Friday, 7 October 2011

Mmmm noodles and dumplings!

On to my next HK food post! When I'm with my dad, a restaurant that we always seem to visit when we're in HK is the Sichuan restaurant, Wing Lai Yuen. So on one particularly hot day, we visited their restaurant at Hunghom over on Kowloon side. There are many ways to travel over to Kowloon but my favourite is one of the oldest modes of transport, the Star Ferry which is also one of the cheapest! We hopped on at Wan Chai and it wasn't long before we arrived a mere 20 mins later. It's always nice to sit on the ferry and a great way to see the HK skyline too.
star ferry
on the way to Hung Hom
star ferry and me!
becky on star ferryI love the shot below that Hailey took of a block of flats near the restaurant. To me, it pretty much sums up HK. High rise living, plenty of washing hanging out despite the smog, fast fashion, food and of course, those iconic red taxis. Oh how I miss them!

Hung Hom flats
As with many restaurants, Wing Lai Yuen can be found inside a building/food plaza called Whampoa Gardens which houses many other restaurants. It has a mock traditional decor which pretty much borders on kitsch. Lots of red wooden furniture and also plenty of Chinese silk embroidery and framed awards on the walls.
wing lai yuen Wing Lai Yuen, Hung Hom
Me at Wing Lai Yuen
Ready to stuff my face!
My dad likes to pretend that he's a HK food connoisseur and he has so much fun ordering dishes that he might have seen on Chinese food programmes. I think his dream job would be to present his own food show, exploring Asian cuisine. Actually, that sounds like my dream job too!! So soon enough, our table was filled with lots of dishes and among the things we ordered at Wing Lai Yuen were their famous and most popular, Handmade Sichuan Dan dan Mien (noodles) all served in a yummy spicy peanut soup. Writing this post is making me so hungry!
Food shots at Wing Lai Yuen table
We also ordered lots of side dishes including Jellyfish, Thinly sliced braised Beef and below you can see Sauteed eel with Chinese chives (garlic chives), cucumber and bean starch noodles with peanut sauce. We also ordered plenty of dumplings including wor tip (Chinese gyoza) but my favourite are the dumplings in chilli oil.
winglaiyuen
Food shots at Wing Lai Yuen dumplings
Wing Lai Yuen: Shop 102-105, 1st Floor, Site 8, Whampoa Gardens, Hunghom, Kowloon, HK.
My dad said that it wasn't as good as the last visit (about 3 years ago) but I liked it, especially because the unfussy food is modestly priced and a meal for a family of 5 cost us about HK$500 which is £41. I'm not really picky about food but HKers absolutely love to compare food places and actually my dad didn't consider the food cheap (which is funny because obviously in the UK, it would be an absolute steal!). The dining website, Open Rice is hugely popular over there and many people consult it to find the best restaurant to visit depending on the cuisine/price/location etc. The majority of my visits to various restaurants in HK were found via that particular website. It's also available in English, so non-Chinese readers can also give it a go when they visit Hong Kong.

After our lunch, we decided to leave Hunghom. There really isn't much to do over there, although there's a department store (Justco) situated on a landlocked ship which is a bit random. From past visits, I took lots of Purikura (Japanese photo booth) in there when I was younger. So it wasn't long before we decided to make a move and caught a taxi to nearby Tsim Tsa Tsui. Not before taking a couple of pictures with my sisters of course!
Justco Hunghom
Sisterly love at Hung Hom
Me, Hailey and Becky
When we arrived at TST, we hopped over to Harbour City, where we browsed the shops and er...stopped off at one of their cafes to take a quick break (Strawberry Forever) and sampled the overly-custardy strawberry Napoleon below (but too vibrant not to take a photo of!).
Strawberry Napoleon
hk skyline from kowloon side
The Cafe really isn't really worth talking about and was just a place to rest our weary feet (Harbour City is a gigantic mall!). However the view as we were digging into our pastries was pretty damn awesome!

PS: Marian has an incredible Give away for an Alexander Wang Diego bag, I'm totally entering!

67 comments:

❤Cate❤ said...

OMG this is going to sound so weird but I swear that is the place we ate at when we went to Kowloon for the day a few years back, they had some tasty duck noodles from what I remember! xoxo

ellie said...

Such pretty foods. What an elegant place too. Love the water pics, as well.

ivy's closet said...

Oh, so yummy. Love the pics of you.

mazzy may said...

How fun. Love these pictures. I'm so glad you blogged about this place.

Georgie said...

Oh my gosh your food posts always make me so hungry - everything looks delicious! Hong Kong looks like such a lovely place to visit. xx

Kit said...

Oh stop it Winnie! I'm gagging for a taste of authentic food. I've never tried Sichuan food before except in takeaways in London :S

[Anna] said...

I went to that strawberry forever cafe in Harbour City when i went to HK in the summer. I got a sundae and they overloaded it with jam. too sweet! Quite disappointed because the name of the cafe was so cute. I'm not sure what it was like when u visited, but when i went the windows were really dirty so it was hard to see properly through them haha! x

Michelle said...

I always get super seasick on the Star Ferries hahaha (: That meal looks so good, would probably kill for "jellyfish" right now! xx

Daisy said...

I must go to HK one day, I am loving these posts and I am a little pekkish now ! Also, when I clicked on the Open Rice website a big smile was all over my face ! I adore websites which look like this, I can't explain it but I hope to one day be able to read it and maybe even live in HK for a while !

Anonymous said...

That strawberry napoleon looks absolutely delicious!Your marketing friend, Izzi!

Temporary:Secretary said...

Strawberry Forever looks so good - going on the website right now. Have been showing mum your hk posts, they're going there in a couple of weeks time (i, on the other hand, will be packing my bags and stay with the boyf for 2 weeks. I'm taking the cat with me. It's not quite Hong Kong, though, is it? *hmmmmph*) x

L.C said...

yum yum yumm! you should do a video food post blog like you do have your own kitchen show! would be awesome!

L.C said...

yum yum yumm! you should do a video food post blog like you do have your own kitchen show! would be awesome!

the nyanzi report said...

i love your HK series.

Nic Nic said...

a lot of people like fried dumplings but my fave is def water dumpling! great food porn hehe

Lizzie said...

mmmm the food looks sooo good!

I wanna go back to HK too!

Chloe Likes To Talk said...

Winnie! I do love your food posts, whether it's what you've been eating here or what you were eating in HK. I'm rapidly reaching a point where I'm either going to have to just book some flights to HK or peek at your posts through my hands. It all looks and sounds so yummy.

I also find these posts so interesting, I know relatively little about HK and China, the food, families, language anything so it's a whole new world for me. Love the insight.

Maria said...

This looks amazing, I am so hungry now!

Maria xxx

Victoria said...

Love all these pictures !! They are soo nice !! :) HK looks like a really cool and beautiful place !! :)

Nana said...

ooh I want to it it all! Once I tried the jellyfish though, didn't really like it (its consistency freaked me out!). And I loved your outfit! That shirt is so beautiful :)

Mitha Komala said...

awesome photographs dear, adore your vintage bag! looks like you had a lot of fun. love your blog <3

follow me if you love to, and i'll follow you back :)

http://mithakomala.blogspot.com/

kcomekarolina said...

yummy!!! so cool!




xoxo from rome
K.
http://kcomekarolina.com/

Aimee Victoria Long said...

Really cool pictures here :) Thanks for sharing them!
Please take a look at my blog and follow it if you like.
Aimee,
www.new-yorkdoll.blogspot.com
xxx

Radiant Make Up said...

Absolutely loving this post :)
gorgeous photos!! x

Ellie Lee said...

Wow the dumplings look amazing! I'm so hungry now! Hahah! And that strawberry custard is so pretty!(; Plus; that view of the HK skyline is gorgeous! Definitely missed the city! Wished I'd been better at Cantonese though~

Samantha said...

Thanks for sharing your pictures with us, seems like you had fun! :o)

Thanks for visiting my blog!

-Samantha

http://thisfashionista.blogspot.com

Michelle Lee said...

pretty photos :)

Natasha said...

a gigantic mall for a gigantic shopping appetite. :) seriously, it's better not to go there if you are an SA (shopaholic anonymous) :)

Cherry said...

Amazing photos, all of the food looks delicious!

It seems pretty obvious. said...

Wonderful pictures! Looks like a lovely day (:

julia.a said...

amazing photos :) :)

Harriet said...

Your food posts always make me so hungry! Really craving strawberries and cream now!

Kb said...

Ahhhh this was such a bad idea to read on an empty stomach yesterday, the food looks amazing as per. I love how you get to try lots of different things, all restaurants need to be like this!

Laura. said...

the strawberry thing looks amazing!

thanks for the comment by the way :) glad you like it.

Lil said...

Yummmmmm. This has made me so hungry even though it's past midnight! I miss HK! Xx

Cinz said...

yum pastry...yeah i dont think much about that strawberry restuarant either,lol

I like goin on the star ferry rides too but gotta admit, i not been on them for a longggggg time, prob one year? lol It's nice to clear your head when you're on it too:)


Cinz
http://cinzee.wordpress.com

dunia kecil indi said...

beautiful trip and delicious dishes! prefect <3

Jazzy E (hivenn) said...

I love your HK posts so much. Your food photography is always stunning. x hivenn

Fabrizia said...

You look so pretty in these photos! I like your style!And it sounds like a great trip!
Take a look at my blog, and if you like it, follow me, I'll be waiting for you!

Cosa mi metto???

weasel said...

That strawberry Napoleon looks yummy!

J said...

everything looks so delishh!

yiqin; said...

i cannot wait to go HK and pig out1!

Style Eyes Ethical Fashion Blog said...

Looks like really delicious food. I am quite curious to know what jelly fish tastes like.

Bad Joan said...

What a fun trip! Great photos.

GTBB,
http://badjoan.blogspot.com
http://cookingjoan.blogspot.com

Blicious said...

love hong kong!!! great pics!

xoxo
b

Bonnie said...

You look so happy!!! I think that is the tallest building I have ever seen.

http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88

That Chelsea Girl™ said...

Looking great! I love reading about your adventures. Also, I am starving now, thanks. Take care!

sartob, si tobing, tobbily said...

food porn! nyaaw im craving for those foods already!

Tara said...

yummy post, the foods look delicious :) nice photos

aki! said...

This food looks so fantastic. I have a weakness for spicy food, even though spicy food makes me weak. I find that back there, you can really have a feast for a modest amount of money.

seven-percentsolution.blogspot.com

Natasha said...

Omg that food looks incredible! I'm so happy I found your blog - definitely following. I would love for you to check out mine as well.

inlovewithsandiego.blogspot.com

thingsIlove said...

I miss HK food!

AsianCajuns (Cath) said...

I've always wanted to go to Hong Kong. If I ever make it, i think I'll totally be lost with the food. I've grown up eating Americanized Chinese food, which just does not prepare you for the more authentic stuff. I feel like such an Asian fraud!
So for now, i'm going to live vicariously through your posts :)

Natalie Leung said...

ohhh yum that food looks delicious!

natalie
http://lucyandtherunaways.blogspot.com

Rand T said...

YUMMMM looks amazing xx

Victoria'sProcrastinationProject said...

Lovely pictures! looks like you had fun! Good shout on the bag giveaway too! That dessert looks delicious. Mmm.

http://victoriasprocrastinationproject.blogspot.com/

Reena Rai said...

Very envious, Winnie. Looks and sounds like you had the best time. That dessert is mega!

STARR said...

I so love your out and about/food pictures but hate how hungry they make me haha

Hanna &amp; Christel said...

the pics are all really fabulous!!

<3

jess said...

The Napoleon looks so pretty.

Francesca Giusti said...

love this pics! so nice! I follow u!
pass to my blog and follow me too :D
http://francescagiusti.blogspot.com/

❖❖мoɴιcα-αι❖❖ said...

That is legit Chinese food! but it's mostly brown..my image of Chinese food was always red and white (idk why). but I'm so hungry now...
I cooked fried rice and gyoza the other day and claimed that I can cook Chinese food lol

jamie said...

hong kong! oh, i'd love to visit one day <3 this sounds like such a blast!


x jamie
beautyandlechic.blogspot.com

formerly blogredhead.blogspot.com

michelle_ said...

that dessert of the 2nd last pic looks soooo delicious !

WWW.GLISTERSANDBLISTERS.COM

claire (jazzpad.) said...

N'aww, lovely fam snaps! :) Always love your foodie HK posts Winnie, those gyoza look yummy! ♥ Claire @ Jazzpad

Radiant Make Up said...

I think I may need to go to HK purely for the food - everything looks so damn yummy!! x

Audrey Allure said...

The food looks delicious! Love the images of the water.

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