Hong Kong 2024 -- First Visit

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@Saregama

– Wonton soup (wish @THECHARLES’ explorations from chowhound days were still accesible!)

Its wonton noodle soup. Wonton soup is generally American.

Starz Kitchen got my vote. Mak’s on Wellington in Central is also fine. There are a few others that are also fine so it depends on which neighborhoods you are in.

@Saregama

Chiu Chow

Western District, Prince Edward, Shau Kei Wan (close to you) has quite a lot of Chiu Chow. I spent my only meal in Hong Kong last week in Tak Kee in Western District. But you got a lot of choices here.

@Saregama

XLB / soup dumplings / xiao long bao

I don’t have a suggestion. XLB is not Cantonese. Cantonese joints generally don’t do a good job with it. I have had very good one and very average one at Din Tai Fung.

@Saregama

– Islands / Seafood – I read the reports about Sai Kung, not sure if it will fit into the rest of the plan, but perhaps a wet market stop on HK Island and having a stall nearby cook the catch would satisfy this

Ap Lei Chau (which is decently close to you, since you are on the south side of the island already) wet market downstairs to shop for seafood, and the stalls upstairs in the cooked market to cook. The stalls often don’t open during the day. You need a local to help reserve a table and help you shop.

Easier, just go to Star Seafood.

@Saregama

– Night market

Maybe Sham Shui Po. But its so hot and humid these days.

@Saregama

– Cantonese high end – either/or vs banquet

The Chairman? Tasting Court (private kitchen)- whatsapp them to reserve and design a menu for the group. though I am not up to date with the latest high end.

[Hong Kong] Tasting Court 天一閣. Outstanding traditional Cantonese banquet

Tasting Court the private kitchen in Jordan closed a few months ago. It has recently reopened in Happy Valley. It focuses on classic, traditional and nostalgic Cantonese dishes cooked with high quality ingredients and deemphasizes pricey Cantonese banquet ingredients such as shark fin, bird’s nest, deep-sea fish, etc. Originally I thought they were still closed but found during the trip that they reopened. So I booked a table to see how it compared with a favorite meal I had at The Chairman …

@Saregama

– Cantonese banquet – wondering if I should propose this for the group, as we have enough people for it to make sense, and I’ve never experienced it in the US

Yes.

@Saregama

– Clay pot rice

Where to find Hong Kong’s best claypot rice dishes

You are missing porridge.

@Saregama

– Hotpot

Its the summer. skip.

@Saregama

– Regional cuisines like Shunde and Chiu Chow (love the braised duck in NYC which I understand is an adaptation of goose, and the curry chicken and beef noodles)

I like https://www.openrice.com/en/hongkong/r-san-xi-lou-mid-levels-sichuan-r21564 but its out of the way for the group. Maybe combine with peak tram. Try water boiled fish with a good fresh fish and it will change your opinion of the dish forever.

I personally would plan my activities first, so I figure out where I need to be, and then I figure out the good eateries around those neighborhoods. Easier that way. There are good eateries all around town.

Since you are in Chung Hom Kok, consider Ocean Park. The gondola gives you a truly spectacular view of Repulse Bay and Deep Water Bay. The cafe up on the hill has the same view. Expensive but average cafe food. But the view is great. I once had a meal there while it just started thundering and storming. It was spectacular. One of the roller coasters also has a great view of Ap Lei Chau and Aberdeen. And they got pandas. Go eat seafood at Ap Lei Chau afterwards.