish balls/meat balls, braised sharkfin soup, rice pancake, chicken wings, sausage, egg puffs/waffles, etc. You can have an ice juicy or sweet soup. Most of them are just $5-$10 per serving.

Temple Street

You may hear “Temple Street” is one of the bazaars in Hong Kong. I was being there last Sunday evening and met some tourists.

Temple Street, one of the famous street markets, is located at Yau Ma Tei. It is crowded in the evenings, and it is sometimes called Men’s Street, as there is another street market in Mong Kok called Ladies’ Street.

Since it is Men’s street, you will find some men’s fashions, however, as it is popular to tourist, the “fashions” are more or less T-shirts with Hong Kong style, or Chinese characteristics. Cultural stuff can also be found at the stalls, various types of toys can also be found.

Moreover, some Chinese food stalls are located along the street, you can have the local style dishes and snacks there Moreover, some “Dai Pai Dang” located in the street.

The singing part and Chinese operas will be performed, you can have a look at the traditional local culture in the city. Fortune tellers are also doing their businesses in the street, you can ask the tellers questions about your background and/or future by your face and/or hand.

Transport: Exit A, Jordan MTR Station or Exic C, Yau Ma Tei MTR Station

What to do during midnights?

I may try to play as more as possible when I travel, so I may check if there is any convenience store beside my hotel during trip. I can back to hotel in late night if there is a 24 hour convenience store near the hotel. Therefore, I may wonder if you want to know such information when you stay in Hong Kong.

Moreover, for backpackers, you may have an idea that you can play around the city in the midnight, so I'm going to show you the stores that will open during midnight.

Hot Pot
Some Chinese Hot Pot restaurants in Mong Kok and Jordan are opening till 4am or even 24 hours.

Bar
Some Bars, or lounges are opening till 5am too. If you are a soccer fans, you can go anyone of them for soccer games playing in midnight HK time.

Karaoke Box
Neway and California Red are two of the major chain karaoke box in Hong Kong. Most of their stores close at 5:45 am, you can hire a room and sing overnight.

Convenience Stores
7-Eleven and Circle K are two of the major chain convenience store in Hong Kong. Most of the stores are opening 24 hours (except those located in railway stations).

You may find any one of them near your hotel. You can go for a cup-noodle, hot coffee, sandwiches or anything, without paying for the expensive room service.






Fast Food
Some of the McDonalds and McCafe in Hong Kong are opening 24 hours. These shops will be displayed with a "24 Hours" label, so you can have hamburgers anytime. Moreover, the breakfast is served from 4 am, so you can have Hot Cakes since 4am. Some of these are equipped with pay TV to provide live soccer match broadcast.



Chinese Restaurant
Some Chinese Restaurant opens at 6am, so you can go to "Yum Cha" after the above stores closes.