Hong Kong is a wonderful place, where you can find all kinds of delicacies. From Chinese to Italian, from French to Mexican, you can find them all just in this town, and some of them are even the best of the world. However, where is Hong Kong stuff?
Of course we have great Hong Kong food. No, it is not dim sum, not wonton, but dai pai dong! Yes, there is no comfortable armchair, no fancy decoration, no high-end food, but it has what the other luxurious restaurants don't have: a taste of Hong Kong!
There are many dai pai dong in Hong Kong, and most of them are now moved to the interior, usually in the modernized and air-conditioned wet markets. Among them, the famous Tung Po is definitely a place shouldn't be missed. Situated on the topmost floor of the Java Road Municipal Services Building, this dai pai dong is always a popular spot. If you don't make any reservation, I am sure you have to wait outside for an hour to get a table. People don't just come here for food, but for music and dance!
That is one of the staff in the restaurant, and it seems that he gets high every night around 10, holding bottles of beers and dancing around tables. Of course, he is still sober, and don't try to leave without paying.
We don't drink beer with glasses here. We use bowls!
It is definitely different from drinking with glasses, and we feel like we are back to the old Chinese eras in which people talked boldly like kungfu heros! The Asahi beer tastes really good, and even better with this...
Deep-fried baby pig knuckles are perfect companions with beer. They have little meat and under the crispy skin layer is just cartilage and stuff like that. Fat? Most probably gone in the deep frying process!
The next dish is also a great companion of wine. If you are a foreigner, you probably won't like this, it is deep-fried frog legs!
For your knowledge, it is a kind of frog commonly known as East Asia Bullfrog, found in many parts of Asia. It is not disgusting like you may think, and it tastes like chicken actually, but softer like fish. It is truly yummy stuff!
Next is a signature dish in Tung Po, the pitch-black Cuttlefish Ink Noodle with Cuttlefish Balls!
It is so dark that it stinks all your teeth and lips instantly, making anyone know what you have just eaten. I was taught that you should not brush your teeth after eating this because the brush will push the stink further into the enamel. Anyway, this is good stuff!
The other dishes are pretty ordinary but they are all great. They are Deep-fried Chicken (風沙雞), Fried Shrimps in Egg Yolk (黃金蝦) and Edible Chrysanthenum in Hotpot (沙鍋皇帝菜).
People in this place are all very high, and I guess it is not just because of the alcohol but also the whole atmosphere. Those who serve you come to your table not only to add more beer into your bowl, but also drink with you! After 10pm, they sometimes may get some beats up with their loud speakers and subwoofers, making the whole place like a disco. That is like a climax for the meal!
This is the beat of Hong Kong, and this is the place to feel Hong Kong!
north point tung po dai pai dong cooked food stalls hong kong