Top 6 Must-Buy Souvenirs in Hong Kong! Said to Be Known Only by Locals
Due to the pandemic, Hong Kong and Mainland China have not been able to travel freely for nearly two years, but it is believed that border reopening will happen soon.
As a shopping paradise and food haven, when you visit Hong Kong, you must bring some souvenirs for relatives and friends. So, which souvenirs are worth recommending? The following are must-buy souvenirs recommended by Hong Kong locals, so don’t miss out!
1. Endorsed by Louis Koo – Hong Kong Yuen
Main Products: Pastries, Mooncakes
Address: Multiple stores across Hong Kong, check the official website
Hong Kong Yuen has rapidly gained popularity in recent years, with stores now spread all over Hong Kong. This year, Louis Koo became its brand ambassador, boosting both its reputation and word-of-mouth.
The editor has tried its mooncakes and honeycomb egg rolls—they are indeed excellent and worth a try. It is said that Hong Kong Yuen is backed by two pastry masters: Master Yip Wing-wah, the father of custard mooncakes, and his closed-door disciple, Michelin two-star chef Master Lai Wing-kwun. The quality speaks for itself. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, their mooncakes sell out quickly. Besides mooncakes, honeycomb egg rolls, butterfly pastries, cookies, and other snacks are also popular across Hong Kong, along with seasonal items like New Year cakes and wedding pastries.
This brand embodies exquisite craftsmanship passed down through generations and an unwavering pursuit of quality. When traveling to Hong Kong, be sure to visit a Hong Kong Yuen store. Don’t miss their mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival!
2. Recommended by Chua Lam – Lemon King on Wing Kut Street
Address: No. 22 Wing Kut Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island
Wing Kut Street is a pedestrian lane in the Central and Western District of Hong Kong Island, lined with fixed street stalls, as famous as Li Yuen Street East. Among them, the most frequented by Hong Kongers is the wooden cart stall of Lemon King. Its best-selling item is licorice lemon, sold in 230g packs for HK$30. Made purely naturally, the dried lemon slices are dusted with licorice powder, offering a sweet and pleasant taste with the effect of resolving phlegm and stopping coughs.
In addition to licorice lemons, the wooden cart is loaded with all kinds of small snacks. They are very popular among Hong Kongers. Old-generation stars like Lydia Shum, So Si-wong, and Lam Kin-ming have loved them since childhood. Many elderly Hong Kongers who have emigrated overseas even fly back just to buy them. As the saying goes, “A person fears fame, a pig fears fat.” After Lemon King became famous, many counterfeit Lemon King stalls appeared on Hong Kong streets. Make sure you go to the one on Wing Kut Street!
3. Century-old Shop – Chan Yee Chai Bird’s Nest Cake
Central Store: G/F, 176B Queen’s Road Central
Kwun Tong Store: Shop L103C, Basement, Millennium City 5
“As you eat, you slowly taste the tenderness, steadfastness, and persistence behind it. In this day and age, making food with conscience is an ancient virtue that is almost extinct.” — Excerpt from a review in *Ming Pao Weekly*.
Founded in 1927, Chan Yee Chai is a century-old shop. Its signature items include almond cookies, bird’s nest cakes, barley cakes, and shrimp roe wrapped in bean curd sheets, which are also the best-selling pastries.
The iconic Chan Yee Chai Bird’s Nest Cake was originally created because the owner felt that snacks for children at that time were not healthy. He wanted to make a tasty and nutritious treat, and thus the bird’s nest cake was born. Not only is it delicious, but it also has beautifying effects on the skin. It is a favorite of famous food critic Chua Lam and actor Chow Yun-fat. Buying a few boxes as a travel souvenir is a great choice.
4. Family-run for Three Generations – Liu Ma Kee Sauces
Address: G/F, 1 Kwun Chung Street, Jordan, Kowloon
Liu Ma Kee was founded in 1905 by the Liu twins, hence the name Liu Ma Kee. Their fermented bean curd has been perfected over time into a top-tier sauce. The process involves stone-grinding soybeans, boiling soy milk in an iron pot, and fermenting in salted wine for 180 days. A single piece of fermented bean curd embodies a century of artisan spirit. Like a business, fermented bean curd needs to grow slowly over time.
If you want to try other sauces besides fermented bean curd, there are many choices, such as shrimp paste, soybean paste, lamb sauce, and roasting sauce.
5. Traditional Method – Mo Fung Preserved Plum King
Address: No. 3 Foo Ming Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island
With a history of over 60 years, Mo Fung is a traditional preserved fruit shop. When looking for the most expensive and highest-quality preserved fruits, Hong Kongers will definitely choose Mo Fung’s signature preserved plum king. It is said to be the most expensive preserved plum in the world, costing about HK$20 per piece. Despite the high price, Mo Fung never lacks loyal fans in Hong Kong. It is said that many dignitaries, including Anson Chan and Donald Tsang, are regular customers.
Besides preserved plum king, Mo Fung offers hundreds of other preserved fruit snacks, including Chuanbei snake bile tangerine peel, aged winter ginger, lemon, and dried longan, all worth trying.
6. Exclusive Limited Edition – Mandarin Oriental Rose Strawberry Jam
Address: M/F, 5 Connaught Road Central, Central (Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong)
It is said that the rose strawberry jam from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is the most delicious jam in the world. Made fresh daily in limited quantities, it’s a case of first come, first served! The jam has a smooth, silky texture, intense rose flavor, and the fresh aroma of strawberries with many strawberry seeds. No other brand can make jam so elegant and noble.
