(Image: Malcolm Surgenor/Flickr)
Gourmet Paradise. World’s Fair of Food. Culinary Capital of Asia. These are just some of the many reputable labels Hong Kong has under its belt in terms of food. HK takes great pride in their cuisine which is well-known and well-loved all over the world.
Whether you want to spend lavishly or be frugal on your food trips, this culinary mecca will never run out of choices to offer tourists and locals alike. It is just incredibly abundant in upscale restaurants, casual eateries and humble street stalls to give everyone a dining experience worth treasuring.
As locals say, “When in Hong Kong, eat as the Hong Kongers do.” And there is just no better way of doing that than by sampling their years-old, classic, and absolutely appetizing street fare. With cheap stalls teeming the bustling streets of Hong Kong, your HK$50 ($6.44) would go a very long way.
To know which among the street food you should not fail to get, we’ve come up with a list of the 10 glorious street snacks in HK. Some of them may strike you as weird-looking, odd-smelling and strange-tasting, but each item is certainly worth a try.
Here is your guide to the 10 best street food in Hong Kong.
See also: 10 Hong Kong Souvenirs That Ooze Culture, Color and Flavor
See also: 10 Best Rooftop Bars in Hong Kong with Breathtaking Views
1. Egg Waffles
(Image: strippedpixel)
It is easy to see why the egg waffles were ranked #1 in a 100 Most Popular Hong Kong Street Snack list.
An egg waffle looks like an oversized bubble wrap with crispy, flaky edges that give a contrast to its chewy, soft and eggy center.
The play of textures in the mouth and the lightness of these waffles make them easily addictive. A huge add-on is that it just has enough sweetness to satiate your sweet tooth, plus it packs a taste of Mom’s TLC, of childhood memories and of happiness – a reason why a massive number of people adore this snack.
It may just be a simple mixture of eggs, flour, sugar and evaporated milk, but there are so many fun ways to do with these eggettes. Top them with fruits, ice cream, or chocolate sauce; Sprinkle them with powdered sugar or powdered milk; Put a dollop of condensed milk, Nutella, peanut butter or fruit jam; Pair it with bacon or sausages – Oh, there are a hundred enjoyable ways to spruce them up!
Here are the best places to get those heavenly egg waffles.
- LEE KEUNG KEE NORTH POINT EGG WAFFLES
For the most famous egg waffles in Hong Kong
What to order: Egg waffles, Egg puffs
Price range: HK$15 - $25 ($1.92 to $3.20)
When: daily from 11:00
Where: 492 King's Road, North Point, HK | 178 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, HK - MAMMY PANCAKE
For consistently-loved egg waffles that give Mommy-like comfort upon every bite
What to order: Pork floss and sesame waffle, Chocolate chips waffle, Condensed milk and peanut butter waffle sandwich
Price range: HK$15 - $30 ($1.92 to $3.83)
When: 11:00 - 23:00 Sun to Wed, 11:00 - 23:30 Thu to Sat
Where: Ground floor, Carnarvon Mansion, 8-12 Carnarvon Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, HK - MASTER LOW-KEY FOOD SHOP
For local all time favorite waffles
What to order: Peanut-buttered waffles, Original egg waffles, Belgian waffles
Price range: HK$16 - $25 ($2.04 to $3.20)
When: 12:00 - 22:00 Mon to Fri, 11:00 - 22:00 Sat & Sun
Where: Shop B3, 76A, Shau Kei Wan Main Street, Hong Kong
2. Curry Fish Balls
(Image: Warren R.M. Stuart/Flickr)
Curry fish balls best represent Hong Kong’s street food – they’re very flavorsome, can be easily consumed while leisurely walking HK’s streets, can practically be found everywhere in the city, AND are very cheap.
A skewer of 5-6 balls usually costs around HK$5 – 7 ($0.64-$0.90). HK locals have been enjoying this street snack for so many decades already. Unlike other food fads, the curry fish balls are here and are meant to stay.
These golden balls of fish are deep-fried in hot oil and then boiled in a delicious and spicy curry sauce, so expect a mild kick once you pop a ball in your mouth. There is also a cheap thrill one gets from skewering the fish balls from the cauldron yourself, so don’t hesitate to ask the vendor.
Accompany this delightful snack with a cold and refreshing cup of coconut juice and the pair will just perfectly hit the spot.
Here are the best places to get those classic curry fish balls.
- KAI KEI SNACKS
For satisfying your cravings of different street food
What to order: Curry fish balls, Stinky tofu, Beef offals, Fried Octopus Tentacles
Price range: HK$8 - $30 ($1.03 to $3.87)
When: 12:00 - 00:00 daily
Where: 41 Dundas Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong - WELCOME FOOD COURT
For big golden fish balls that have real fish in them
What to order: Curry fish balls, Pepper salt fish balls, Satay fish balls, Mango iced drink
Price range: HK$15 - $40 ($1.92 to $5.11)
When: Morning until evening, daily
Where: 150 San Hing Back Street, Cheung Chau Island, Hong Kong - TUNG TAT FOOD SHOP
For a lot of street food choices at very affordable prices
What to order: Curry fish balls, Rice balls, Fish soup, Dumplings
Price range: HK$15 - $25 ($1.92 to $3.20)
When: 07:00 - 21:00 daily
Where: Ground floor, 172 Fa Yuen Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
3. Pineapple Buns
(Image: Dennis Wong/Flickr)
Don’t be deceived by its name. Pineapple buns don’t have a bit of pineapple in them. What they have, however, is a slab of melted butter in the middle of a pillowy soft and sweet bun. The combination instantly turns you into a devotee once you get a taste of these toothsome delights.
Loved by locals for more than 70 years, it has been named such for the criss-cross pattern on top of the sugary bun that resembles a pineapple. It is a classic and humble recipe that goes very well with Hong Kong’s traditional teas and coffee.
For as low as HK$5 ($.64) a piece, you get a divine treat that will easily fill your tummy. Start your morning with a piece or two for a bright, sunshiny day ahead of you.
Here are the best places to get pineapple buns in Hong Kong.
- KAM WAH CAFE
For delectable pineapple buns that people patiently queue up for
What to order: Pineapple buns, Egg tarts, Chicken wings, Milk tea
Price range: HK$12 to $31 ($1.55 to $4.00)
When: 06:30 - 12:00 daily
Where: 47 Bute Street, Prince Edward, Hong Kong - TSUI WAH RESTAURANT
For scrumptious and affordable breakfast fare, 24/7
What to order: Chicken rice, Fish ball noodles, Pineapple buns
Price range: HK$20 to $70 ($2.56 to $8.95)
When: 24 hours daily
Where: 15-19 Wellington Street, Hong Kong - KAM FUNG RESTAURANT
For freshly-baked desserts and savory dishes
What to order: Pineapple buns, Baked chicken pies, Egg tarts, Milk teas
Price range: HK$20 to $46 ($2.56 to $5.88)
When: 06:30 - 19:00 daily
Where: G/F, Spring Garden Mansion, 41 Spring Garden Lane, Wan Chai, HK
4. Grilled Squid Tentacles
(Image: peuceta )
If you’re longing for a respite from rich and oil-laden food, the grilled squid tentacles are the perfect snack for you.
Tourists may find this kind of grub strange, but locals flock to stalls that serve these especially after office hours – a good sign that these skewered stuff are absolutely delicious.
The tentacles are grilled for a chewy and rubbery texture. What makes these nibbles very flavorful is the sauce that is usually in teriyaki, honey, barbecue or chili. Tip: Brush the tentacles with any of the first 3 sauces mentioned and combine it with the chili sauce to have lip-smacking goodness.
Hong Kong abounds with stalls that sell them at super low prices.
Here are the best places to get grilled squid tentacles.
- FEI JIE
For an adventurer's daily fix of street food and exotic food
What to order: Grilled squid tentacles, Mini waffles, Cuttlefish, Chicken kidney
Price range: HK$12 - $26 ($1.53 to $3.32)
When: 14:00 - 23:00 or until sold out, daily
Where: Shop 4A, 55 Dundas Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong - FOOD STALLS @ FUK WA STREET
For a mini feast of good, no-frills street snacks
What to order: Grilled squid, Braised cow offal, Fried pork intestines, Hot pot
Price range: HK$10 to $30 ($1.28 to $3.83)
When: Morning until the wee hours, daily
Where: Fuk Wa Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong - INTERSECTION OF DUNDAS STREET AND SAI YEUNG CHOI
For a spread of interesting and appetizing street snacks
What to order: Grilled squid, Fish balls, Egg waffles, Siu mai
Price range: HK$15 - $40 ($1.92 to $5.11)
When: Morning until evening, daily
Where: Mong Kok Street, Hong Kong
5. Egg Tarts
(Image: yuliufu )
Love at first sight, love at first bite. This is the perfect statement to describe the feeling one gets from seeing and tasting these luscious egg tarts. That glistening yellow custard filling within the flaky crust seems to lure you to fall for them, but wait until you try one.
Sink your teeth into the fluffy and light egg custard that tastes a bit like a flan until your teeth reaches the crispy and chewy crust. One bite just quickly leads to another and leaves you wanting more. Definitely love at first bite.
These tarts are made of flour, butter, sugar, milk and eggs and are baked until they reach a consistency that is soft and moist, and are best eaten while warm. Many have willingly fallen prey to these delish morsels since the 1940’s.
Fall in love, too with Hong Kong’s egg tarts. Here are the best places to get them.
- TAI CHEONG BAKERY
For heavenly desserts
What to order: Egg tarts, Sugar donut, Egg puffs, Coconut tarts
Price range: HK$7 to $15 ($0.90 to $1.93)
When: 07:30 - 21:00 daily
Where: 35 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong - HONOLULU COFFEE
For mouthwatering breakfast food and a sample of fusion cuisine
What to order: Egg tarts, Satay beef noodles, Beef macaroni, Scrambled egg with toast
Price range: HK$9 to $50 ($1.16 to $6.45)
When: 06:00 - 00:00 daily
Where: G/F and Mezz floor, 176-178 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, HK - CHEUNG HEUNG YUEN TEA RESTAURANT
For cheap and good breakfast food and lush desserts
What to order: Cocktail bun, Egg tarts, Milk teas
Price range: HK$8 to $40 ($1.03 to $5.11)
When: 06:00 - 17:30 daily
Where: 107 Belcher's Street, Kennedy Town, Western District, HK
6. Fried Pig Intestines
(Image: michael chang/Flickr)
There’s no denying in the fact that Hong Kong’s fried pig intestines are not the most appealing street food. But locals, adventurous eaters or not, get a constant craving for this skewered snack. That just says a whole lot about how good these fried pig intestines can be.
For HK$12 ($1.50), you get a stick of very crispy, deep-fried and surprisingly flavorful entrails that will remind you of our beloved bacon. Underneath the crunchy layer are the soft and tender parts of the intestines. Dip this in a sauce of your choice and don’t forget to add some chili sauce, too for a startlingly mild kick. A cup of fruit juice would best accompany this treat.
Try this, or you’ll be bringing a bunch of regrets back home.
Here are the best places to get fried pig intestines in Hong Kong.
- YING HEONG YUEN
For a delicious range of Hong Kong street food
What to order: Fried pig intestines, Curry Fish Balls, Egg Waffles
Price range: HK$10 - $30 ($1.28 to $3.83)
When: 07:00 – 03:00
Where: 3 – 7 Cannon Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong - FOOD STALLS @ MONG KOK AREA
For all the best street food there is in Hong Kong
What to order: Fried pig intestines, Curry Fish Balls, Skewered goodies, Noodle bowls, Egg waffles
Price range: HK$10 - $30 ($1.28 to $3.83)
When: Morning until the wee hours, daily
Where: Yau Tsim Mong District, West Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong - DELICIOUS FOOD SHOP
For delicious food that will give a big bang for your buck
What to order: Fried pig intestines, Stinky tofu, Noodle bowls, Skewered treats
Price range: HK$10 - $30 ($1.28 to $3.83)
When: 10:30 - 21:30 daily
Where: Shop 10, G/F, 30-32 Nullah Road, Prince Edward, Hong Kong
7. Stinky Tofu
(Image: David Woo/Flickr)
Another street food classic, stinky tofu says everything that it is.
It indeed has a stench that may turn a hungry person off. The rancid smell is a result of a mixture of fermented milk, fish and meat that can last up to a few months. The taste of stinky tofu is way better than the odor it gives out.
Deep fried until it’s perfectly crunchy, this is best eaten with sweet, chili sauce. Enjoy a good filling snack by having it alongside with a bowl of piping hot noodles and a refreshing glass of fruit drink that a lot of food stalls offer.
Here are the best places to get stinky tofu in Hong Kong.
- FOOD STALLS @ TEMPLE STREET
For a plethora of excellent street food stalls
What to order: Stinky tofu, Grilled food, Dried snacks, Dumplings
Price range: HK$10 to $40 ($1.28 to $5.11)
When: 07:00 - 23:00 daily
Where: Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong - KAI KEI SNACKS
For satisfying your cravings of different street food
What to order: Stinky tofu, Curry fish balls, Beef offals, Fried Octopus Tentacles
Price range: HK$8 to $30 ($1.03 to $3.87)
When: 12:00 - 00:00 daily
Where: 41 Dundas Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong - DELICIOUS FOOD SHOP
For delicious food that will give a big bang for your buck
What to order: Stinky tofu, Fried pig intestines, Noodle bowls, Skewered treat
Price range: HK$10 to $30 ($1.28 to $3.83)
When: 10:30 - 21:30 daily
Where: Shop 10, G/F, 30-32 Nullah Road, Prince Edward, Hong Kong
8. Organs in a Pot
(Image: strippedpixel )
Unleash the dauntless and adventurous side in you by trying a bowl of this popular Hong Kong street food.
It is basically a pot of offel, entrails, innards and other animal (usually a cow’s or a pig’s) organs, mixed with peppers, radish and heaps of sweet-salty sauce. It may not look tempting enough, but this snack can actually be pretty tasty.
Organs in a pot will say a lot about how people in Hong Kong can be geniuses to come up with such brilliant ways of not letting any part of an animal go to waste. When you visit HK, don’t be scared to go for this. As what millenials say, “You Only Live Once.” It will surely be an experience worth sharing and remembering.
Here are the best places to get organs in a pot in Hong Kong.
- FOOD STALLS @ MONG KOK STREET MARKET
For a wide variety of local specialties
What to order: Organs in a pot, Eggette, Milk tea, Curry fish balls
Price range: HK$10 to $30 ($1.28 to $3.83)
When: Morning until the wee hours, daily
Where: Yau Tsim Mong District, West Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong - FOOD STALLS @ TEMPLE STREET
For a multitude of palatable street food
What to order: Organs in a pot, Wonton noodles, Fish cake, Prawn dumplings
Price range: HK$10 to $$40 ($1.28 to $5.11)
When: 07:00 - 23:00, daily
Where: Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong - FOOD STALLS @ CAUSEWAY BAY
For scrumptious food that will give you much-needed energy while you do your shopping
What to order: Organs in a pot, Noodles, Barbecued delights, Desserts
Price range: HK$10 to $30 ($1.28 to $3.83)
When: Morning until the wee hours, daily
Where: Tung Lo Wan Road, Hong Kong
9. Cheong Fun in Sweet Sauce
(Image: Cmglee)
Cheong fun in sweet sauce is a perennial crowd favorite. This is one of the popular street foods people don’t mind lining up for.
It is a recipe of boiled silky, smooth rice noodle rolls mixed with peanut butter and lard, topped with sesame seeds and a sauce that gives enough amount of sweetness to it. One also has an option of adding spice to a bowl of cheong fun for a more enjoyable experience.
The slippery and savory rolls make this snack easy to gobble up. With all the deliciousness street food offers, don’t be surprised to find yourself asking for seconds.
Here is the best place to get cheong fun in sweet sauce in Hong Kong.
- HOP YIK TAI
For authentic-tasting cheong fun and other local delicacies
What to order: Cheong fun, Chinese buns, Siu mai
Price range: HK$6 to $25 ($0.77 to $3.20)
When: 06:00 - 20:30
Where: G/F, 121 Kweilin, Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong
10. Fried Chestnuts
(Image: Kit Ng/Flickr)
This famous side street snack is downright simple, basic and great-tasting. These nuts are probably the healthiest, too. Best of all, you can enjoy them anytime of the year in Hong Kong.
You would see a lot of hawkers peddling their carts of chestnuts in the city. Their enticing aroma reminds you of Christmas and winter, the perfect time to reward yourselves with this treat.
They’re best eaten when they have just been scooped out from their hot cauldrons. Pair it with a cup of hot chocolate and an instant whiff of nostalgia awaits you.
At HK$25.44 ($3.28) per kilogram, it is advised that you buy a bulk of these nuts since it would be difficult to stop oneself from munching on them.
Here are the best places to get fried chestnuts in Hong Kong.
- FROM HAWKERS PEDDLING FRIED CHESTNUTS
For freshly-cooked fried chestnuts
What to order: Fried chestnuts
Price range: HK$25.45 to $36 ($3.28 to $4.64)
When: Morning until evening, daily
Where: Almost every street market in Hong Kong - TEMPLE STREET NIGHT MARKET
For a multitude of street food choices
What to order: Fried chestnuts, Fish balls, Egg waffles, Dumplings
Price range: HK$10 to HK$35 ($1.29 to $4.51)
When: 14:00 until the wee hours, daily
Where: Between Jordan Road and Kansu Road, Hong Kong - CHESTNUT CARTS ALONG SHANTUNG STREET
For a serving of cheap and no-frills, exceptional fried chestnuts
What to order: Fried chestnuts
Price range: Below HK$40 ($5.11)
When: Morning until evening, daily
Where: Shantung Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong
