A Typical Binge Day In Hong Kong, The City Of Food

Where to go for good food?

Before you begin your journey, you should know that Hong Kong is separated by 2 main areas, namely the Central Island and Kowloon. The Island caters to those who enjoy eating, drinking and playing. In addition, it is well loved by the expats in particular! On the other hand, Kowloon is where you should go if you are looking for a mouth-watering local experience! It is only ten minutes away from The Island by metro and prices here will fall relevantly to create room inside your purse in case you feel the urge to try- … well, everything.

What can you find in Kowloon?

Comfort-food lovers don’t need to worry in Kowloon, since you will find all your beloved Western steaks, hamburgers and pizzas accompanied by dessert waffles for sure. Still, you didn’t arrive in Hong Kong to binge on hamburgers, did you? When in Kowloon, head for Jordan that is located two metro stops north from The Island. This small territory is packed with a couple of hundred restaurants! At places such as Temple Street or Woosung Street, you will basically have trouble finding anything else besides food.

In case your hunger transforms into weaknesses after all that searching, you need not worry about food hygiene when considering street food. Rather, your cholesterol level may rise to an all-time high, as eating appetizers such as healthy vegetables will not be that wholesome after all. These irresistible snacks are often drowned in deep fryers that exude mouth-watering aroma. Kings and Queens of street food will be most satisfied in the area of Mongkok, located two metro stops North from Jordan. Here you can easily spend an evening snacking your way through all those dumplings, barbecues, fish balls, seafood, French fries, sushi, snake soup, chicken feet, egg tarts, and refreshments, etc. This list never ends and yes, your mind will spin.

Street snacks for the budget-travelers

For a wide variety of food tasting, you should go for the Kowloon street snacks. These prices are budget-friendly, given an approximate range from 10 - 50 HKD, which makes approximately 1 - 6 USD. Therefore you can try it all, or at least the best of the platter. For an experience of the best ambience and quality food, the rooftop restaurants are for you. Surrounded by city lights, this atmosphere literally sparkles to life after sunset.

The rooftop restaurants are mainly situated on The Island and not an everyday choice for most locals. You will pay for what you order, and be accompanied by a magnificent scenery and better breathing space (that you may crave for after all the hustle and bustle in the city!). Despite this being a more pricey option, you will find that the price range does not differ much from the Western price range. At these restaurants, you should be prepared to spend at least 200 HKD (approximately 26 USD) on your meal and definitely more, if you are planning for some drinks or dessert. Rooftop restaurants offer local as well as international cuisines, ranging from oysters to pizza servings.

Suggested 1-day food itinerary in Hong Kong

Start your day by heading for a local bakery that offers a variety of fresh sweet and salty pastries! Buns, cakes and sandwiches come in all shapes, textures, sizes and colours. These bakeries are located on every street corner; the ones such as Maxim’s Cakes having spread their wings all over the city. The pork floss pastries are something that you must-try! Sprinkled over soft buns and breads, the pork floss has a unique tangy flavour with the texture of cotton candy. When lunchtime approaches, how about a health-boosting dish of snake soup?

The locals believe that snake soup contains multiple medical qualities, such as preventing diseases and improving your skin quality. Two or more types of snake meat are used as the main ingredients in the snake soup, which is commonly served at various restaurants around Hong Kong. If snake meat sounds too exotic for you, skewered meat makes for easy snacking just around almost every corner in the city! These irresistible snacks come in all varieties from meat to seafood, served with sauces of your choice or in a barbequed style. These snacks are very popular and one speciality that you do not want to miss is the chicken feet. While they don’t sound or look appealing, they sure taste awesome!

Besides good food, staying hydrated in Hong Kong is taken to a new level with its wide range of delicious drinks! Cool down and get refreshed with fresh and pure coconut water, sugarcane juice or the well-concocted bubble milk tea! Be warned though, as you may get addicted to these sweet and tasty drinks. The variety of bubble milk teas served throughout the city is ridiculously extensive; such that you cannot try them all even if it is your mission. As dinnertime approaches, do remember to make a reservation to secure your spot at one of the city’s top rooftop restaurants. You can wrap up your day with magnificent scenery and gorgeous cocktails accompanied by a tasteful meal of your choice. Sitting on that beautiful terrace watching the city come alive, take some time to think: what’s next for a great meal?