[TRAVEL] 5D4N Hong Kong - Foodie Trip feat. Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2024

Greetings from Hong Kong! ❤

Hello Hong Kong, I am back! For the 5th time, I stepped foot onto The Pearl of the Orient (東方之珠) after my last birthday trip for Hong Kong Disneyland in 2018. Time flies! And this round I am back for a whole, different experience, in hope that I can relive some moments that I have been hearing about for the past 2 years. 

The main objective of this trip is to be part of the 74,000 runners in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2024; and I am taking a baby step to run 10 km along the picturesque Island Eastern Corridor (東區走廊) under the 16°C chilly weather.

 

I am proud to have completed the run in 70 minutes time!

The morning sunrise view is just so beautiful that I wish I could capture more of these moments. I enjoy the process through and through, and am definitely looking forward to challenging myself for more overseas marathons moving forward!

P/S: Thanks for supporting and cheering for me throughout the process (especially with the live result feature) - it feels like you are actually running with me! 

While the run is the highlight of the trip, I am happy that I get to reignite those good ol' memories here and rediscover Hong Kong with a different lens :)

If you are first timer in Hong Kong, here are the few places that you ought to check out for the good food, photo-worthy landscape and great shopping experience: 

❤ Central (中環)

❤ Causeway Bay (銅鑼灣)

❤ Tai Hang (大坑) / Tin Hau (天后)

❤ Kennedy Town (堅尼地城)

❤ Wan Chai (灣仔)

❤ Sheung Wan (上環)

❤ Fortress Hill (炮台山)

❤ Tsim Sha Tsui area - Jordan (佐敦)

Must-do in Hong Kong: Hop onto the tram and explore the city!

The "Ding Ding", Hong Kong tramway is one of the essential icons of the city that gives me a lot of fond memories in the past two years. My initial plan is to join the TramOramic Tour that would allow me to experience the genuine Hong Kong, see the bustling streets and ultra-modern cityscapes on a 1920s-style open top tram. But luck is not on my side, as there are only few slots available for each day and pre-booking is required. 

Hopefully I can embark on this fascinating sightseeing tour next time!

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Central (中環)

Tai Kwun (大館－古蹟及藝術館)

Hello to my current favourite spot in Central! Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts was once Hong Kong's prison, courthouse and police station. Now, it has found a new life as an art and culture spot, and the home to many bars and drinking holes. I am impressed with the series of exhibitions held here, showcasing the history of Victoria Prison from multiple perspectives and bringing us better insights on how does a prison life look like. 

Apart from that, I particularly love the architecture here - it features the stately Edwardian and Victorian-styled buildings and historic brickwork which make every corner here so photo-worthy. Wish I could take more photos here before the sky turns dark!

 

Dragonfly @ 大館 Tai Kwun

Inside the main chamber of Tai Kwun, we come across this Bohemian-style art nouveau cocktail bar which is highly raved by the netizens. We have a sip on the signature cocktails here: Utopia (Sichuan Baijiu, coconut rum, tequila, citric acid, sesame oil, oleo saccharum, peach vinegar and blue curacao) and Meng Po Martini (Osmanthus infused bourbon whiskey, red bean, soy milk, smoky Islay malt, honey dew melon, green apple and lemon). 

The overall experience here is amazing, given the quality of cocktails served and the mystical ambiance that allows us to truly unwind and enjoy our conversations till late. 

雙拼燒鵝 & 叉燒 @ 一樂燒鵝 Yat Lok Restaurant, 中環

Central, being the central business district of the city, is never lacking of good food. And one of the Michelin-starred restaurants we manage to visit is Yat Lok which is famed for its roast goose. We are there at 5pm on a Saturday and the queue is quite bearable, but the goose drumstick is already sold out. 

The roast pork here is extra crispy while the BBQ pork is softer (with higher percentage of fatty meats) than expected. The goose, on the other hand, achieves a good balance of crispiness on the skin and juicy goodness in the meat, but I still think the goose drumstick would taste even better. 

Bar hopping @ 蘭桂坊 Lan Kwai Fong, 中環

After dinner, we are here for the high energy vibes on a Saturday evening, but unfortunately

there does not seem to have anything spectacular when it comes to cocktail making.

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Causeway Bay (銅鑼灣)

Sourdough Egg Tart @ Bakehouse, 銅鑼灣

Causeway Bay is a shopping haven be it for fashion, tech or beauty stuff. But I come twice solely for Bakehouse, the home of my all-time favourite egg tarts. In the past, I always feel that it tastes so good even after being left overnight but now it is my first time having it fresh from the oven! Freshly baked every day, the egg tart features a crisp sourdough exterior and creamy egg custard on the inside. 

If you are a fan of egg tarts with a lovely twist, this is something to die for! The queue after office morning rush hour is pretty okay, and the grab-and-go coffee here is worth a try too.

Ichiran Ramen (一蘭)

Just a quick Japanese fix for the week!

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Tai Hang (大坑) / Tin Hau (天后)

Spot the beautiful architecture in the lovely neighbourhood of Tai Hang!

Located at the southeast area of Causeway Bay, Tai Hang feels like a special place in my heart - a place where I, again, have fond memories of. Taking a short stroll here from Victoria Park is soul-soothing as it is a pleasantly breezy walk with plenty of beautiful sights along the way. 

One of them is the famous Lin Fa Kung Temple (大坑蓮花宮), which is a uniquely designed, small round shaped temple built in 1863. I have said my prayer here and I hope the God would be able to hear me...

滑蛋叉燒飯 + 滑蛋蝦仁飯 @ 順興茶餐廳 Shun Hing Restaurant, 大坑

Another personal favourite of mine throughout this trip is the BBQ Pork Scrambled Egg Rice from Shun Hing Restaurant in Tai Hang. Served piping hot, the egg is ultra fluffy and complements well with the sliced barbecued pork, especially with an added drizzle of soy sauce onto it. In case if you are wondering, the prawn version is an utter disappointment. 

Although 滑蛋叉 is a classic comfort food widely available in most of the Hong Kong char chaan teng, the one in Shun Hing is definitely one of the better options in town. 

Winstons Coffee @ 大坑 Tai Hang

Right opposite Shun Hing, Winstons Coffee serves probably one of the best flat whites in town. The Aussie-style neighbourhood coffee shop and cocktail bar is a great place to spend a quiet afternoon on a weekday (but it usually gets super busy during weekends). 

豬扒麵 + 双拼三文治 + 奶茶 @ 炳記茶檔 Bing Kee Cha Dong, 大坑

Bing Kee is known for its rich and thick milk tea, which I concur in terms of taste and consistency. As for the char chaan teng-styled food selections here, it is just mediocre. Perhaps it is worth popping by only for the milk tea if you are in the vicinity of Tai Hang. 

 

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Kennedy Town (堅尼地城)

% ΔRΔBICΔ @ Kennedy Town

My favourite thing to do in Kennedy Town is going for a relaxing stroll along the scenic sea view street, or sitting at a quiet corner of the two-storey % Arabica while enjoying the panoramic view of the sea. Unfortunately the 8°C weather during our January visit is too freezing for a seaside stroll, but I am so looking forward to doing that in the next visit. 

As the cafe is located only a stone's throw away from the terminal station of the Hong Kong tram, we grab this opportunity to take a scenic ride back to Central area after our coffee fix. Perfect timing for the dazzling evening view!

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Wan Chai (灣仔)

Lee Tung Avenue (利東街)

I don't remember doing much in Wan Chai but the Lee Tung Avenue is definitely worth visiting for its a 200-metre long pedestrian walkway flanked by high-end retail and F&B establishments including my Tokyo's favourite Tempura-Tendon restaurant, Kaneko Hannosuke. Don't miss out the festive decors there during Chinese New Year season as well! 

龍點心 Lung Dim Sum @ 灣仔

Can't believe this is the only dim sum meal I have throughout this 5D4N trip. This dim sum place is well known for its creative dim sum range, amidst a funky vibrant atmosphere. With the modern colorful aesthetics and fresh, well-portioned dim sum selections, it offers an overall pleasant dining experience. 

Verdict: Not the most spectacular or cheapest dim sum in town, but definitely worth a try for the creativity.

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Sheung Wan (上環)

日本菠菜蟹柳豚肉腸忌廉湯意粉 & 香脆奶油豬仔包 @ 諸勝堂 Katsudo, 上環

We are here for breakfast in Sheung Wan on one of the coldest mornings in Hong Kong (it's only 7°C!). Katsudo is a pretty interesting Japanese-Hongkie styled char chaan teng, offering a wide variety of char chaan teng staples. The most popular item on the menu is no doubt the Crispy Bun with Condensed Milk, which is done right with a generous amount of butter and condensed milk. The "soup pasta" is pretty creative too - worth a try! 

If it is not because of the heavy drizzles, I'd probably spend a couple of hours exploring the bustling, colorful, and extremely fragrant street market along the famed Des Voeux Road West, especially to check out the scene of over 200 stores filled to the brim with dried seafood.

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Fortress Hill (炮台山)

鹹肉叉燒炒蛋三文治 & 煙蔥芝士炒蛋三文治 + 奶茶 @ 半島冰室 Angus Cafe, 炮台山

Tucked at the corner of a quiet row of shoplots in Fortress Hill, Angus Cafe is one of the recommended breakfast spots in this area and we queue for 10 minutes on a weekday morning before being seated.

Our favourite here is the scrambled egg with bacon, scallion and cheese sandwich - so thick and fluffy. Not forgetting to mention the old-school cup of Milk Tea and Yuen Yeung that makes it a perfect meal to kickstart the day.

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Tsim Sha Tsui (尖沙咀) - Harbour City (海港城)

Latte @ Cupping Room Coffee Roasters, Harbour City

At the other side of the Hong Kong island, Kowloon's Tsim Sha Tsui is the home to the largest and most diverse shopping mall in Hong Kong - Harbour City. And we are here to check out the sea-facing Cupping Room, which is constantly flocked with huge crowd as it is one of the most Instagram-worthy cafes in town lately.

This seaside cafe features a cruise-inspired design scheme that appeals to wanderlust and shutterbugs, but coffee enthusiasts may be disappointed as the coffee here has nothing to shout about. 

溏心蛋卤肉饭 @ Check-In Taipei, Harbour City

Tsim Sha Tsui (尖沙咀) - Victoria Harbour (維多利亞港)

Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront - "A Symphony of Lights" night show

The must-do activity for first timer is to watch the light show along with Victoria Harbour (維多利亞港) / Avenue of Stars (星光大道) while enjoying the breezy sea breeze in the vibrant evening. I have been here several times and still enjoy the calming atmosphere here :) 

Hong Kong Cultural Centre (香港文化中心)

I remember taking a photo here in 2018, and now I am back here again for some photos! This place definitely reignites the good ol' memories here :) 

Jordan (佐敦)

核桃露雙拼芝麻糊 @ 佳佳甜品 Kai Kai Dessert, 佐敦

Our evening food hunt in Jordan brings us to this 50-year-old Michelin-listed Kai Kai Dessert, which is known for the traditional Hong Kong style desserts such as tong yuen, sesame soup, tofu pudding, etc. I am impressed by the creamy smooth Sweet Walnut Soup here; so tummy comforting especially under the cold weather at 10°C.

香濃燉奶 @ 澳洲牛奶公司 Australia Dairy Co., 佐敦

Another all-time favourite of mine is the steamed milk pudding with egg white in Australia Dairy Co. It is so silky smooth especially when served warm, although a tad sweet for my liking. 

Temple Street

Temple Street has always been a popular street located between Jordan and Yau Ma Tei sections of Kowloon. With the newly revamped layout since December 2023, the night market vibe here is full-on! Remember to enjoy the local delicacies such as dim sum, beef offal stew, curry fish balls, imitation shark’s fin soup and fried snack here! 

❤❤❤

No Hong Kong trip is complete without shopping for the local delicacies! Kee Wah's almond crisps (奇華 杏仁條) and Jenny's butter cookies are my all-time favourites here. Don't mind buying more of them home to be shared with the loved ones! ❤

Thank you, Hong Kong ❤

All in all, this Hong Kong '2024 trip marks a new beginning, a fresh reset from the past. Thank you for the great experience and I am so looking forward to coming back Hong Kong again or participating in another marathon here! 

xoxo,

FiSh

20.01.2024 - 24.01.2024

香港仔車仔面 HK Boy Cart Noodle @ Bandar Mahkota Cheras

Whenever I miss the Hong Kong street food, surely I’d visit this HK Boy Cart Noodle (香港仔車仔面) restaurant at Bandar Mahkota Cheras to satisfy my long list of cravings. This place is truly a heaven for Hong Kong street food such as Curry Fish Balls (咖喱鱼蛋), Eggette Waffle (鸡蛋仔), and of course the signature Cart Noodles (車仔面).

The ambiance of the restaurant is certainly different from those street stalls along the narrow alleys in Hong Kong, but it exudes nice rustic vibes amidst the old-school setting as you can see from the old wall posters and traditional cutlery.

 

Look at those hand-written advertisement sheets on the wall, do they remind you of the old Hong Kong?

Great emphasis is also placed on the table decors to keep the ambiance as rustic as possible.

Menu / Order Chit

Like many old-style Hong Kong Char Chan Teng, the waiter would come to your table and circle the items you order on the chit. The style is very much like those we normally watch in TVB drama, except for the fact that the waitstaff does not have Hongkie Cantonese slang :P 

Iced Milk Tea (冰鎮奶茶) @ RM5.90

Food here is all served in very traditional Hong Kong style, for instance the famous HK milk tea served in ice bowl (冰鎮奶茶) to keep the temperature low throughout the meal—so it remains cooling and refreshing in the throat.

Signature Cart Noodles (車仔面)

Step 1: Choose the Type of Noodles: Yellow noodles, meehoon, hor fun, etc

Step 2: Choose the Soup Base: Curry, beef soup, spicy soup, tomato base, etc

Step 3: Choose Condiments: Fish balls, sausages, vegetables, pig's skin, red meat, etc

I pick the highly recommended tomato based soup, but perhaps because I am not a fan of sweet soup, we don't really like this. If I were to revisit, I'd probably go for the curry soup base instead. If you add lots of premium toppings (RM2.90, RM3.90 and RM8.90 per type), the bowl of noodles can cost a bomb!

Hong Kong Curry Fish Balls (咖喱鱼蛋) @ RM5

The Curry Fish Balls, on the other hand, are slightly disappointing due to the small-sized balls used and lack of curry richness in it. Great for snacking, but I wouldn’t come back for this.

Hong Kong Eggette Waffle (鸡蛋仔) @ RM5

Whereas the eggette is pretty standard. I'm sure it would have tasted better if served piping hot.

Chee Cheong Fun in Special Sauce (混酱肠粉) @ RM6

Nevertheless, my favourite here is the Chee Cheong Fun! I am totally in love with this special sauce, mainly comprising of Peanut Gravy, Sweet Sauce and Chilli Sauce, with generous drizzles of roasted sesame! The combination is sweet and just so good that I can wipe out the whole plate on my own.

 
Verdict:
1. The taste, ambiance and service here are reminiscent of the old-school Hong Kong coffee shops. So mostalgic and if you have been to Hong Kong, this is the place to relive your good memories there!
2. Taste wise, it is acceptable for both young and old. Not bad!
3. To be honest, the dishes come in really petite sizes— big eaters would probably need a few portions to fill the stomach. But looking at the price range, I have no complaints at all.

HK Boy Cart Noodle (香港仔車仔面)
6, Jalan Temenggung 25/9,
Bandar Mahkota Cheras,
43200 Selangor.
Contact:  +6011-2633 8169
Facebook: fb.com/hkboycartnoodle
Business Hours: 12noon - 3.30pm ; 6pm - 10.30pm daily

New Menu at Tim Ho Wan (添好運) @ The Boulevard, Mid Valley City

Since the opening of the very first Tim Ho Wan outlet in Malaysia, this Hong Kong's famous Michelin-starred dim sum restaurant creates massive hype and long queue at its restaurant from morning till evening! Well, if you have not tried it before, you must be wondering what's so good about it that is worth the queue.

Tim Ho Wan (添好運), the hole-in-the-wall eatery in Hong Kong that defied all odds to gain an entry in the Michelin guide, serves a total of 25 types of crowd's favourite dim sum that are freshly made everyday. Its dim sum have won the plaudits of food critics and the hearts of epicureans around the world.

 

The two-storey outlet is divided into two--- Public dining area on the ground level with maximum capacity of 100 pax, and private dining section above it. Keeping up to its tradition, seats at the ground floor are allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

Should you need a private dining area on the first floor that can fit up to 48 pax, you can make a reservation, with the condition of minimum RM50 spending per person. Each private room can fit up to 10 pax, with additional charges of RM38.

  

NEW ITEMS (MARCH-APRIL)

Crystal Shrimp Roll with Century Egg (水晶松花虾卷) @ RM10.50

On the new seasonal menu that is introduced every 2 months, diners can enjoy 3 new dishes and my personal favourite goes to the one above! Beautifully encased in crystal-clear rice dumpling skin, we have chunky shrimp paste topped with asparagus, fish roe and century egg drenched in abalone sauce.

The complexity of texture and flavour is simply heavenly! 

Signature Five Treasure (龙凤酿五宝) @ RM12.50

Exclusively available in Mid Valley restaurant, second is the simple yet flavourful combination of silky bean curd, deep fried tofu, capsicum and eggplant generously stuffed with shrimp and chicken paste accompanied by chef's signature Hong Kong style black bean sauce. For those who love heavy flavours, this is definitely a must-try! 

Steamed Chicken with Fish Maw (北菇棉花鸡) @ RM11.50

Next on the table is a plate of succulent and juicy chicken slices with fresh mushroom sitting on thick slices of fish maw. Steamed to perfection, the silky abalone sauce is well-suffused into both chicken and fish maw, creating a winning taste for this superb combination.

BIG 4 HEAVENLY KINGS (四大天王)

Apart from the new dishes, here are the 4 staple items that are definitely not to be missed during your first visit at Tim Ho Wan. If you're a returning customer, I'm sure that you'll order them again because their goodness is simply irresistible!

Baked Bun with BBQ Pork (脆皮焗叉烧包) @ RM10.80 (3 pieces)

When people say the first thing you must order is of course the signature baked bun, they're definitely not kidding because Tim Ho Wan sells up to 15,000 plates of this bun every month! Baked to crispy perfection on the outside, you'd enjoy the crumbly exterior before sinking your teeth into the oozing barbecued sauce with pork inside. 

Unlike other dim sum places, the bun here is well-loaded with chunky lean pork meat and melting hot sweet-savoury sauce that doesn't taste overly sweet to my liking! Highly recommended to eat this using hands for the best enjoyment. 

Vermicelli Roll Stuffed with Pig's Liver (黄沙猪润肠) @ RM10.80

I appreciate how each thin, delicate sheet of the vermicelli wrap is able to hold chunks of fresh pork liver firmly. Tastewise, it is pretty well-balanced as the chef goes lighter on the sauce to balance off the rich, savoury fillings.

Pan Fried Carrot Cake (香煎萝卜糕) @ RM9.80

For an authentic taste of Hong Kong, be sure to try the local's favourite Cantonese specialty turnip cake. Thumbs up to the generous application of radish, as the cake turns out to be very aromatic, juicy and sweet with chunky radish in it. Moreover, oiliness is kept at its minimum level. 

Steamed Egg Cake (香滑马来糕) @ RM7.80

Another traditional dish on the menu is the old-school steamed egg cake that is so springy, soft and fluffy that it melts in the mouth when served warm! Personally, it is my favourite too because of its mild sweetness despite of the strong sugary aroma. 

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS

Beancurd Skin Roll with Shrimp (鲜虾腐皮卷) @ RM10.80

If your appetite is more than ample, do opt for other steamed and deep fried dim sum dishes which are equally noteworthy. Best dipped into housemade spicy sauce that gives you an instant kick!

Pork Rib with Black Bean Sauce (豉汁蒸肉排) @ RM8.80


Glutinous Rice with Lotus Leaf (古法糯米鸡) @ RM12.80

Glutinous rice wrapped in lotus leaves are common especially during Chinese New Year, but good ones are few and far between. The one in Tim Ho Wan is not to be missed because it is stuffed with loads of fluffy chicken chunks, mushrooms and aromatic Chinese sausages made of pork liver! 

Braised Chicken Feet with Abalone Sauce (鲍汁焖凤爪) @ RM9.80


Vermicelli Roll with Sweet and Sesame Sauce (大排档肠粉) @ RM7.80

In Hong Kong, you'd expect plain vermicelli rolls to be sold by the roadside hawkers. And I'm glad to be able to find it here as local street food is always comforting and heart-warming. Here I can really enjoy the velvety smooth texture of the rice sheet, and it tastes great on its own!

DESSERT (甜点)

Tonic Medlar and Osmanthus Cake (杞子桂花糕) @ RM6.80

As the finale of the scrumptious meal, signature dessert soup such as Mango Sago Pomelo (杨枝甘露) is available. However, if you're looking for something light, nothing satisfies more than these golden cubes of osmanthus jelly with tonic medlar in it. They taste as good as they look! 

try out their

To keep up with the Michelin star quality, only selected dim sum dishes are available for takeaway. Good stuff are meant to be waited, so please allow 20 minutes for the preparation of takeaway items. 

Verdict:
1. Honestly, I've read about many negative reviews about Tim Ho Wan. But I personally feel the dim sum here are worth your visit, if you're seeking for finer Hong Kong dim sum in town.

2. The taste and quality of the food has improved tremendously from my first visit during its grand launch, so I don't mind coming back for more! 

3. If I were to have any complaints at all, it'd be the short dining time in which you have to dine and leave without staying too long due to the massive crowd. 

4. Definitely looking forward for the opening of Tim Ho Wan's second outlet in Malaysia at One Utama Shopping Mall by the end of April 2015!

Tim Ho Wan (添好運) 
27-G, Ground Floor,
(Facing Starbucks cafe between Mid Valley and The Gardens)
The Boulevard,
Mid Valley City,
58200 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: 603-2201 5081
Facebook: fb.com/TimHoWanMalaysia
Instagram: @timhowanmalaysia

Business Hour:
Mon-Fri: 10am - 10pm
Sat, Sun, Public Holidays: 9am - 10pm (Last order at 9.30pm)