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.

Kam Fung Restaurant - For that (almost) national bun

Hong Kongers seem to have a national obsession with po lo bao (pineapple bun). Since bread and pastry do not exactly excite me, I have not been compelled to try it, until this April.

Kam Fung Restaurant in Wan Zhai on Hong Kong Island is one of several popular cha chan tengs to try this snack, so here we were.

Tung Po - Dai pai dong goodness

Like we have hawker centres in Singapore, there are also cooked food centres in Hong Kong. A friend introduced me to this particular one, located within walking distance of North Point MTR station and also accessible by tram.

Iconic tram ride and bustling Causeway Bay

Despite having been to Hong Kong several times over the last ten years or so, I never got down to trying one of the city's earliest forms of transport - the electric tram - until this year. Affectionately called "ding ding", the tram is more than a century old, and is an economical mode of transport from the west to the east of Hong Kong Island, and back.

Picture from Discover Hong Kong.

The Peak - Views from above

Every visitor to Hong Kong should definitely go to The Peak at least once. There are various ways to get there, but for the first-time visitor, The Peak Tram is a good choice. Be prepared for the crowds though.

Tai Cheong Bakery - The best egg tarts?

Tai Cheong Bakery was just an ordinary, popular bakery until Chris Patten, Hong Kong's former governor, set foot into the 50-year-old shop and declared their egg tarts the best in the world.

Since then, the queue has never really stopped.

 

Lan Fong Yuen - Where milk tea began

If there is one drink that best represents Hong Kong, it's surely the popular Hong Kong style "silk stocking" milk tea (丝袜奶茶).

And somewhere in a small, busy alley in Central, one dai pai dong (大排档) lays claim to being the "inventor" of this milk tea.

 

Wanton noodles - Mak's Noodles vs Tsim Chai Kee

I love a bowl of good wanton noodles when in Hong Kong. And one of the best places to sample this dish is Mak's Noodles on Wellington Street in Central.

Lin Heung Tea House - Fighting the dim sum war

I'm the sort of traveller who will do as much research as possible before a trip - searching forums, asking questions, reading reviews. Usually, that helps a lot to ensure a smooth, enjoyable holiday and things seldom go wrong. But there's always a first for everything.

Lin Heung Tea House, established in 1928, is one restaurant that seems to be mentioned in every other guide book. People rave about how it is traditional and authentic, and how it offers a true blue dim sum experience from decades past.

 

Yung Kee Restaurant - Home of the roast goose

Over at the Hong Kong Island side, Wellington Street in Central is one street that's lined with great dining choices. One of them is Yung Kee Restaurant, a multi-storeyed restaurant complete with flashy exterior. Reservations are recommended.

 

G.O.D. - To live better!

Whenever I'm in Hong Kong, I make it a point to visit the shop called G.O.D. Pronounced letter by letter, it sounds like the Cantonese slang for "to live better" (住好啲). Quite aptly, the shop sells lifestyle and household products, with a focus on modernising traditional Oriental items. I love the idea!

Serenade Chinese Restaurant - Dining with a view

For a proper meal of Cantonese cuisine or dim sum that's beyond mass appeal outfits like Tim Ho Wan or Tao Heung, I enjoy going to the Serenade Chinese Restaurant by the Maxim's Group. This middle-range restaurant offers great food at reasonable prices, and even an inspiring view of Victoria Harbour, if you're fast enough with your reservation to snag a table by the window.

Victoria Harbour - Avenue of Stars and A Symphony of Lights

Victoria Harbour and its accompanying city skyline is undoubtedly one of the most well-loved attractions of Hong Kong. And my favourite place to admire its charms is by the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront promenade.

"The Fortune Buddies" movie promotion in Singapore

Here's a distraction that's not about visiting Hong Kong, but I reckon still related to the city. ;)

I chance upon a meet-and-greet session with the three funny men from TVB - Johnson Lee, Wong Cho Lam and Louis Yuen - who were here to promote their movie. It's a spin-off from their popular variety show, Fun With Liza And Gods.

Tsui Wah - My fave cha chan teng

Tsui Wah is a popular cha chan teng chain in Hong Kong, and also one of my all-time favourites. The best thing about it is that several branches are open 24 hours, so you never have to worry about going hungry.

If you get lost in the rather extensive menu, find your bearings from their Top 10 Recommendations list and you should be quite safe. Here are some dishes I've tried:

Hainanese chicken rice. Very fragrant rice but the chicken meat tends to be a bit tough. The soup is always yummy though!

Australia Dairy Company - Egg lovers unite!

One eatery I always find myself going back to again and again is this little gem located in Jordan - the Australia Dairy Company.

Mong Kok finds

Yet another must-try food item in Hong Kong is the roast goose. Yung Kee at Central is undoubtedly one of the most famous places to savour this popular dish, but a friend recently introduced me to Sham Tseng Chan Kee on Reclamation Street, just behind Langham Place Mall in Mong Kok. Having already paid my touristy dues at Yung Kee a few times, Chan Kee will probably be the place to go to from now on. It's not bad tasting, and a lot easier on the wallet.

Langham Place Mall

Since my hotel is usually in Mong Kok, Langham Place Mall almost always features in my itinerary. The entrance of the mall is graced by this "Happy Man" sculpture that weighs a whopping 2,700 kg.

Tao Heung

When I want my dim sum fix but have no time or patience to queue at Tim Ho Wan, I turn to Tao Heung. It's got a great location - in Grand Tower which is next to Mong Kok MTR station and opposite Langham Place Mall. The entrance is not on the side of the mall though, it's facing Nathan Road.

Tim Ho Wan - The Dim Sum Specialists

No self-respecting tourist will leave Hong Kong without having at least one dim sum meal.

One of the places I like to go to for yummy and cheap dim sum is the hole-in-the-wall Tim Ho Wan at Mong Kok. The non-descript location and decor (or lack thereof) belies the fact that this is a one Michelin starred restaurant. Apparently, its owner and chef Pui Gor used to be a dim sum chef at the three-starred Lung King Heen at Four Seasons Hotel.

Accommodation in Hong Kong

One of the questions I get asked a lot is: Where should I stay in Hong Kong?

For me, location is everything. Hong Kong is divided into three main regions - Hong Kong Island (where the central business district is), the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories (which includes outlying islands like Lantau, home to the airport and Disneyland). I've always stayed in Kowloon. Hong Kong Island would be fine too, except for the steeper hotel prices. Since the public transport system is very developed, my typical hotel of choice is one within walking distance of a MTR station.

Langham Place Hotel, a five-star establishment located in Mong Kok, is in a perfect location as far as I'm concerned. Apart from its adjoining Langham Place Mall, there is no lack of eateries and shops at its doorstep.

 

I love Hong Kong

Having grown up on a staple diet of TVB dramas, it is no surprise that Hong Kong is one of my favourite places in the world to visit.

It's been six trips and counting, and each time I set foot in the city, I feel right at home. In fact, it's probably the only place in the world (right now) that I don't mind visiting alone and venturing all by myself. Well ok, I have yet to take a solo holiday, but maybe one day soon I will.

I enjoy shopping, and many a time, I shop more than I should. And Hong Kong is definitely a shopping paradise. Yet, it is not the shopping that I love most. It is the food (yums), and the language. I could probably just sit in a cha chan teng (tea restaurant/cafe) and listen in to the conversations around me for ages. I simply love listening to the perfect Cantonese the locals speak, and try to imitate their intonations and improve my fluency.

Enough about my obsession with Cantonese though, let's move right along... More about the places I like to visit and the food I love to eat in Hong Kong, soon!