Hong Kong Mar 2016 - Food Trail II Roasted Goose, Noodles, Congee, Dim Sum

Continued from
Hong Kong March 2016 Introduction
Hong Kong March 2016 - Food Trail I Cha Chaan Teng


Our must eat food whenever we visit HK has got to be Roasted Goose, simply because it's not readily available in SG!

Sham Tseng Chan Kee Roasted Goose is one of our favourite joints to eat roasted goose, we usually go to the branch at Mongkok. Actually Chan Kee is a Cha Chaan Teng too, serving the usual Cha Chaan Teng foods, but we only eat roasted goose there :p

This was our very first meal in HK, couldn't resist ordering a big fat succulent roasted goose leg! Actually we ordered a roasted goose leg and roasted pork platter but it wasn't enough (and the roasted pork wasn't nice), greedily ordered another portion of roasted goose leg to satisfy our cravings :p Needless to say, the roasted goose was so delicious, skin was crispy and fragrant and the meat was finger licking succulent, especially eaten with the free flow thick plum sauce which was sweet and tangy.

Ordered a plate of choy sum and watercress soup as well. Totally bloated after the meal!

There are two branches of Chan Kee along Reclamation Street, one near to the entrance of Cordis Hotel (which we frequent) and another near to Argyle Street. Both branches are quite spacious.

Sham Tseng Chan Kee Roasted Goose 深井陳記燒鵝茶餐廳

427-427A Reclamation Street, Mongkok
新填地街427-427A號
Daily: 07:30-00:00
Getting there: MTR Mongkok

Another favourite roasted goose place is Yat Lok, located at Stanley Street, Hong Kong island. Unlike Chan Kee, this shop specialises in roasted goose and other roasted meats, it's quite a small shop with limited seating. We went in 7+pm one of the evenings, while the shop was crowded, there were still a few seats and we didn't have to queue.

This time, we didn't waste time on other types of roasted meat and just went for half a roasted goose! The roasted goose here was slightly more tender than the one at Chan Kee and the roasted goose skin was even thinner and more crispy. The plum sauce here is more watery, less sweet but more tangy. Couldn't decide which roasted goose I prefer, probably Yat Lok would win by a nose.

Yat Lok Roasted Goose 一樂燒鵝
G/F, 28 Stanley Street, Central
中環士丹利街28號地下
Mon-Sat: 07:00-19:00, Sun,PH: 09:00-15:30
Getting there: MTR Central (exit D2, about 6-8 mins)

Both HB and I are not big fans of HK wanton noodles, so it's not really a must-eat for us. A few years back, we tried Ho Hung Kee when it was still a small shopfront at Causeway Bay. I only remembered the wanton noodles and dumplings were not bad, the more notable dish was in fact century egg with pink ginger. Back then I didn't even know that it was a Michelin-starred eatery!

Anyways, we decided to go try it again.

Ho Hung Kee has since shifted to Hysan Place, with a total makeover, really swanky furnishings with white, golden and tiffany blue colour-scheme. I like!

We went during dinner time and there were still plenty of seats, contrary to what I heard about long queues and waiting time.

Wow, guests can even request for individual seating booths like this, so pretty! Too bad the limited booths were occupied and reserved.

I ordered the signature wanton noodles soup. Yes, the noodles were al dente, the wantons very succulent with a full piece of shrimp in each piece and the broth tasty. Probably because I'm not a big fan, I wasn't wowed.

Really disappointed with the century egg though. Not as tasty as the ones we eaten before, slightly dry and didn't have that umami factor anymore :(

HB ordered a pork and liver porridge which was quite disappointing as well. The congee was too watery; cantonese congee should be smooth and gluey (he claimed).

While the whole place is nicely furnished with good customer service, I guess it's unlikely we'll visit again.

Ho Hung Kee 何洪記

Shop 1204-1205, 12/F, Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay
銅鑼灣軒尼詩道500號希慎廣場12樓1204-1205號舖
Getting there: MTR Causeway Bay

HB discovered this wanton noodles/congee place located 5 mins from our hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui and I realised Mak's Noodles is one of the top wanton noodles brand in HK.

HB loved the congee here, claiming that it was done perfectly, very smooth and gluey (I'm not a Cantonese so I don't know much about the standard Cantonese congee). After tasting, I realised he was right, at least it was much better than Ho Hung Kee's.

As I wasn't hungry, just ordered a bowl of wanton and shrimp dumplings (without noodles). Well, both tasted not, similar to Ho Hung Kee.

There are many branches of Mak's Noodles in HK, so if we were to crave for congee or wanton noodles next time, we know which brand to look for. Mak's Noodles has opened in Westgate, Jurong East last year, probably we could give it a try one of these days.

Mak's Noodles 麥奀雲吞麵世家
19 Lock Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
尖沙咀樂道十九號  

Our last meal in HK, decided to have dim sum. Initially I wanted to try One Dim Sum, but considering it was a weekend and the queue is likely to be horrendous, decided to go to East Ocean Restaurant at The One Mall at Tsim Sha Tsui, highly recommended by the hb.

Located on Level 12 of The One Mall at Tsim Sha Tsui, the restaurant was large and spacious with a spectacular view. I approve! I guess it beats having to queue and squeeze at One Dim Sum which is considerably smaller?

Both the fried radish cake and rice roll with fried dough were very yummy! I finally ate one rice roll with fried dough that was good (tried different places but disappointed every time).

The chicken feet, siew mai and steamed beancurd roll were very good too, great texture and taste.

So was the har gow with succulent and bouncy prawns. Love the salted egg yolk layer cake with tender cake texture and both sweet and savoury taste.

The steamed glutinous rice wrapped in lotus rice was very fragrant and moist, just a tad salty.

Our favourite was actually this red date layer cake which has a sticky rice cake bouncy texture but tasted very light and fragrant. Haven't eaten it before so it was a pleasant surprise. I must find the recipe or at least find out if any dim sum restaurants in SG serve this!

Overall, the dim sum at East Ocean was above average, although it might be slightly pricey as compared to some other joints, I don't really mind since there's no queue, nice environment and good service.

East Ocean Restaruant 東海酒家

L12, The ONE, 100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
尖沙咀彌敦道100號The ONE L12 

Mon-Fri: 10:30-23:00
Sat-Sun&PH: 10:00-23:00

Stay tuned for upcoming post and Sai Kung, followed by food in Sai Kung!