Hop Yik Tai – Legendary Cheong Fun with a Side of Sass
If you’re hunting down some of the smoothest cheong fun in Hong Kong, Hop Yik Tai in Sham Shui Po is a name that comes up time and time again—and for good reason. This humble local joint has earned a spot on the Michelin Guide, and the queues that snake down the block every morning speak for themselves.
The rice noodle rolls here are made fresh daily, and you can taste the difference. Silky, delicate, and practically gliding off your chopsticks, they’re doused in a trio of sweet soy sauce, rich sesame sauce, and a hint of hoisin—simple, yet incredibly satisfying. It’s the kind of street food that makes you feel like you’ve tapped into a local secret… even if it’s not so secret anymore.
Now, for the not-so-silky part: the service. Let’s just say, it’s part of the authentic experience. In Cantonese, I asked for a “medium” portion, trying to follow the menu that seemed to listed sizes. The lady behind the counter shot me a glare sharp enough to slice the cheong fun with a knife and snapped, “What you want?” I tried again, clearier this time. Her reply? A barked, “$10, $15, or $20?” Ah. Right. Turns out, at Hop Yik Tai, you don’t order by size—you order by price. Maybe review the sizes next to the price tag to avoid the confusion, F*(&k...
So there I was, eating world-famous cheong fun in a slightly grimy alleyway, surrounded by locals sans plastic stools, and wondering if the rolled rice noodles were worth the verbal manhandling. Honestly? They kind of were but at the same time the sweet sauce still left a sour taste in my mouth. But would I go back to get scolded for ordering wrong again? Jury’s out.
Hop Yik Tai is definitely a must-try for cheong fun lovers and street food purists. Just be prepared: the cheong fun is soft, but the service is...
Read moreThe OG Cheung Fun King 🏆 Vibe: Authentic street food chaos ✨ The Real Deal Yo, if you're hunting for the most legendary cheung fun in Hong Kong, Hop Yik Tai is literally THE spot that food nerds obsess over. This tiny Sham Shui Po joint has been slinging 5,000+ rice rolls daily and earned its Michelin Guide street cred for a reason. What's Fire 🔥 Signature Cheung Fun - The silky-smooth rice rolls here are next level. We're talking about that perfect bouncy texture with the holy trinity of sauces: sweet soy, sesame, and chili. The secret? They add pork lard for that extra richness that'll make you weak in the knees. Other Bangers: Fish balls & pork skin combo Braised radish (comfort food vibes) Siu mai that actually slaps Fresh soy milk to wash it down The Experience This ain't your Instagram-pretty spot - it's pure street food energy. You'll be standing in narrow alleyways, rubbing shoulders with locals, and probably sweating a bit. But that's the charm! Most people grab takeaway, but eating on-site gives you those authentic Hong Kong feels. Value Game 💰 At around HK$15-20 per portion (under US$3), this is straight-up robbery for the quality you're getting. The portions are generous and will definitely fill you up. Bottom Line Hop Yik Tai isn't just serving food - they're serving Hong Kong heritage on a plate. The cheung fun here sets the gold standard that other spots can only dream of reaching. Sure, you'll wait in line and eat standing up, but trust me, it's worth every second. Must-order: Cheung fun with mixed sauces Pro tip: Go early morning or late afternoon to avoid the crazy lunch rush Rating: Absolute legend status 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This is what real Hong Kong street food culture tastes like - no frills, just pure...
Read moreDining Time (12:03pm lunch) Follow @wojengyea/@wo! It's the real deal for more food information. Support us in discovering more delicious food! 😋 N years ago, I had their rice noodle rolls and couldn't forget about them. Today, I went to try them again. A medium plate of rice noodle rolls costs $15 for six pieces, and they are incredibly smooth. (Important reminder🥁🥁) If you don’t like too much sauce, remember to tell them when ordering, or else they will give you loads of soy sauce and sesame sauce. I forgot to mention it, so I ended up with too much sesame sauce on my plate. To balance the flavor, I had to add some sweet sauce.🍭
I always have either fish balls🐟 or siu mai to go with my rice noodle rolls. The siu mai costs $10 for six pieces, and it tastes ok la. I also ordered a plate of fried noodles. Their fried noodles🍝 are not as greasy, dark, or chewy as those from other places. The noodles are soft and have a unique texture, different from the ones you would find in congee and noodle shops. The advantage is that they are not too oily. The fried noodles is flavourful with garlic chives and bean sprouts, it only costs $13.
The cold soy milk🥛costs $6, but the soy flavor is quite mild. It tastes mostly sweet, and I'm not sure why there are so many bubbles on the surface.
Restaurant ambiance: The restaurant is super crowded and you can't even think about placing your bag🧰on an empty chair. The waitresses will scold you for that😂 . Typically, people eat quickly and leave immediately, so don't expect to sit around and chat...
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