[Hong Kong] The funny thing is, I've only really gotten into porridge in the last few years. Is it a matter of age?
These silky porridge bowls are tummy-warming comfort bowls, and I make it a point to have at least two or three bowls per ride.
Somehow porridge in Hong Kong is on a different level in general.
The Hong Kong style is a bit thicker, cooked until the rice is about to fall apart, and served with fresh ingredients such as fish slices, beef slices or pork slices, it is full of umami. Many taste more like slow-cooked broth than just MSG.
Here are the best congee dishes in Hong Kong:(I know there are many more to add to this list after my next trip. Haha.)
Trusted Porridge King
7 Hart Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong (MTR Wanchai Station Exit A5)
G/F, 7 Clark Street, Wan Chai
Tel: +852 2882 3268
Opening Hours: 11am to 10.45pm (Monday to Saturday), 11am to 9.45pm (Sunday)
Google Maps - Trusted Porridge King
Reliable is the first porridge shop on the listRecommended by Michelin Guide Bib Gourmandlist.
Although it was recommended in the guide from 2011 to 2016, it finally won the 2018 Michelin Guide award for good quality food at an affordable price.
What sets Trusty Congee King apart from other congee shops in town is that they specialize in making fish broth and adding a strong umami flavor to their dishes.
The owner says his own fish porridge recipe is delicious and "could be".trustworthyup", hence the name.
The highlight here is the porridge, which is boiled in a fish broth made from 6 different types of dace and steamed for over 4 hours.
They don't use MSG in their cooking, so no extra ingredients are needed.
The texture is more watery than what I'm familiar with, but the consistency is still comfortably smooth and thick.
There is a natural sweetness reminiscent of seafood without the fishy or fishy smell usually associated with fish porridge.Reliance Porridge King (Wan Chai, Hong Kong)
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Hong Kong Mee Kee Congee
Fa Yuen Street Municipal Services Building, 123A Fa Yuen Street, Mongkok, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 7:00am to 3:00pm (Monday, Wednesday to Sunday), closed on Tuesday
Google Maps – Hong Kong Mei Kee Congee
althoughMei Kee is located in Shaw Center SingaporeHong Kong Mui Kee is a 50-seat restaurant on the 3rd floor of a not-so-glamorous and poorly maintained food mall.
The porridge has been perfected over three generations since founder Mak opened the first stall in May 1979.
In order to learn ancient recipes and traditional cooking techniques, Cai Guodong (also known as "Adong"), the third-generation owner, has been studying with his late grandmother since he was 22 years old.
Mei Kee offers a porridge-based menu. Specialties include Sliced Beef Porridge (HKD 34, SGD 5.70), Pork Ball Porridge (HKD 34), Bacon and Kimchi Egg Porridge (HKD 34), Fish Maw Porridge (HKD 39, SGD 6.50 SGD).
Each porridge is prepared on time in handcrafted copper pots with carefully selected ingredients on the bottom.
The porridge is said to be prepared from scratch in a five-hour process. Raw rice grains are first mixed with pounded century eggs, which help break down the grains.
Every spoonful is delicious without being overly salty. Serve without adding extra soy sauce. I especially like fish maw because it's smoky, fresh and powerfulwok hey.Mui Kee Congee (Mongkok, Hongkong)
Sang Kee Congee Shop Sang Kee Congee Specialty StoreBranch 1: the original branch
7-9 Pat Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong (Exit A2, Sheung Wan MTR Station)
G/F, 7-9 Pitt Street, Sheung Wan
Tel: +852 2541 1099
Opening hours: 6:30am to 9:00pm (Monday to Saturday), closed on Sunday
Google Maps – Sang Kee Congee Shop Sheung Wan
Sang Kee Congee is one of the most popular dishes in Sheung Wan District.
This quaint eatery has been around for over 40 years and is so famous for its fish maw porridge that CNN included it as one of the top 40 must-try dishes in Hong Kong.
The original Sheung Wan shop only sells porridge, and the other one also sells beef brisket noodles. (There are two other branches in Yau Ma Tei and Quarry Bay.)
Prices range from HK$32 (S$5.54) to HK$62 (S$10.74)—namely fresh fish porridge, beef slices and chicken porridge.
For specific options like meatball porridge or canned egg and meat porridge, you can choose from a small bowl (HKD32, SGD5.54) or a large bowl (HKD41, SGD7.10).
The porridge was silky smooth and almost grainy. The porridge itself is a bit bland, ostensibly for guests to concoct to their liking.
The fish fillets are sweet and tender, while the meatballs are chewy. However, they weren't as tasty as I'd like them to be.
Ho Hung Kee Congee- und Nudelladen He Hongji – Causeway Bay
1204-1205 Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay (Causeway Bay MTR, near Times Square, take the elevator or go to the 12th floor)
Tel: +852 2577 6060
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 11:00pm
Ho Hung Kee Congee and Noodle Restaurant was awarded one Michelin star, becoming the first wonton noodle porridge restaurant to receive this honor.
In addition to Hysan Place, Ho Hung Kee has also opened branches in the arrival hall of Hong Kong International Airport (non-restricted area) and 789 West Nanjing Road in Shanghai.
Priced at HK$64-88 (S$10.70-14.80) for their mouth-watering smooth porridge, a bowl of sliced fish, sliced beef, meatballs, pork liver, lean salted pork, pig intestines, eggs and pickled eggs Assorted toppings.
The porridge was cooked for hours and had a smooth and creamy texture. I think it's one of the best (though not the most memorable) I've eaten in Hong Kong.
Leckerer Congee Noodle Wonton Shop
Shop 3016-3018, Central, IFC, 1 Harbor View Street, Hong Kong (Podiumsebene 3)
Shop 3016-3018, Level 3, IFC Mall, 1 Harbor View Street, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2295 0505
Opening hours: 11:00am to 11:00pm daily
Founded by the son of "Ho Hung Kee" to make the brand more commercialized and accessible, Yummy Porridge Noodle Wanton Shop is now a restaurant chain with outlets in China and Malaysia (Gurney Paragon Mall, Penang).
The flagship store in Hong Kong is located in Happy Valley, and other branches are located in Elements (Kowloon), Sha Tin and IFC in Central. (I recently noticed that the branch in the departure hall of the East Hall of Hong Kong International Airport has unfortunately closed.)
Also, they are more expensive in the higher price segments, so the impression is that they are not as good as the smaller store ones.
One of the hallmarks is the fish ball porridge, which is thick, creamy, and tasty, although I personally find Ho Hung Kee more memorable. Tip: You can actually ask for the "MSG-free" porridge base, if available, as it's limited.
Good Hope Noodles Good Mong Kok Porridge - Nudelspezialist
123 Sai Yee Street, Mongkok, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2393 9036
Opening hours: 11:00am to 12:00pm daily
Google Maps – Cape of Good Hope
Like other well-known brands, Good Hope is one of the biggest names in the local pasta sceneMcNoodles,,sharp mindandHo Hung Kee.
In fact, they have now relocated and expanded to two branches in Mong Kok – one in Fa Yuen Street and the other in Sai Yee Street.
I really like their silky meatball porridge (HK$37, S$6.50), which has a lovely texture - not too watery or thick. Although it looks plain, each bite contains a hint of the broth from which the porridge is cooked.
Good for stomachs that need "light" food. If I only have an appetite for one dish, it is very difficult to choose between the hearty noodles and porridge.Cape of Good Hope Noodles (Mong Kok, Hong Kong)
Law Fu Kee congee noodle expert. Law Fu Kee Congee and Noodle Specialist
G/F, 142 Queen's Road Central, Central (MTR Departure No. 1, Sheung Wan)
G/F, Kim Lee Commercial Building, 144 Queen's Road Central, Central
Opening Hours: 7:00am – 11:00pm (Monday to Sunday)
Although Luo Fu Kee is not as well-known to tourists as other noodle restaurants in Central, it has been patronized by locals for more than 50 years. It's not hard to find this place as it's nearby
Dae Cheong Bakery Dae Cheong Bakery.
In fact, the interior seems trapped in time.
Supply fish slices, meatballs, beef slices, pork slices, preserved egg lean meat, fish balls and other porridge (also known as "rice soup"). Prices range from HK$34 to HK$44 (S$5.98 to S$7.74) per bowl.
Cooked with ancient Thai long-grain jasmine rice, the porridge has a very thin and slightly creamy consistency. One of the recommended recipes is pork kidney and liver - cooked very tender without that strong smell.
Along with your meal, there is also a side dish of fried fish balls in clam sauce that is said to be available only at this restaurant.
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Cape of Good Hope Noodles (Mong Kok, Hong Kong)
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* compile@DanielFoodDiaryand@kara_the_explorer.Daniel's Food Diary pays for the food reviewed unless otherwise stated.