Those three meals were very much on my mind, stepping out of my Kowloon based hotel bright and early on my first full day in Hong Kong had me feeling starving! 'Breakfast' needed to be 'Dim Sum' whilst 'Lunch' leaned into an 'All Day Breakfast' hype with 'Dinner' keeping things simple with 'Sweet and Sour Pork!' Sure, a whole host of HK cultural finds kept me fed and full!
Breakfast needed to be 'Dim Sum!' There was no question about it, I had a duty to find a bloody good serving of that Cantonese favourite! Without Kelly by my side I chose 'Kung Fu Dim Sum' on 'Portland Street' in Yau Ma Tei, conveniently located just around the corner from my Nathan Road based hotel. I ordered three dishes, naturally Kelly would usually be on hand to tick the checklist-like menu but I was flying solo during that 'Breakfast' moment. For me, it was a great learning experience because I had to navigate through the ordering and communication myself without Kelly's Cantonese language skills. A Hong Kong auntie helped me with my order, I had asked her what a certain 'turnip' dish was called and where to find it on the menu. I appreciated her help immensely, we had a small exchange during that moment, it was great talking to her! Another Hong Kong elder helped me on my other side, he made sure I had my order checked by the staff, his help was very much appreciated also. I wanted to order everything on the menu!
I had ordered one portion of 'Cheung Fun' and also some 'Lo Bak Go' with a bowl of 'Congee' added to my list. Of course, I ordered a pot of 'Oolong Tea' because that completed the ensemble, my side of that small table was laden with colourful and tasty 'Dim Sum' 'Breakfast' treats. The 'Cheung Fun' tasted light and fragrant with the sweet sauce it was covered with, I loved every single bit of the stuff! My wildcard had to be the 'Lo Bak Go' otherwise know as 'Turnip Cake' because it had an acquired taste for sure! My enormous bowl of 'Congee' went down like an absolute treat, it was warming and very satisfying, completing my 'Breakfast' in Hong Kong's Yau Ma Tei. My 'Breakfast' at 'Kung Fu Dim Sum' didn't break my budget, I was pleasantly surprised at how much everything came to. I survived without Kelly, I was able to make that 'Dim Sum' 'Breakfast' happen, obviously the help from my fellow diners was a great help also! Set up for the day ahead, so that sumptuous 'Breakfast' on a budget was everything and more!
Much like the 'Paris, France's' installment within this blog series, I used that 'Lunch' segment to find some culture. After getting a little bit lost I was able to find my way to Quarry Bay's own 'Yik Cheong Building'. An Instagram hotspot in Hong Kong, I simply had to visit this unique residential building to see it for myself, I kept in mind that it was home to many local people. I had watched a 'YouTube' video about this building some years before, it didn't feel real as I walked into the central part of that super-size Hong Kong housing complex. I lived for that photo-shoot hotspot but remembered my manners, I took my photos quickly and without attracting attention to myself. I was conscious that other visitors were doing the most, they really were acting the fool! For me, I appreciated that view because that unlikely landmark had been one of my 'Lockdown' favourites during my time researching Hong Kong in 2020. Doing one better than food, I felt satisfied that Hong Kong's 'Yik Cheong Building' had served it up! 加油!
As if the views surrounding that gritty and very real HK residential building hadn't been enough for me to digest, I saw a normal looking hairdressers that was located along the parade of businesses within 'Yik Cheong'. It was nice to take the weight off my feet whilst my barnet was being restyled because I was looking like a whole mess indeed! It was great being able to communicate with the guy who cut my hair, albeit a basic conversation we had a good laugh about the peculiar poses that were being served by those eager tourists, they were making some choices! Content with my haircut and the photos snapped from within the center of Quarry Bay's own 'Yik Cheong Building', I made my way back out onto 'King's Road' with 'Lunch' in mind! I was seriously craving a sweet cold Hong Kong 'Milk Tea' but finding the right place saw me 'Lunch-spot' hopping! I enjoyed my Hong Kong style 'All Day Breakfast' for my 'Lunch' and if truth be told, I needed a serious break from eating! A seriously long walk was in order, no joke!
My dining crusade felt incomplete before I headed out for my 'Dinner', let me remind you that where I come from we say 'Dinner' for 'Lunch' and 'Tea' for 'Dinner', never forget that! As the evening time beckoned, I knew that my 'Dinner' needed to be sourced! Not challenged by a certain proxy situation, I searched through Google to find local restaurants because I wanted to eat some authentic 'Sweet and Sour Pork' before my foodie journey would feel complete. Yes, now I remember the name of the restaurant because it shared the same characters as a famous British university. '頤東酒家/Eton Restaurant' effortlessly transported me back to Chinatown in London, those round tables and Cantonese conversations took me right back to a familiar side of British Chinese life! The energy felt very similar and for that I felt very fortunate that I had made that choice after walking for what felt like a long time! So, the waiter who served me knew exactly what I wanted, making a slight alteration from the menu, I was granted my order. Yes!
My 'Sweet and Sour Pork' dish was served up to me not long after that tailored order had been made. I enjoyed my requested dish with a simple bowl of white rice, I really wanted to keep things honest to the theme, that I had achieved for certain! I loved my second pot of tea of the day, this second pot of the day tasted like it was Jasmine Tea? Yes, I was sure! I loved my final meal of the day, the portion size was just right and the flavor packed the same sweetness that can be found in the UK but with more of a fragrant tone. My 'Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner' experience in Hong Kong had been flavoursome with much served to me, I loved it all! It has been an absolute pleasure to bring this blog title back for second installment, Hong Kong allowed me to enjoyed such meals with this blog leaning into capture those epic taste tests! I didn't play when it came to eating in Hong Kong that first day, I had been priming my stomach for such an event! From 'Paris' to 'Hong Kong', where next will the next title be? 谢谢你, 香港!
Around The World... Plate By Plate!
Desperately Seeking Adventure
