Wednesday 28 March 2012

Hong Kong: Lamma Island 南丫島 & Rainbow Seafood

I'm so ashamed that despite the number of trips that I've been to Hong Kong, I've never ventured beyond Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. It's only till this recent trip that we decided to explore on the outlaying islands.

Lamma Island 南丫島 is probably best known for its Seafood restaurants. The island has two sides - the West and the East.

On the West side is Yung Shue Wan 榕树湾 where expatriates like to reside in this area as it gives a slower pace of life. There's a diverse of handicraft shops and eateries.
On the East side is Sok Kwu Wan 索罟湾 , it's the famous seafood paradise with a number of seafood restaurants.

If time permits, one can hike, actually, just walk from Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan. The hiking trail takes about 1.5hours and enjoy the serenity and natural scenery of the island.

Well, we didn't have the time and spirit for the long walk in the pretty cold weather - about 12-15degrees. So, we just go to the Sok Kwu Wan, for the seafood, since there's so much hype about this place.

Getting There
From Central Pier 4, Take Ferry to Sok Kwu Wan.


There are two ferry departing to Lamma Island, each respectively to Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan.

Ferry to Yung Shue Wan cost around HK$16.10 (Adult) from Monday - Saturday and HK$22.30 (Adult) on Sunday. Journey takes about 30minutes. Frequency: Every 30mins or 1hour.

Ferry to Sok Kwu Wan cost HK$19.80 (Adult) from Monday - Saturday and HK$28 (Adult) on Sunday. Journey takes about 40minutes. Frequency: Every 1-2hrs.

Schedule available on Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry.


This is how the ferry looks like.

We took a late afternoon ferry, so that we can explore the island a bit and have dinner at the seafood restaurant.
It's quite a breeze 40 minute ride. We really enjoy the scenery. Here are some of the photos captured although it's not very well taken.

Spot the Chinese Junk and the DHL Balloon?


Is it that high to take the DHL Balloon for a bird's eye view? I doubt so. Just look at the height vs Hong Kong Tallest Building - International Commerce Centre.


Hong Kong Island is really congested with sky scrapers.






We could see the Lamma Winds as we approach Lamma Island. The Lamma Winds, used to generate green energy plant, is Hong Kong first wind plants. Visitors can assess the Lamma Winds from Yung Shue Wan. Too bad we didn't have the chance to visit this.

Doesn't the chimneys look like three huge joss-sticks?


Finally we arrived at the picturesque Sok Kwu Wan. The rustic fishing village makes me feel at peace immediately. Ironically, amidst the hectic lifestyle reflected by the tall skyscrapers in Hong Kong Island, one can find peace and serenity on the other side of a peaceful fishing village in Hong Kong.


When we reached the pier, we saw a long queue for the return ferry to Hong Kong Island. Well, it's a weekend evening. I guess the locals may have just completed the hike from Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan?


The perfect place to take a Welcome photo in Lamma Island.

Map of Lamma Island. Look at the shape of the island. No wonder it's call 南丫島.

Looking at this directional sign, the island may look big. In actual fact, Sok Kwu Wan can be explored in mere half an hour.


Walk through the street of Seafood Restaurants. The first that you would see is the renowned Rainbow Seafood.

Visitors can visit the Lamma Fisherfolk's Village where guests can have a glimpse of life at Lamma Island while fishing industry still thrived here.  Tickets are available from the Ferry Pier No. 2 where connection shuttle boat is available. We didn't really have time, so we skipped it.


Continue on and reach the Tin Hau Temple.


We spotted a number of people taking this hiking trail. I believe this is the trail linking Yung Shue Wan or vice-versa. Perhaps we should try one of the days. Easy trail suitable for families. Has anyone tried? Do leave a comment if you have.


Further on the other side of Sok Kwu Wan is a park.



Doesn't this tree looks bare? Guess it's because it's still Winter (although it's only mid Feb).



We chance upon this restaurant that seems rather deserted and nobody was around when we arrive. Not sure if it would be open during dinner hour.  This restaurant looks pretty old and traditional. I guess the rustic view makes it romantic to spend your Valentine's day. Everything is so old-school. Even the hand-written Valentine's day Menu. Well, V-day was just a few days over when we visited this place. But I wonder who would go all the way to Lamma Island to check-out the menu (which is pasted on the signboard below).


Futher up this restaurant was a walking route. Well, it's getting dark (sun sets about 6pm during this time of the year) so we didn't explore further.


So, decided walk back for DINNER! With all the hype on Rainbow Seafood, I suggested that we give it a go. This is probably the most popular seafood restaurant in Lamma Island.


Rainbow Restaurant has two outlets in the same row of seafood restaurants. The first one when you arrive at the pier, and another one that is near to the centre of the row as it is bigger and somehow looks more appetising. Appearance, afterall, does matter.

Hong Kong Island to their restaurant in Lamma Island.


Like a young children, I was really excited looking at the variety of seafood.


Check out the different types of seafood. Some of them really new to me.


Anyone game for Queen's Clam 贵妃蚌?


There weren't much guests when we started dinner. However, the crowd started pouring in as the night draws nearer.

As we glanced through the menu, it's pretty pricy. So we decided to take the set meal for two at HK$480, and add an additional order of steamed geoduck which Ms Sumo would like to try. 

Finally our feast arrived.

The butter fried lobster smells really nice. Doesn't really taste buttery but yet have the aroma in it.
I enjoyed the steamed fish the most. It's fresh and doesn't have the fishy muddy taste.

Top: Butter Fried Lobster.
Bottom: Steamed Scallops with Garlic. Seasonal Steamed Fish



I don't really know what's so special about Geoduck. Honestly, I don't know how to appreciate it. It taste the same like bamboo clam to me.

Left: Deep Fried Squid with Sweet & Sour Sauce.
Right: Steamed Geoduck with Black Bean Sauce. Fried Seasonal Vegetables.



Our meal ends with fried rice and seasonal fruits. The pineapple and rock melon is really sweet.




Damage: HKD700 (equivalent to SGD115). Per person less than SGD40.
Pretty reasonable with the variety of food we have, including Geoduck, that is supposedly, a delicacy.

Snew's Rating: 3.2 / 5

Honestly, I'm not very impressed by the seafood here. Somehow, it's overrated. Or perhaps, we didn't order the better dishes that are more expensive. The Singaporean in me, still prefer the black pepper crab, the Singaporean style, or even simple dishes like fried sotong (baby squid) would blows me off. All this said, it's still worth a try.

After the meal, Rainbow restaurant provides free transport back to Hong Kong Island. We are given a sticker that would allow us to board their private ferry.


Business must be good for them to be able to operate a ferry for their guests.

You can check out the Free Ferry Shuttle timetable. Reservations are preferred.


Rainbow Seafood Restaurant 天虹海鮮酒家
1A-1B, 23-25 First St.
Sok Kwu Wan
Lamma Island, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2982 8100 



Continue On:

Tai O & Citygates Outlet

Hong Kong - Shopping & Snacks

Macau - Galaxy Macau

Macau - Taipa Village & Senado Square

Macau - House of Dancing Waters



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Hong Kong: Dim Sum at Lin Heung Tea House 莲香楼, Tao Heung 稻香 & Tim Ho Wan 添好运

Hong Kong: Breakfast at Australia Diary Co 澳洲牛奶公司

Hong Kong: Breakfast at Ocean Empire 海皇 & Sea View Congee Shop 海景粥店


Wednesday 7 March 2012

Hong Kong: Snacks - Fish Balls 鱼蛋, Tai Cheong Egg Tarts 泰昌饼家 & Traditional Bakery

Fishballs 鱼蛋

Fishballs, better known in Cantonese as 鱼蛋 (yu dan), is a common snack along the streets in any part of Hong Kong.

Street stores like this would sell fishballs and something similar to our Yong Tau Fu in Singapore.































I saw a number of locals ordering Yong Tau Fu combination for take-aways. But for me, I only like the fishballs as they just taste different and can be eaten as a snack or supper.



















The fishballs are more chewy then the ones in Singapore. I guess the one in Singapore are made using a lot of flour?

You can choose between the spicy and non-spicy ones. If you do not indicate, they will always give you the spicy one. The spicy ones are really too spicy for me. It gets into my throat so much that I start coughing away.

It doesn't seem hygienic when the stallholder is always mixing the different pots of boiling soups and soaking the fishballs here and there. Somehow I wonder how long the pot of water has been left boiling there. Is it from the beginning of the day, or previous days? Hmmm... I try not to think further. Anyway, it doesn't matter when I didn't get a tummy ache, and the fishballs  are yummy.

Other than fishballs, beef balls are also very popular. The big dark ones are the beef balls.


BBQ Squid

Ms Sumo like to try the squid, so we order a stick of bbq squid. The done-ness of the squid is just nice. Not too tough or raw.


Smelly Toufu (Smelly Beancurd) 臭豆腐

Another day, Ms Sumo decides to try thesmelly toufu  臭豆腐. I guess Tiny Gal just can't stand the both of us, who's always eating and eating. I still prefer the smelly toufu in Taiwan. The Hong Kong style one taste like just any fried toufu, but with an added purgent smell.



Egg Tarts - Tai Cheong Bakery 泰昌饼家

Whenever I go Hong Kong, I will not miss the egg tarts from Tai Cheong Bakery. The egg tarts are just so fresh and irresistible. The egg tarts are usually freshly-baked from the oven.

I have always prefer the pie-crust egg tart over the flaky pastry crust. Perhaps that's the reason for my preference for Tai Cheong's egg tarts. It's rich in taste, yet not very crumbly when I put into my mouth.

It's best eaten warm, just fresh from the oven.


Tai Cheong Bakery made headlines in newspapers a couple of years ago, when the landlord increased the rental exorbitantly. When everyone thought that they would close down permanently, the queue was longer than the bee line.

The shop was closed, but a new shop was re-opened just opposite the road. The new shop is now revamped with a modern touch. Somehow, I miss the traditional bakery that I once visited. Psychologically, I feel that egg tarts from traditional bakery taste better.

Someone from the internet says that the new shop and branches are new and re-branded. Not sure if it's true. But I realise that Tai Cheong Bakery now belongs to the Tao Heung Group of restaurants.

Check out the other branches here. But of course, I would still prefer the original store at Lyndhurst Terrace.


Snew's Rating: 4.3 /5


Tai Cheong Bakery
35 Lyndhurst Terrace
Central, Hong Kong Island.
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat: 7.30am - 9pm, Sun &Public Holidays: 8:30am - 9pm
Nearest MTR: Central Station


Traditional Bakery

1. Ming Wah Cake Shop 明华饼家
We chance upon this bakery while search for the right directions to Fa Yuen Street.

























I admit that I do have a fetish for such traditional bakery as it is almost non-existence in Singapore. I get really excited when I see one, especially there are people crowding around to buy. Even when I do not know how it taste, I would still give it a try.
























The sponge-cake looks good. Cost only HK$9 for one. They are not mini-ones, quite a decent palm-size.
Turns out that the sponge cake is really soft like cotton. So yummy!


Ming Wah Cake Shop 明华饼家
1 Yin Chong Street,
Shop D, G/F
Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Opens Daily: 7.30am - 9.30pm
Nearest MTR: Mong Kok Station



2. Kee Tsui Cake Shop 奇趣饼家

Again, we chance upon this while we finally arrived at Fa Yuen Street.
























As I'm rushing for time, I didn't really have time to try out the bakery or take more pictures. That also meant I'm returning to try it the next time.

I was told that 雞仔餅 (literally translated as chicken biscuit) made of 南乳 beancurd sauce and 牛耳仔 (literally translated as cow's ear biscuit) are the two most popular items for the shop.

Anyone who has visited this shop, do let me know your review.


Kee Tsui Cake Shop 趣饼家
135 Fa Yuen Street
Mong Kok, Kowloon
Tel: (852) 2394 1727
Opens Daily: 7.30am - 7pm
Nearest MTR: Mong Kok Station or Exit B2 of Prince Edward Station



Continue On:

Lamma Island

Tai O & Citygates Outlet

Hong Kong - Shopping & Snacks

Macau - Galaxy Macau

Macau - Taipa Village & Senado Square

Macau - House of Dancing Waters


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Hong Kong: Breakfast at Australia Diary Co 澳洲牛奶公司


Hong Kong: Breakfast at Ocean Empire 海皇 & Sea View Congee Shop 海景粥店

Monday 5 March 2012

Hong Kong: Breakfast at Ocean Empire 海皇 & Sea View Congee Shop 海景粥店

I have always love to eat 炸肠 in Hong Kong.

I kept telling the girls that I have craving for it. However, we are not sure where to find nice ones. The one that I know seems a bit is in Mong Kok and seems a bit far that morning. So I decided to ask the hotel concierge if there's a place nearby that serves soya bean milk 豆浆and fried fritters (fried dough stick) 油条 for breakfast.

























1. Ocean Empire 海皇

The hotel concierge suggested this place call Ocean Empire Ocean Empire 海皇 that is just about 15minutes walking distance from the hotel.
























The interior is contemporary design with bright colours. Different from the normal older cafe. Still a Hong Kong style, cafe we have to share tables with other guests. Sometimes it can get pretty squeezy, especially when we are sharing food.

Other than Soya Bean and Fried Fritters, the cafe also serves the usual breakfast stuff such as porridge and rice sheet roll.
























Although we have a decent dose of porridge since the trip, we decided to try the porridge here as it seems to be a popular choice. The porridge is yummy!


Among the other food that we order, are Turnip Cake, Ricesheet Roll & Noodles. The Ricesheet roll that we order is the plain, with black sauce. Ms Sumo likes to add the sweet sauce to eat with it. I'm not a fan of sweet sauce, so I just eat it plain.


The turnip cakes is nice. It's soft and you don't think it's too much starch on it. Some of the ones in Singapore are usually hard and heavy. The only disappointment is the noodles. I told Ms Sumo that my mum can make better fried noodle. It's oily and doesn't have much taste.


The soya bean milk is unsweetened and you just have to add your own sugar.


Well, my favourite is still 炸肠 - they call it Twisted Doughnut Ricesheet Roll. What a funny name!

You can just order your takeaway of fried fritters and soya bean.


Ocean Empire has a number of branches in Hong Kong. The one that I went was at Yau Ma Tei.
Click here for their branch locations.


Snew's Rating: 3.5 / 5


G/F, No. 497A Nathan Road
Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon
Tel: 852- 2385 6732
Opens Daily: 6am - 1am
Nearest MTR:  Yau Ma Tei Station



2.  Sea View Congee Shop 海景粥店

Known in Cantonese as Hoi Keng Congee Shop, this is the shop in Mong Kok that I previously mentioned. I chance upon it while we were walking to Fa Yuen Street.


It's a pity that I didn't have the chance to eat at this cafe this time. I only managed to takeaway warm soya bean milk.


























This is another place that I'll need to try again on my next trip. I can only remember vaguely that the food is not bad. They also have my favourite 炸肠 here! Fried fritters only at HK$9.


If I'm not wrong, they have a few outlets 海景. But here is the address of the main outlet.


Sea View Congee Shop 海景粥店
G/F, 103, Argyle Street,
Mong Kok, Kowloon
(九龙亚皆老街103号地下)
Tel: 852-2787-7330
Nearest MTR: Mong Kok Station



Continue On..


Lamma Island

Tai O & Citygates Outlet

Hong Kong - Shopping & Snacks

Macau - Galaxy Macau

Macau - Taipa Village & Senado Square

Macau - House of Dancing Waters



Related Posts:

Hong Kong! 买东西,吃东西, 买东西,吃东西...




Hong Kong: Dim Sum at Lin Heung Tea House 莲香楼, Tao Heung 稻香 & Tim Ho Wan 添好运


Hong Kong: Breakfast at Australia Diary Co 澳洲牛奶公司