Beyond Dimsum and Noodles: Interesting Food Finds in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has always been associated with dimsum, noodles, and roasted duck, but the country offers more than these Chinese cuisine staples. Walk along the streets of Mong Kok or Sham Shui Po and you'll find just about all kinds of gastronomic delights, from the popular to the unusual.

Here are five dishes you will most likely see in every corner of this bustling and vibrant city:

Snake soup

Don't be intimidated because you won't be seeing slices of snake meat floating in a bowl. Instead, you'll get its shredded version mixed with mushrooms and spices. It's usually consumed during the winter months because of it warms up the body, but it's available for consumption all year round.

Tofu pudding

Very much like our local 'taho', Hong Kong's tofu pudding or dao fu fa is considered a classic dessert. But unlike here where it's sold by container-touting vendors early in the morning, dao fu fa is served in small bowls and topped with some brown sugar or fruits.

Curry fish balls

Probably the bestseller among Hong Kong's street foods, the curry fish balls are sold in almost every stall anywhere in the city. You will see them floating in a large pot of spice-filled boiling water, and will be placed in a small bowl and served to hungry customers with some curry sauce and chili.

Egg tart

Egg tart is more commonly associated with Macau, but it actually originated in Hong Kong. Whereas the Macau version has a caramelized top layer, Hong Kong's egg tart is soft all throughout, with a flaky crust complementing the filling. Make sure to eat them hot for the best experience.

Egg waffle

Much like pancakes, Hong Kong's egg waffle or gai dan zai is just batter poured in a dimpled iron. Cooking it to perfection, however, is a different story. It has to be crispy on the outside and soft and puffy on the inside. The once simple waffle has evolved with the times, with shops selling it in different flavors and with a wide variety of toppings.

Whether you're a first-time traveler or a frequent visitor, don't miss any of these interesting food finds to make your trip to Hong Kong complete.