With a rich, delectable mix of dishes from all over Asia, Hong Kong cuisine can undoubtedly satisfy even the most discerning tastebuds. From dishes to keep you warm to food that you have never tried before, Hong Kong has lots to offer this Winter!

Soupreme

If there’s one place you don’t want to pass up on, it’s Soupreme. A Michelin-recommended restaurant, Soupreme is best known for its Cantonese-inspired, double-boiled soups. These dishes can not only warm you up for the winter, but also boost your health.

Also, Soupreme’s soups come in generous servings, and for 2 to 4 US dollars, you can already have a complete lunch with rice/noodles, soup, side dishes, and the drink of your choice. For the health-conscious, the restaurant also offers light food and beverages such as beancurd, cool chicken wings, and almond drinks.

Duddell Street Starbucks

This isn’t your run-of-the-mill Starbucks. With an interior design inspired by bing sutt (the traditional Hong Kong coffeehouse), the Duddell Street Starbucks has a character unlike any other. Its walls are peppered with tiles covered in Chinese characters, and its laidback, retro atmosphere makes you want to relax and reminisce about the good old days.

But atmosphere isn’t the only thing that makes this place stand out. Dishes like the Coffee Paper Cake, Coffee Egg Tart, and Rustic Bun and Thick Cut Butter are also worth a try for their fusion of Eastern tastes and Western sensibilities. If you’d rather stick to the standard Starbucks fare though, don’t fret: You can still grab a cup of your favorite pick-me-upper here.

Sogno Cafe+

For those who want to bring sugar-laden treats to their friends and family back home, Sogno Café+ should be right up your alley. This little shop offers delightful desserts as the melt-in-your-mouth Earl Grey Chiffon Cake, cute Miss Rainbow Cake, and yummy Banana Cheese Cake. Pair these with a cup of Mocha or Green Tea Latte, and you’re sure to have a complete cafe experience.

Aside from coffee and cakes, Sogno Café+ also serves Western dishes such as steaks, salads, and all-day breakfast meals. The cafe is also filled with adorable figures of Mr. White Cloud and Miss Rainbow by Fluffy House. Gift these to your loved ones who like everything cute and fluffy, or place them beside your food for a quirky Instagram shot.

Sang Kee

To Hong Kongers, congee is one of the best comfort foods. A rice porridge mixed with choice ingredients like meat and fish is a must-try dish this winter season. If you’re looking for the best congee in Hong Kong, Sang Kee is a good place to start.

Their congee of carp belly, pig’s heart, and liver combines a variety of flavors and textures so well, you’ll want to order more. Another Sang Kee staple is their offal, which is cooked to perfection and dipped in a sauce of ginger and scallions. For a culinary experience that brings back warm memories of home, sink your teeth into Sang Kee’s dishes.

Other Must-Try Dishes and Restos

Hot Pot

When Hong Kongers need to warm up with family and friends, hot pot is their go-to dish. Try a sake-spiked version of the hot pot at The Drunken Pot (2/F, 8 Observatory Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon), which just opened its second branch at V Point along Causeway Bay, complete with funky graffiti on the walls. Or head over to Megan’s Kitchen (5/F Lucky Centre, 165-171 Wan Chai Road), another hot pot destination where creativity and variety collide. Megan’s Kitchen’s specialties include old favourites like the tom yum cappuccino (which has a thick, creamy layer of foam on top) and duck soup with snow pear, leek, and tangerine peel.

Clay Pot Rice

Another treat guaranteed to warm you up for the winter is clay pot rice. As its name suggests, clay pot rice consists of various food ingredients with crispy rice at the bottom, and boiled in a clay pot over a charcoal stove.

One popular destination for clay pot rice is Kwan Kee (263 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun), which has been around for 20 years and regularly attracts long lines of customers. Some of their bestsellers include traditional Chinese sausage, duck and spare ribs, and beef and egg.

You also want to check out Chuen Moon Kee (G/F Man Fok Building, 419 Reclamation Street, Mongkok). Their claypot rice is cooked perfectly with the use of a special stove that uses a combination of electricity and gas to get the consistency right. Plus, seafood toppings such as prawns and white eel are the specialty here.

Barbecues

In Hong Kong, people usher in the winter season with barbecues. Bite into these at the Pool Bar (18 Chak Cheung Street, Sha Tin), an all-you-can-eat barbecue diner hidden in the Hyatt Regency. Try their succulent spring chicken and rib-eye steak, or savor their grilled king prawns and salmon. Don’t forget to cap off your meal with salads and desserts like yuzu cheesecake and mango pudding.

Likewise, the newly opened CRFT-PIT (Unit 2, 3/F Harbour Industrial Centre, 10 Lee Hing Street) in Aberdeen offers a traditional, Southern take on barbecue smoked meats and seafood. Their must-try items include smoked wagyu, ham and roast chicken, and beef short ribs.

Winter Desserts

What better (and sweeter way) to keep the chills away than with Chinese desserts? Drop by the famous Yuen Kee (G/F 32 Centre Street, Western District, Sai Ying Pun), and indulge intheir black sesame, sweet almonds, and walnut soups.

Alternatively, be spoilt for choice from over 50 sweet treats at the Luk Lam Dessert (G/F King Yip Building, 9 Un Chau Street, Sham Shui Po)! Their pancakes, especially the mango and durian ones, are absolutely delightful, as are their red/green bean soups, chestnut sweet soups, and black sesame dumpling in soup.

No matter what type of gourmand you are, Hong Kong will always have surprises just for you. To partake in one of the tasty creations above, book your Winter 2017 tour to Hong Kong today.

INQUIRER.NET/Issa Mirandilla