Where to find the most delicious dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong

If there’s one type of cuisine in Hong Kong that you’ll likely want to eat, again and again, it’s dim sum. These delicious bite-size dishes, like a Chinese version, is Hong Kong classic version. Usually served for breakfast or lunch, the difficult part is choosing where to go amid the dizzying number of options.

1. Tim Ho Wan

Ever since Tim Ho Wan was awarded a Michelin star in 2010, they’ve become known as the most affordable Michelin-starred dim-sum spot in Hong Kong. Much to the delight of local diners, they’ve kept their affordable prices (about US$1.30 to US$3 per dish) which is extremely reasonable. They are renowned for their traditional Hong Kong dumplings like siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings) and, no surprise, they are also renowned for long queues – so best to get there as early as possible.

✔ Central, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong

2. Lin Heung Tea House

For the best traditional dim sum experience, Lin Heung Tea House ticks all the boxes. They specialize in old-fashioned dishes such as Chinese sausage rolls, pork dumplings topped with liver and even juicy chicken feet. If you want to experience a traditional Cantonese dim sum dining experience then look no further. It’s often hot, noisy, crowded and a feast for all the senses, but this is about as authentic as it gets in Hong Kong.

✔ 162 Wellington Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong

3. Lock Cha Tea House

Since the majority of dim sum dishes contain meat, vegetarians often feel that they miss out. However, this is not the case at Lock Cha Tea House who is renowned for their exceedingly tasty vegetarian dim sum. The fried turnip cake and fried squash dumplings are must-try dishes. The added bonus is that Lock Cha is one of the most famous tea houses in town. For those of you looking for a good brew, or are interested to learn more about Chinese tea culture and ceremony, this is the place to come.

See more: Check out Hong Kong Michelin food guides

4. Yan Toh Heen

Eating at Hong Kong’s Intercontinental Hotel is always a classy affair and Yan Toh Heen is no exception. Nothing much else can rival these two Michelin star restaurant. The dim sum here is highly praised and recommended by many of the top concierges in town. The options are vast, but their Superior Dumpling combinations are among the most popular items on the menu. Prices are reasonable given the quality of what’s on offer here. Service is impeccable and to top it off, the restaurant also boasts spectacular view overlooking the Victoria Harbour.

✔ Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

5. Dim Sum Icon

Playful and creative dim sum is the order of the day at Dim Sum Icon. They specialize in a cheeky take on dim sum classics with dumplings decorated as popular cartoon characters and other imaginative variations. Think chocolate buns with an egg custard that oozes out when squeezed. It’s all in the name of fun. Highly Instagrammable dim sum would best describe it.

✔ L308, 3/F, The ONE 100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Source Internet

The best coffee shops you should try in Pai, Thailand

The town of Pai, Thailand is famous for its coffee shops and it is easy to see why. Coffee shops line the street of this little town, all offering a different vibe and menu. Looking for epics view while sipping on coffee shops? Want to practice a little yoga before getting your morning fix? Prefer a quiet spot where nobody can find you? Below are some coffee shops for you to explore.

Ten Belles

Ten Belles was one of the city's original specialty coffee shops, it continues to turn out high quality house blends roasted by Belleville Brulerie. But due to its small square footage, this spot does brisk takeaway business. Expect regulars, coffee fanatics, and tourists on a stroll through the neighborhood.

Pai Siam Bistro

It is as though there is some kind of force from the gods that brings people to visit, and fall in love with, Pai. It may be because it is a quiet town surrounded by mountains and gorgeous rice paddy fields, or that the journey to this place, from Chiang Mai to Pai, is a treacherous drive through the mountains that makes it seem like all other forms of civilization are beyond physical reach.

Coffee in Love 

The most famous coffee shop in Pai is one actually on the outskirts of town, Coffee in Love. Every one of my Thai friends that is visited Pai has spent well over two hours here just drinking a latte and taking photographs, as it is so beautiful. Built like a Swiss chalet, it has a beautiful view looking out over a stunning valley with mountains in the distance.

Do not miss sitting out on the lovely wooden deck, where you can enjoy one of the best hot lattes. Do not forget to take pictures too, particularly next to their famous sign. Located on the main highway into town, just a couple of minutes from Pai.

Cafecito

Cafecito’s popularity for Mexican food is undeniable, and the coffee is no afterthought. In fact, Cafecito’s coffee is amongst the best rated coffee in Pai and was number 1 until The Pedlar came along.

Alongside its great coffee, Cafecito serves authentic Mexican food, with an all-day breakfast menu and a short list of well-prepared Mexican classics. The in-house baker makes all their breads and flour tortillas from scratch, with a daily selection of home-baked cakes as well.

Read more: Top things to explore in Pai, Thailand

Khaota

Khaota has a loyal following amongst local Thais in Pai, so much so that even in this small town, they have two locations.

Khaota roast their own coffee in-house using locally sourced Thai coffee beans, and though a little on the darker side, the coffee is nonetheless good. Aside from the occasional cookie, there is no food menu at Khaota, so do not plan for breakfast here.

Source Internet

9 must-eat restaurants and night markets in Taichung

Taichung is one of Taiwan’s biggest cities. In fact, it’s the second biggest by population, bigger than Taipei and second only to New Taipei City. As you’d expect from a city with over 2.7 million people, it has a dizzying number of food choices, especially in a country as food-centric as Taiwan.

1. Second Market

If you’re in the mood for traditional Taiwanese breakfast, then Second Market is the place to go to in Taichung. Open since 1917, Taichung Second Public Market is a 7,000 square meter market with over fifty shops and three hundred stalls. There you’ll find all kinds of meat, produce, and spices, as well as multiple stands selling cooked food like baozi, noodles, lu rou fan, and black tea. As you can see from the long line of people below, it’s especially popular for breakfast.

2. Chun Shui Tang (Original Shop)

If you’re a fan of boba or bubble tea, then you absolutely must have one here at the original shop of Chun Shui Tang. It’s one of two Taiwanese establishments that have a legitimate claim as being the inventor of bubble tea. The other is Hanlin Teahouse in Tainan.

If you’ve never had boba before, it’s a Taiwanese drink which at its most basic is black tea, milk, sugar, and tapioca pearls. It was invented in Taiwan but it’s become hugely popular worldwide. There are countless varieties of boba today, including here at Chun Shui Tang.

3. Fu Din Wang

Not only was it mentioned in a few blog posts, but one article described this restaurant as the place to go to in Taichung for pork knuckle. Aside from braised pork knuckle, they also specialize in lu rou fan or braised pork rice. Check out that bubbling cauldron of pork knuckle deliciousness. Taiwanese pork knuckles are slow cooked for hours until they’re fork tender and the meat is practically sliding off the bone. Fu Din Wang was packed during lunch but it looks like they do a lot of business with takeaways as well.

4. Ding Wang Hotpot (Tripodking)

Like lu rou fan and beef noodle soup, hot pot or shabu shabu is another beloved Taiwanese dish. Popular in East Asian countries like Japan and China, hot pot is a soup dish containing a variety of ingredients like seafood, thinly sliced meat, noodles, vegetables, tofu, and different types of fish and meatballs. A simmering pot of one or two kinds of soup stock is left on a burner at your table along with your ingredients. You then drop the raw ingredients into the pot yourselves to cook.

5. Smokey Joe’s

Smokey Joe’s serves mainly Tex-Mex cuisine but they do offer many global dishes as well, like burgers, pasta, and paella. Smokey Joe’s is a huge Tex-Mex restaurant with an American Vintage theme. It’s a beautifully designed restaurant with multiple dining areas and vintage memorabilia adorning every space.

6. Miyahara Ice Cream

Miyahara is the most famous place for pineapple cakes in Taichung. It’s so famous in fact, that it’s one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city. Though Miyahara is best known for its pineapple cakes, it’s beloved for its ice cream as well which you can try from their small shop at the side of the main store. As you can tell from the markings on the floor, Miyahara Ice Cream is used to serving long queues of customers.

7. Hui-Sun Coffee

Hui-Sun Coffee is a popular coffee shop in Taichung that specializes in siphon coffee, a method of preparation that produces a delicate, tea-like cup of coffee. They gave a demo of the process and it was pretty cool to see, like watching a chemistry experiment. The coffee beans produced in Huisin Forest are described as being some of the very best in Taiwan. If you’re a coffee connoisseur and are interested in trying good local coffee in Taichung, then you may want to try a cup here at Hui-Sun Coffee.

See more: 6 reasons why Taiwan should be your next adventure

8. Zhongxiao Road Night Market

Zhongxiao Road Night Market didn’t seem to have as much food variety as other night markets. But more importantly, it didn’t feel as safe. Unlike other markets that are closed to vehicular traffic, this one has stalls on either side of busy Zhongxiao Road. Zhongxiao Road Night Market was offering lu wei, a type of Taiwanese braised food which is considered a distant cousin of hot pot. Commonly eaten as a snack, it involves braising a variety of ingredients in broth, then adding spices and sauces to the cooked food.

9. Fengjia Night Market

Home to an estimated 15,000 shops, restaurants, and stalls, Fengjia Night Market is described as the biggest night market in Taiwan. It’s a popular night market with a huge selection of food choices, so if you had time to visit just one night market in Taichung, then it should be this one. You’ll find many different types of grilled seafood at Fengjia Night Market like scallops, clams, squid, oysters, sea snails, and abalone.

Source willflyforfood