Okay, so I’ve been craving dim sum like crazy lately. And everyone keeps saying Hong Kong is the place to get it. So, I finally booked a trip! Here’s how my dim sum adventure went down.
Getting Started (and Getting Lost)
First things first, I did some Googling before I left. “Best dim sum Hong Kong,” “top rated dim sum,” you know, the usual. I made a list of, like, ten places that sounded promising. I figured I’d just wander around and hit up whichever ones were nearby.
Big mistake. Hong Kong is a maze! I got turned around so many times. I definitely recommend downloading a good map app beforehand, unlike me, who got hopelessly lost using a paper map my first afternoon.
The Dim Sum Journey
- First Stop: A Total Flop
My first attempt was at some random place I stumbled upon. It looked busy, which I thought was a good sign. It wasn’t. The har gow (shrimp dumplings) were gummy, the siu mai (pork dumplings) were dry, and the service was… well, let’s just say it was efficient, but not friendly. I ate a few bites and decided to move on.
- Second Stop: Getting Warmer
The next place was one I’d actually seen on my list. It was much better! The char siu bao (barbecue pork buns) were fluffy and the filling was sweet and savory. The cheung fun (rice noodle rolls) were silky smooth. Still, I felt like I could do even better.
- Third Stop:Finding the goods
Finally after asking a really friendly local for their favorite, I found a hole in the wall dim sum shop.
The xiaolongbao here was so good, I ate a whole basket to myself.
I tried a few new things that I could barely pronounce and enjoyed those too!
The Aftermath
I’m stuffed. And happy. And maybe a little bit sweaty from all the walking. My big takeaway? Don’t be afraid to ask locals for recommendations! And definitely ditch the paper map. It’s worth doing a little extra research to find those hidden gems. Hong Kong dim sum is definitely worth the hype (and the occasional wrong turn).