https://www.scmp.com/rss/30/feed News, restaurant reviews, recipes and blogs on food & wine en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Chloe Loung Chloe Loung For decades, locals and tourists alike in Hong Kong have flocked to Oi Man Sang – a 70-year-old dai pai dong (street food stall) with a loyal following. Since opening in 1956, it has been recognised by food critics and chefs as the “king of wok hei” – wok hei being the Cantonese term that describes the flavour of the perfect stir-fried dish. The restaurant gained international fame after appearing on South Korean celebrity restaurateur Baek Jong-won’s Street Food Fighter TV show, as well as Bon... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350453/hong-kongs-famous-oi-man-sang-dai-pai-dong-opens-dessert-shop-michelin-touch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350453/hong-kongs-famous-oi-man-sang-dai-pai-dong-opens-dessert-shop-michelin-touch?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 23:15:12 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press It is said that a bowl of soup made of cow bellies and legs can cure ulcers, hangovers and an assortment of other ailments – if you are courageous enough to try it. And Dimitris Tsarouhas, the owner of a restaurant in the Greek city of Thessaloniki that specialises in patsa, is striving to register the soup with Unesco as a unique and traditional dish of Greece that harks back to the time of Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey. That has conjured up a new dispute with age-old rival Turkey, which also... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350248/tripe-soup-being-culturally-appropriated-dispute-boils-between-2-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350248/tripe-soup-being-culturally-appropriated-dispute-boils-between-2-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Victoria Burrows Victoria Burrows The steamed dumplings at Peking Restaurant in El Sheikh Zayed City, Cairo, have a filling of soft and salty minced beef inside thick skins, similar to boiled Northern Chinese shuijiao, but even more sturdy. The two dipping sauces served with it are tomato-based; one a thin ketchup, the other a far thicker, spicy sauce studded with chilli seeds. Instead of chopsticks, knives and forks are set on tables in the dining room, decorated with wooden Chinese lattice work on the ceiling and traditional... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350158/how-chinese-food-took-root-cairo-60s-peking-restaurant-egyptianised-dishes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350158/how-chinese-food-took-root-cairo-60s-peking-restaurant-egyptianised-dishes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung It is officially the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens weekend, which means event domination in headlines, happy hours and MTR carriages. But if the frenzy is not your cup of tea, don’t worry. There is always something else in this city. From a late-night dim sum rave in a century-old teahouse to a pickleball social in West Kowloon and sustainable fashion swaps, there is plenty to do that has nothing to do with the Sevens. Here are five things to check out this weekend. 1. Dim Sum Rave On Saturday,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350246/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-april-17-19?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350246/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-april-17-19?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 02:45:08 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. All 7 are dentists and hot. The Asian-American family blowing up social media The Chen family shot to social media stardom over their shared career, good looks and closeness – all achieved without tiger parenting. 2. Hainanese chicken rice origins and its versions in Singapore, Malaysia and more With roots in Hainan’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350267/asian-american-family-hot-dentists-hainan-chicken-rice-roots-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350267/asian-american-family-hot-dentists-hainan-chicken-rice-roots-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:45:08 +0000 Hei Kiu Au Hei Kiu Au The meaning of “farm-to-table” has changed in Hong Kong in recent years. The practice used to be more common in down-to-earth places, but has come to be associated with overpriced produce and Michelin-star restaurants. However, a weekend gathering at Blue Girl Organic Farm in Tai Tong, in Hong Kong’s New Territories, showed that the true concept of farm-to-table is still alive and well. The farm, which has been run by Flora Wong Wah-fong for the past 13 years, hosted more than 30 guests for an... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350153/authentic-farm-table-experience-hong-kong-reconnects-diners-nature?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350153/authentic-farm-table-experience-hong-kong-reconnects-diners-nature?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok I often think that we take rice for granted. It is seen as a boring blank canvas for a far more exciting palette of flavours coming from side dishes and main proteins of myriad tastes and textures. In some circles, rice is villainised, painted as a low-value carb that offers calories, a food coma, and not much else. We often forget that rice was once a luxury – a fact I was reminded of recently when I saw a well-preserved rice ration card, issued during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350141/hong-kong-has-how-many-rice-varieties-one-womans-drive-celebrate-them-all?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350141/hong-kong-has-how-many-rice-varieties-one-womans-drive-celebrate-them-all?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:15:09 +0000 Andrew Sun Andrew Sun Michael Larkin is the co-founder of French bistro Lala in Hong Kong’s Central neighbourhood. He spoke to Andrew Sun. My dad is Irish, my mum is Romanian. We grew up mostly in Romania, where the food was super hearty, super rustic and very flavourful. In the winter, we had a lot of stew and soups; in the summer, we had a lot of barbecues. At home, my mom could burn cereal, so she never cooked for us. My dad, on the other hand, worked in food and beverage, and he taught me how to cook. As for what... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350013/best-pasta-really-authentic-vietnamese-french-bistro-boss-top-hong-kong-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350013/best-pasta-really-authentic-vietnamese-french-bistro-boss-top-hong-kong-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 04:45:08 +0000 Shamilee Vellu Shamilee Vellu Every time chef André Chiang calls it a day, something big follows. In 2018, he closed his two-Michelin-star Restaurant André in Singapore, to focus on Raw in Taipei – soon after, that restaurant gained its second Michelin star. In 2024, he “retired” again, recasting Raw as a culinary academy for young Asian chefs, and returned to Singapore to make his next moves. In the Lion City, he co-curated the dining programme for luxury train operator Belmond’s Eastern & Oriental Express route, which... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349643/andre-chiang-why-his-raffles-singapore-restaurant-love-letter-hotels-past?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349643/andre-chiang-why-his-raffles-singapore-restaurant-love-letter-hotels-past?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 04:15:07 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times On a recent Tuesday evening in Seoul, the Myeongdong branch of Bantianyao Kaoyu, a Chinese restaurant specialising in whole simmered fish dishes, is already filling up well before the dinner rush. Inside, large trays of whole simmered fish arrive one after another, each landing in a bath of deep-red chilli-laced broth, sending up a cloud of steam over the tables. Despite it only being 5.30pm – early enough at most restaurants to avoid the usual queues of hungry commuters – almost all of the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349535/why-are-young-koreans-going-crazy-chinese-restaurants-inside-growing-trend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349535/why-are-young-koreans-going-crazy-chinese-restaurants-inside-growing-trend?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 04:45:08 +0000 Angela Hui Angela Hui Imagine this: a thick slab of golden-brown toast, topped with a perfect knob of butter melting slowly into the middle, finished with a drizzle of sticky golden syrup. For many Hong Kong diners, this variation on French toast is a familiar sight and a staple on menus across many of the city’s cha chaan teng. But don’t expect Cantoast Bakery in London to follow the mould. “A lot of the time, I get questions from customers,” says Haydon Wong, chef-owner of the pop-up bakery, which specialises in an... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349463/how-chinese-takeaway-kid-brought-hong-kong-style-french-toast-london-twist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349463/how-chinese-takeaway-kid-brought-hong-kong-style-french-toast-london-twist?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu It is the weekend before the annual Hong Kong Sevens comes into town, drawing rugby fans from around the world. Take this weekend to perhaps indulge in the calm before the storm, attending introspective exhibitions, eco-friendly local markets and restorative fitness classes. Here are five things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, to ease yourself back from the long Easter weekend and to savour the quiet before the Sevens. 1. The Majestic Han Following the success of the “Tang Vogue Beyond the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3349520/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-april-10-12?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3349520/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-april-10-12?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 02:45:08 +0000 dpa dpa The colour in my drink is a rich golden yellow. I raise the glass and breathe in the scent of ripe apples. My first sip tastes surprisingly dry, with a pronounced, stimulating acidity, followed by subtle tannins. Although this sounds like a wine description, there is no wine in this glass. In fact, there is no alcohol at all. Such scenes play out frequently for wine journalist Christoph Raffelt and sommelier Anne Tenschert, who run a podcast on alcohol-free drinks, which remain part of the world... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349376/alcohol-free-drinks-are-rise-heres-whats-new-menus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349376/alcohol-free-drinks-are-rise-heres-whats-new-menus?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Andrew Sun Andrew Sun Is the freedom to stink a right or a privilege? I started to ponder this question after a report last week that a Taiwanese restaurant in California had been ordered to stop selling stinky tofu after repeated complaints from a resident. Let me emphasise that these objections came from just one unrelenting individual. The neighbours in the commercial plaza did not seem to mind. Staff at the beauty salon next door said they could not smell the funky fermented bean curd. The restaurant’s owner... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349249/stinky-tofu-ban-us-restaurant-discrimination-or-just-lack-common-scents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349249/stinky-tofu-ban-us-restaurant-discrimination-or-just-lack-common-scents?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:15:07 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Chances are, the Hainanese chicken rice served at your local restaurant is not the real deal. In the same way that champagne must come from Champagne, Hainanese chicken rice must technically be made with Wenchang chicken from Hainan, an island province of China in the South China Sea. These birds are small, free-range and famous for being fed a diet of fallen banyan seeds, coconut pulp and peanut bran. The breed was shaped by the region’s natural environment, which gives the meat natural... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349320/origins-hainanese-chicken-rice-and-its-versions-singapore-malaysia-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349320/origins-hainanese-chicken-rice-and-its-versions-singapore-malaysia-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Andrew Sun Andrew Sun Twenty-year-old entrepreneur Natalie Lau is the founder of Chicken Egg Boy, which serves her popular pineapple bun egg waffle creation. She speaks to Andrew Sun. My father loves wining and dining, from fine dining to street food, but he looks for quality in everything. For him, a street stall doing one thing perfectly is just as enjoyable as a three-Michelin-star kitchen. That mindset stuck, which is why I founded Chicken Egg Boy (Shop 2, G/F, Nam Wo Hong Building, 148 Wing Lok Street, Sheung... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349245/chicken-egg-boy-founders-top-hong-kong-food-spots-dim-sum-sandwiches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349245/chicken-egg-boy-founders-top-hong-kong-food-spots-dim-sum-sandwiches?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:15:07 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak When it comes to making sake, terroir matters. And where could be more impressive than Mount Fuji, the highest peak in Japan and the second-highest volcano on any Asian island? The mountain straddles two prefectures: Shizuoka in the south and Yamanashi to the north. The latter, a landlocked prefecture in central Japan where 78 per cent of the total area is covered by lush forest, is home to several national parks. It is also the home of the Fuji Five Lakes region, or Fujigoko: five bodies of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349202/how-sake-breweries-near-japans-mount-fuji-are-taking-drink-new-heights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349202/how-sake-breweries-near-japans-mount-fuji-are-taking-drink-new-heights?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:15:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse First it was protein, now it is fibre: the “maxxing” mindset has permeated social media, as wellness influencers insist that loading up on certain nutrients is the key to vitality and a life-changing gut glow-up. These viral diet trends rooted in extreme optimisation are affecting how people eat and what companies sell – but are they actually healthy? The concept of “proteinmaxxing” insists that more is better when it comes to the macronutrient found in foods like nuts, meat and dairy, which is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349125/are-food-health-trends-fibermaxxing-and-proteinmaxxing-actually-healthy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349125/are-food-health-trends-fibermaxxing-and-proteinmaxxing-actually-healthy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Okinawa is famous today for its pristine waters, gaudy Orion beer T-shirts, stone lions and dishes such as taco rice, but in centuries past it was better known as the centre of the independent Ryukyu Kingdom, which thrived as a maritime trade hub from 1429 to 1879. The Ryukyu Kingdom connected Southeast Asia, China and Korea with Japan through trade, which included Chinese ceramics and Japanese silver. Over 450 years, these exchanges led to the development of the kingdom’s unique culture. Ryukyu... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348777/how-food-japans-okinawa-evolved-chinese-influences-become-truly-unique?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348777/how-food-japans-okinawa-evolved-chinese-influences-become-truly-unique?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak As the force behind two of Hong Kong’s most revered craft cocktail bars – Coa and The Savory Project – Jay Khan is kept busy enough with his day, or rather, night job and is perhaps one of the last people you would expect to get a side gig. However, as a self-described “very restless person”, he got one anyway. In March, less than six years after buying his first camera in 2020, he unveiled his first-ever photography exhibition, “Pouring Shadow”, at Sin Sin Fine Art, an independent gallery in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3348740/hong-kong-bar-maestro-jay-khan-swaps-cocktails-cameras-his-first-photo-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3348740/hong-kong-bar-maestro-jay-khan-swaps-cocktails-cameras-his-first-photo-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Stinky tofu is no longer on the menu at Golden Leaf restaurant in San Gabriel, Los Angeles, after the city received complaints about the dish’s aroma. But the family behind the restaurant is fighting to bring back the street food, which is popular in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan and prized for its distinct, potent stench. “The scene of stinky tofu in Taiwanese night markets is an invitation to community and tradition,” owner David Liao says. The dish is “a cherished taste of home and a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348652/forced-stop-selling-stinky-tofu-taiwanese-restaurant-fought-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348652/forced-stop-selling-stinky-tofu-taiwanese-restaurant-fought-back?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 20:15:11 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times By Pyo Kyung-min On a recent weekend afternoon, Hwang In-woo, a university student in his 20s, found himself standing in line for something called “butter rice cakes” – yet another trending dessert he never intended to try. Hwang said he has been eating his way through South Korea’s latest food crazes largely at the urging of his girlfriend, who regularly discovers new items on social media and insists they try them together. “I wouldn’t usually go out of my way to buy these if it weren’t for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348793/crispy-chewy-soft-why-texture-not-taste-rules-south-koreas-current-viral-food-trends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348793/crispy-chewy-soft-why-texture-not-taste-rules-south-koreas-current-viral-food-trends?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:15:07 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon Last month, friends visiting from Hong Kong brought me two tins of cookies from Jenny Bakery – a popular local treat I had somehow never tried in two decades of living in the city. When I finally opened one, the aroma caught me off guard: rich, buttery and instantly familiar. It smelled exactly like the coffee buns from the Malaysian bakery chain Rotiboy, which I used to eat far more often than I should admit. I paused for a moment, tin in hand, trying to place that recognition. Maybe it was a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3348537/history-chinese-flatbreads-reflects-how-food-has-echoes-faraway-places?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3348537/history-chinese-flatbreads-reflects-how-food-has-echoes-faraway-places?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:15:07 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung The story of Rocky’s Matcha begins not with a business plan, but with a shaman. It was the summer of 2020, and the Covid-19 pandemic had brought the world to a halt. At the time, Rocky Xu was working as the global head of brand partnerships for Beats by Dre. He had worked in the corporate world for a long time and, seeking clarity, he enrolled in a 21-day chakra cleanse with a shaman. It was easy enough, but, as Xu was leaving, he was given one final, gutting task. “He hit me with the Steve Jobs... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348660/how-rockys-matcha-founder-built-blossoming-tea-brand-after-being-told-quit-coffee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348660/how-rockys-matcha-founder-built-blossoming-tea-brand-after-being-told-quit-coffee?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Whether you are looking for lavish seasonal menus, creative chocolate treats or festive-themed workshops, Easter in Hong Kong is full of flavour and fun. During the long weekend, adults can indulge in the best brunch spots and must-try seasonal pastries, while children can join beginner-friendly art classes in some of the city’s premier hotels and restaurants and catch a special visit from the Easter bunny. Why put all your eggs in one basket when the city has so many Easter activities to offer?... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348617/easter-2026-food-highlights-hong-kong-sunday-lunch-hot-cross-doughnuts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348617/easter-2026-food-highlights-hong-kong-sunday-lunch-hot-cross-doughnuts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Some people run for endorphins, others to lose weight. Now, add making and enjoying your own artisanal butter to the list of things you could benefit from after running a good few kilometres. Confused? Recently, social media has been churning with excitement over the age-old technique of butter-making, with a sporty twist. People have been storing double-bagged portions of double cream in their running vests, and somewhere between warming up and struggling through their last hundred metres, they... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348604/why-making-butter-while-you-run-has-got-social-media-churning-excitement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348604/why-making-butter-while-you-run-has-got-social-media-churning-excitement?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:15:07 +0000 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan Drive about an hour north of Vancouver and you will reach Squamish. The quiet town in the Canadian province of British Columbia is known as a mecca for rock climbers and mountain bikers. One of the area’s famed natural landmarks is Shannon Falls – among the tallest waterfalls in the province – and straight across from it is the Klahanie Campground, where visitors can not only enjoy a picturesque view of the falls but also buy Hong Kong-style snacks and drinks. Unique Slow Rise Bakery serves... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348498/how-hongkongers-bakery-giving-remote-canadian-town-taste-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348498/how-hongkongers-bakery-giving-remote-canadian-town-taste-city?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok The Easter long weekend marks the perfect time to check out a number of Hong Kong’s latest coffee shops, although if you work in Sheung Wan or Kwun Tong you will definitely want to mark some of these down for when you need a break from the office. Apart from enjoying these five new openings, coffee fans should take note of this weekend (April 3-6), which sees the return of Coffee HK at West Kowloon. More than 80 international coffee and cafe brands – including Shanghai’s Captain George Flavor... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348394/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-april-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348394/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-april-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:15:07 +0000 Andrew Sun Andrew Sun Richard Wood is the Asia managing director of global architecture and design studio Snohetta. He spoke to Andrew Sun. I feel that food, taste and how these aspects of life evolve are deeply connected to culture and place, but also to routine and community. I think this is even more profound in Hong Kong. I’m originally from the UK and feel it is impossible to beat good home cooking. I also value authenticity. I’ll always remember discovering Malaysian and Vietnamese dishes in London and feeling... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348510/delicious-fried-rice-great-italian-britons-favourite-hong-kong-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348510/delicious-fried-rice-great-italian-britons-favourite-hong-kong-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 04:45:15 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Although ma lai go was voted one of the worst dim sum dishes to order in a 2023 discussion post on the “Hong Kong Dim Sum Concern Group” social media forum, it remains a yum cha staple, loved by those who enjoy its understated yet complex brown-sugar flavour. Also known as Malay sponge cake or Chinese steamed cake, it is one of the many dim sum dishes most representative of Hong Kong culture, with its blend of Western influence and Eastern refinement. But, like many things in an era of rapid... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348385/where-does-ma-lai-go-come-and-why-classic-dim-sum-dish-so-special?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348385/where-does-ma-lai-go-come-and-why-classic-dim-sum-dish-so-special?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian With Chinese coffee brands eyeing overseas expansion, analysts said those seeking to succeed as global players must move beyond low-price strategies and a narrow focus on operational efficiency. “Overseas consumers have long associated Chinese brands mainly with cost performance,” said Fu Yifu, a special research fellow at Su Merchants Bank in Nanjing, in the eastern Jiangsu province. “To succeed globally, the core is to build a presence rooted in China’s operational efficiency while blending... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348412/chinese-coffee-brands-need-more-low-prices-compete-global-players-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348412/chinese-coffee-brands-need-more-low-prices-compete-global-players-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 23:30:09 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam The concept of this dish alone may be enough to make you sick to your stomach. Hailing from southwest China’s mountainous Guizhou province, the notorious cow dung or niubie hotpot is a stew that is made out of undigested grass from a cow’s stomach and intestines, as well as cow bile. Also known as bitter or cow bile hotpot, this creation often falls into the category of “dark cuisine” in Chinese gastronomy, which refers to unconventional food combinations that challenge culinary norms. Dishes... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348116/cow-dung-hotpot-anyone-chinas-dark-cuisine-dish-has-deep-cultural-roots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348116/cow-dung-hotpot-anyone-chinas-dark-cuisine-dish-has-deep-cultural-roots?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Lisa Lim Lisa Lim Yin yeung was the first drink a colleague recommended when I moved to Hong Kong two decades ago – that sweet milky mix of tea and coffee also called yuen yeung, offering the best of both worlds. She also suggested I sample pineapple buns, though with the warning they were nothing like the pineapple tarts of my heritage, being devoid of pineapple! Other delicacies of my Hong Kong years included daan tat from various bakeries – small open egg tarts of flaky or shortcrust pastry. I frequented bing... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348110/hong-kongs-daan-tat-singapores-ice-kachang-asian-foods-make-their-way-global-english?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348110/hong-kongs-daan-tat-singapores-ice-kachang-asian-foods-make-their-way-global-english?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam In 2023, among the picturesque greenery of the Pine Garden reception hall in Guangzhou, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron met informally to discuss the crisis in Ukraine and trade relations. As they discussed the state of the world, the two presidents drank Jade Dove red wine from Xige Estate in Ningxia, China. Chinese wines have come a long way, and began winning international competitions in the 2010s. More than a decade later, the challenge is to build an... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348068/wine-bordeaux-china-ningxia-rise-can-it-rival-french-bottles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348068/wine-bordeaux-china-ningxia-rise-can-it-rival-french-bottles?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Noodles seem to be the emerging theme of April’s new restaurant openings, as four new specialist eateries join the fray, including one of Tokyo’s top three ramen shops and a plant-based ramen hideaway. Causeway Bay debuts a Thai street-style eatery and a Japanese-Italian newcomer. Hollywood Road in Sheung Wan welcomes a fresh Spanish hang-out while, across the harbour, Tseung Kwan O gets a taste of a classic hotel’s famed pastries. In Kowloon, Jordan welcomes a Michelin-recommended addition from... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347931/10-new-hong-kong-restaurants-try-april-2026-and-high-end-sushi-outlet-macau?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347931/10-new-hong-kong-restaurants-try-april-2026-and-high-end-sushi-outlet-macau?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 04:45:08 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu It has been a whirlwind week in Hong Kong – a city, which in the past few days, has been the host of Art Basel Hong Kong, Art Central, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards and much more. For those seeking a more intimate or curated experience away from the major landmarks and large crowds, Hong Kong has many alternative activities, from exclusive guest bartenders to independent pop-up exhibitions and local fitness clubs. Here are five things to do in Hong Kong if you are looking for intimate,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348066/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-march-27-29?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348066/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-march-27-29?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 02:50:07 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Your ultimate guide to Hong Kong art week: fairs, exhibitions, radical pop-ups With a surge of new venues and a relentless calendar of openings, navigating Hong Kong’s 2026 art week requires strategy. The South China Morning Post presents a carefully curated shortlist. 2. Is Year of the Horse’s second month lucky for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347945/guide-hong-kong-art-week-cultural-chinese-dining-sweden-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347945/guide-hong-kong-art-week-cultural-chinese-dining-sweden-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak If you ask Hongkongers if they like Thai food, many will say they do; ask them if they know ThongSmith, and chances are most of them will say yes. The Bangkok-based noodle chain opened in 2018 and has since expanded to more than 25 locations in the Thai capital. It made a name for itself by honing in on humble boat noodles, with a slow-simmered broth and adding premium toppings such as Australian Wagyu beef and Kurobuta pork. Now, in its eighth year, it has picked Hong Kong as its first overseas... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347786/hong-kong-now-you-dont-have-go-bangkok-boat-noodle-fix-thongsmith-here?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347786/hong-kong-now-you-dont-have-go-bangkok-boat-noodle-fix-thongsmith-here?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:45:08 +0000 Andrew Sun Andrew Sun Noma chef Rene Redzepi’s downfall has been surprising and sudden. But for those who expected the rest of the restaurant industry to take up arms against a sea of troubling egos, a rain check might be in order. Redzepi’s fastidious micro-herb fine-dining dishes, which required many hours to prepare and were served with performative explanations, are not exactly my idea of deliciousness. I certainly wouldn’t pay US$1,500 (HK$11,700) for a meal, which is what his empire’s current Los Angeles pop-up... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347857/why-noma-chef-rene-redzepis-downfall-wont-spark-revolution-against-bad-kitchen-bosses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347857/why-noma-chef-rene-redzepis-downfall-wont-spark-revolution-against-bad-kitchen-bosses?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Two Hong Kong restaurants received top honours at the annual Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards. The event was held in Hong Kong for the first time, taking place in the grand ballroom of the Kerry Hotel in Hung Hom on the evening of March 25. The Chairman received the top billing at No 1 while Wing came in at No 2. It is the second time that The Chairman, a Cantonese restaurant in Central founded by Danny Yip, has earned the accolade, after it defied the odds to become Asia’s Best Restaurant in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347900/asias-50-best-restaurants-2026-hong-kongs-chairman-no-1-wing-no-2?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347900/asias-50-best-restaurants-2026-hong-kongs-chairman-no-1-wing-no-2?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:10:14 +0000 Andrew Sun Andrew Sun Zoie Yung is the programme curator for Hong Kong’s Art Central 2026, and has previously collaborated with the city’s art organisations including Tai Kwun Contemporary, Para Site, 1a Space and Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre. She spoke to Andrew Sun. I am Cantonese by birth, but my culinary upbringing was quite hybrid. My parents were not big on cooking, so our family often ate at a local daa laang, or Chiu Chow-style evening dining restaurant. I grew up with baby oyster congee and chilled “frozen... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347784/classic-cantonese-splurge-worthy-japanese-art-curators-go-hong-kong-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347784/classic-cantonese-splurge-worthy-japanese-art-curators-go-hong-kong-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Our health is shaped by far more than what happens in a doctor’s office. Research estimates that as much as 80 to 90 per cent of health outcomes are influenced by factors outside medical care, including diet, physical activity and other everyday habits. Yet food, one of the most powerful drivers of health, is rarely treated as medicine. The concept of food as medicine is not new, says Dr Jaclyn Albin, an internist and director of the culinary medicine programme at UT Southwestern Medical Centre... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347524/how-food-shapes-our-health-more-medicine-doctors-share-healthy-eating-tips?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347524/how-food-shapes-our-health-more-medicine-doctors-share-healthy-eating-tips?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:15:09 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok China’s 2026 Black Pearl Restaurant Guide awards were announced on March 23, just days after the star rankings for the Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau were unveiled on March 19, and before the coming ceremony for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants to be held in Hong Kong on March 25. The guide, often referred to as China’s answer to France’s century-old restaurant ranking system, awards venues using a three-tiered “diamond” system as opposed to Michelin’s star ratings. Similarly, Black Pearl... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347594/2026-black-pearl-restaurant-guide-awards-hong-kongs-chefs-top-honours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347594/2026-black-pearl-restaurant-guide-awards-hong-kongs-chefs-top-honours?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:34:58 +0000 Victoria Burrows Victoria Burrows Partway through our meal at Surfers, a Chinese restaurant in Sweden’s capital of Stockholm, Ludvig Saaf bursts into song. It is a Mongolian drinking song about fermented mare’s milk, but few in the dining room can understand the Mandarin lyrics. We join in, though, answering each rousing “Hey!” with a rowdy one of our own. At the end, we shout “ganbei” – a Chinese term meaning “cheers” – and down our thimble-sized glasses of baijiu, a Chinese spirit. Saaf, tall and blond with a pierced lower... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347152/trailblazing-chinese-restaurant-sweden-showing-what-culture-really-all-about?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347152/trailblazing-chinese-restaurant-sweden-showing-what-culture-really-all-about?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 04:45:11 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press If your experience with sake is limited to the warm cup at your local sushi spot, you are missing the larger world of the traditional Japanese drink, which is as nuanced and layered as wine. Sake is brewed (not distilled) from rice, yeast, water and koji, a mould that converts the rice starch into sugar. Premium sakes might add some distilled alcohol. Sometimes other ingredients are added for flavour, but purists stick to the essentials. “It’s quite incredible to think of the variation in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347295/quick-guide-sake-traditional-japanese-drink-thats-nuanced-wine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347295/quick-guide-sake-traditional-japanese-drink-thats-nuanced-wine?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 11:15:09 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon I recently enjoyed a delicious dinner at a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur that specialised in Hakka cuisine. Hakka restaurants have long existed in the city and elsewhere in Malaysia, but anecdotal evidence suggests their numbers have been growing rapidly in recent years. Less widely known than Cantonese and several other Chinese regional cuisines, Hakka food may be enjoying its moment in the sun, at least in Malaysia, where the Hakka population numbers around 1.25 million. They form the largest... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3347186/how-hakka-spread-china-and-beyond-their-cuisine-reflecting-hard-lives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3347186/how-hakka-spread-china-and-beyond-their-cuisine-reflecting-hard-lives?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:15:09 +0000 Susan Jung Susan Jung Annatto, also known as achiote, is a spice known more for its colour than its flavour. The seeds of the annatto tree are dried into hard reddish-brown pellets, which are used as a natural dye (including for lipstick, hence it is also called “the lipstick tree”) and food colouring. The shades range from golden yellow to deep red, depending on the concentration. It is sometimes used as a much cheaper substitute for saffron, purely for its colour because the two spices taste nothing alike. The... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347128/how-cook-annatto-saffrons-subtler-stand-and-3-simple-recipes-use-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347128/how-cook-annatto-saffrons-subtler-stand-and-3-simple-recipes-use-it?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Kowloon Walled City, with its triad gangs and lawless reputation, remains a symbol of Hong Kong’s underbelly more than three decades after it was demolished in 1994. What many forget, however, is that it was also home to tens of thousands of ordinary residents who lived ordinary lives trying to make ends meet. Ha Ming Kee, a Chiu Chow-style fish ball noodle restaurant and manufacturer, was founded decades ago by Roger Ha’s parents, Ha Fan-ming and Chan So-hing, in the narrow alleyways of Kowloon... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347100/how-hong-kong-fish-ball-maker-kowloon-walled-city-became-thriving-family-business?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347100/how-hong-kong-fish-ball-maker-kowloon-walled-city-became-thriving-family-business?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:45:08 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung This weekend, Hong Kong will transform into a sprawling playground for all kinds of enthusiasts. Whether your idea of a perfect day involves pop culture expos, street art exploration, sonic healing or attempting to eat your own weight in pani puri, there is something for everyone. Read on to find out more. 1. ComplexCon ComplexCon returns to AsiaWorld-Expo this weekend, once again transforming the venue into a giant hotbed of streetwear, music and art. Led by Ka-sing Lung, the Hong Kong-born... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347238/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-march-20-22?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347238/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-march-20-22?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 03:22:35 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu The 18th edition of the Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau was announced on March 19 at an awards ceremony hosted at the Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau. In total, 98 restaurants across the two cities emerged with Michelin stars; 15 of them were new to the list. The year 2026 celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Michelin starring system. The ceremony began with a homage to the guide’s gastronomic legacy, honouring chefs who are the “keepers of traditions” but also the “rebels”. World-class... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347203/michelin-guide-hong-kong-and-macau-2026-full-list-china-tang-earns-1-star-status?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347203/michelin-guide-hong-kong-and-macau-2026-full-list-china-tang-earns-1-star-status?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:50:57 +0000