As Hong Kong and Macau were both colonies of Great Britain and Portugal, the native Cantonese cuisine was mixed with British and Portuguese influences, creating a unique cuisine of their own. A big example in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong milk tea. The Cantonese have never added milk to their teas until the British came. In Macau, local food is seasoned with various spices and flavours Portuguese sailors brought into the area such as turmeric, coconut milk, cinnamon. Without further ado, here is the top 5 eats in Hong Kong & Macau.
1. Roast Goose
There are countless restaurants that offer roast goose in Hong Kong but only two places posses a Michelin star. Guess who tried both of them? Of course, I did!
Yat Lok Restaurant is not what you picture a Michelin star restaurant with its cramped and shared tables. The service also didn’t give the restaurant it’s star. The star solely belongs to the roast goose that they make. From my first bites, I remember the meat being so tender and flavourful. I felt the goose just melting away. The skin also had a very nice crisp. The goose complements well with the sweet sauce they serve it with. You can get half roast goose for $310 HKD ($52.54 CAD) which you can share with friends.
Even though we didn’t have a chance to sit in them, Kam’s Roast Goose is a cleaner and nicer-looking restaurant than Yat Lok. When we got there and there was a long line to eat in. Therefore we decided to get the half goose and some rice for take away. Maybe it was because I had Yat Lok first, but I was disappointed as the goose wasn’t as flavorful and tender as Yat Lok’s. It felt more like a normal roast duck I have back in Toronto, and I could not justify the Michelin star that they have. A half roast goose over here is $280 HKD ($47.46 CAD)
2. Pineapple Bun
When I bit into the bun, I was thinking where’s the pineapple? Then I learned that despite the name, it does not contain any pineapple. It is named accordingly as the topping (made of sugar cookies) resembles the texture of a pineapple. The one that you need to get is the one with the butter in the middle of the bun. It brings out a lot of the warm soft bun and the sugary crust. I got mine at Kai Kee Restaurant for $11 HKD ($1.86 CAD).
3. Breakfast Set at Australia Dairy Company
I didn’t expect to eat the best scrambled eggs in Hong Kong, but that is what happened at Australia Dairy Company. These eggs were so creamy and silky, like no other scrambled eggs I’ve ever tasted. I got the breakfast set which was $32 HKD ($5.42 CAD) in which you get fried eggs or scrambled eggs with toast, macaroni ham soup, and milk tea or coffee. The Macaroni soup was average, nothing special. The Hong Kong milk tea was really good. It had a strong rich flavour, and was probably the best one I’ve had in Hong Kong.
4. Dim Sum
Dim Sum is probably the most famous Hong Kong food export. For those that don’t know, dim sum is small bite-sized portions of food served in small steamer baskets or on small plate and served with tea. The one I recommend on going is to Tim Ho Wan, one of the world’s cheapest Michelin-star restaurant.
What we got at Tim Ho Wan
- Baked bun with BBQ pork
- Pan fried turnip cake
- Vermicelli roll with shrimp
- Prawn dumplings
- Pork dumpling with shrimp
- Glutinous rice with lotus leaf
- Braised chicken feet with abalone sauce
- Wontons with chili oil
- Oolong tea
All the foods that we got were of great quality. Special mention to the baked bun with BBQ pork which was delicious with its sweet and salty BBQ pork inside a warm buttery bun. This is also something that I have never seen at other dim sum restaurants back in Canada. All of this shared with four people came out to $60 HKD ($10.17 CAD).
5. Portuguese Egg Tart
As Macau was a Portuguese colony for over 400 years, its influence can be found all over, including its food. While in China and Hong Kong, you can find egg tarts, in Macau you get Portuguese egg tarts, or pastel de nata. The most famous version is ones from Lord Stow’s Bakery. The custard is sweet and creamy, while the pastry is flaky and crisp. You can find one conveniently in the Venetian Macao in which you can buy it for $12 HKD/MOP ($2.03 CAD) each.
Other Hong Kong & Macau eats I tried
- Char Siu
- Mango iced sweet dessert at Chung Kee Dessert (I dont know the dessert name in English)
- Beef brisket noodles
- Spam and egg sandwich
- Szechuan beef and egg sandwich
- Condensed milk and peanut butter toast
- Tsui Wah Restaurant
- Shredded Pork & Mushroom w/ Fried Noodles (w/ Abalone Taste)
- Malaysian Beef Brisket Curry
- Baked pork chop with rice
- Macau’s pork chop bun
- Macau’s Portuguese chicken
- Michelin recommended steamed rice rolls at Hop Yik Tai
- Traditional Dim Sum where its served on traditional trolleys at Lin Heung Tea House