Hong Kong Immigration discusses settling and living in Hong Kong: In Hong Kong, one can always enjoy a variety of rich and colorful cuisines from around the world. My favorite is to eat at the street food stalls in Hong Kong. Initially, I wanted to investigate the trading conditions of agricultural markets in Hong Kong, looking for places to buy vegetables in areas of Kowloon and the New Territories. After several searches, I found that the vegetable markets in Hong Kong are all named after certain streets and follow a similar pattern: the first and second floors sell various vegetables, fruits, and meats, while the third floor is dedicated to cooked food stalls.
Knowing this and having tasted the food myself, I must visit these street food stalls every time I go to Hong Kong. The food at the stalls is unlike what you find on the streets of Hong Kong, lacking any Western elements. It is not like the milk tea shops in Hong Kong, where tea is mixed with milk and sugar. The street food stalls are entirely Chinese in flavor, predominantly Cantonese cuisine, with occasional Sichuan hot pot and Hunan dishes. Roast meats, chicken, duck, seafood, vegetables, and mushrooms are all available. Cooking methods include grilling, blanching, boiling, braising, and hot pot, among others. The entire floor is filled with food stalls, and there are many vendors, each with varying levels of business. Some vendors occupy larger spaces with more tables, while others have only a few counters. Customers usually call ahead to reserve a table, and upon arrival, they order dishes and tea. If there is no reservation, it depends on luck; if there are available seats, you can dine, otherwise, you must wait. Each market will have one or two well-known stalls, and if you want to eat there, it is best to reserve in advance. I once wanted to go to the Hung Hom Market to eat 'Er He', but because I did not make a reservation, I waited for over an hour.
Generally, the people dining at the street markets in Hong Kong are residents from the surrounding areas. Families with elderly and children often go to the markets to eat because it is difficult for ordinary people in Hong Kong to cook at home due to small living spaces. The markets are also a good choice for hosting guests; bringing visitors to try the local flavors is a great option, as it is less expensive than dining in hotels, and the taste is good. It is worth noting that the wages of Hong Kong residents have not increased for many years, while housing prices have risen significantly! Friends also gather at the food stalls, mainly university students. I have noticed that in markets near universities, many young people dine at the stalls in the evenings, ordering snacks and a few bottles of beer, laughing and enjoying themselves, creating memories of youth for other diners in the market.
The management of street markets in Hong Kong is standardized, with both vertical and inclined elevators for customer access, and the hygiene is very good, with clean restrooms. The government’s health department posts notices in prominent locations, indicating that the cooked food at the stalls is safe to eat, etc. I estimate that they have a regular management mechanism and emergency plans in place. I recall that last year in Taiwan's night markets, there were similar notices to inform diners whether they could enjoy food there. Why do domestic management departments not have such good measures, given that we are all part of the same Chinese nation?
Dining at street food stalls in Hong Kong can also lead to unexpected encounters. Once, while eating at a market in North Point, after a few drinks, I noticed a familiar figure at the next table. After staring for a while, I realized it was a friend I had only met twice before. I immediately went over to greet him, and he was equally surprised; it was truly a fateful encounter. We quickly started drinking and eating together, and after this chance meeting at the stall, our friendship seemed to deepen significantly. That day, he also introduced me to a few of his friends, who have now become good friends. I estimate that many business deals may have been made at Hong Kong's food stalls, as those who conduct business do not indulge in extravagant spending. My chance encounter friend is a billionaire, and he enjoys eating at Hong Kong's street food stalls.