Attention all food adventurers! You are the ones gifted with great sensibility and an open mind to treasure the exciting inspiration food gives you every time. And you are not going to miss the chance to feel and get connected in extra depth with Hong Kong via food that goes beyond the acceptance threshold of a boring traveler.

Our Recommendation

Here, we proudly present six local delicacies:

1. Stinky tofu (臭豆腐)

Even the authority was once for a long time concerned by the strong “aroma”. Though much milder now, the golden blocks still attracts people from both across the street and outside the district. Crispy on the outside and soft on the side, dressed with your mix of sauces, it is without a doubt a strong sensation to experience.

In the traditional method of creating stinky tofu, a brine, composed of fermented milk, vegetables, and meat, is prepared. The brine fermentation process can extend over several months, during which a variety of bacteria may flourish, contributing to the distinctive character of the tofu. Modern production methods often expedite the process, where fresh tofu is marinated in the prepared brine for only one or two days.

2. Snake soup (蛇羹)

More than 100 years in the game, the small shops around Hong Kong is still rocking it with the snake soup alongside with the wooden cabinets with poisonous snakes. While the snake soup is meant to warm up your body amid the cold of winter, the shop needs your support and love as the whole industry is facing a dim future. Try it before it’s too late!S

Typically, frozen snakes for snake meat preparation are imported from China, while live snakes generally come from Southeast Asia. The distinctive taste of snake soup primarily comes from a blend of chicken and pork broth, with shredded chicken being a major component. This combination results in a soup that more closely resembles chicken soup in flavor. To enhance texture and add more depth to the taste, crackers and lemongrass are often incorporated.

3. Turtle Jelly (龜苓膏)

You are going to need some turtle jelly, you just don’t know it yet. The black herbal jelly is bitter in taste but sweet to your body as it will clear out the waste and toxins from heavy food, drinking, stress and all that. Call it weird as you may, but it is a great invention brought into the city by the descendants of a Qing imperial physician in 1904.

Turtle Jelly, a herbal concoction, is traditionally crafted using the plastron or the lower shell of a turtle. Some believe that this medicinal preparation should only be made from a specific type of turtle, the Golden Coin Turtle, contributing to this species' critically endangered status. The Gold Fish Market might still showcase this rare turtle, with a selling price often exceeding HKD 20,000!

4. Century Egg (皮蛋)

Don’t be a fuss. It’s dark. It does look like it had gone bad. But it’s not rotten NOR preserved for any longer than six weeks. Pidan (皮蛋), aka century eggs were well cooked through a chemical process by natural alkaline, which creates a pleasant aromatic tasting to the eggs. With pickled young ginger, it can easily be the most beautiful appetizer of your trip. Selling 30 million eggs, Hoi Yuen is the egg shop you can count on. 

5. Chicken feet (鳯爪)

If you claim you love Dim Sum but you freak out on chicken feet, sorry, you are not quite there yet. After all, it is what locals eat and it’s just a layer of skin and bones marinated with rich flavors, fried and steamed until totally tender. Try it at a local small Yum Cha eatery that serves great Dim Sum!