Last updated on June 5th, 2026 at 11:07 pm
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Hong Kong people love their street food. It’s accessible, fast, and inexpensive.
So, when you’re in Hong Kong, you’ve got to see what the hype is.
You can find delicious bites in many neighbourhoods. Save room for your stomach to try these 13 street foods in Hong Kong!
Street Food in Hong Kong List
Curry Fishballs
When someone says Hong Kong street food, curry fish balls are the number one thing that pops into everyone’s head.
I’ve eaten curry fish balls since I was a kid. Having tried countless vendors, I can say with confidence that my all-time favourite is Lam Kee (林記) at Hung Hom. This stall opens at 1:30 pm and almost always has a lineup. People drive to this street stall for their curry fish balls and handmade fish siu mai.
It’s not surprising that people go to great lengths for food, but to drive somewhere for street food?
It must be hella good for people to do so (and it is!).
Whenever I’m near Hung Hom, I always stop by this residential neighbourhood to get my curry fish ball craving.
Also, there is one more thing you need to know. Although the dish is curry fish balls, this street food isn’t particularly spicy. Some vendors even offer two spice options: mild and spicy. As someone who can’t eat very spicy food, even the ‘spicy’ option for fish balls isn’t that bad.
Fish Siu Mai
Another well-known Hong Kong street food is fish siu mai. I like this so much that I eat it multiple times a week. It feels weird not to have some after a week or so.
I have a strong preference for the fish siu mai at Hung Fook Tong. Thankfully, unlike my favourite fishball stall, Hung Fook Tong has branches throughout the city.
This chain offers a variety of other street food and dim sum options, but their fish siu mai is the best seller. It’s pretty much the only thing I get here.
(Something you need to know is that there is a difference between the siu mai at street food stalls and dim sum restaurants. At restaurants, they exclusively serve pork and shrimp siu mai. It’s what people think of when they think of Chinese dim sum. The street food stalls might also sell pork and shrimp siu mai, but they are more well-known for their fish siu mai. The latter is tastier too!)
Cheung Fun
This is similar to siu mai because the ones restaurants serve differ from those served at street food stalls. Instead of fillings like pork, shrimp, or beef, street-food cheung fun is mixed with a variety of sauces – peanut, hoisin, and chilli.
This long rice flour roll is cut into bite-sized pieces for easy enjoyment. The silkiness of the rice rolls, along with the sauces, explodes inside your mouth, delighting your taste buds.
Roasted Chestnuts and Sweet Potatoes
Cooked in a wok over charcoal, roasted chestnuts were once a common sight, but they have dwindled to only a few vendors.
Unlike other Hong Kong street food stalls, there aren’t many permanent places selling roasted chestnuts, quail eggs, and sweet potatoes. Instead, these are on push carts, so it’s hard to predict their location.
Look out for these stands outside Kowloon Tong station and SOGO in Causeway Bay. There isn’t a consistent schedule for these food vendors, but I have seen these push carts at these locations several times in the past, and I think they will continue to be there in the future.
Hong Kong Egg Waffles
Hong Kong egg waffles, known as gai dan jai in Cantonese, are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Most locals eat them plain, and they taste like a pancake. They don’t have as strong a sweet tooth as Westerners, so gai dan jai is tailored to Hong Kong people’s tastes and has an appropriate level of sweetness.
However, with the rise of posting dessert aesthetics on Instagram, the city has now gotten creative with this honeycomb-shaped dessert. There are dessert shops that now offer a variety of egg waffle flavours, and some even serve them with ice cream.
Egg Tarts
This universally loved dessert is found in many bakeries.
There are two types of egg tart crusts: a cookie crust and a flaky crust.
Personally, I prefer a flaky crust when it’s fresh and warm. Those bites have a crispness that pleases the ear and seems to enhance the egg tart’s flavour.
If you’re buying an egg tart from a grocery store and aren’t sure how long it’s been sitting outside (I don’t mean it’s expired, but it could have been sitting on the counter all day), I would opt for the cookie crust.
Hong Kongers share my sentiment.
Portuguese Tarts
Hong Kong egg tarts are often sold alongside Portuguese egg tarts. They are similar, but there are two key differences. Hong Kong egg tarts are yellow and smooth on top. Portuguese egg tarts have a caramelized top layer and are overall sweeter.
For Portuguese egg tarts, visit hashtag b or Bakehouse. For traditional egg tarts, Tai Cheong Bakery is the most famous.
Grilled Octopus
These octopus tentacles might not win an award for best-looking anytime soon, but they’re a hearty skewer snack. As with curry fish balls and fish siu mai, the chewy texture might not be everyone’s cup of tea. This skewer snack is best enjoyed at Fei Jie (肥姐小食) in Mong Kok. People go crazy for their grilled orange octopus there.
If you can’t get over the bright orange coloured octopus, other street food vendors have grilled octopus in a more normal-looking colour. Some vendors may have already marinated the octopus. If not, feel free to choose the variety of sauces on the table to douse your octopus!
Pork Jerky
Pork Jerky might be harder to find than the others on the list because fewer vendors offer it. The most likely place to find pork jerky will be at Bee Cheng Hiang (美珍香). This Singapore chain is more on the expensive side, but they’re commonly found in the city. When I’m craving pork jerky, I’ll grab the golden coin pork jerky from a branch to satisfy a temporary craving.
Bee Cheng Hiang might not be the top pork jerky in Hong Kong (some find it too sweet), but people buy from there because they’re located in high foot traffic areas like Kowloon Tong, Causeway Bay, and Tsim Sha Tsui. Also, they know what quality to expect. Buying pork jerky from local stores might be riskier, as there is no guarantee of taste or quality. Local stores that sell pork jerky are also harder to find, and it’s more of a luck thing.
Tea Egg
These eggs resemble a typical hard-boiled egg but have been soaked in tea for a flavourful bite. When the shell is broken, the egg reveals a marble-like pattern.
This simple, inexpensive street food is usually found at Chinese herbal shops. It’s also one of the healthier options on this list!
Pineapple Bun
This snack is one of the must-eat dishes in Hong Kong. There are no pineapples in this dish; it only resembles a pineapple, with its yellowish, crispy top layer.
The traditional way to eat a pineapple bun is to slice it in half and place a piece of cold butter in the middle. The warmth of the bun will melt the butter, making it a delicious treat.
Locals most commonly eat pineapple buns for breakfast or as an afternoon snack at a Hong Kong cafe. Some Hong Kong cafes will also offer other fillings, such as BBQ pork.
I prefer a BBQ pork pineapple bun rather than a steamed BBQ pork bun. It’s crunchier, with a sweet-salty contrast.
Milk Tea
Hong Kong milk tea is made with black tea and evaporated milk. It’s the signature Hong Kong beverage, served hot or cold.
This drink is enjoyed throughout the day, but most people prefer milk tea in the morning or early afternoon.
You will find milk tea served practically everywhere. Most people strongly recommend getting your drink at Lan Fong Yuen in Central, though. You’ll never go wrong with the place where milk tea was first invented. Even decades later, this Hong Kong cafe remains widely known amongst locals and tourists.
Stinky Tofu
Because of its scent, stinky tofu is divisive even among locals. Depending on the preparation method, the exterior will be crispy when fried or tender when boiled or steamed. The interior will be soft and spongy.
Paired with hoisin sauce and/or chilli sauce, this deep-fried tofu dish tastes better than it smells. As long as you can get over the scent, stinky tofu is a unique street food in Hong Kong that tourists should try.
Red Bean Pudding (Put Chai Ko)
Often served in a circular shape, the red bean pudding resembles a jiggly Jell-O. Just like Hong Kongers like their dessert, put chai ko isn’t overly sweet.
Locals who primarily consume this dish are mainly from the older generation. Older Hong Kongers will likely have fond memories of this red bean pudding, as it will remind them of a simpler time. Today, this old-school pastry has been slowly fading from Hong Kong’s street food scene and is now sold only at select Chinese pastry shops.
Your best chance of finding red bean pudding is to look for snack stalls that appear run-down. These stalls have probably been around for decades, and that’s where you might be able to buy this traditional Chinese dessert.
Tips for Trying Street Food in Hong Kong
- Keep an Open Mind – Some of the street foods might sound strange, but be adventurous and try new things. You might discover unexpected favourites.
- Spot the Crowds – Popular stalls often have lines, and there’s usually a good reason why. If you see locals lining up, it’s a sign that this stall has good food. A high turnover rate also means fresher food.
- Ask for Recommendations – Ask employees at the stalls for recommendations on what to get. They know their food best.
- Consider Hygiene – Assess the surrounding environment before putting in your order. A clean environment is a sign of food safety. This isn’t something you have to worry about, though. Hong Kong street food vendors generally maintain high hygiene standards.
- Carry Cash – Many street food vendors only accept cash, so be sure to have some with you. In general, it’s a good idea to carry some cash with you, as Hong Kong remains a predominantly cash-based society.
Final Thoughts – Street Food in Hong Kong
Now that you’re an expert on this topic, hop around the city exploring Hong Kong’s street food scene.
There are numerous food vendors, so you will definitely have the opportunity to try some. Try these 13 Hong Kong street foods for a memorable food experience during your trip to Hong Kong!
Now to You – Street Food in Hong Kong
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