{"id":1037993,"date":"2017-04-17T01:07:12","date_gmt":"2017-04-16T17:07:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/culinarycapital.hk\/?p=101425"},"modified":"2017-04-17T01:07:12","modified_gmt":"2017-04-16T17:07:12","slug":"hong-kong-travel-tai-o-best-food-must-eat-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jonathansin.com\/en\/hong-kong-travel-tai-o-best-food-must-eat-2\/","title":{"rendered":"[Hong Kong Cuisine] 12 Must-Try Local Snacks from the Fishing Village of Tai O"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nThe best thing to do in Tai O is to explore the streets and alleys in search of authentic local Hong Kong cuisine. As well as the must-try spots featured in guidebooks, there are several more secluded, hidden gems that are well worth taking the time to seek out. For example: extra-large fish balls, braised giant cuttlefish, Yin Gu\u2019s traditional pastries, natural and healthy luo han guo tea, square-shaped \u2018Egg Roll King\u2019, freshly grilled seafood, and charcoal-grilled dried seafood. On a slightly different note, I recently tried a street food stall in the city centre\u2026Xi Xi Snack Bar<\/a><\/strong>\u2026and those huge fried chicken thighs are truly unforgettable \u2013 if you\u2019re ever in To Kwa Wan, do pop in and give them a try.
\n<\/p>\n

\n

(1) *Revival Journey*: Tai O\u2019s Extra-Large, Deliciously Fun Fish Balls and Braised Giant Cuttlefish<\/span><\/h3>\n
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As soon as you step onto Wing On Street, you\u2019ll be drawn to these giant fish balls and large cuttlefish. Fung Hing Hang started out as a small shop selling dried seafood, but later began selling snacks at bargain prices. It is best known for its extra-large, bursting-with-flavour fish balls and extremely thick slices of braised cuttlefish. You can find giant fish balls on Cheung Chau too, but those from Tai O are even more flavourful. As for the braised giant cuttlefish, it is deeply flavoured, with sweet and succulent flesh; a must-try for those who aren\u2019t too concerned about high cholesterol.<\/p>\n

Address: Shop 4D, Wing On Street, Tai O<\/span>
\nTel: 2874-1010<\/span>
\nOpening hours: Monday\u2013Sunday, 10:00\u201319:00<\/span>
\nTransport: Tai O Bus Terminus; after alighting, walk for 5 minutes towards Wing On Street<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

(2) \u2018Yin Gu Tea Cakes\u2019 \u2013 Tai O\u2019s famous speciality tea cakes<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

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\u2018Yin Gu Cha Guo\u2019 in Tai O is a place where you can find \u2018cha guo\u2019\u2014a traditional snack typically found only in old villages. The sweet version is filled with sugar, sesame seeds and crushed peanuts, whilst the savoury variety contains mung beans and peanuts, as well as chicken-dung vine, which is said to have medicinal properties.
\nAlthough it is no longer the old lady who sells the tea biscuits\u2014it\u2019s now a young woman\u2014it\u2019s still a snack shop well worth a visit.<\/p>\n

Address: 11A Wing On Street, Tai O<\/span>
\nTel: 2985-5708<\/span>
\nTransport: Tai O Bus Terminus; after alighting, walk for 5 minutes towards Wing On Street<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

(3) \u2018Renxing Heji Luo Han Guo Tea\u2019 \u2013 Natural and healthy Luo Han Guo tea<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

Aside from the purple clams, daylily and hibiscus tea sold on every street corner\u2014which are the most popular drinks in Tai O\u2014monk fruit tea is also a well-known beverage. Although not everyone is fond of the taste of monk fruit, its health benefits are certainly superior, and it is suitable for drinking all year round. The small shop Ren Xing He Ji specialises in luo han guo tea and is well worth a visit.<\/p>\n

Address: 58 Kai Hing Street, Tai O<\/span>
\nTel: +852 2985 7428<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

(4) \u2018Liang Chengji Egg Roll King\u2019 \u2013 square egg rolls<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

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The owner of Leung Shing Kee is an extremely friendly old gentleman who calls out to passers-by every day, inviting them to sample his products. The \u2018Egg Roll Royale\u2019 made by the old gentleman has a subtle egg aroma and a deliciously crisp texture. The egg rolls are sold in sealed packets, priced at $50 per packet, with a special offer of $120 for three packets. If the owner happens to be visiting Hong Kong Island, you can even arrange to collect the egg rolls from him at an MTR station in the city centre \u2013 definitely worth a try.<\/p>\n

Address: Ground Floor, 78 Wing On Street, Tai O<\/span>
\nTel: 6733-2343<\/span>
\nOpening hours: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, 12:00\u201319:00<\/span>
\nTransport: Tai O Bus Terminus; after alighting, walk for 15 minutes towards Wing On Street<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

(5) \u2018Chubby Girl\u2019s Barbecue Snacks\u2019: Freshly Grilled Seafood \u2013 A Dance of Smell and Taste<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

Once you\u2019ve crossed the Hengshui Ferry and followed the aroma of barbecued food, you\u2019ll spot this little shop on the street specialising in freshly grilled seafood. The most tempting dish, of course, is the oysters grilled with a layer of cheese on top; the slightly charred cheese is incredibly fragrant and simply a must-try. Grilled abalone, scallops and tiger prawns are also excellent choices; just the sight of them is enough to get you excited. So there\u2019s no single \u2018must-try\u2019 recommendation, as with grilled seafood, if it isn\u2019t fresh, it\u2019s simply not worth eating.<\/p>\n

Address: Ground Floor, 21 Tai O Market Street<\/span>
\nTel: +852 2985 7233<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

(6) \u2018Tai O Charcoal-Grilled Delicacies\u2019: Charcoal-grilled seafood \u2013 full of flavour and delightfully crispy<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

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The locals in Tai O know how to sun-dry seafood to produce dried seafood products for sale in the market; shops usually stock a variety of salted fish\u2014ranging from lightly to heavily salted\u2014as well as dried prawns, fish maw, and prawn paste and paste-like products. However, over the past decade, there has been a resurgence in the practice of charcoal-grilling these dried seafood products as snacks, much loved for their fresh flavour and crisp texture.
\nGrilled squid is quite common, but grilled dried prawns and grilled yellow croaker are really only found in Tai O.<\/p>\n

Address: Junction of Wing On Street and Street Market Street, Tai O<\/span>
\nTransport: Tai O Bus Terminus; after alighting, walk for 10 minutes towards Wing On Street until you reach the junction with Street Market Street<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

BOX: Golden Rules for Gaming<\/span>
\nThe Tai O Food Festival is held every November to showcase 25 local small shops and authentic eateries; please keep an eye out for announcements from the Tai O Heritage Hotel for further details.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

(7) \u2018The Fragrant Concubine Roll\u2019: made to order, fried on the spot and filled with a savoury filling<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

You\u2019ll find this little snack shop in the middle of Jiching Street. Although the premises are small, it offers a wide variety of fried snacks, such as fried baby fish and fried baby crabs. However, what draws the most people here is their \u2018Xiangfei Rolls\u2019. The fragrant wrappers for the \u2018Xiangfei Rolls\u2019 are pan-fried to order, then filled with a savoury mixture of dried prawns, preserved radish, spring onion and crispy sesame seeds, before being rolled up and drizzled with a special sauce.<\/p>\n

Address: 70 Kai Hing Street, Tai O<\/span>
\nTel: +852 2985 7428<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

(8) \u2018Rising Sun\u2019 Squid Cakes: Black and White Combination<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

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If you want to experience the authentic charm of the simple fishing village of Tai O, these handmade black and white cuttlefish cakes are a fine choice. The owner, Mr Leung, prepares fresh ingredients every evening for sale the following morning. One black and one white, each cake is packed with chunks of cuttlefish meat and has a springy, crisp texture. The black squid cakes are made with squid ink, whilst the white ones are made purely from squid meat.<\/p>\n

Address: Ground Floor, 47 Wing On Street, Tai O<\/span>
\nTel: 2985-6001<\/span>
\nOpening hours: Monday to Sunday, 07:00\u201317:00 (closed on Wednesdays)<\/span>
\nTransport: Tai O Bus Terminus; after alighting, walk for 15 minutes towards Wing On Street<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

(9) \u2018Bingbing\u2019s Three-Coloured Cakes\u2019: A shop with a massive queue selling delicately fragrant three-coloured cakes<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

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The queue outside the little shop selling tricolour cakes usually numbers between ten and twenty people. A large portion of the three-colour cakes costs just $20 and comprises three varieties: sesame cake, osmanthus cake and coconut milk cake. Each cake has a delicate aroma and its own distinctive character; the sesame cake, in particular, is wonderfully fragrant, whilst the osmanthus cake is delightfully sweet.<\/p>\n

Address: Kai Hing Street, Tai O, near No. 21 Tai O Market Street<\/span>
\nTransport: Tai O Bus Terminus; after alighting, head towards Wing On Street, walk towards Tai O Market Street, then turn onto Kat Hing Street<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

(10) \u2018Tai O Wah Kee Crispy Egg Waffles\u2019 \u2013 charcoal-grilled egg waffles bursting with the flavour of eggs<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

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In the early days, he simply used to push a wooden cart along Jiqing Street selling charcoal-grilled egg waffles; in recent years, he has opened his own little shop, and the egg waffles cooked over a genuine charcoal fire are a cut above the rest. The piping-hot egg waffles are crispy and rich in the aroma of eggs \u2013 a result that can only be achieved by charcoal grilling. Just watching the process is enough to make one\u2019s mouth water.<\/p>\n

Address: Ground Floor, 121 Shek Tsai Po Street, Tai O<\/span>
\nTransport: Tai O Bus Terminus. After alighting, head towards Wing On Street, walk along Tai O Market Street to the end of the street, turn left, and continue along Shek Chai Po Street.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Food Facts<\/span>
\nEgg waffles are an original traditional street snack. A batter is made from eggs, flour, evaporated milk and sugar, which is then poured into egg-shaped moulds and baked over charcoal; the best ones have a rich egg flavour and are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Egg waffles baked over charcoal are the most traditional method, but in recent years electric ovens have become the norm, though they lack that distinctive smoky aroma from the charcoal.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

(11) \u2018Tea Fruit and Glutinous Rice Dumplings\u2019 \u2013 entirely handmade, limited quantities available<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

The outer skin, rolled from glutinous rice flour, is both soft and chewy, whilst the filling is generously portioned. Uncle Cai\u2019s glutinous rice dumplings are made fresh daily and sold on the spot; they are then carefully stored in insulated plastic boxes to ensure they remain fresh and piping hot when on sale. It is this attention to detail that makes Uncle Cai\u2019s dumplings so highly recommended. As Uncle Cai is now of advanced age, production is limited, so if you have the chance to try them, please do show your support.<\/p>\n

Address: 106 Shek Chai Po Street, Tai O<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

(12) \u2018Zhang Cai Ji\u2019s Prawn and Pork Pastries\u2019\u2014savoury and irresistible, you simply must try them<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

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Even whilst walking through the streets of Tai O, you can already catch the salty, savoury aroma wafting from afar. Cheung Choi Kee, renowned for its shrimp paste and shrimp concentrate, has in recent years invented a snack called \u2018shrimp and pork patties\u2019, First, minced pork and preserved radish are stir-fried with shrimp paste in a small pan until fragrant; shredded lettuce is then mixed in, and finally the mixture is rolled up in a freshly made wrapper to be eaten. The savoury, salty aroma of the shrimp paste is utterly irresistible \u2013 it\u2019s an experience you\u2019ll never forget once you\u2019ve tried it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Address: Ground Floor, 41 Kai Hing Front Street, Tai O<\/span>
\nTel: 2985-7428<\/span>
\nOpening hours: Open only at weekends and on public holidays<\/span>
\nTransport: Tai O Bus Terminus. After alighting, head towards Wing On Street, walk towards Tai O Market Street, then turn onto Kat Hing Street and head inland.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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