552791 Wed Aug 27 17:48:24 -0700 2008 43 46 China 0 3992596 Hi Freinds, I'm making my 9th trip to Hong Kong in a couple of weeks (I'm an engineer at a baby products company near Boston, USA and will be staying at Marco Polo Gateway) and looking for something I may have missed. Not something fancy and expensive as I have had most of those meals, just some recommendations of must-eats. I usually stick to small places with little english and bbq meats in the windows or outisde places in Mon Kok and Temple Street. What am I missing? Vendros love top take me out to the fancy places, but I would loive to say "How about here" and surprise them as well? I'll be up in Guangzhou for a few days maybe and always eat like a king up there, but eating in HK always leaves me wanting the more authentic stuff and not the stuff just to impress your vendors. not sure if this makes any sense, but best dumplings? best homemade noodles? best hot pot? Best goose or duck? Best street food...Best fresh seafood... Thanks for any and all help Mark Adamowicz Wed Aug 27 17:48:27 -0700 2008 64180 markadamowicz 1 3995640 A couple of places with 'wow' Chinese dishes that imbedded in my mind include a place with no English name - ' Heung Kong Shui Yuet' ( Cantonese pronounciation ) situated on the east side of Nathan road between Austin Road and Hillwood Road. Their 'fried ho-fun aka rice noodle with frog legs and black bean sauce' is simply awesome! Never knew black bean sauce can taste THAT good! Another great place, own by the famed HK food critic ' Choi Lan ' is ' Cho Choi Koon ' at the corner of Tak Hing Street (SE corner of Jordan Road and Nathan road). Its next to a Malaysian restaurant. Their 'Stirred fry mixed pig's innards with scallions and ginger' is one of the most delicious dish I have ever tasted. The pig's liver was simply out of this world! After having eaten great food in numerous Michelin stars restaurants all over Europe, Japan and America, that speaks a lot!!! BTW, both restaurants are in the Jordan disrict of Kowloon. Happy chowing! Thu Aug 28 20:29:39 -0700 2008 3992596 10810 Charles Yu 2 4665650 i remember reading this post back last august. I never did figure out the first place you were talking about. Do you by any chance know the address or the chinese characters for the name? i'm trying to deduct on openrice, and nothing seems to match.... except some fancy 300+ place, but the name seems really off. I'd like to try those frogs legs before i leave in 9 days. Fri May 08 07:37:45 -0700 2009 3995640 23879 kairo 3 4667275 I was in HK in March. Made a special trip there to find it 'CLOSED'!! What a pity! Sigh......:( Fri May 08 15:55:36 -0700 2009 4665650 10810 Charles Yu 1 3995857 http:///www.winglaiyuen.com.hk/ They say the Wong Tai Sin location is the better of the two, but I did go to the Whampoa location and it is very decent. Try their dan dan noodles, limit one per person per visit. I used to eat at the old Diamond Hill location in the 80s as a kid. While you are there, get a side of the steamed pork leg bacon with sichuan chili oil (yunan bacon). It's damn good. Or find 3 buddies and get the Sa Wor won ton chicken soup (minimum 4 in your party to order one). If you're a fan of Anthony Bourdain's show No Reservations, this blogger took him on many eating trips, who is a local food and gourmand in his own right (of local stuff that's simple and not tablecloth fancy high end). Tons of listings to choose from off the beaten path. http://chaxiubao.typepad.com/chaxiubao/eating_in_hong_kong/ Thu Aug 28 22:57:13 -0700 2008 3992596 12872 K K 2 3998731 I'm a long-standing fan of Josh Tse's blog (but definitely not of Bourdain) myself, and concur that it's worth spending the time digging into. "CXB" really knows the HK food scene from bottom to top. Sat Aug 30 11:59:22 -0700 2008 3995857 131118 Xiao Yang 1 3995871 have you been to the private kitchens yet? it is a very HK thing, dont think you get that anywhere else - basically privately owned restaurants, quite often literally set up in a flat. you can bring your own wine etc - some no corkage, but some do charge - check before you go. One of the best is Da Ping Hou http://www.foodtourist.com/FTGuide/Content/I1319.htm It is sichuan food, very good, very spicy. Very reasonable for something like 13-15 small courses. And at the end the chef comes out and sings chinese opera - 2 sittings 7.30 and 9. Enjoy! Thu Aug 28 23:16:34 -0700 2008 3992596 218066 twinsmum 1 3998405 Thanks for all of the recommendations. I appreciate it very much. I've seen every episode of every Anthony Bourdain show/series, so the HK show was great to watch. Never did figure out where to get those homemade noodles though. Thanks agian and the private dinner idea sounds awesome. May have to get a vendor to look into that. Mark Sat Aug 30 07:51:04 -0700 2008 3992596 64180 markadamowicz 2 4019595 Where to get the homemade noodles from the Bore-dain episode? At Mr Ping's noodle stall: Ping Kee, 2/F Tai Po district market, Heung Sze Wui St, Tai Po, Tel 2658-4567 Tai Po is a long way to go to noodle stall. If you're staying at the Gateway, here are a few not-fancy but tasty options within a couple minutes walking distance. Din Tai Fung, excellent dumplings (especially the crab xiu long bau) and other simple fare in a very well-run branch of a famous Taiwanese restaurant. Come very early, or line up. 3/f Silvercord, across the street from your hotel. In the basement of Silvercord Mall, there's a good Asian food court. Just up Canton road in the China Ferry Terminal building (aka China HK City) there's a weird little food court called 'Gourmet Express'. The good thing is it has a branch of Mak's Noodle, arguably the most famous (and tiny) wonton in HK. I prefer their brisket noodles. There's also a a good Thai-style chicken rice place there. Down Haiphong Rd in the Temporary Market (ask your hotel for directions, it's close but not obvious) there's the most famous beef ball noodle stall in HK, called Tak Fat. No air-con, no English sign, but it's the place with the orange bowls. For HK-style BBQ, Guangdong BBQ (43 Hankow Rd) is famous, close by, and their meat is excellent. But they can be staggeringly rude to westerners, and to anyone else, for that matter. A better and closer bet is Hing Fat, 8 Ashley Rd, which has a very extensive menu. Tue Sep 09 02:43:40 -0700 2008 3998405 126963 HKDave 3 4020033 Din Tai Fung is an over-priced chain (39 branches at last count) that can be found anywhere in Asia (as well as Los Angeles and Sydney), so it's not exactly an experience that speaks "Hong Kong." I haven't worked in HK since 1997, so I am not in touch with what represents the best in local products these days, but if the OP wants to eat xiaolong bao I would suggest Wu Kong; the cuisine may be Shanghainese, but it's been around long enough to have become a Hong Kong institution. http://www.wukong.com.hk/ Tue Sep 09 07:39:39 -0700 2008 4019595 131118 Xiao Yang 4 4660791 ...hello agian, heading back soon - any new places I should be keeping an eye out for? Wed May 06 17:33:13 -0700 2009 4020033 64180 markadamowicz 5 4664416 During Anthony Bourdain's No Reservation Hong Kong show, he visited a Chinese B-B-Q place in Tai Po, New Territories for roast goose and suckling pig. Well, at the other end of the street is one of HK's best place ( Kwun Kee ) for ' Braised beef Brisket and Tendons'. However, if you are really adventurous, they also offer ' cow's penis'. Unique enough for you? Next to this 'beef specialty' store is a small outfit that serves one of HK's best Tofu dessert. A nice refreshing bowl for only HK$5. Both places were visited by myself and Singapore Chowhound Fourseasos during our mini-chowmeet a couple of months ago. That was after our lunch at Tai Wai's Fung Lum where we gobbled down a roasted pigeon each as well as some incredibly delicious 'Fried live sea prawns with peppered salt'! Have a nice trip! Thu May 07 18:02:59 -0700 2009 4660791 10810 Charles Yu 6 4664537 Cow penis - I am up for that. Most of my HK vendors think I am crazy. Most of my mainland China vendors thing I am adventurous.... I've had pigeon at the HK Macau restuarant chain (owned by one of Stanley Ho's wives, forget the name, near Guangdong BBQ in TST) the last 5 times I've been over....tasty stuff I had silkworms, water beetles and bee larvae from forest bee's nest in Guangzhou on my last trip....that was some cool stuff. Funny that I still get offers of KFC and McDonald's over there and haven't been one in the US in over 10 years..... Thu May 07 18:58:14 -0700 2009 4664416 64180 markadamowicz 7 4664595 Out of curiosity, you should pay a visit to KFC and McDonald's in HK. They have some 'cool' local specials that are very intersting! Thu May 07 19:21:56 -0700 2009 4664537 10810 Charles Yu 8 4670400 I am going to pass on that. One time I was in the Shunde area and came back froma meeting and to my horror the conference table was filled with McDonald's.They thought they were doing me a favor.I ate it to be polite and then explained afterwards I would prefer to eat at the canteen for all future in-house lunches! Sun May 10 06:11:28 -0700 2009 4664595 64180 markadamowicz 7 4669837 LOL! I liked the way you said "owned by one of Stanley Ho's wives". There were rumors about that just before the Macau Restaurant was opened back in the late-90s. Then, on its opening day, the big man himself turned up in his RR! Sat May 09 19:18:46 -0700 2009 4664537 143097 klyeoh 7 4833595 I didn't know cows had penises. I have however eaten the quaintly-named bull's pizzle in soup, in Taipei - not offensive, just not particularly delicious in my humble opinion. Mon Jul 06 11:28:27 -0700 2009 4664537 13709 buttertart 3 4829146 I better withdraw my recommendation for Hing Fat. I went there tonight and was charged a rather astonishing HK$48 for tea! I'm a local and they've never charged me this before (I live nearby and have eaten there often; this wasn't even my first time there this week), but it turns out they do have this absurd price at the bottom of the menu cards on the table. So unless you want to fight, you have to pay. Yet another good old-fashioned HK rip-off, aimed at tourists, but this time it caught me as well. Sat Jul 04 08:39:20 -0700 2009 4019595 126963 HKDave 1 4667386 Is Jimmy's Kitchen still open? Fri May 08 16:40:38 -0700 2009 3992596 287313 The Shepherd 2 4667742 Yes! Both the ones in Central, HK and TST, Kowloon. Fri May 08 19:46:49 -0700 2009 4667386 10810 Charles Yu 3 4670407 I went once....to say I went. I'm more of a "eat what is hanging in the window" type of guy myself. I will always turn down offers of Morton's and Ruth's Chris for food that is 1/25th of the price and 25 times better. Sun May 10 06:15:07 -0700 2009 4667742 64180 markadamowicz 1 4669710 markadamowicz, I guess after numerous trips, you'd be familiar with Cantonese food by now, and may want to delve deeper into sub-regional Cantonese cuisine. For this, try Lok Sau Sun restaurant in Tsimshatsui near Jordan MTR) which specializes in Cantonese food from the "Shun Tak" district. They do a great claypot fish-head dish which is carried sizzling to the table, where you peel off the aluminium foil cover to release an aromatic cloud of deliciousness! If you're not into fish-head (I loved fish-eyes, lips & other gelatinous bits), you can go for the pork-ribs with sweet-sour sauce, which is also very good. Other dishes to try there: - fish balls coated with noodles, served with a clam dip; - various stuffed vegetables: capsicums, lotus root, etc; - steamed catfish with salted black beans. And don't miss those famous Shun Tak desserts like flower-herbal jellies and double-boiled milk puddings. Sat May 09 18:19:37 -0700 2009 3992596 143097 klyeoh 2 4669726 Hello klyeoh! Guess what?! I used to live around the corner but I havn't eaten the place! For you to dig this place out, you are truly a 'Foodie Master'!!! Sat May 09 18:25:42 -0700 2009 4669710 10810 Charles Yu 3 4669777 Not really, Charles - it's just that I have a bunch of HK foodie friends who know how much I sometimes liked to chowhound for lesser-known, hidden gems, away from the beaten path. The challenge is to find really authentic places, with their jealous bunch of loyal regular customers, keeping their precious gem of an eating place close to their chest, way from the greedy hordes. Shun Tak is such a place - located in a little alley, but perpetually full - you'll need to book ahead. Sat May 09 18:46:15 -0700 2009 4669726 143097 klyeoh 2 4670403 I like fish head a lot. Lots of flavor hidden in there. I am always the guest of honor over there and end up with it anyway. I appreciate that. I will definitely check Lok Sau Sun out. I usually stay at the Marco Polo, pretty close. Sun May 10 06:13:34 -0700 2009 4669710 64180 markadamowicz 3 4716683 Hi friends, I'm heading over to Hong Kong next Monday. Any last minute suggestions. I realize I spend many nights roaming around Mon Kok and Temple St. night markets....any suggestions around there....how over in Central and (I know, I know) LKF area.... Thanks and will report back when I am back....and some dispatches as well during my trip Mark Adamowicz Tue May 26 15:52:12 -0700 2009 4670403 64180 markadamowicz 4 4717076 Try Fu Sing in Wanchai: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/620966 The restaurant's located equidistance from either Wanchai or Causeway Bay MTR stations, or else a HKD50 taxi ride from Tsimshatsui. Tue May 26 18:22:08 -0700 2009 4716683 143097 klyeoh 4 4717168 For some authentic 'home style wok-hey' Cantonese cooking, try ' Cho Choi Koon' at the SE corner of Nathan Road and Jordan Road on Kowloon side. ( next to a Malaysian restaurant ). Rave reviews including tons from celebrities! The stirred fry pigs liver and innards with ginger and spring onions is to die for! Very reasonable prices too. The aforementioned dish for example costs only HK$48. Have a nice trip! Tue May 26 18:59:26 -0700 2009 4716683 10810 Charles Yu 5 4717217 I'd forgotten all about the Malaysian Chinese Restaurant on 12 Jordan St till you mentioned it, Charles. That place itself is worth checking out because it offers very unique HK-style Malaysian-Chinese food, i.e. nothing you taste there can be found in Malaysia itself! The curries are mild, cooked HK-Cantonese style. They also have a shaved ice dessert with red-beans & evaporated milk, a local interpretation of Malaysia's ice-kachang. The restaurant's got a very retro-70s feel though. Tue May 26 19:17:59 -0700 2009 4717168 143097 klyeoh 6 4734859 Just arrived - heading out to Temple Street for some gifts for the kids and may check out Lok Sau Sun or some spicy Crabs al fresco in the market.... Tue Jun 02 04:15:50 -0700 2009 4717217 64180 markadamowicz 7 4735196 Or 'Cho Choi Koon' (cnr Nathan & Jordan Rds) which is oft-repeated by Charles Yu ;-) http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/620369 Tue Jun 02 07:05:58 -0700 2009 4734859 143097 klyeoh 8 4735312 Another Chowhound found this place (without knowing what it was called initially): http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/569768 Placemark: Tue Jun 02 07:40:06 -0700 2009 4735196 143097 klyeoh 7 4735216 Or some big live mantis shrimp ?? My favourite. Tue Jun 02 07:12:21 -0700 2009 4734859 62525 skylineR33 7 4735418 OK, the Malaysian place was closed and the place next to it was not names Cho Choi Moon.....? Also, I looked for Lok Sau Sun and found two places, no english whatsoveer, so didn;t know which was right. One was a one room restaurant and the other looked a little fancier (I was wearing shorts so didn;t head in). Either one could have been the address "1-5"....any advice.... Ended up eating outside at Temple Street (at Spicy crab0 and had scallops in the shell with black bean sauce and some fried noodles and pork. Alos had some apple/celery/carrot/bitter melon juice, some octupus on a stick and just bought a few branches of what I think is lychee. As always, can't go wrong here with food. Tue Jun 02 08:18:36 -0700 2009 4734859 64180 markadamowicz 8 4736908 The ' Cantonese' restaurant does not have an English name as such! In Cantonese, its pronounced ' Cho Choi Koon'. I just ate there two months ago! It was bustling! Tue Jun 02 15:06:14 -0700 2009 4735418 10810 Charles Yu 9 4738030 Right - now I know why I was looking for the wrong name. Went to Haiphiong Road today and ate in the temporary market. My friend found a cockroackh in his beef brisket soup....he got a new bowl and lunch continued without incident. VERY good. Bugs aside. Goit some vegetable with bean curd as well....a new taste for me. Here's a few pictures Mark Adamowicz Wed Jun 03 02:03:00 -0700 2009 4736908 64180 markadamowicz 8 4738042 markadamowicz, Lok Sau Sun has this HUGE sign (but in Chinese only, I think) which extends horizontally across Tak Shing St. I nearly snapped a photo of the restaurant front when I passed by it a couple of weeks ago (during a short visit to HK) & post the photo on CH - thought it might help non-Chinese readers. Will do that next time! BTW, if you take Exit E coming out from Jordan MTR station and walk along Tak Shing St, the restaurant is on the right-side of the street. It's 3 minutes' walk from the station. Wed Jun 03 02:27:16 -0700 2009 4735418 143097 klyeoh 1 5130356 Heading back over in a week. Any new updates guys????? Sun Oct 25 18:11:39 -0700 2009 3992596 64180 markadamowicz 2 5130582 Nothing new on the Chinese food front. However, a couple of world class western cuisine restaurant with Michelin star potential have opened up recently. One is 'Cepage' in WanChai, a creation of Singapore's Les Amis group. The other is 'Cafe Gray Delux' inside 'Upper House' the new hotel above Pacific Place in Admiralty. This is the creation of Gray Kunz of ex-Lespinasse and Michelin 1* Cafe Gray, NYC's fame. Both have been receiving rave reviews from foodies. Sun Oct 25 19:50:57 -0700 2009 5130356 10810 Charles Yu 3 5132427 Hey Charles, can you point me in the direction for the Cafe Gray reviews? I've been there twice now but both time only for drinks and not for food. The view there is SPECTACULAR. Reviews on Openrice seem positive but not necessarily rave reviews. Want to give the place a go but want to do a little more research beforehand. Thanks! Mon Oct 26 13:22:41 -0700 2009 5130582 1090793 big_apple_ken 4 5132805 Reviews and photos provided by foodie friends who posted on facebook. Mon Oct 26 15:42:56 -0700 2009 5132427 10810 Charles Yu 5 5133923 Oh no wonder...So what dishes do your foodie friends recommend? Tue Oct 27 06:00:15 -0700 2009 5132805 1090793 big_apple_ken 6 5133947 Three stand-out dishes ( a la carte ) were: - Seared Foie Gras with green lentil salad, sherry vinegar and honey. - Chilled soup of lemongrass with yogurt lime sorbet - Passionfruit souffles baked in their own shell Dishes of the chef tasting menu also looked awesome. Tue Oct 27 06:10:14 -0700 2009 5133923 10810 Charles Yu 3 5132760 Hi Charles, Thanks for the update, but still looking for the special, hole in the wall, 'best noodles/bbq/dumpling' in hong kong.....I leave the fancy stuff to the guys that travel in suits... :) Mon Oct 26 15:26:08 -0700 2009 5130582 64180 markadamowicz