8 must-try traditional Hong Kong dishes

By: Cassilda Lee

There’s no doubt about it: Hong Kong is foodie heaven. You can indulge any whim, with restaurants all over the city featuring cuisines from around the world. Hong Kong also has a number of classic dishes and street food snacks for which it is famous. Here’s a quick guide to some of the to-die-for local dishes.

Fish Balls

A classic Hong Kong snack, these are balls of deliciousness made with fish meat, often cooked in a piping hot curry and commonly sold at street stalls.

Egg Waffles

Affectionately called gai daan zai (“mini chicken egg”), this is Hong Kong’s version of a waffle. A crispy exterior hides the soft, sweet sponge inside. Can be served plain or with toppings such as chocolate.

Pineapple Bun

There’s actually no pineapple in this bun! It gets its name from a crackly, sugar crust on top of the soft, sweet bread roll and looks like a pineapple.

Egg Tart

Two types of egg tarts have emerged since they first became popular, one with a flaky, pastry shell and another with sweet shortbread. Whichever shell you pick, it encases a soft, creamy custard.

Milk Tea

Hong Kong milk tea is a creamy drink traditionally made with Ceylon black tea and evaporated or condensed milk.

Chinese Barbecue

Known as siu mei, Chinese barbecued meats are very more-ish. Our faves include char siu (barbecued pork), barbecued goose and roast pork.

Dim Sum

A Hong Kong version of dining with small dishes, dim sum includes classics such as har gao (steamed shrimp dumplings wrapped in a thin, translucent skin), char siu bau (barbecued pork bun) and siu mai (Chinese dumpling).