Food serves as the absolute best way to connect with a new city. When we planned Dana’s 50th birthday trip to Hong Kong, booking a local food tour sat at the top of our list.
We spent our third afternoon sweating through the September heat and eating our way through the historic streets. We booked the 7-Course Hong Kong Street & Restaurant Food Tour. The three-hour guided walk through Old Town Central offered an incredible mix of history alongside massive portions of food.
Arrive hungry for this excursion. Here is a look at everything we tasted on the tour.
Savory Staples: Dim Sum and Wonton Noodles
Our tour started strong on Wing Lok Street. We tasted fresh har gow dumplings steamed right in traditional bamboo baskets. The guide explained how imperial-era snacks evolved into the modern transit culture we see today.
Later on Queen’s Road Central, we stopped for a bowl of shrimp-packed wontons in a rich amber monkfish broth. The noodles felt perfectly chewy. The warm broth made this my favorite comforting dish of the entire trip.
Cantonese BBQ and Dried Seafood Markets
Walking through the dried seafood market exposed us to prized regional delicacies like bird’s nest and cordyceps. Our guide shared the history behind these traditional symbols of prosperity.
We also watched local culinary masters chop up Cantonese BBQ. We sampled fresh char siu featuring glass-like crackling skin. The meat tasted tender and incredibly flavorful. Seeing the chefs work at historic Possession Point added a great layer of history to the meal.
The Egg Tart Surprise and Sweet Treats
Hong Kong boasts a famous cafe culture known as Cha Chaan Teng. Inside the Sheung Wan Market, we drank silky smooth milk tea paired with crispy peanut butter French toast.
We also tasted a traditional Hong Kong egg tart. I expected this pastry to taste sweet like the Portuguese versions we love. I was completely wrong. The local recipe uses a lard-based pastry and tastes intensely eggy. I happen to love eggs, so I ate the entire piece without complaint. The tart failed to win my favorite dessert award for the day. Trying new things remains the main reason for traveling!
To balance the heat, we drank a traditional toxin-clearing Five Flowers herbal brew. We finished the tour at Central Market with a classic crispy egg waffle.
Is This Tour Worth The Price?
Absolutely. Walking the busy alleyways of Old Town Central alone causes anxiety. A local guide leads you straight to the best hidden restaurants. You learn the rich history of the city while eating dishes you would never find on your own.
Click here to book the 7-Course Hong Kong Street & Restaurant Food Tour for your own trip.
Which of these Hong Kong street foods would you try first? Head over to our Facebook page and let us know!