Hong Kong-style fast food: best spots for a quick bite
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- Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao, Admiralty
- Tsui Wah Restaurant, Central
- Knead, Sheung Wan
- Mana!, Central
- Sheung Wan Market and Cooked Food Centre, Sheung Wan
Finding a quick bite to eat in Hong Kong’s busy business districts is more a matter of avoiding FOMO (fear of missing out) than being starved of choice.
Whether you’re looking for soup dumplings or a sandwich, here are five places to head to for a tasty meal in a hurry.
1. Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao
E01-E06, Queensway Plaza, 93 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong
Website | Directions
- Good for: convenience and consistent high quality
- Not so good for: pristine white shirts can be easily stained by soup or sauce
- FYI: order the soup dumplings and dan dan noodles
This popular chain of Chinese regional cuisine is a reliable standby. The food is consistently tasty, service is rapid, and with more than a dozen outlets in the city, you’re never far away from one — there’s even a Crystal Jade at the Hong Kong International Airport.
The eponymous xiao long bao (soup dumplings) are a speciality, and when combined with a bowl of Sichuanese dan dan noodles, make for a delicious and filling lunch. Just be sure to wear a napkin to avoid the soup splashing on to your clothes.
2. Tsui Wah Restaurant
15D-19 Wellington St, Central, Hong Kong
Website | Directions
- Good for: an authentic Hong Kong experience
- Not so good for: getting away from the tourist crowd
- FYI: order the milk tea, French toast and rice dishes
Cha Chaan Tengs (tea cafés) are the epitome of Hong Kong-style fast food. You’ll be dazzled by the breadth of choices on the conveniently bilingual menu, ranging from rice and noodle dishes to chicken wings and hot dogs. This is also the place to go to try out the silky, intense flavours of Hong Kong-style milk tea and the local interpretation of French toast.
3. Knead
G/F, 28 Jervois St, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Website | Directions
- Good for: customisation and fresh ingredients
- Not so good for: anything other than a sandwich
- FYI: order the toasted sourdough with mozzarella and grilled aubergine with pesto
Yes, you can get a sandwich at Pret A Manger. But if you are in Central, it is a short walk to Knead in Sheung Wan where you can build your own sandwich from fresh ingredients and choose from a variety of bread and spreads. They also have pre-built sandwiches if you are truly in a hurry.
4. Mana!
92 Wellington St, Central, Hong Kong
Website | Directions
- Good for: vegetarian food that tastes great and helps the planet
- Not so good for: non-vegetarian food
- FYI: have the Mana!Nirvana flatbread
Organic, mostly vegan, zero food-waste, and with free water and food served in biodegradable containers, Mana! sees itself as not just a restaurant but also a movement to revolutionise food in Hong Kong.
It makes delicious wraps and flatbreads, and can cater to nearly every dietary requirement. Even if you are having a quick bite, Mana!, with its motivational messages on napkins and packaging, reminds you that there’s always time to slow down and appreciate the moment. The flatbreads are worth trying, as are the Zaatar crisps.
5. Sheung Wan Market and Cooked Food Centre
Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building, 345 Queen’s Rd Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Directions
- Good for: incredible range of choice of cuisine all in one place
- Not so good for: an ‘upmarket’ experience
- What to order: stir-fried Thai noodles at Thai Good Taste
Change into something casual after your meetings are over, and head over to explore Sheung Wan Cooked Food Centre and experience a flavour of old Hong Kong street food.
Don’t be put off by the nondescript entrance and the municipal-building architectural style. The air-conditioned food court inside is bustling and offers a huge range of cuisine and no-nonsense service.
Be sure to check out inexpensive Thai food at Thai Good Taste, and Dim Sum at Lin Heung tea house (pictured).
Where do you go for a quick bite to eat in Hong Kong? Tell us in the comments or share your tips here
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