When you come back from an eating haven like Hong Kong, the only thing anyone cares about is “what’s the best thing you ate?” Well, actually, for a normal person it might be “what did you buy?” but clearly, I am not normal. I don’t shop (seriously, hate shopping, not sure if I’m meant to be female).
But ask me what the best thing I ate (or drank) and I guarantee you I’ll give you the same answer every time.
Hui Lau Shan.
Say what?
Yeah, that’s right, Hui Lau Shan.
Hui Lau Shan (Chinese website / English website) is a chain of “healthy” dessert stores. There are branches dotted all around Hong Kong and honestly? Why isn’t there one in Sydney? Their simple ingredients of (mainly) mango, coconut, aloe jelly and grass jelly is just so damn good – and healthy – that it’s easy to guzzle one or four, in a three day weekend trip.
When we touched down in Hong Kong, before we’d even exited the airport, I got my first hit.
You’d better believe it! There’s a Hui Lau Shan right there in the arrivals hall so you can get one on touch down, and one just before you depart. Such awesomeness!
My all time favourite menu item is the aloe/mango/coconut drink. I’ve tried lots of other items, and they are all very delicious, but I don’t know why this one just does it for me. And if you get stuck for how to actually order this, well, there is usually a menu with photos, but alternatively you can ask for the B3. That’s what it is, the B3.
Ok, so on this trip I cheated a little and tried something else. This here is a black glutinous rice, mango and coconut concoction. Also scrumptious.
Foreigners might find it a little hard to locate a Hui Lau Shan store because their shop fronts don’t spell out “Hui Lau Shan” in alphabets. So this is what it looks like. Commit this to your memory.
Honestly, everyone go try this place out and tell me if I’m wrong about it being one of the best places in Hong Kong, period.
Hui Lau Shan
Everywhere – check out their OpenRice site for locations
Chinese website / English website
*****
Another dessert place we managed to get to in the two half days which we had to ourselves was Honeymoon Desserts (Engish website). Again, lots of locations all around Hong Kong and they have an awesomely huge selection of desserts and they serve durian!
Of course, for the ultimate durian dessert, you’ve got to go to Tim Yee Yee in Tin Hau, but if you want to maintain any semblance of physical connection with any human being after consuming durian, keep it simple and have a small dose at Honeymoon Desserts instead.
fresh durian and matcha ice cream in coconut sago soup
Matcha and durian in the same bowl. I was in heaven. And that’s a scoop of fresh durian, not durian ice cream, aiight?
mango pancakes
grass jelly, mango, pomelo and sago, served with vanilla ice cream
So, I posted a photo from Honeymoon Desserts on my facebook and one of my friends commented that she got engaged there. I was like holy crap that’s so cool right?? Forget the stereotypical top of the Eiffel Tower romance. True love is a wedding proposal and big kiss, right after indulging in a huge bowl of durian
Taking notes, Panu? Heh.
Honeymoon Desserts
Everywhere – check out their OpenRice site for locations
website