By Emma Hayes
DISHESCha Chaan Teng ClassicsFrench toast Scrambled egg sandwiches Spam and fried egg instant noodles Pineapple bun with butter Condensed milk toast Horlicks Ovaltine “Yuen yeung” for kids:half-Horlicks, half-Ovaltine Cold soy milk Chinese BakeriesEgg tarts Warm pineapple buns Cocktail buns Sausage buns Raisin bread Wife cakes Chinese DessertsRed/green bean soup Sesame soup Almond tea Glutinous rice dumplings Pomelo and mango chillled soup Baked sago pudding Herb jelly Chiu Chow bowl puddings Sweet tofu with red sugar Communal DiningKorean BBQ Hotpot Poon choi Dim SumWe could probably list 1,000 dim sum dishes alone, but here are our top 10:BBQ pork buns, char siu bao Shrimp dumplings, har gow Pork and shrimp dumplings, siu mai Rice rolls, cheung fun Chicken wrapped in lotus leaf, zun zhu gai Taro puffs Chiu Chow dumplings, fun gor Spring rolls Steamed spare ribs, pai gwut Ham sui gok Steamed cake, ma lai gouOK, that was our top 11. 10 is really hard. HK BreakfastMacaroni spam soup Congee with a fried dough stick Sauce-covered cheung fun Saucy fried noodles QUINTESSENTIAL DISHESRoasted goose from Yung Kee Curry beef brisket noodlesfrom Kau Kee Portuguese egg tarts from KFCYes, really. Wonton noodles from Mak’s Noodle Mango sago fromHui Lau Shan Peking duck at American Peking Cantonese Roasted MeatsChar siu Crispy pork belly Soy sauce chicken Roasted goose Street FoodEgg waffles, gai dan zai Condensed milk waffles “Four Treasures” Curry fishballs Fried chicken leg Pork chop buns Fresh coconut milk drinks Drink ‘n’ run herbal tea shops Coconut crepes, tong chung beng Motorcycle ice cream vendors Winter time chestnut hawkers Tea in all it's GuisesMilk tea Iced lemon tea “Yuen yeung”tea-coffee Silk stocking milk tea Bubble tea Loose-leaf Chinese tea Boxed lemon tea (Vita or Hi-C) More Can't-Miss DishesHainan chicken rice Mapo tofu Zong Plastic bag noodlesPerennial snack of school kids Suckling pig at a Chinese wedding Taiwanese shaved ice Chiu Chow soy sauce goose 1,000-year-old eggs IngredientsPreserved MeatsPressed duck Lap cheung sausageCondimentsXO SauceBBQ Honey RestaurantsBrunch Spots The Press Room108 Hollywood Rd., Sheung Wan, 2525-3444. Brunch Club70 Peel St., Central, 2526-8861. Fringe Club Roof2 Lower Albert Rd., Central, 2521-7251. 208 Duecento Otto208 Hollywood Rd., Sheung Wan, 2549-0208. California Vintage77 Wyndham St., Central, 2525-9808. Posto PubblicoG/F, 28 Elgin St., Central, 2577-7160. Champagne brunchesThe highest form of daytime drinking, and available just about everywhere. Make sure you drink at least a bottle of bubbly to get your money’s worth. SeafoodUnder Bridge Spicy CrabShop 1-2, G/F, 414 - 424 Jaffe Rd., Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, 2573-7698. Dot CodB4/F, Basement, Prince’s Building, 10 Chater Rd., Central, 2810-6988. Ming KeePoi Toi Island, 2849-7038. Lamma HiltonShum Kee Seafood Restaurant26 Second St., Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma, 2982-8290. Rainbow Seafood Restaurant23-25 First St., Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma, 2982-8100. Sai Kung Seafood Street Lei Yuen Mun Sam Shing HuiSeafood Market, Tuen MunCheapest Michelin Meals in the WorldHung’s Delicacies84-94A Wharf Rd., North Point, 2570-1108. Tim Ho WanFlat 8, G/F, Phase 2, Tsui Yuen Mansion, 2-20 Kwong Wa St., Mong Kok, 2332-2896. Ho Hung Kee2 Sharp St. East, Causeway Bay, 2577-6558. Drunk FoodEbeneezer’s6 Lan Kwai Fong, Central, 2114-0555. Hay Hay KitchenG/F, 72-86 Lockhart Rd., Wan Chai, 2143-6183. Paisano’s23 Hollywood Rd., Central, 2544-4445. The ultimate: Tsui WahAnd its awesome curry rice.15 Wellington St., Central, 2525-6338.Indian curries Delhi ClubRoom 3, 3/F, Block C, Chungking Mansions, 36-44 Nathan Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2368-1682. Khyber PassShop E2, 7/F, Block E, Chungking Mansions, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2721-2786. Khana KazanaVegetarian Indian restaurant.1/F, Dannies House, 20 Luard Rd., Wan Chai, 8108-1070. Ganga’sLG/F, 57-59 Wyndham St., Central, 2537-7933.Heritage RestaurantsJimmy’s Kitchen and its ancient waitersSouth China Building, 1-3 Wyndham St., Central, 2526-5293. Mido Cafe 63 Temple St., Yau Ma Tei, 2384-6402. Joy Hing Roast Meat RestaurantBlock C, G/F, 265-267 Hennessy Rd., Wan ChaI, 2519-6639. The PawnAnd its public space rooftop.62 Johnston Rd., Wan Chai, 2866-3444. Shatin InnTai Po Rd., Tai Wai, 2691-1425. Jumbo Floating RestaurantShum Wan Pier Drive, Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, 2553-9111. AmigoOpened in 1967, during the riots. Amigo Mansion, 79A Wong Nai Chung Rd., Happy Valley, 2577-2202. Lin Heung Tea HouseSuper-old-school dim sum.160 Wellington St., Central, 2544-4556. Luk Yu Tea HouseAnd the 2002 assassination that happened there. G-3/F, 24 Stanley St., Central, 2523-5464. Maxim’s City HallSometimes, you just gotta go. 2/F, Low Block, City Hall, Central, 2521-1303. Chan Yee JaiPurveyors of traditional Hong Kong candy. 176 Queen’s Rd. Central, 2543-8414. The Peak Lookout121 Peak Rd., The Peak, 2849-1000. Australia Dairy CompanyG/F, 47-49 Parkes St., Jordan, 2730-1356.Hotel RestaurantsPetrus at the Island Shangri-La56/F, Island Shangri-La Hong Kong, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Rd., Admiralty, 2820-8590. Lung King Heen at the Four Seasons4/F, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, 8 Finance St., Central, 3196-8880. Cuisine Cuisine at The Mira3/F, The Mira, 118 Nathan Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2315-5222. Man Wah at the Mandarin Oriental25/F, Mandarin Oriental, 5 Connaught Rd. Central, 2522-0111. Gaddi’s at The Peninsula1/F, The Peninsula Hong Kong, 19-21 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2696-6763. Amber at the LandmarkMandarin Oriental, 7/F, Landmark Mandarin Oriental, 15 Queen’s Rd. Central, 2132-0066. Sabatini at the Royal Garden3/F, The Royal Garden, 69 Mody Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2733-2000. Tiffin Lounge at the Grand HyattM/F, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Rd., Wan Chai, 2584-7722. Hugo’s at the Hyatt Regency TSTL/F, Hyatt Regency Tsim Sha Tsui, 18 Hanoi Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2311-1234. Nicholini’s at The Conrad8/F, Conrad Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, 2521-3838. McDonaldstopia24-hour McDonaldsSausage McMuffins served all day and all night. McDonalds delivery Seasonal McDishesShake shake fries and Shogun burgers? Heaven. Of a kind.Private kitchensMagnolia Shop 5, G/F, 17 Po Yan St., Sheung Wan, 2530-9880 Kea’s KitchenRow One, Mooring 5345, Kea’s Kitchen, Aberdeen St., Aberdeen, 6077-5964. Mandy’s Private KitchenFive minutes away from Sai Kung Town Center, 9816-9946. Yellow Door6/F, Cheung Hing Commercial Building, 37 Cochrane St., Central, 2858-6555. Xi Yan Flavours3/F, 83 Wan Chai Rd., Wan Chai, 2575-6966. Le Blanc6/F, 83 Wan Chai Rd., Wan Chai, 3428-5824. Yin Yang18 Ship St., Wan Chai, 2866-0868. Culinart Private Kitchen22B Kwai Bo Industrial Building, 40 Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen,2580-0919. Chef’s Studio40 Wong Chuk Hang Rd., Wong Chuk Hang, 3104-4664. Ma Cuisine3A Unison Industrial Building, 7 Sun Yip St., Chai Wan, 2515-0477.Soy Sauce Western RestaurantsGoldfinch13-15 Lan Fong Rd., Causeway Bay, 2577-7981. Queen’s CaféShop A, 18/F, Lee Theatre Plaza, 99 Percival St., Causeway Bay, 3151-7595. Sammy’s Kitchen204-206 Queens Rd. West, Sai Ying Pun, 2548-8400. Tai Ping Koon60 Stanley St., Central, 2899-2780. Boston Restaurant3 Luard Road, Wan Chai, 2527-7646.SteakhousesThe Grand Hyatt Steak House 2/F, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Rd., Wan Chai, 2588-1234. Morton’s4/F, The Sheraton Hong Kong, 20 Nathan Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2732-2343. Lawry’s the Prime RibSo it’s closed for renovations until fall, but we still love it. 4/F, The Lee Garden, Phase 1, 33 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay, 2907-2218. Blue Butcher108 Hollywood Rd., Sheung Wan, 2613-9286, www.bluebutcher.com. Intercontinental Steak House18 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2313-2323.Club FoodClub sandwiches with a view at the RHKYCRoyal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Kellett Island Clubhouse, Causeway Bay, 2239-0348. Awesome curries at the USRC1 Gascoigne Rd, Jordan, 3966-8600. Dining on the Verandah at the FCC2 Lower Albert Rd., Central, 2521-1511.Yuppie FoodBrickhousePricey tacos for the well-to-do. G/F, 20A D’Aguilar St., Central, 2810-0560. YardbirdDelicious chicken butt. 33 Bridges St., Sheung Wan, 2547-9273. Sushi Kuu1/F, Wellington Place, 2-8 Wellington St., Central, 2971-0810. Three MonkeysG/F, 151-155 Hollywood Rd., Sheung Wan, 3151-7771. Armani AquaShop 204-205, 2/F, Chater House, 8 Connaught Rd., Central, 3583-2828. Classified Cheese Room.Leading Hong Kong’s cheese renaissance. 108 Hollywood Rd, Central, 2525-3454Cheap FoodDai pai dongs Cooked food centers Fairwood Café de Coral Maxims Anywhere that sticks up photos of celebrities in its windowsPlaces We LikeAuthentic Thai food in Kowloon CityFriendship Thai Food, G/F, 38 Kai Tak Rd., Kowloon City, 2832-8671; Amporn Thaifood, Shop 9, 3/F, Kowloon City Market, Kowloon City, 2716-3689. Ba Yi Xinjiang Restaurant43 Water St., Sai Ying Pun, 2484-9981. Cat CafesCat Store Café, Flat D-E, 3/F Po Ming Building, Fu Ming St., Causeway Bay, 2710-9953. ABC KitchenEuropean dining in a cooked food center. Shop 7, Queen’s Street Cooked Food Market, 1 Queen’s St., Sheung Wan, 9278-8227. Chun Chun RestaurantA giant dai pai dong serving roasted pigeon in Fo Tan. Outdoor Food Market, Shan Mei St., Fo Tan, 2691-2660. Honeymoon DessertNow a chain. The original: 9-10 Po Tung Rd., Sai Kung, 2792-4991. Islam Food1 Lung Kong Rd., Kowloon City ,2382-2822.SnacksPreserved sour plums Smith nougat Honey lemon tea candy Dried mango White Rabbit sweets Hong Kong style pick n’ mix gummy sweets Haw flakes Peanut/sesame brittle Date and walnut candy in rice paper and cellophane Sugus The citywide fixation with Ferrero Rocher Pocky Classic mooncakes... ...In fact, creative mooncakes of every stripe A spiral-cut potato on a stick Fried dough stick, yau za gwei Dragon’s beard candy Spring onion cakes Apollo ice cream Overly creamy birthday cakes VitasoyEspecially served warm in the winter. Want Want biscuits Chinese New Year sweetmeats Coffee and TeaOlympia Graeco-Egyptian Coffee24 Old Bailey St., Central, 2522-4653. MingchaFlat D, 12/F, Wah Ha Factory Building, 8 Shipyard Lane, Taikoo, 2520-2116.Weird, Crazy Food We EatSnake Bugs Chicken feet Duck tongue Offal Stinky tofu Deer tail DurianDelicious. Wonderful. Divisive. Frog Basically: everything. ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tK%2FMqWWcp51kuqKzwLOgp52jZLWsecyanpqymaOycK3RraCcpJVkf3F%2FlG5ubGdhZX1xedGemKynnqh6rbvVnmShp56ceqy7zaBkn6efmQ%3D%3D