We are heading back to HKG in a couple of weeks and want to find a great Peking duck restaurant and a place for dim sum as well, can anyone recommend some cheap and cheerful places, any location as we will have our trusty Octopus cards though we are staying in the vicinity of Jordan MTR.
There is a nice Peking Duck in TST opposite Ferry terminal. I think the bldg is called Star House on Salisbury Rd and the restaurant is at eastern end of the bldg up the escalator. Sorry cant remember name of the restaurant but its good value. Of course you can get better Peking Duck in the Mandarin or Grand Hyatt but at a big price.
Also if you like spicy food there is Mask of Sechuan further along Salisbury Rd just before East TST station on north side of road. As for dim sum you can get that anywhere especially for lunch.
The large dim sum restaurant attached to your (QF) tech crew hotel has won some awards and has a Michelin Star. The prices are reasonable and the place is popular with the locals!
Technically, what you will tend to find in Hong Kong is Crispy Aromatic Duck and not Peking Duck. The latter is - as it's name suggests a Northern Chinese dish and differs from the crispy version by having softer skin and being more fatty. What most people around the world know as Peking Duck is the latter, as most Chinese restaurants overseas are owned by the Cantonese, crispy duck being more of a Cantonese dish.
I suspect what you want is the crispy duck. If you ask for Peking Duck, you may be directed to one of the couple of restuarants who prepare their duck in the Peking way. I much prefer the crispy!
Cantonese cuisine also has Char Sui (barbeque pork) and goose prepared in a similar way to the ducks.
Try "beggars chicken". Local, unique and super succulent. Basically, chicken is encased in clay and roasted, cracked open at the table for the patrons to enjoy the aromas. Part show, mostly good eating and essential to book and reserve the actual dish you'll be ordering. 100% Cantonese and every bit as good as crispy duck.
Generally, you can eat very well in HK for not very much. The trick is to get local recommendations - the hotel concierge will only be too happy to reccomend somewhere (probably his uncles place!). Hong kongers take great pride in being able to find the best places to eat at the best value. And don't be put off by communication problems. Lots of menus have pictures and you can always point at somone else's meal and gesticulate that you want some as well. It's not rude here. As a rule, if it's full of locals, it's probably going to be good.
PS. For a real Dim Sum treat, try Maxims in central market. Fantastic food in a great setting.
Im feeling hungry just reading this thread. Also there is fantastic seafood in HK. If I have a day free I like heading on the ferry to Cheung Chau and eating low cost but fresh seafood. Cant wait to get back.
Thanks everyone, we went to Spring Deer for lunch which we loved and will return soon even though we have done many trips over here we will be back soon. When we asked the hotel to make the booking they told us that it was a very popular restaurant and that early bookings were essential.
Dan...not absolutely certain you are right on that one although I have to say I do agree with most of your other posts...
....fly with a lot of Hongkong based cabin crew in search of culinary delights in dear old blighty and they'll often ask "where can I get aromatic crispy duck in London please meester captain sir?"...we of course are astounded and reply.."surely you can get that at home ....much more tasty than Kensington?"...."Aaaaah no Capteen ..only Peking duck in Hong kong...Aromatic Crispy Duck only in London"..
...Have to say I thought it was our take on a national dish just like Chicken Tikka Massala...both blimmin" delicious though
