Chinese/Dim Sum, Hong Kong

Having a Chinese Dim Sum meal is an absolute must for any visitor to Hong Kong. While the choices of dim sum places ranges from rather grundgy local places to upmarket hotels, Serenade Chinese Restaurant combines a pleasant atmosphere and spectacular view with some pretty decent trolley cart served dim sum. Located at the Hong Kong Cultural Center in Kowloon, probably the #1 reason to go is the panoramic view of Victoria Harbour, one of the best you will find. It's also pretty easy on the wallet.

Favorite Dish: All the dim sum classics are here. Just wait for a trolley to come by and point to whatever looks good. But remember to pace yourself!

I regret that I didn't care about the name of the shop. It looked like one of certain common little noodle shops on an alley.

I had fried noodles with Qingdao Beer, my wife had rice dressed with a thick starchy sauce and we shared spring rolls.

I found the waiter of the shop smiling looking at us truly eating deliciously. O, did we show such happy faces???

There are many restaurants in "Tai O" where they serve big portion of fresh seafoods of your choice. Please note that the portion is BIG!!! Also, if you like prawns, they are BIG!!! Look at the size of the prawn compare to my hand!

Favorite Dish: Giant Prawns of course! Not only it tastes heavenly, I do have funny story to tell with the *prawn incident*, please visit my Hong Kong Travel page from my home page if you'd wanna know more (just click my name).

I have met Dim sum lovers around the world who have claimed they know what good dim sum should taste like....untill they went to Jade garden. After one meal there, I've seen people instantly satisfied!
It's a huge restaurant of 2 floors filled with many familys enjoying yam cha together. There's still a big chance that you'll have to wait for a table though but, it's definately worth the wait! The service is better than most of the local restaurants in Hong Kong.
Perfect for travellers who are up early from Jett lag and are feeling hungry for a light breakfast that's not too greasy!
What could be better?

Favorite Dish: Try all of these with some chilli sauce:
siu-maih= this shrimp and pork dumpling will even change a vegetarian in to a meat lover! It comes in 4's so you'll definately want to order some more!
Ha-gaw=shrimp dumpling. Delicious with just one bite!
cha-siu-fahn= Honey barbequed Pork. You haven't tasted pork untill you try this one!
Cha-siu-so= This pork filled pastry feels so heavenly!
cha-siu-baw= Buns of delight!

In the Metropolis Mall (7 Metropolis Drive, Hung Hom) there is this Seafood Restaurant.. though the name escapes me... I was staying at the Harbour Plaza Metropolis hotel next door, (not to be confused with the Harbour Plaza hotel).. so this restaurant was a delightful surprise. The dim sum was delicious and so very inexpensive.. they even have an English menu of sorts..
For dim sum breakfast for 2.. and we are hearty eaters.. $11 USD including 10 % service charge.

Favorite Dish: Sticky Rice with Chicken... the deep fried spring rolls.. the egg tart.. all YUM!!!

You should try "eel". If you have seen it before, you'd probably think "ew, no way". Sure it looks scary but they do taste delicious.

I'd advice you to choose an eel yourself from a vendor outside all the restuarants because that way it tastes even better and fresh. Please remember this:

1) You must not choose an eel with white eyes - means dying which is not pleasant to eat. See picture.
2) Check that it is moving energetically to ensure it's not dead.
3) Check that it looks healthy, i.e: scars, open wounds etc

Many of Hong Kong's visitors come to the dynamic and bustling port city for one thing only--to dine. No one is quite sure how many eating places there are in Hong Kong, but there are some 6,000 licensed restaurants. The variety of cuisine, ambiance, and price range is unbeatable. Although there is something for almost everyone, the major culinary glory of Hong Kong is its Chinese restaurants: the true gourmet can depend on finding the finest ingredients, chefs, and standards of service in the world.

Favorite Dish: Walking down the streets of Hong Kong, you might come across a vendor who sells beef jerky. My favourite is the honey-glazed beef jerky. But you know you've got a good one if you bite into it and it's juicy, and not totally dry and bland. There's all kinds of flavours and you can get it in pork meat as well.

I bought my supply of beef jerky at a store across from Times Square in Causeway Bay. It can purchased for about $30 HKD/ half kilo.

Favorite Dish: Siu Mai, is the most famous dim sum among all. It is made of pork & prawns and some say with chestnut that helps to make it tasty and famous chinese five spice. Wrap with a pasta like wrap, cooked in bamboo steamer which acclaimed to be the tools to make a great dim sum.

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Wing Wah serves a variety of dim dum in the afternoons, including a few different types of the ever-popular siew mai, flour rolls (jee cheong fun) etc. Be prepared, however, to be told they have run out of a good number of the items if you arrive at the restaurant after 2pm. I reckon the best time to go is in the morning, for breakfast, or brunch.

When it is really crowded, you will invariably be placed at a table with strangers (especially if you're a couple or small group). This is because most of the tables are pretty large and its not likely that you'll find a table for 2. To order, you may indicate on a dim sum menu (writeen in Chinese, unfortunately). Or you may ask the server for help.

For dinner, the restaurant offers a Chinese menu including seafood.

Next to the restaurant, the Wing Wah bakery sells a variety of Chinese cakes and other products like Chinese sausage and waxed duck. Those interested in learning how to make Chinese cakes can sign up for classes offered free at Wing Wah bakery (the TST branch) by the HK Tourism Board. For more information visit www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/heritage/ck/he_ckto_cake.jhtml