Dine like the Locals in Hong Kong

As a follow up to the first post on Hong Kong as a pre-wedding destination for fellow Malaysians, here are some of my personal dining favourites in Hong Kong:-

Thanks to Bjorn who brought us here, I’ve fallen in love with the french toast and bouncy fish balls from this rundown shack located behind a row of stalls selling knick knacks (opposite Delifrance) in Stanley Market. You won’t see any tourists here because it’s really hidden.

 

 

I don’t know the name of this particular coffee shop and I don’t have any pictures either. It is located along the road just behind Sheraton Hotel. Bonnie brought us here once. Just f ollow the queue on a mid day for an afternoon tea of “nai cha” (milk tea) and to-die-for egg tarts.

The Szechuan Chilli Chicken at Water Margin Restaurant is delicious! I won’t exactly call it spicy because it is more ‘terror’ than spicy. Once you bite into the chicken, it will leave your lips burning HOT, and you’ll end up ordering more of their specialty tea. Try lemongrass tea. Water Margin is located at Times Square, but I think they have another outlet in SoHo. This restaurant is a bit on the pricy end but worth the dining experience.

Proceed to Lan Kwai Fong for a night out and mingle with the locals. This pub, the Whiskey Priest, has a cozy, down-to-earth ambience with a wide selection of whiskey and Irish beers. Must try: their traditional Irish stew and Celtic potato skin with smoked bacon. For some savings, go during their Happy Hours between 4 – 9pm (Mon – Sat).

If not, visit Knutsford Terrace in Tsim Sha Tsui and head on over to Heaven on Earth for a fusion Southeast Asian dinner. Knutsford Terrace is a strip of al fresco restaurants and bars located at the back lane in between two rows of shops. Really hidden and difficult to find if you are not a local. For the map and address, click here. After dinner, check out some of their bars too such as the Carribean-inspired Bahama Mamas. For some savings, check out the offer that’s valid until 31 March 2008. 

I’ve asked a friend, Faye, a super cool party-goer, soon-to-be trophy wife and kick-ass girl friend to recommend some of the good local joints around Hong Kong. Here’s what Faye and friends recommend:-

For people who can’t live without sushi, try Japanese Dining Sun(東京和食) located on the 13th floor of Times Square. Some of her top recommendations are soft shell crab roll, flatfish, sun salad and fresh sour grapefruit.

For stinky tofu, head over to this shop called 泉昌美食 (no English name) located at 150b, Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong (灣仔灣仔道150b) Tel : 25758278 Stinky deep fried tofu ( SUPER crunchy!).

If you want something really local, you have to venture off Kowloon peninsula and Hong Kong Island to Cheung Chau Island. Head on over to “Home town tea house” (direct translation from Cantonese) located near the beach. They are famous for their ‘Red Bean Cake’. Just look at the red bean paste that is oozing out of the cake. Faye said, “It’s sweet, but not too sweet!!” 

Faye’s favourite fish balls that are super fresh and tasty! Pronounced as ‘Kam Wing Tai’ @ 106 Sun Hing Street, Cheung Chau Island.