Streets of Central, Hong Kong

Central (中環) is the central business district of Hong Kong and the home of many multinational companies. I love the uniqueness of this place, where you can find both power executives and expats, together with tourists and traditional old shops all at the same place. 

I will always visit Central whenever I visit Hong Kong. Almost every other street at Central will have a famous restaurant or stall selling something which is highly recommended in every other Hong Kong guidebook. You will always find good food lurking at some corner or long queues for the simple coffee, tea, egg tarts, dim sum, the list just goes on... 

We went to Central on a quiet Saturday morning, minus the bustling crowd of office workers on a normal weekday.

The famous Yung Kee is not opened yet. No chance to try their roast goose.

We also spotted Hide-chan Ramen. Originated from Fukuoka, this famous tonkotsu soup ramen is listed as one of the dining venues in the "Bib Gourmand” section of “Michelin Guide Hong Kong & Macau 2012”. 
Too much delicious food in Central, not enough time to try all... 

Tsim Chai Kee 沾仔记 is also another famous restaurant in Central for Wanton Noodles. 

Similarly, it is also listed in the "Bib Gourmand” section of “Michelin Guide Hong Kong & Macau” from 2009 to 2012.

Choose from either Wanton, Fish Ball or sliced beef topping at HKD17 a bowl, any two toppings at HKD22 or all three toppings at HKD25. 

Just opposite Tsim Chai Kee is another famous Wanton noodles shop - Mak's noodles 麥奀雲吞麵世家.Just watch out for the chinese carving framed windows above the restaurant. Very antiquey!

This restaurant displays a real sample of their Jumbo Farmer bread outside the restaurant. Curry beef brisket with angmor bread? should taste nice... bread tastes nice with almost anything.

Lin Heung Restaurant (蓮香樓) is one of the famous restaurant in Central. Ask any local and they will show you the direction. That was what we did when we couldn't find the restaurant amongst the many small streets of Central. Read more here...

This agnès b cafe is located at Gough street (歌賦街). There are 11 agnès b cafes and 3 restaurants in Hong Kong, why is there not even 1 in Singapore? hmm maybe it's time for me to open one... 

The ordering area for coffee, cakes and pastries.

The seating area - not a lot of seats available, but definitely a nice cafe ambience. 

There is also a florist located at a small corner of the shop. A great touch to the cafe and love the flowers!

A long queue forms near agnès b cafe. We were all very curious what these people were queuing for... some free gift? celebrity ? 

The answer to the queue is this - Sing Heung Yuen (勝香園). There is no shopfront, no air condition, only some tentages a limited tables to accommodate the forever long queue. Sing Heung Yuen is famous for their toast and tomato soup instant noodles. 

Frankly I don't see the reason why people are willing to queue for so long just to eat a bowl of instant noodles in tomato soup. But then again, I'll need to try it first before coming to any conclusion. Sing Heung Yuen will be next on my list for my next Hong Kong trip. 

Directly opposite Sing Heung Yuen is another famous restaurant -Kau Kee Beef Brisket (九記牛腩) - also lots of people queuing up for their famous beef brisket noodle. 

And just next to Sing Heung Yuen is another upcoming cupcake shop - Kisses cupcakes.  

Kisses cupcakes is just a small establishment with a few tables in the shop. 

If I had the stomach of a cow (4 stomachs), I would have tried out their cupcakes and tea. No luck, but I still managed to capture a group of ladies enjoying their tea. Lovely teapot and plate... where can I get these?? ๏̯̃๏

Nice restaurant at the corner of Gough street. 

The name of this shop is: The Palace, Prince and Princess. Kudos to the shop owner for thinking of such a name!

Central is also the home to many artsy fartsy shops. And the items are not cheap at all!

Old shop, New shop. In the olden days, people drink sugarcane juice, nowadays people drink wine.

Anybody wants some Goods of Desire?

Beware as Chairman Mao is staring at you at from opposite shop. 

The pigeons here must be having a good life from all the good food. Look at the size of this one!

Newspaper stall is set up just right in front of Japanese restaurant. Only in Hong Kong will you see this. 

The famous Tai Cheong egg tarts is also here in Central! Seems like they have done some renovations to the store front.  

Tai Cheong old store

Renovated store

Tai Cheong's egg tarts are still the best! Best eaten immediately when the egg filling is still warm and melts in your mouth.

After winding around the backstreets of Central, we reached Gage street (結志街), the beginning of our market experience in Central. 

Stalls selling dried produce, fresh meat and seafood line along the narrow streets. Watchout for the oncoming car or lorry! this is not a pedestrian street. 

Seafood looks very fresh.  

Hard to believe that these stalls are located at Central!

Lan Fong Yuen (蘭芳園), another popular Cha Chan Teng (teahouse) famed for their milktea (絲襪奶茶) and pork chop buns is also located at Gage Street. 

Stanley Street Dai Pai Dong (大牌檔, roadside eateries). Back then, there were 30-40 stalls packed along this street, but nowadays, only a few of the dai pai dong remain. Simple home-style dishes such as Steam fish, Tomato & tofu fish soup, sweet and sour pork, beef rice can be found here. 

One of the Dai Pai Dong. 

Pig blood cubes - not something you can find in Singapore anymore. 

Another tofu stall - but most stalls were already closed by the time we reached there. 

We finally reached Queen's Road Central! 

H&M Central store - This is the first H&M store opened in East Asia on 10 March 2007. H&M is also the ending point of our Central food tour, and the starting point of my shopping spree! 


Popular eateries at Central, Hong Kong  

Wellington Street 威靈頓街
Yung Kee Restaurant 鏞記 
Hide-chan Ramen
Tsim Chai Kee Wanton Noodles 沾仔记
Mak's Wanton Noodle 麥奀雲吞麵世家
Lin Heung Restaurant 蓮香樓

Gough Street 歌賦街

agnes b cafe

Sing Heung Yuen teahouse 勝香園

Kau Kee Beef Brisket 九記牛腩

Kisses Cupcakes

Lyndhurst Terrace 擺花街
Tai Cheong Bakery 泰昌餅家

Gage Street 結志街
Lan Fong Yuen Teahouse 蘭芳園