Tsui Wah, Tsim Sha Tsui

Everything in Hong Kong, including the everyman’s dining options, seems to be moving at twice the speed of Sydney. One of these dining options is a local cha chaan teng. “What is that?” you may ask. A cha chaan teng is a restaurant with brisk service and an affordable menu often made up of Hong Kong and Hong Kong-style Western cuisine. Tsui Wah is probably one of the most-often mentioned cha chaan teng’s in tourist guides. It is always there to cure your hunger, especially their branches in the busiest areas of Hong Kong, which are open 24/7.

Xin Dau Ji, Tsim Sha Tsui

When in Hong Kong, you must try traditional Cantonese cuisine. I remember finding some pictures of Cantonese restaurant Xin Dau Ji on Dan Hong’s Instagram and scribbling down the restaurant name on the closest piece of scrap paper. This was the day I learnt that spinning pig is hypnotic.

Tim Ho Wan, Sham Shui Po

Tim Ho Wan was already on my list of restaurants to try in Hong Kong before they announced their stores in Australia. This was mostly because they are hailed as the world’s cheapest Michelin starred restaurant. They were starred in the 2011 and 2012 guides, and were named bib gourmand in the 2013, 2014, and 2015 guides. Say what you will about the Asian Michelin Guides but Tim Ho Wan does their food well (but first you’ll have to find their small storefront).

Tong Tai, Yau Ma Tei

Arriving at the Jordan MTR station in the evening is like being thrown into the deep ocean. You’re surrounded with currents (of people) going in different directions and if you can’t find the right current you’ll probably end up in the wrong place or walking against a torrent of humans. Luckily I had come prepared with the mantra “Exit A, turn right, third right, turn right” and I quickly found myself at the Temple Street Night Markets. We started getting hungry about half way through the markets and decided to stop by Tong Tai for dinner. It calls itself a restaurant but it’s technically a dai pa dong, one of those open-air food “stalls”.

Hong Kong Snacks

With an average population density of 6,500 per square kilometre, there is no shortage of food in Hong Kong. Ask anyone what you should eat in the bustling city and one of the answers will inevitably be “street food.” By street food, I don’t mean those $10 dumplings you get at some hipster loft with a Portland vibe; I mean the 50c dumplings made by an uncle with a generations old recipe and sold out of a 1m wide bare storefront or a cart. Because of food safety regulations, it’s a little hard to find carts these days but there’s a never-ending supply of snacks.