don’t leave Hong Kong without trying these

As I wind down my trip to Hong Kong, there are two more notable eateries which need to be recognized.

Hainan BoBo by Eddy – a Malaysian street food concept which garners a huge following especially during lunch time when office workers flock to his little space in Central to grab a bite. Chef Eddy Leung’s Hainan Chicken Rice is out of this world, with the most beautifully textured chicken, and three authentic sauces including chile, ginger, and sweet soy. The flavors are comparable to the ones I grew up with in Malaysia, and brought back an overwhelming sense of nostalgia the minute I tasted it.

Besides the Hainan chicken rice, diners may also choose Malaysian curry, shrimp noodles, or laksa, another traditional Malaysian staple I crave. I’ve eaten laksa from coast of coast, but is terribly difficult to find a well-executed version in the US. Not one to stay inside the box, Chef Eddy has taken it one step further by offering Lobster Laksa to his customers by elevating a humble bowl of noodles, to a decadent experience you won’t forget.

G/F, No.13 Queen Victoria Street
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3622 1246

Bamboo Noodles (竹昇麵) is a dying art-form, so rare that even in Hong Kong, it is getting extremely difficult to find. Lau Sum Kee in Sham Shui Po is one of the last eateries which still makes these bamboo noodles, a skill passed down by current owner, Lau Fat-Cheong’s grandfather, who brought this tradition from Guangzhou.

The noodles are made with duck eggs, and historically, the noodle maker will ride a bamboo log to press down on the dough to bind the ingredients together.

On this afternoon, we are here specifically, to try the bamboo noodles. We order one plate with beef tendon, and another with black tripe. The noodles may be plain, or tossed in shrimp roe – we chose the latter – which is one of my favorites. The umami-packed noodles are chewy, and possesses a slightly rubbery texture which is indicative of true Hong Kong style noodles. This is one of those things I wish I could indulge in, once a week!