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Sweets Take the Streets
Hong Kong
Take your taste buds on a saccharine adventure! Discover Hong Kong’s diverse flavors in its small yet loved dessert shops, sweetness hidden in unexpected corners all over the city. These spots offer a bevy of mouth-watering afters, reinvented to suit the Asian palate. Leave with more than just memories, but a satisfied appetite as well!
Leaf Dessert is a simple stall that continues the legacy of the “Dai Pai Dong” (大排檔, Cantonese for cooked food stalls), Hong Kong’s cross between a hawker and a restaurant. It stands proud with their hundred-year-old tradition of serving beautifully prepared traditional Cantonese desserts throughout four generations of service. Popular for menu standouts such as Rice Ball with Sugar Coconut Sesame and Green Bean Soup, their selection is limited yet revered for keeping the city’s Dai Pai Dong culture alive.
- +852 2544 3795
2 Elgin Street, Central, Hong Kong, China
中環蘇豪伊利近街2號- https://www.facebook.com/%E7%8E%89%E8%91%89%E7%94%9C%E5%93%81-Leaf-Dessert-432653236933937/
A wide variety of traditional sweet treats are served up at Honeymoon Dessert, but they’re primarily known for their Tong Sui (糖水, Cantonese for “sugar water”). Well-loved offerings include traditional items like Walnut Soup and Almond Tea, Sweet Ball Coated in Crushed Peanut and Sesame, and Grass Jelly and Red Bean Soup. Also on the menu are creamy Durian Pancakes, Thai Black Glutinous Rice in Vanilla Sauce, and a host of mango desserts, rightly tagged as best-sellers.
- +852 2109 9988
Ground Floor, 9-10 ABC Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, Hong Kong, China
大嶼山昂坪市集5號舖- https://www.honeymoon-dessert.com/en/
Grab a little on-the-go snack at Michelin-recommended Mammy Pancake! Through the transparent storefront, you can see how they’ve gotten making Egg Puffs—colloquially known as “Eggettes” or “Bubble Waffles”— down to a fine science. You won’t see one burned or soggy Puff leave the counter. Their delicious creations are always fresh, its crispy exterior and moist cake-like center made even better by a variety of flavors and toppings. Favorites include their Original and Chocolate Chip Egg Puffs, as well as Waffle with Peanut Butter and Condensed Milk.
- +852 2887 8212
Shop 1A15, Ground Floor, 99 Dock Street, Whampoa Estate, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
紅磡民泰街36號地下K1B舖- http://www.mammypancake.com
Known throughout Hong Kong for their pastries and breads, King Bakery entices customers to indulge in their fragrant, delicate treats. Glass display cases feature delectable B.B.Q. Pork- or Cream-Filled Buns for visitors to gobble down, but it’s their Pineapple Buns that will make your detour worth it. They’re freshly made and sold at around 4:00PM, so get them while they’re still warm!
- +852 2893 6722
No. 2 Min Fat Street, Happy Valley, Hong Kong, China
跑馬地綿發街2號地下
Tap into the sweet simplicity of soybeans at Kung Wo Dou Bun, a small shop that has been serving tofu in all delicious shapes and flavors for over 60 years. Its interiors—humbly accented with wooden stools and plastic tables—harks back to the its beginnings in old Hong Kong, reflecting their simple yet exceptional approach to the food. Their Tofu Pudding, Deep-Fried Tofu Puff, and Soya Bean Milk are menu highlights. Bring these treats home by heading to the stall outside the restaurant to place your orders!
- +852 2386 6871
Ground Floor, 118 Pei Ho Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong, China
深水埗北河街118號地下
Hui Lau Shan is where you can indulge in fruits in shaved ice, sweet soups, and shakes. A healthy alternative to other sugary shops, the ambience is casual, letting visitors take a break and indulge in Hong Kong-style confections. Multiple branches have emerged all over the world, reaching Malaysia, Korea, and the United States. Despite this, every visit to Hui Lau Shan promises the same delightful experience that has kept them going since the 1960s.
- +852 2511 3038
Shop D, 163 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, China
灣仔軒尼詩道163號D舖
Imagine your favorite Cantonese ingredients, distilled down to their wonderful essences, and constructed into bowls of exciting, mouth-watering sensation. This is what awaits you at Kai Kai Dessert, a beloved hole-in-the-wall that finally earned its Michelin stars after 40 years. Their inventive sweet soups and tapioca puddings won the hearts of locals earning them accolades and repeat business. Their wide selection of light and tasty desserts makes it easy to make a discovery and find a new favorite with each visit. Delight in their Black Sesame Seed Rice Ball with Ginger Sweet Soup, Chilled Mango Sago Cream with Pomelo, and Black Sesame Seed with Almond.
- +852 2384 3862
Ground Floor, 121-123 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong, China
佐敦寧波街29號地舖
Tai Cheong Bakery’s Egg Tarts, with their glistening custard in a bed of buttery pie crust, have been a beloved staple among locals since its inception in 1954. The long queues are a testament to that! The lines move fast, so just keep your cool—you’ll have those delicious Egg Tarts before you know it. These treats are best enjoyed slightly warm, so it’s always best to catch a freshly baked batch.
- +852 8300 8028
Shop 2, Ground Floor, 74-80 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, China
灣仔莊士敦道74-80號地下2號舖
Experiment with a wide range of ingredients and flavors in this renowned sweet shop where you can create Tong Sui of your choice! Take your pick from the traditional Hong Kong-style ingredients that greet you upon entering Chiu Chow Hop Shing—including red beans, coconut meat, cold lotus-seed jelly, and more—to make your own dessert soup!
- +852 2383 3026
9 Lung Kong Road, Kowloon City, Hong Kong, China
九龍城龍崗道9號地下
At about 150 years old, Yuen Kee Dessert has retained the old Hong Kong tradition of “Bing Sutt” (traditional cold drinking house)—last updated in the 1960s with the classic wood and steel furnishings. Sweet Cantonese soups, a dessert staple, is a healthy alternative to creamy treats elsewhere. Despite the fame, they’ve retained very good value prices, and their friendly, smiling staff still provide excellent service. Plus, these desserts are vegan and gluten-free!
- +852 2548 8687
Ground Floor, 32 Centre Street, Western District, Hong Kong, China
西環西營盤正街32號地下
While Egg Waffles can easily be found in Hong Kong, very few are made with the touch of a master. Most shops tend to add other flavors to their menu, but all Uncle needs are the basics. The perfect batter cooked in a traditional coal furnace is how he serves this delectable treat, the result an elegant blend of textures as you munch through the crunchy exterior to get to the soft, cloud-like center. In his relaxed attire, he makes tasty treats from his humble shop resembling a garage more than a restaurant. Expect a bit of waiting, but Uncle works fast and makes sure the food is worth the wait!
59 Kat Hing Street, Tai O, Hong Kong, China
吉慶街59號地下 大嶼山, 大澳
Savor the sugar rush that this restaurant offers where desserts take on a quirky appearance! Sweets come in the whimsical form of Chilled Green Tea Noodles, Soya Bean Curd, and an Herbal Tapioca Jelly Mix with Mango Ice Cream! Their menu highlights include dessert dumplings that come with a peanut-flavored filling, oozing out with each bite. Note that as of this writing, credit cards are not accepted at Chung Kee—make sure to come with cash!
- +852 3480 7222
Ground Floor, G4-G5 Wing Tak Building, 15 Canal Road West, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, China
銅鑼灣堅拿道西15號永德大廈地下G4-G5號地下
About Hong Kong, China
