Don't Know What to Eat or Buy in Hong Kong? This Guide Is a Must-Read!
When visiting Hong Kong, you definitely have to try street food. Besides the bustling Mong Kok, there's another great spot: Kwai Chung Plaza! Its location is also very convenient, right next to Kwai Fong MTR station.
First up: Waffle Corner's shredded chicken and cheung fun (rice noodle roll). I'd never tried it before, so I gave it a go. The portion was generous, the rice noodle roll was silky smooth, and with the sweet sauce, it was simply amazing.
Second: True Octopus' crab roe and black truffle takoyaki. The outer skin was crispy, the crab roe paired with black truffle wasn't too salty, and inside there was a huge piece of octopus!
Third: Hong Kong classic street food—curry fish balls and beef offal. The fish balls were soft and well-infused with flavor, perfect for popping one in your mouth at a time. The beef offal was also delicious—beef tripe and intestines simmered with cassia bark, bay leaves, star anise, and other spices in a bubbling pot. A bowl of steaming hot offal was served, topped with chopped scallions and cilantro, and dipped in sweet chili sauce—absolutely heavenly.
Fourth: Baimei's lo mein, rumored to be the same as what Jackson Wang eats! You can customize it with ingredients like squid, seaweed, corn, and crab sticks. It's substantial enough for a full meal.
Fifth: For dessert, I recommend the durian mango ice and mango pomelo sago at the second floor. They use fresh durian and mango, and the mango pomelo sago isn't overly sweet—just the right level of sweetness.
After eating and drinking our fill, it was time to buy souvenirs for friends and family. We walked along the pedestrian bridge outside to the second floor of Metroplaza. A friend from Hong Kong told me that Hyatt's palmiers, cookies, and egg rolls are all delicious, so I had to buy some to try. The staff were very enthusiastic and offered samples. I tried the palmiers and egg rolls. Their egg rolls are honeycomb-shaped, very crispy and fragrant, and come in many flavors: original, coffee, Earl Grey, and seaweed.
In the end, I bought Hyatt's Eight-Flavor Palmiers, which include original, Earl Grey, hazelnut, coconut, sesame, multigrain, almond, and spicy flavors. You get to taste all varieties in one box—cured my decision paralysis! The original had a rich egg flavor, while the almond and hazelnut ones were packed with nuttiness. But my favorite was the Earl Grey palmier, with a thin layer of tea leaves on top, making the Earl Grey flavor stand out—subtle, not too sweet, and truly memorable!
The staff told me that Hyatt has over 40 stores in Hong Kong, so you can easily find one nearby. If you're unsure which to buy, just go for the Eight-Flavor Palmiers like I did.
Or consider Hyatt's Hong Kong Story series. I was drawn in by the packaging, which features Hong Kong landmarks like the ding ding tram, double-decker bus, and Victoria Harbour—so beautiful! I think this series is perfect for gifting: not only are the palmiers and egg rolls tasty, but the packaging is also exquisite.
Since my family likes preserved fruits like preserved plums and olives, I also went to Yiu Fung to buy some. The dried tangerine peel preserved plums have a subtle citrus aftertaste, and the cool preserved plums are great for summer—they feel refreshing in the mouth! I'm a fruit lover, so I also bought dried peach slices. I think they're great value at HKD 40 per pack.
The last stop was Don Don Donki, a snack shop loved by both adults and children. Usually, as soon as you walk in, adults and kids go their separate ways—adults head to the daily necessities section while kids head straight to the snacks! I think Donki has a very comprehensive selection. I visit almost every time I'm in Hong Kong, and even though I always say I won't buy anything, I always end up leaving with bags full!
