Variety is the spice of life they say! This is certainly the case with Hong Kong cuisine. Hong Kong’s past has shaped the food that is on offer, and consequently, whilst enjoying some of the best traditional eateries in the city, you will experience a mixture of food that is influenced by both non-Cantonese Chinese cuisine and Cantonese cuisine, as well as Southeast Asia, Japan, and the Western World.
This makes Hong Kong cuisine truly unique. Keeping that in mind, read on to discover more about some of the most famous and delicious foods you should try whilst in Hong Kong.
XO Sauce
If you like things spicy, you will love this condiment. XO sauce definitely has a great kick. It is often added to fried rice or tofu, as well as dim sum. However, you can add it to any dish you desire. So, what’s it made of? Chilli oil, garlic, onions, shrimp and dried scallops. Delicious!
Rice Noodle Roll
The rice noodle roll, which is locally known as cheung fun, is a popular street food. Technically, it is part of dim sum, yet you can find it served separately whilst enjoying the streets of Hong Kong. It is a delicate rice sheet that is steamed and then filled with either BBQ pork (char siu) or shrimp.
Soup Dumplings
Hong Kong residents have a strong affinity for soup dumplings such as Xiao Long Bao (XLB). The traditional filling is usually juicy and tender pork, while some more ambitious variants include foie gras, crab meat, and even cheese. For those new this fabulous food, its important to understand the proper way to eat soup dumplings to avoid making a mess, or worse yet, burning your mouth.
Black Sesame Tong Yuen
This is a food that can be enjoyed as a dessert or as a breakfast meal. Dessert for breakfast? Sold already! So, what is Black Sesame Tong Yuen? These are delicious rice balls that are topped with chopped nuts on the outside and filled with sweet black sesame on the inside. You can also get them filled with red bean paste instead.
Pineapple Bun
If you pass a bakery in Hong Kong, make sure you pop inside and pick up one of these sweet treats. A pineapple bun, locally known as bor lor bao, is a sugary, sweet and soft bun. You can either purchase one that is plain or you can get them with fillings. The fillings differ dramatically, from custard to pineapple slices to even BBQ meat. Nonetheless, what makes this sweet treat unique is the top crust, which mimics a pineapple’s texture.
Dim Sum
Finally, this article would simply not be complete without mentioning Dim Sum, arguably the most famous food in Hong Kong. Dim Sum, which is also known as yum cha, is essentially a meal that consists of various dishes. One of these is the rice noodle roll, which was previously mentioned. This dish also includes the likes of shrimp dumplings, bao buns, turnip cakes, congee and more. This is a must-have for anyone visiting Hong Kong.
Is your mouth watering yet? If you plan on taking a trip to Hong Kong in the future, make sure you enjoy the six foods mentioned above!