The best Michelin-recommended street food in Hong Kong

Founded by two best friends from South America, Twist & Buckle uses premium ingredients and have even imported a top-of-the-line José Luis Blanco churro-making machine all the way from Spain to create their churros. Aside from traditional cinnamon sugar-dusted churros that most of us are familiar with, Twist & Buckle also offers glazed churros as well as delectable sundaes.

In case you can’t tell from the name, Fisholic has a menu that heavily features fish as the main ingredient. From noodles and dumplings to fish skin nachos and minced fish shaped like rice grains, this restaurant uses fish as an alternative to create a large variety of Western and local street snacks that taste just like the real thing.

Head to Jordan to find Mrs. Fong Chinese Desserts, a dessert shop that specialises in 18 kinds of homemade treats. The store has been operating for almost 20 years by the Fong family and Mrs. Fong, the store's matriarch who has been passing down her dessert-making skills to the next generation. The signature item here are their sesame rolls, which are made from rolled up steamed sheets of black sesame paste. Be sure to try out some of their other desserts such as put chai ko (red bean bowl pudding) available in flavours like brown sugar or coconut. 

This takeaway store in Wan Chai imports ingredients like pâté, cold cuts, marinated pork skewers, as well as pork floss from Vietnam daily; and pairs them with Vietnamese-style baguettes to make authentic bánh mí. Currently, Banh Mi Nem offers bánh mí with five kinds of fillings – assorted cold cuts with pork floss and pâté, stewed pork belly, minced pork skewers, grilled chicken thigh with chicken floss and chicken liver pâté, as well as braised tofu. 

So the name sounds a bit dodgy, but rest assured, there’s no dog meat involved in any Block 18’s noodles. The name doggie’s noodle actually refers to their specialty glutinous rice noodles. Here at this street food joint, tuck in a hearty bowl of noodles served in rich broth with liberal helpings of mushrooms and minced meat. Their fake shark fin soup with duck is popular, too. Block 18’s noodles make for a perfect meal to refuel after a day of shopping around Sham Shui Po.

Cheung Hing Kee is a takeaway chain that specialises in Shanghai pan-fried buns. Here, diners can enjoy piping hot crispy-bottomed soup filled pan-fried buns, with fresh spring onions on top and sauce on the side. Just be sure to proceed with care, unless you plan on splattering hot soup all over yourself.

Twins Liangpi Limited specializes in serving Sichuan spicy noodles. It provides a wide range of options, including the iconic Chongqing liangpi, sour and spicy noodles as well as other authentic Sichuan dishes like saliva chicken. After relocating to Mong Kok, Twins' venue has grown and now features a dine-in space for guests to dig into their irresistably spicy fare.

If you need a quick bite to eat, takeout shop Sai Kwan Lo Jo in Jordan dishes up a variety of bites from Guangdong’s Xiguan region. Highlights on Sai Kwan Lo Jo’s menu include stir-fried turnip cakes in X.O sauce, sticky rice dumplings filled with Iberico pork, and hand-made lai fun noodles served with pork lardons.

A visit to Joyful Dessert House is a must for all foodies with a sweet tooth. Every dish on the menu here is as decadent as it is delicious. Crowd favourites include the mango Napoleon, green tea lava cake with ice cream, and the parfait with Oreos and Okinawa black sugar.

You may remember this 40-year-old shop as the Hong Kong torchbearer for the ‘Michelin curse’. After it was recognised by the guide, its rent was hiked and the shop moved to a new location around the corner. Politics aside, this dessert shop really packs them in, all eaters looking for a taste of classic Chiuchow desserts, like red bean soup with lotus seeds and black sesame soup.

Mammy Pancake has more than 10 branches spread out across the city. Thanks to an interview with a Japanese TV programme, the store has been attracting a good number of Japanese tourists. Variety is the name of the game here with more than 15 flavours to pick from, as well as special seasonal flavours. 

The Hong Kong tradition of serving yuen yeung (a mixture of coffee and Hong Kong-style milk tea) probably originated in joints like this one. And while tea and coffee drinks can be found across the city, stalls like So Kee are still some of the best “cafés” around. Patrons of the café/noodle shop mostly order the pork ramen with an egg on top – a dai pai dong staple. For a real treat, order the French toast and a glass of yuen yeung. 

Sham Shui Po has no shortage of mouth-watering street food but Hop Yik Tai’s cheong fun, or rice noodle rolls, are worth crossing the harbour for. Made fresh every day, their cheong fun is incredibly smooth and paired perfectly with sweet sauce, sesame sauce and soy sauce. It’s no wonder why there are queues all the time. The popular local eatery was also recommended in the Michelin Guide last year.

The Hong Kong style tarts, buns, and puffs at this bakery are worth pushing through the crowds in Mong Kok to get to. Their moon cakes are particularly good, while the egg centers are like full moons in velvety lotus paste skies.