18 Grams - Western breakfast and a cuppa

Having been to Hong Kong so many times, I no longer just look for local Chinese food to try whenever I'm in town. I'm game for any cuisine that's worth the calories!

A while back, I'd noticed on openrice.com a café that has been creating waves with its coffee - 18 Grams. Since I love Western breakfast, I decided to give them a go.

Sai Kung - Seafood and dessert

Although seafood is served at most proper Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong, there are also 3 popular areas to eat it - Lamma Island, Lei Yue Mun and Sai Kung. I'd already been to Lamma Island a couple of times, and decided to check out Sai Kung this time round.

Directions:

• Take the MTR to Choi Hong station, and exit from C2.
• Upon reaching street level, look for the minibus stop about 50m away.
• Take green minibus 1A to Sai Kung Minibus Station. The journey is about 25 minutes.

Upon reaching Sai Kung Promenade, I found the place bustling with activity. People were promoting the sale of fresh seafood on their little boats, and customers were leaning over railings haggling for the best price. It was quite a unique experience that was nice to watch.

Leaf Dessert - Dai pai dong sweet treats

I depend a lot on openrice.com and other online reviews for recommendations on where to eat when I plan my trips to Hong Kong. Most of the time, I enjoy the recommendations. But occasionally, I meet with disappointment.

Leaf Dessert has a pretty good reputation online - both for their desserts and for the fact that they are one of the few remaining dai pai dongs in Hong Kong.

 

Kung Wo Dou Bun Chong - Over a century old

On a visit to Hong Kong in 2012, I remember randomly walking into a traditional-looking shop selling soy bean products for a cup of soy bean drink (tau jiong, 豆浆). The drink, while a tad too sweet, reminded me of the soy bean milk I used to drink as a kid (in Singapore). So I liked it, but didn't take note of the shop's name.

Later on, I came across online mentions about a famous, century-old soy bean products shop in Sham Shui Po, and realised it must have been the one I chanced upon. I promptly noted the address and made a mental note to return.

I did. Although even with the address on hand, the shop was quite hard to locate. We found the street from the map, but couldn't find the correct shop number somehow. Had to get help from a couple of other shopkeepers.

Starbucks celebrates the arts in Mong Kok

Although I could walk into any Starbucks in Hong Kong to get my coffee, I love checking out the more unique branches which cannot be found anywhere else.

One such branch is on Duddell Street in Central - decorated like an old school bing sutt. The other is this one on Sai Yee Street in Mong Kok, which pays tribute to the arts scene in Hong Kong. Local lifestyle brand G.O.D. has a hand in the design of both branches.

This "signage" is made from mahjong tiles.

Granville Road at Tsim Sha Tsui

Granville Road is quite a popular area to shop for youth fashion and fashion by local designers. I don't always drop by the area, usually only if I happen to stay in Tsim Sha Tsui for my trip.

When I do head there, I always stop by Lung Shing Dispensary. This shop may look run down, but it is always crowded with both locals and tourists whenever I am there. They sell toiletries and also brand-name cosmetics and skincare, and their prices are pretty competitive with stores like Sasa and Bonjour.

Kam Wah Cafe - For the best po lo bao

During my last stay in Metropark Hotel Mongkok, I took the opportunity to dine at this popular cha chan teng at Prince Edward.

 

Star Cafe - Tangy tomato soup noodles

On a recent trip to Hong Kong, I was staying in Tsim Sha Tsui and decided to check out eateries in the area. I'd heard about Star Café - an old school café that was in a rather hidden location, and famous for their tomato soup based noodles. Following directions provided on some blogs, I went on my way.

On Kimberley Road, locate The Mira hotel, then enter Champagne Court B next to it. Walk through to the end of the row of shops.

Honolulu Coffee Shop - Flaky crust egg tarts

When I first embarked on a search for good egg tarts in Hong Kong, recommendations often pointed to Tai Cheong Bakery. I tried them, but was disappointed as their egg tarts had shortbread pastry and the egg custard part was too sweet - not the type I like at all.

My search continued, and I finally found the perfect egg tarts at Honolulu Coffee Shop.

Yat Lok - My new personal favourite

When I visit Hong Kong with family or friends who want to try the famed roast goose, I often bring them to Yung Kee. For the more budget-conscious, I sometimes suggest Sham Tseng Chan Kee.

Move away, those two. I have found my new favourite place for roast meat - Yat Lok Restaurant!

 

Ichiran - Heaven in a bowl

Some 2 months after Ichiran first opened in Hong Kong in July 2013, I was excited to have the opportunity to try it for myself.

 

Tai Ping Koon - Old school western charm

Despite having visited Hong Kong several times, one popular local food item remained elusive to me for a long while - the roast pigeon. It featured ever so often in the TVB dramas I watch and I kept making mental notes to try it. I guess I never got down to it because one of the most recommended places to have the dish is so out of the way - Lung Wah Hotel in Shatin.

I decided that there must be alternatives. Google threw up Tai Ping Koon and after reading a few reviews, I was sold.

Off we went to the Tsim Sha Tsui branch, located in the trendy streets of Granville Road.

 

Tim Ho Wan - Singapore edition

Only three posts ago, I was lamenting how I still had not gotten the chance to try out the Singapore franchise of Tim Ho Wan since its opening in April. The opportunity presented itself soon enough, when a friend who knew I worked nearby invited me to join him and his family for lunch. They'd queued for about half an hour and were nearly at the front of the queue. Of course I said yes!

I arrived to a long, snaking queue in front of the outlet. I'd kind of expected it but nonetheless was surprised that so many people had the luxury of time to stand in line on a working weekday, before lunch hour. There were tourists for sure, but much of the crowd appeared local.

By the time our party of four got seated, the waiting time totalled an hour. Not too bad, I reckon, given that queues went up to two or three hours at the original Mong Kok branch in Hong Kong.

We'd already filled in the order form while in the queue (similar to how Tim Ho Wan in HK operates), and didn't have to wait long before our food was served.

I'd dined at Tim Ho Wan HK eight times now - four at Mong Kok, and four at Sham Shui Po. I'll get down to business straightaway about how the Singapore counterpart fared against the original.

First item of the "Big 4 Heavenly King Dim Sum (四大天王点心)" promoted by Tim Ho Wan Singapore - baked bun with BBQ pork (酥皮焗叉烧包).

Ichiran - My favourite ramen chain opening in HK

When I was contemplating my holiday plans for the second half of this year, I was seriously thinking of Tokyo. I'm a huge fan of Japanese cuisine, and I needed my fix of Ichiran ramen. Ichiran is, hands down, the best hakata style ramen I've eaten till date.

Hui Lau Shan - Heaven for mango fans

I cannot believe I have yet to dedicate any post to Hui Lau Shan (许留山), considering how big a fan I am.

If you love mangoes like me, this dessert shop will be like heaven to you. And the good news is that heaven is readily accessible as Hui Lau Shan is literally all over Hong Kong!

Tim Ho Wan - Sham Shui Po branch

By now, I believe everyone who intends to visit Hong Kong would have heard of Tim Ho Wan, the famous one Michelin starred dim sum eatery that started out as a hole-in-the-wall set up in Mong Kok.

The eatery has even set up its first international branch, right here in Singapore. Unfortunately, the queues have been so horrendous since the opening in April 2013 that I haven't had the opportunity to try it myself. Ahh, the irony, when the shop is practically a stone's throw from my office. But I don't have much patience to queue for food except when on holidays.

Anyway, the original Mong Kok branch has moved out in end January 2013 due to increasing rents. Alternative locations are at Sham Shui Po, IFC Mall, North Point and Oympian City. However, only the Sham Shui Po and North Point branches have been awarded the Michelin star currently, so I usually head to Sham Shui Po for my dim sum fix now.

Butao - Hakata style ramen

Having already visited Hong Kong eight times so far, the foodie in me is always looking for new eateries to explore whenever I'm in town. On Open Rice, I came across one particular ramen shop that's apparently been creating waves (and long queues) in the last two years - Butao Ramen.

This is its Causeway Bay branch, which supposedly has a shorter waiting time than the original shop at Central. There's also now a third branch in Tsim Sha Tsui. We reached at about 10.45am - 15 minutes before the opening time - and there were already a few people standing in line.

Starbucks with a twist at Duddell Street

Not all Starbucks cafes are created equal.

On Duddell Street, Central stands a Starbucks that's one of a kind. Welcome to the world's first and only Starbucks Bing Sutt (冰室)!

Claypot rice - A surprise find

Whenever I used to stay in Stanford Hotel in Mong Kok, one little eatery along Soy Street would catch my attention. Every night, the shop would be packed with tables and tables of people eating claypot rice. The tables would even spill onto the road just outside the shop.

Seafood indulgence at Lamma Island

When it comes to seafood, Lamma Island, Lei Yue Mun and Sai Kung are arguably some of the most popular places to eat it. Since Lamma Island is featured in numerous TVB dramas, it is a natural first choice for me.

To get to the island, take a ferry from Central Piers. The piers are nearer to Hong Kong MTR station. If you alight at Central MTR station, walk through to Hong Kong station, then through the ifc mall.