Joanna James
If you’re travelling to Hong Kong, and want to sample the delicious food, there’s one neighbourhood you shouldn’t miss: Wan Chai. With its mix of traditional and modern influences, this location has great street food, dai pai dongs, and international restaurants. Here are all the reasons why Wan Chai should be on your list of foodie places to visit in Hong Kong.
Wan Chai’s side streets and back alleys are sure to be a hit with food lovers. You’ll find everything from curry fish balls, steaming Cheung Fun (rice noodle rolls), egg waffles fresh off the iron to the popular stinky tofu. The stalls along Spring Garden Lane and Johnston Road are top places to visit in the evenings. Here, you can get some great snacks packed with flavour and experience the local life.
No food trip to Wan Chai will be complete without a visit to a cha chaan teng. These are Hong Kong’s local diners. These are great places to find comfort food with fusion flavours. Popular items you’ll find include pineapple buns with butter, Hong Kong-style milk tea, macaroni soup with ham and French toast with condensed milk. Try Kam Fung Café or Capital Café where the atmosphere is just as nostalgic as the menu.
These places also offer a memorable cultural experience and are within easy access of any Wan Chai Hotel in Hong Kong.
If you like to cook or just want to explore the local markets, head to Wan Chai’s wet markets. One of the best spots to visit is Wan Chai Market on Queen’s Road East - situated near Dorsett Wanchai Hong Kong. Visitors will be able to find vegetables, fresh seafood, and traditional dried goods here. The smells, sounds and sights offer a look at daily life in Hong Kong.
At the same time, you can pick up all the main ingredients used in its popular dishes. Even if you’re not buying anything, watching the vendors clean fish or prepare fresh tofu is worth seeing.
Wan Chai is not just known for its local food. It’s also home to many eateries serving international cuisines and dishes. You can find everything from sushi bars and French bistros to Middle Eastern kebab joints and Sichuan eateries. This will allow you to experience the whole world on your plate! The Star Street Precinct, in particular, is a trendy spot packed with cafés, boutique restaurants, and fusion spots that are perfect if you want to enjoy a more classy night out after a day of hawker fare.
Whether you want to wind down or explore more once the sun sets, Wan Chai has a buzzing late-night food and drink scene. Dai pai dongs (open-air food stalls) serve up steaming bowls of wonton noodles and clay pot rice until well past midnight. If you want a drink to wash down your bites, this area has dive bars and hidden speakeasies that serve up creative cocktails along with fusion tapas and bar snacks.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
