As you stroll down Queen's Road in Central, an intriguing contrast of street hawker stalls nestled between towering buildings comes into view, teeming with locals doing their daily grocery shopping. This is Graham Street Market (嘉咸街市), the oldest outdoor wet market with a history spanning over 160 years. Upon entering Graham Street (嘉咸街), visitors can explore various types of stalls and stores, which even the locals find fascinating.

The street begins with fruit and vegetable stalls, boasting fresher produce with greater variety from neighbouring regions such as Taiwan, the Philippines, and Japan. Don't hesitate to ask for recommendations if you crave some tropical fruits!

You'll also see stalls selling something that looks like salami and duck confit, but those are actually preserved Chinese sausage and salty duck. Locals often cook them together with rice in a casserole to blend the oil and flavour perfectly. You can buy some as souvenirs if you enjoy cooking.

As you continue walking down the street, keep an eye out for Kowloon Soy Company (九龍醬園), a shop on your right-hand side that sells handmade sauce and paste. It's the retail shop of a century-old local soy sauce factory founded in 1917. They use traditional methods to ferment and produce the soy sauce. You'll also discover various types of pickles and paste made for different dishes, which is interesting to know.

Adjacent to Graham Street on Peel Street (卑利街), there's an Instagram-worthy spot that you cannot miss – Ken Kei Noodles Factory (勤記粉麵廠). You'll find various types of Chinese noodles in the shop, all of which are handmade daily by the owner George. He's delighted to have visitors watch him make noodles and share his story of getting into the noodle-making business. If you want to buy some noodles back home, try shrimp roe noodles or abalone noodles, which are local favourites.

As you walk towards the escalator at Gage Street (結志街), you'll notice a store with a long queue. This is Lan Fong Yuen, the inventor of women's stocking milk tea. Lan Fong Yuen is a classic Hong Kong-style cha chaan teng (茶餐廳). Give it a try if you want to experience authentic Hong Kong food and service!

Most of the store owners can speak English, as they have customers from expats to domestic helpers and even restaurant chefs. Graham Street Market is a lovely down-to-earth place to explore if you're keen on food or want to experience Hong Kong life like a local.