10 Best Hong Kong Street Food Dishes You Have to Try
A classic breakfast Hong Kong Street Food item, the Youtiao Chinese donut, I can eat 100 of these
Walking through the many alleyways of the literal concrete jungle that is Hong Kong, I can’t help but notice that food plays a prominent role in the city’s culture. Much like the street foods of Macau, the Hong Kong Street Food scene is vibrant and oh so mouthwateringly delicious. Though there is a noticeable lack of Western influence in the street foods of Hong Kong compared to Macau.
On my recent Holiday to Hong Kong with my family, I made it my personal mission to try as many Hong Kong street food dishes as possible. Although I did gain a few kilos which I am admittedly very concerned about, in the end it was all worth it for me as a foodie.
From rich and flavorful curry fishballs, to pungent stinky tofu, to the most tender braised beef offals, in this blog post I will be sharing you the 10 BEST Hong Kong Street Food dishes that you absolutely need to try whenever you are in this beautiful city!
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Where to Find the Best Hong Kong Street Food?
Hong Kong is a densely packed city, but that just means there are hidden foodie gems all over
There is only one places that local Hong Kongers would recommend if you’re asking about Hong Kong Street Food, and that is at the many streets and alleys of the Mongkok district. And I can confirm because I asked my Dad’s friend who was born and raised in Hong Kong and he even pointed me to Mongkok.
Technically, Mongkok is a neighborhood where the MTR Subway station also shares the same name. The district of Mongkok is made up of many parallel and perpendicular roads arranged in a grid. I would recommend you start your Hong Kong Street Food adventures at Argyle Street which is the main road that passes through the area, but that doesn’t mean you should be afraid to branch out to the other connecting roads!
Your friendly neighborhood auntie about to drop the tastiest basket of siu mai dumplings
Anyways. this lively neighborhood in the Kowloon area is where the soul of the local Hong Kong street food culture truly comes alive. Everything delicious about Hong Kong can be found in Mongkok, rich bubbling curry fishballs, warm and crispy egg waffles, and unexpectedly, plentiful amounts of Durian (yes, I’m not kidding).
Branching off from Argyle Street, I recommend you check out Sai Yeung Choi Street and Dundas Street, both of these streets are particularly packed with food stalls that serve classic Hong Kong street foods like Cheung Fun (rice noodle rolls) drizzled with sweet soy sauce to stinky tofu that’s not for the faint of heart.
Exploring the compact streets of Mongkok can be confusing, especially if you’re are on the hunt for the best Hong Kong Street Food. So If you’re not sure where to begin, I highly recommend booking a Hong Kong street food tour. there are some great ones that take you through Mongkok and Sham Shui Po with a local guide who knows all the hidden gems, like this Hong Kong: Private Street Food Tour with a Local Insider. It's a fantastic way to sample a wide range of dishes and learn about the stories behind them.
Dai Pai Dongs and Cha Chaan Teng
This is the most unassuming Cha Chaan Teng, but inside is the best scrambled eggs I’ve ever had
Ahh, the classic Hong Kong Street Food experience, shame that these are rare to find these days, the Dai Pai Dong are open-air food stalls that can be found all over Hong Kong, but most of them are located in the areas of Central, Sham Shui Po, and Jordan.
Dai Pai Dongs are admittedly not for me, the atmosphere is cramp, you’ll be sitting next to strangers touching each other’s elbows, the chef is cooking up a storm with his Wok literally a few meters away from you. Though Dai Pai Dongs are hectic and chaotic for an introvert like me, they are one of real experiences you can have in terms of Hong Kong street food culture.
Similarly, Cha Chaan Teng are affordable local breakfast/tea restaurants that is still chaotic but a little bit more cozy, and if you’ve read my blog post about my adventures exploring Hong Kong’s Cha Chaan Tengs, then you’ll know here is where you can find some of Hong Kong’s best breakfast items like the classic macaroni soup, pineapple polo buns, and the scrambled eggs, my god the scrambled eggs. I’ve had the best scrambled eggs in my life at one of these Cha Chaan Tengs.
Want to Stay Near the Hong Kong Street Food Scene?
The Cordis Hotel looks almost futuristic, you should see their pool!
If you’re planning your holiday around Hong Kong Street Food or you’re just a really big foodie like me, then it’s a good idea to stay near the areas of Mongkok or Sham Shui Po. During my holiday, I stayed near Mongkok with my parents and having easy access to hundreds of food stalls is so convenient because we didn’t need to navigate the convoluted subway system or pay for expensive taxis in order to find some great food.
For my fellow foodies, I definitely recommend picking a hotel in these areas, you’ll be within walking distance to some of the most iconic Hong Kong street food spots.Here are a few hotels near Mongkok and similar areas from Agoda and Booking.com, just in case you want to stay close to the delicious foods.
Stanford Hotel - Compact but comfy rooms, a short walk from Ladies’ Market and some of the best Hong Kong street food stalls in the area.
Metropark Hotel Mongkok - The hotel where I stayed at. Modern clean rooms with great location, near Prince Edward MTR station and in between both Mongkok and Sham Shui Po
Cordis Hong Kong - Very stylish and clean luxury hotel above the Langham Place shopping mall, great access to Mongkok street food scene.
Royal Plaza Hotel - Spacious rooms, connected to the MOKO Shopping Mall and near Fa Yuen Street Market. Perfect for us foodies.
Top 10 Hong Kong Street Foods to Try!
This is a plate of roasted quail, yes, quail, and yes it was delicious.
Take your time walking through Mongkok and Sham Shui Po, it’s a large district with lots of streets and alleyways, so there’s bound to be some hidden Hong Kong Street Food vendors that I didn’t mention below. Anways, there’s lots to eat, so without further delay, here are 10 best Hong Kong Street Foods you need to try!
Hong Kong Cheung Fun Rice Noodle Rolls
This may just look like a plate of refined carbs but it tastes so much more…
What could be better than starting your day with a wad of glutinous carbs? Ok that might sound a bit disgusting but Cheung Fun is certainly the opposite! One of my favorite Hong Kong Street Food dishes, Cheung Fun is a rice noodle roll made from large flat sheets of silky steamed rice noodles stuffed with all sorts of fillings like Char Siu (Chinese BBQ pork) or shrimp (my favorite) then doused with a sweet soy sauce.
Cheung Fun is usually eaten for breakfast at Dai Pai Dongs or at dim sum places but you can find street food vendors all across Hong Kong making them fresh and ready to eat at all times of the day.
Cheung Fun is highly customizable too, as I said before you can have many different fillings, even a Youtiao (Chinese Donut), and then you can add a bunch of seasonings, like roasted chilis, hoisin sauce, sweet chili sauce, etc… It’s served warm, it’s silky and smooth, a little mushy, sweet, light yet filling. I mean refined carbs for breakfast, what’s not to love?
If you're planning your Hong Kong Street Food tour, I highly recommend adding Cheung Fun into your schedule, here are some places where you can find some of the best Cheung Fun in Hong Kong:
Hop Yik Tai - A longtime local favorite. Their Cheung Fun is smooth, slightly chewy, and served with a trio of sauces. Expect long queues though…
Wing Li Congee - Though a Congee rice porridge shop, Wing Li also serves really good Cheung Fun, especially their shrimp ones.
Superior Steamed Rice Roll Pro Shop - I mean with a name like that you know they’re good right? You can pick 2 fillings, and even some innovative ones like wagyu beef or truffle.
Hong Kong Curry Fish Balls
Anyone wanna taste of some curry balls?
The iconic image of Hong Kong Street Food, fishballs. OK but not just any balls, curry fishballs. These little guys are bouncy and springy meatballs made from fish and then stewed in a rich and flavorful cauldron of curry, similar in taste to Japanese Curry sauce.
The texture is satisfyingly bouncy, a little hint of fishy taste, and the balls are coated with a rich layer of curry that is a little spicy combined with a slightly sweet kick. But of course, the flavors depend on the vendors who pride themselves on their signature curry sauces. Some are more spicy, some are mild, some are sweet.
You can find curry fishballs literally everywhere, in fact you’ll probably smell them first before catching a glimpse of them. Heck you can even find them at convenient stores at 7-Eleven. On my recent holiday to Hong Kong I couldn’t get enough of this iconic Hong Kong street food. They’re cheap, and they’re perfect for just snacking on the go. You can’t miss the curry fishballs while you’re in Hong Kong. Here are some places where you can find some delicious balls:
Various Stalls in Dundas Street - There are countless stalls in this street serving curry fishballs, pick your poison.
Fish Ball Gor - A popular place with the local Hong Kongers. The fishballs here are extra bouncy, and the curry is satisfyingly spicy.
Tung Tat - Known for their spicy, peppery curry fishballs and noodles. Always a long queue here so be prepared to wait a while for some balls.
Hong Kong Style Egg Waffles
This has to be the most ingenious way to make waffles, it’s like food bubble wrap
Ok switching gears a bit, let me show you something sweet. When you’re exploring the street foods of Hong Kong, no doubt you’ll come across the sweet and tasty scent of these bubble shaped egg waffles.
These waffles are made hot and fresh off the griddle and they’re so so so so good. Warm, crispy on the outside, soft, eggy, moist, and slightly chewy on the inside. And they’re so fun to eat too, you can pull the bubbles apart and pop them in your mouth as you stroll through the streets of Hong Kong.
A lot of vendors put a spin on the classic egg waffles too, some places make the batter out of matcha or chocolate, some drizzle on a little chocolate or strawberry syrup, some even plop in a few scoops of ice cream. My favorite is a regular egg waffle drizzled with strawberry syrup, I know a bit boring but hey all egg waffles are good egg waffles.
If you have a sweet tooth, trust me, egg waffles are one thing you don’t wanna miss when you’re exploring Hong Kong Street Food culture. Here are some places where I recommend you get yourself an egg waffle:
ICE PUFF - A trendy spot with Instagrammable egg waffles, often served with soft serve and various fun toppings.
Mammy Pancake - A popular Michelin recommended shop. Perfect egg waffles with fun flavors
More Eggette - A classic egg waffle specialist, their “starry waffles” are popular, made with honey and chocolate.
Hong Kong Braised Beef and Beef Offal
Look at that thick cut pieces of braised beef!
Some of you who might not be familiar with organ meat might be skeptical about this Hong Kong Street Food dish but trust me, Braised Beef Offals are one of the best things you can ever put in your mouth. Imagine chunks of beef and organ meats braising for hours in a rich, beefy, and flavorful broth. Now imagine that meat, imagine the texture, the flavor, so tender, so packed full of flavor, so delicious.
You can find braised beef and braised beef offals all over Hong Kong mostly at beef noodle shops rather than street food vendors. Usually you’ll get a selection of things like brisket, tripe (my favorite), tendon, lung, intestines (my other favorite), and more… All of these offals are braised in a broth made from Chinese five spices, star anise, ginger, and soy sauce. I recommend just getting a bunch of different types of meats, a little bit of everything.
It’s a hearty street food snack and to be honest, have this with some rice and it can be a full on meal. Again, you can find braised beef offals everywhere in Hong Kong but here are some of my personal recommendations:
Good Hope Noodle - Famous for their beef brisket and offals. The master soup stock here is intense and aromatic, and pairs beautifully with their deliciously springy noodles.
Kam Ming Chiu Chow Restaurant - Great casual Chiu Chow eatery serving beef noodles with soft and flavorful braised beef offals.
Hui Wing Kee - Classic local shop with a solid selection of braised offals cooked in a rich and earthy broth.
Hong Kong Style Stinky Tofu
Don’t knock it till you try it, Stinky Tofu isn’t all that stinky
Stinky Tofu is actually more of a Taiwanese Night Market thing but it’s also very popular in the Hong Kong Street Food scene. You’ll catch its funky odor before you even see it, I know I said a lot of things are my favorite, but the Stinky Tofu IS my favorite street food snack in the world.
There are 2 options, regular steamed stinky tofu and deep fried stinky tofu, I obviously recommend the deep fried version. Deep fried to a crispy perfection, the outside shell is thin and crunchy while the inside tofu is soft, bouncy, and juicy. And believe me, there it tastes better than it smells. There is a little bit of that pungent funk in the flavor but that’s where the pickles and chili sauce comes in.
Stinky Tofu is served with some pickled cabbage to help add a bit of zesty sourness and acidity, while the chili sauce is added to give the tofu some spicy flavor to cut through the mild taste of the tofu.
It’s seriously delicious, and even addictive, I probably had like 5 servings of Stinky Tofu throughout my 5 Day Hong Kong Trip. This is one Hong Kong Street Food you don’t wanna miss, so here are some places where I recommend you get some:
Various Stalls in Dundas Street - You’ll usually find stinky tofu served along side other classic Hong Kong Street Food snacks like curry fishballs and beef offals.
Various Stalls in Mongkok - Same as the above, Stinky Tofu are served at stalls offering other snacks.
Hong Kong Three Stuffed Treasures
I like it when my food features all colors of the rainbow
One, underrated Hong Kong Street Food that I wanna mention is the Three Stuffed Treasures, honestly the name makes me cringe a bit but this is a savory street food snack is quite tasty if you are looking for something quick and easy. The Three Stuffed Treasures are basically slices of green bell pepper, eggplant, and tofu all stuffed with a mixture of marinated fish paste and Chinese sausage, the slices are then pan fried until golden brown.
While I was in strolling in Mongkok I grabbed a bag full of these from a random street food stall and I was pleasantly surprised by how tasty these were, I mean it’s nothing mind blowing by the combination of the crispy pan fried edges and the meaty and bouncy fish paste, it’s good. Add in a bit of soy sauce and chili sauce and I can eat these like a bag of family sized Lays chips.
I like it, it’s despite the over the top name, the Three Stuffed Treasures isn’t trying to be anything fancy, just a good snack. Highly recommend this underrated Hong Kong Street Food. Here are some places where you can find some treasures for yourself:
Wah Kee Snack - A classic snack shop in Hong Kong, good selection of snacks and skewers to try.
Various Stalls in Dundas Street - You’ll usually find the Three Stuffed Treasures served along side other classic Hong Kong Street Foods.
Various Stalls in Mongkok - Same as the above, Three Stuffed Treasures are served at stalls offering other snacks.
Hong Kong Style Pineapple Polo Bun
This pineapple polo bun probably took 2 months off my lifespan but it was worth it
Imagine a thick fluffy bun, topped with a golden, buttery, crackly, crumble and in between is a thick slice of salted butter. That is the simplistic beauty of the Pineapple Polo Bun, the greatest invention in Hong Kong Street Food (well at least in my humble opinion).
Despite the name, there is no pineapple inside, the name only eludes to the vague image that the bun represents. I love the Pineapple Polo Bun so much. the soft fluffy bun, the crunchy, crispy, and sugary crumble topping, and a that thick slab of butter that adds a richness and even more decadence to this pastry.
Imagine eating a fresh one of these on a rainy day, it’s comfort food. You’ll find the Pineapple Polo Bun in basically every bakery and cafe all across Hong Kong. I myself, got a Polo Bun at a cafe. It’s a must try, you won’t regret it, here are some places where you can get some good Pineapple Polo Buns
Kam Wah Café - A legendary spot known for having some of the best pineapple buns in the city crispy top, soft center, and always served warm.
Bakehouse - A modern bakery with a cult following. Their creative twist on the classic pineapple bun is worth the hype.
Hop Fat Cafe - A cozy cafe that also serves delicious Hong Kong style fast food, their pineapple polo buns and French Toast are extremely tasty
Hong Kong Style Claypot Rice
A classic claypot rice with chicken, beef, and a sweet soy sauce glaze
One of my favorite Chinese dishes that I unfortunately haven’t eaten enough of is the staple of Hong Kong Street Food, the claypot rice. Just as the name suggests, this dish features rice topped with a variety of toppings like chicken, green onions, minced beef, or the classic Chinese sausage, then it’s drizzled with a light splash of sweet soy sauce, then the whole thing is cooked in a clay pot over an open flame.
What this does is it traps in all those delicious flavors and juices from the soy sauce and toppings, making sure that the aroma coats every grain of rice as it steams inside the pot. My favorite part is the edges where the rice burns and crisps up to create this crunchy rice cracker-esque treat. The whole clay pot is served to you sizzling hot so be careful not to burn your tongue!
Claypot rice is very fragrant and aromatic, and it’s just warms your soul, In fact it was the first meal I’ve had after arriving in Hong Kong from Macau via ferry and it just hits the spot. Honestly, it’s comfort food in the best way.
If you’re roaming around Mongkok and want something hearty compared to the other Hong Kong Street Food dishes, here are a few spots that I recommend:
Chuen Moon Kee Restaurant - Famous for their smoky flavor and generous toppings, though be prepared to wait in line for a while.
Four Seasons Clay Pot Rice - Old-school authentic claypot rice, fast service, cheap and affordable.
Hing Kee Claypot Rice - A bit touristy but still has really good claypot rice, I recommend the lamb with black bean sauce.
Hong Kong Siu Mai Dumplings
These are probably the most artificial siu mai you’ll ever have but man they’re tasty
In a similar vein to curry fishballs, the Siu Mai dumplings are another one of the Hong Kong Street Foods that you must try. And it’s hard to miss too, since they are almost always served at the same stalls as the curry fishballs, they go hand in hand after all.
I mean, I guess you could get the proper fancy sit down restaurant dim sum version but why would you when you can get a steaming hot skewer of pork/shrimp/fish siu mai for cheap at a street food vendor? Okay, there are actually a lot of reasons to get the dim sum version but still…
Siu Mai are like the Snickers of the Hong Kong Street Food world, it’s a go-to snack, a skewer, some chili sauce or soy sauce and you’re good to go. If you just want some rustic protein in your mouth then Siu Mai is always there for you in Hong Kong :)
Anyways, you can find Siu Mai everywhere, same as the Curry Fishballs and Three Stuffed Treasures that I’ve talked about earlier:
Various Stalls in Dundas Street - No specific vendor, just any will do. Grab some fish balls while you’re at it.
Various Stalls in Mongkok - Same as the above, no specific stall, just explore.
Hong Kong Style Roast Meats / Chinese BBQ
A plate of crispy roasted pork belly, char siu pork, and a nice juicy roast chicken
Okay, I know I’m veering away from “Street Food” and going into actual sit-down food territory but I can’t write a blog post about food in Hong Kong without mentioning the Roast Meats or in other words, Chinese BBQ served over rice.
Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork), Crispy Roast Pork Belly, Roast Duck, these are the 3 main meats that you’ll find at any good Chinese BBQ restaurant. And the best places will serve these meats to you in a pool of its delicious roasting juices.
Without fail, every time I go to Hong Kong or Macau, I will always have a meal of Chinese BBQ over rice. There’s just something about it that appeals to your inner carnivore, maybe it’s the big hearty slices of meat, the crispy and juicy duck skin, the meaty pork belly, or the sweet yet savory char siu. I could go on about Chinese BBQ forever, in fact I might even write a blog post about it with my recommendations for the best places to have this meal, comment below if you want to read that blog post!
I am ending this list of Hong Kong Street Food on the Chinese BBQ because I truly think this is THE dish to try whenever you are in Hong Kong.
Ki’son Roasted Goose - Their roast goose is so delicious with crispy skin and juicy meat, served generously over rice.
Tai Hing - A popular local chain that has solid roast meat dishes. Their char siu and roast pork duo plate is a classic.
Fu Ho Roasted Meat Restaurant - Traditional roast shop serving hearty portions. Their three meat combo is perfect if you’re indecisive like me.
Tips for Eating Hong Kong Street Food
Cha Chaan Tengs are a cozy affair really
Ok, I know you’re probably salivating hard right now at all the mouthwatering Hong Kong Street Food that I shared with you, but before you get eating I want to share with you a few simple tips that will make your Hong Kong foodie adventures a little bit more enjoyable.
How Much Does Hong Kong Street Food Cost?
We all know Hong Kong is an expensive city and but Hong Kong street food is generally quite affordable, at least compared to the food you’ll find at proper sit down restaurants or cafes. You can expect to find snacks like curry fishballs, bubble tea, cheung fun to be around HKD $10-30 (~$1 - 4 USD).
Do Hong Kong Street Food Vendors Accept Credit Card?
Most, if not all, Hong Kong street food vendors accept only cash, so be sure to bring some small change and lower denominations if you are exploring the street food scene.
Is Hong Kong Street Food Clean and Safe to Eat?
Now this is a bit of a controversial topic, Hong Kong Street Food vendors are not known to have high regards for cleanliness and hygiene. If you’re a local or just have a strong stomach from eating street food in Asia then sure I guess it’s fine. But I would err on the side of caution. Trust your instincts, Look for vendors wearing gloves and using clean utensils, go to places where there are lots of locals, avoid “hole in the wall” places.
I know it’s tempting to be that foodie who goes off the beaten path and found the “hidden gem” but one wrong bite and your whole trip will be ruined. This isn’t just a tip for Hong Kong, but anywhere in Asia.
Looking for Things to Do in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong Disneyland Park - Tickets for the Hong Kong Disneyland Park, Book now!
Ocean Park Hong Kong - Cross between a zoo, aquarium, and theme park
Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car - Scenic cable bar to Ngong Ping Village, offering stunning views of Tung Chung Bay, Tian Tan Buddha, and more
Discounted Tickets - Browse a variety of attractions, tours, and transports all for a great price
Useful Resources for Traveling in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Airport Express Ticket - Easy and convenient travel from the Hong Kong International Airport to the city center
Hong Kong Tourist Octopus Card - Reloadable card to ride the MTR, bus, ferry, coach, and tram
TurboJET Ferry - Ferry ticket between Macau and Hong Kong
Tourism Information - Official Macau government tourism website
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