Hong Kong: Food Experience
One of my favorite parts about traveling to new places, is getting to try the country’s food and to discover new restaurants! Hong Kong did not disappoint! Here are three of our favorite food experiences in Hong Kong!
Din Tai Fung: John was on the hunt to find some dumplings and after a bit of researching, Din Tai Fung – a Michelin star restaurant – claimed to the best! It opened at 11:30, so John and I arrived early and were the first ones in line. A line of chefs bowed as we entered and we bowed backed as we walked to our table. John ordered the pork soup dumplings, spicy Sichuan noodles, and spicy shrimp + pork dumplings.
I ordered the spinach + mushroom dumplings and the original seaweed noodles. Everything was so phenomenal! The noodles were made fresh and the dumplings were each hand made to order. The best part, was that everything was so affordable and was one of the cheapest Michelin star restaurants in the world! (The cheapest is the chicken-rice in Singapore which John and I also went to!) I posted some photos to social media and was surprised at the comments that people had eaten here before. They have dozens of locations, that all also have Michelin stars!
Mum’s Not Home: Upon arriving in HK, I googled coffee shops because I love coffee and try to find cool places with personality. My findings led to a café called: Mum’s Not Home. To my dismay, the café is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays…Who the heck is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays?!?! After patiently waiting two days, Thursday afternoon, we walked across town to the café.
The place was exploding with color; confetti was on the ground, plants dangling from different corners, and silvery shinning orbs hanging from the ceiling changed color. (I literally just described a disco ball, but it’s not a disco ball because this is a hipster establishment).
Shimmering strings were hanging from the ceiling and the breeze from the open window would blow them around. The café was filled with miscellaneous items but displayed in a beautiful sort of way. You know like the cluttered-grungy-“this is art”-kind of way? (The whole place was totally an instagram heaven!)
We were seated on cushions on the ground and ordered: hazelnut latte, citron citrus green tea, and butterfly key lime cheesecake. We read our kindles, with the indie music playing in the background and soaked up the relaxed atmosphere that the café had cultivated.
Kung Fu Dim-sum:
It was our second night in HK, and we asked the Hi Inn receptionist if he recommended any places to eat. He told us about a place called Kung Fu Dim-Sum and gave us simple directions. Of course, at that time we had no idea how much we would come to love the restaurant he recommended or how it changed our view of Hong Kong and our little neighborhood.
After we left the cafe, we decided to venture to find the dim sum place that was recommended to us. We knew we were in the general vicinity and John was trying to remember the vague directions that he gave us the day before. After a few turns down some alleys, we found it.
The place was fully packed. We told the host we were two - and he pointed over to two chairs at a table that two old men we already sitting at. We walked over (squeezing between chairs) and to my surprise came: “Hi! Hi! Hi! Welcome to Hong Kong. Welcome! Sit sit sit.”
John and I are overjoyed with this warm welcome. Both of us were so elated that we were talking over each other, it probably sounded something like:
“THANKYOUHIHOWAREYOUHEYWHATSUPWHATSYOUR NAMEIMMEGANIMJOHN”
He replied: “My name??...” and after some thoughtful consideration of what we were asking him he said “I’m Ben!”
John took the seat next to Ben and Ben immediately again goes: “Welcome to Hong Kong! Tea. Tea good for health. What tea you want?”
John: What is your favorite???
Ben waved down the waitress and ordered us the tea he was currently drinking. He took the order sheet and started telling us everything that was good here, John decided on giving Ben the pencil, given Ben’s immense enthusiasm towards dim sum and he marked it up for us! For the next few minutes John and I resumed our standard chatterbox procedure and began talking to everyone around us.
To our right were three older ladies one of whom took a real liking to john, her name was Wanda. To our right was Ben and another older gentleman.
When our tea arrived, I instinctively picked it up and started to pour myself a cup. Ben stopped me immediately and showed us that we had to clean our plates and utensils with the tea first. He washed our bowls, spoons and chopsticks with the single cup of tea and then dumped it into the empty bowl on the table. (I always wondered what that random bowl was for.)
I assume we were making quite the scene (we literally the only white people) because of how Ben was eagerly helping us and then Wanda began helping and giving suggestions as well. I was sitting next to the older gentlemen who was much more frail and quiet - and didn’t speak much English. We asked him what his name was and then the table from across the way yelled over “His name Big Buddha!” And everyone around us chuckled wildly. The man, laughing, waving his hand and shaking head: “No no no no no” --which translated in English to: “Don’t listen to those bozos.”
I think the greatest part was sitting in this neighborhood restaurant, where everyone knows everyone and getting to experience their typical evening. Ben said he goes there twice a week and it seemed like everyone in this restaurant knew each other. The woman next to us kept reaching over to pour us some of her tea to try and to make sure our cups were filled. Ben would say “good for health” and raise up his tea cup.
We dove right into the fried rice, dumplings and shomai. Ben and the woman next to us would look over, mouths full of food and say: “Good? Good.” We would reply with mouths full and nod in agreement!
When our food came out, it did not disappoint.
We left Kung Fu Dim-sum and received a burst of loud goodbyes, happy waves from all the tables and wait staff. I don’t think this type of experience can be bought in a tour or seen in a museum. I think it comes from following those vague instructions that leads down some sketchy alley, getting the good fortune of being in the spirit of some genuinely kind-hearted people and meeting a guy named Ben who does everything to make you feel at home.