The 9 Best Hong Kong Street Foods and Where to Find Them

1 Egg Waffles (Gai Daan Jai)

Egg waffles, or gai daan jai (雞蛋仔) in Cantonese, are one of the most beloved street food snacks in Hong Kong. They are made by pouring a batter of eggs, flour, sugar, and evaporated milk into a waffle maker and cooking it with a special mould with round holes.

The result is a crispy and fluffy waffle with golden bubbles that can be easily torn off and eaten. Egg waffles are usually plain, but sometimes they are flavoured with chocolate, cheese, or sesame.

Egg waffles are said to have originated in the 1950s when a street vendor used a broken egg to make a waffle and accidentally created a new delicacy.

Where to find it: You can find egg waffle stalls all over Hong Kong, especially in busy shopping areas like Mong Kok, Causeway Bay, and Tsim Sha Tsui. One of the most famous places to try egg waffles is Lee Keung Kee Egg Waffles, which has been serving them since 1979.

2 Curry Fish Balls (Gaa Lei Yu Daan)

Curry Fish Balls, or gaa lei yu daan (咖喱魚蛋) in Cantonese, are another quintessential street food item in Hong Kong, and a favourite among locals and tourists alike. They are made by deep-frying balls of fish paste, and then simmering them in a spicy curry sauce.

The fish balls are skewered on bamboo sticks and served hot and fragrant. Once served, you have the option to add additional chilli paste to suit your level of spicy. They are chewy, savoury, and satisfying, and go well with a cold drink.

Where to find it: You can find curry fish balls all over Hong Kong, especially in busy shopping areas like Mong Kok, Causeway Bay, and Tsim Sha Tsui.

3 Siu Mai

Siu Mai (燒賣) is a type of Chinese steamed dumpling made from fish meat that is often served at dim sum. However, they’re also a street food staple typically served alongside curry fishballs.

The siu mai served in dim sum parlours are pork-filled, though the street food variety typically forgoes the filling altogether in a bid to save costs.

Siu Mai is characterised by its yellow wrapping. They’re steamed and then served with soy sauce and hot chilli oil. Much like fish balls, you can add more chilli paste to crank up the spice level.

Where to find it: You can find egg waffle stalls all over Hong Kong, especially in busy shopping areas like Mong Kok, Causeway Bay, and Tsim Sha Tsui.

4 Egg Tarts

Egg tarts, or daan tat (蛋撻) in Cantonese, are a sweet and creamy street food dessert that can satisfy your sugar cravings.

They are made by filling a flaky crust with a custard made of eggs, sugar, and milk, and then baking it until the custard is set and golden. They are best eaten hot and fresh, when the custard is smooth, and the crust is crisp.

Egg tarts are another example of Hong Kong’s fusion cuisine, as they combine Chinese-style custard with Portuguese-style pastry. They are said to have originated in Macau, a former Portuguese colony, and then spread to Hong Kong.

Where to find it: Egg tart stalls and bakeries are widespread in Hong Kong, and you can easily spot them by their fragrant and colourful tarts displayed on the shelves. The most famous egg tarts can be bought at Tai Cheong Bakery in Central.

5 Stinky Tofu

Stinky tofu, or chou dou fu in Cantonese, is a street food dish that is not for the faint of heart. It is made by fermenting tofu in a brine of vegetables, herbs, and sometimes seafood, for several days or weeks, until it develops a strong and pungent odour. It is then deep-fried until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and served with a spicy sauce, vinegar, or chilli oil.

Stinky tofu is a delicacy that originated in mainland China, and was brought to Hong Kong by immigrants. It is an acquired taste, and some people love it, while others hate it. But for those who appreciate it, stinky tofu is a flavourful and satisfying snack that can stimulate the appetite and warm the body.

Where to find it: Stinky tofu stalls are usually located in night markets, such as Temple Street, Ladies’ Market, and Fa Yuen Street. Some of the most popular places to try stinky tofu are Chun Yeung Street Market in North Point, Dundas Street in Mong Kok, and Tin Hau Temple Road in Causeway Bay.

6 Cheung Fun

Cheung fun, or rice noodle rolls, are a versatile and delicious street food dish that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. They are made by steaming thin sheets of rice flour batter, and then rolling them up into long tubes.

They can be eaten plain, or stuffed with various fillings, such as shrimp, beef, char siu (barbecued pork), or vegetables. They are usually served with a sweet soy sauce, a peanut sauce, a sesame sauce, or a chilli sauce, and sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Where to find it: Cheung fun stalls can be found in many street food areas, such as Sham Shui Po and Mong Kok. One of the best places to try cheung fun is Hop Yik Tai in Sham Shui Po.

7 Deep-Fried Pig Intestines

Deep fried pig intestines, or zha fei chang in Cantonese, are a street food dish that is crunchy and chewy. They are made by cleaning and boiling the pig intestines, and then cutting them into bite-sized pieces. They are then coated with flour and deep-fried until golden and crisp. They are usually served with a salt and pepper mixture, or a vinegar and garlic sauce.

Deep-fried pig intestines are a traditional dish that dates back to ancient China, when they were a way of using up the unwanted parts of the pig. They are also a popular snack in other parts of Asia, such as Taiwan, Thailand, and the Philippines. They are considered a delicacy by some, and a challenge by others.

Where to find it: Deep-fried pig intestine stalls are common in Hong Kong, especially in the older districts, such as Sham Shui Po, Yau Ma Tei, and Mong Kok.

8 Pineapple Buns

Pineapple buns, or bo lo bao in Cantonese, are a popular breakfast and teatime item in Hong Kong. They are not actually made with pineapple, but rather with a soft and fluffy bread topped with a crunchy and sugary crust that resembles the skin of a pineapple.

They are best eaten fresh and warm, when the contrast between the soft and crispy textures is most pronounced. They can be eaten plain, or with a slice of butter, jam, or condensed milk.

Where to find it: Pineapple bun stalls and bakeries are common in Hong Kong, and you can easily spot them by their golden and fragrant buns displayed on the windows.

9 Japanese Octopus Balls (Takoyaki)

Okay okay, this is not strictly a Hong Kong street food, but it’s very popular so I had to include it. Takoyaki, or octopus balls, are a street food dish that originated in Osaka and are popular throughout Japan and Asia in general.

They are made by pouring a batter of eggs, flour, and Japanese stock into a special moulded pan with round holes, and then adding pieces of octopus and other ingredients, such as green onion, pickled ginger, and tempura scraps.

The balls are then cooked until crispy and usually served with a savoury sauce, mayonnaise, seaweed, and bonito flakes.

Where to find it: Takoyaki can be found in stalls at the Temple Street Night Market and in Mong Kok.

10 Where to Find the Best Street Food

Temple Street Night Market

For the ultimate street food experience, make your way to the iconic Temple Street Night Market. This bustling market comes alive after dark, with the sizzle of woks and the aroma of flavorful spices.

From savoury skewers of fish balls to fragrant bowls of beef brisket noodles, Temple Street offers a feast for the senses.

Mong Kok’s Hidden Gems

Venture into the heart of Mong Kok, where narrow alleys hide culinary treasures waiting to be discovered. Dive into a bowl of piping hot curry fish balls or sample the crispy goodness of a stinky tofu snack. Mong Kok is a haven for those seeking authentic, local flavours.