Joanna James
A quintessential part of your visit to Hong Kong should be to savour the diverse local dishes each with their signature flavours. Of course, with so many delectable delights on offer, foodies may have difficulty choosing which ones to try; with that in mind, here are some of the top dishes to sample!
When it comes to street food in Hong Kong, curry fish balls are a much-loved favourite. They work great as a snack or to enjoy on-the-go and are readily available at eateries and street stalls. Relatively cheap, these savoury balls are made from flour and are deep-fried till they are golden; as part of the cooking process, they are boiled in a spicy curry sauce that adds to the yumminess. Sometimes served in a bowl for takeaway or skewered on a stick, these curry fish balls can be tried at places like Hong Kong Fishball King.
A dish with a long tradition, dim sum is not to be missed when on your foodie tour in Hong Kong. Dim sum does not refer to one particular variety per se, but rather snack-sized creations that are baked, deep-fried or pan-fried food and are generally served in a bamboo steamer. The fillings vary as well and can include everything from deep-fried shrimp to BBQ pork. Perfect for sharing with friends or family, dim sum is traditionally enjoyed with some Chinese tea. Restaurants in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay such as Jade Garden offer great venues to try this dish.
While you may have tried wonton noodles in your home country, the variety made in Hong Kong has its own unique taste. Egg noodles are used for making this popular dish which also features a light soup. The signature wonton dumplings are generally filled with prawns and help make the meal complete; depending on the place, other fillings are used as well including pork, while the addition of garlic chives adds more flavour. No matter how it is prepared, be it at street-side restaurants or dining venues at hotels such as Dorsett Wanchai Hong Kong, wonton noodles are well worth trying.
Pork is a popular meat in Hong Kong cuisine and one of the most loved dishes is char siu. It is the name given for barbecue pork which is made using a choice selection of pork shoulder that has both lean and fatty bits which are an ideal combination when eaten with rice. A key aspect in the preparation is the special marinade that is used which features ingredients such as ginger, hoisin sauce and honey that lend to the flavour. Joy Hing Roasted Meat is amongst the places you can savour char siu.
Pineapple bun or bolo bao is a well-known breakfast dish in Hong Kong that contrary to its name, doesn't have any pineapple in it! It does, however, have a pattern on top which has a criss-cross appearance similar to that associated with a pineapple. This yummy golden-coloured bun has a crunchy crust on top that is made from eggs, flour, sugar and lard; it is best eaten fresh out of the oven with a good helping of butter. Kam Fung Café in Wan Chai is amongst the many eateries where you can try bolo bao.
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