What on earth is a dai pai dong? The best translation of this is a no-frills eaterie, usually on the street itself.Essentially it is street food but with a little extra seating, atmosphere, and variety. Cleanliness and hygiene aside, these are great places to immerse yourself in Hong Kong culture. Hong Kong is full of them and it can be hard to decide which are the best. To give you a helping hand, we have compiled a list of the best five.
Sing Kee
10 Stanley Street, Central. Sing Kee is one of the most famous dai pai dongs in the city and is the perfect example of what to expect. Plenty of people stop by here, which gives it a real buzz. You can see your food being made right in front of you, which may not be for the faint of heart but it is certainly a form of entertainment. Try the salt and pepper pork, as well as the crab and clams; these are signature dishes of Sing Kee and come highly recommended.
Sing Heung Yuen
2 Mee Lun Street, Central This is arguably one of the most popular dai pai dongs and has been feeding customers for years. Their most famous dish is tomato and macaroni soup, which sounds bizarre but is extremely popular. It is a little cleaner than the average dai pai dong and it is also slightly more secluded, located on a quieter street away from the main thoroughfare.
Keung Kee
219 Ki Lung Street, Sham Shui Po If authenticity is what you are looking for, then Keung Kee has it in bucket loads. They have outdoor seating and it is impossible to miss this place as you walk along the street. Again, you can see the chef whipping up huge batches of fried rice and noodles, the bustle and aromas surrounding this place are not to be missed. The Hainanese chicken rice is a real favourite here, but the seafood is also highly recommended.
So Kee
6 Yiu Tung Street, Sham Shui Po This stall has two traditions; that of serving fresh, authentic food to passers by and serving yuenyeung, which is a combination of coffee and milk tea, this is a Hong Kong classic and So Kee is one of the best places to try it. They also have a great ramen dishes, and for those with a sweet tooth, don't miss their french toast- not traditionally a Hong Kong dish, but delicious all the same!
Bing Kee
5 Shepherd Street, Tai Hang The pork noodles here are what really makes Bing Kee stand out. This is the best selling dish at this dai pai dong and once you try it, you will see why. Bing Kee is clean, has great service, and is great value for money. You can also try the Hong Kong staple milk tea with your meal. Its lovation makes this a great place to people watch and the food is amoung some of the best we have had in Hong Kong- this place really should be on your list of places to try.