I hope you're ready to be bombarded with a whole lot of food pictures because this is what it is going to be. All about food, food and food in Hong Kong! In fact, whatever comes with the label Hong Kong Eats is going to be about food so you can tap on that category if you need to where to grab a bite in case you're planning for a trip to the Pearl of the Orient.
LIN HEUNG LAU (蓮香樓)
This place has the nicest sounding name ever! It was our first stop on Day 2 for what was deemed to be authentic Hong Kong dim sum because of the way the food was cooked and also how "local" the interior was. In much honesty, I was so bummed from the walk around the Avenue of Stars then down to Peninsula Hotel and all that traveling, I just wanted to sit my butt down.
But with this being the sight that greets you...good luck getting a chair.
I have to say, it is EXACTLY as it is on television where you have to stand around waiting for tables while people are rowdy and loud. You get old ladies on pushcarts going around asking if you want prawn dumplings or "siu mai" and even glutinous rice with chicken.
Oh and we got a seat much later on. This is daddy staring at the staff clean our table.
Just to prove that we were there.
It was most unfortunate that I didn't get any pictures of the food because we were firstly EXTREMELY hungry so everything was devoured before my phone even had the chance and secondly because it was really nothing to shout about. We had very minimal food in Lin Heung Lau and decided that it's just the name that's pretty and nothing else. I guess I was disappointed because we really walked a lot to get here and I expected a lot more from Hong Kong dim sum. Uncle Eddie ended up paying HKD 180 for 6 plates of dim sum that included prawn dumplings, "siu mai" and curry fish paste among others.
LIN HEUNG LAU
160 - 164 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong
Open daily from 6 AM to 11 PM
*****
SANG KEE PORRIDGE (生记粥品)
Mum making it a point that we're at Sang Kei. Geddit geddit? Point?
Space in Hong Kong is no joke, okay? This is me by the VERY corner of the shop because it's the only place that seats 6 of us.
Pig's liver with pork slices and century egg porridge.
Century Egg. I LOVE CENTURY EGG!
Pork ball. I am not kidding, this is pork ball in porridge!
Our next spot after an unsatisfying dim sum affair was to walk to Sang Kee Porridge at Sheung Wan. It was about a 10 minute walk from Lin Heung Lau and is situated by the corner of Burd Street. It was the first time I have ever come to notice the lack of space inside a shop as seen on television and I was truly amazed. Yes, space is scarce in Hong Kong and it was just amazing how these guys at Sang Kee had managed to put up 3 shops together to make one and STILL looked so tiny.
We placed our orders with an extremely impatient lady but we understood why; we came in during lunch time. It was also the first time I have come to know that food in Hong Kong does not come cheap even when everything else (Such as sneakers and clothing) are. I guess living standard as a whole is a little higher, no?
Fried fish cakes from Sang Kee Porridge.
Everyone is of favor in porridge when you're in Hong Kong because it's quite the staple food locally. On a personal preference, I too love porridge because it's easy on your stomach and it's supposed to be really good for your intestines. The fare in Sang Kee Porridge does seem to be good enough to satisfy me and daddy has given two thumbs up on what they serve too. The fried fish cakes however was a complete let down as it was so oily, we could have squeezed it dry and made another plate of fried fish cakes. The shine of which you see in the picture above? That's all OIL and it's disgusting to taste.
Uhm...my extremely overpriced "you tiao" and I.
"You Tiao" or "Yao Char Guai" is a must have when you take porridge especially in Hong Kong so it wasn't a shocker that we had it on our table when we ordered it. For RM 4 per stick (!!!), this was a complete flop. Even the 70 cents "you tiao" from Section 17 locally is much better as this was not only soggy and dripping with oil, it was also tasteless and stiff to bite. I was so disappointed because it seriously felt like you're having sushi with no wasabi by the side. IT NEEDS TO COME TOGETHER!
I suppose as an overall, Sang Kee Porridge was not so bad a visit with our total bill coming off at HKD 150 for 3 bowls of porridge, pricey "you tiao" and oily fried fish cakes. Sure the latter sounds horrible but the porridge was really satisfying and it does balance out in the end. Maybe I was just there at the wrong time...
Sang Kee Porridge
G/F, 7-9 Burd Street, Sheung Wan
0 comments
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.