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.

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.