Hung Yum

Though Hung Hom might not be the most convenient of places to hit up for a meal, its many nooks and crannies are littered with all sorts of interesting eats. Whether you want to check out one of our city’s first local burger joints, or slurp down oysters by the street stall, Hung Hom’s got some great culinary gems, which will make the trek out well worth its while.

The Local Burger

Si Sun is something of a legend in the Hong Kong dining scene. The space started off in the 1960s as a snacks store and was then revamped into one of Hong Kong’s first American-style fast food joints. “When we started, the food was novel, the furniture was novel, the whole concept was novel,” says Si Sun’s second-generation owner, Mr. Chong. Now, after over 40 years, Si Sun has transformed into a space for nostalgic charm. The kitsch plastic chairs and stools remain unchanged from the 1970s and the restaurant is frequented by old regulars as well as younger kids who’ve rediscovered this “indie” burger joint. But Si Sun serves up more than just a dose of nostalgia; the restaurant has remained so successful mostly owing to its food quality. The burger patties are handmade and are grilled fresh to order. And for an extra bit of local Hong Kong flavor, the patties are served sandwiched between two sesame-sprinkled Garden brand buns. The signature double cheeseburger ($14; $16 for additional fried egg) is comfort food at its best. It’s messy, juicy, and delectably meaty. And unwilling to fall behind on the times, the team at Si Sun is always looking to improve, adding new items to the menu, such as the recently unveiled pork burger ($10). “The most important thing is the effort we’ve put into this restaurant,” Chong says, adding, “that’s kept us in the hearts of Hong Kong people for all this time.”
1A Whampoa St., 2362-1279.

It’s Friggin’ Chicken

A new contender in the world of Taiwanese street snack stalls, Luen Lup Lup (which translates into “warm and cozy”) specializes in golden brown, deep-fried delicacies, served piping hot in a portable paper bucket. The Taiwanese-style fried chicken (available in spicy and non-spicy flavors) has a layer of crunchy, ungreasy skin, which wraps around a bite size piece of soft and supple, juicy chicken meat. We also love the deep-fried king mushrooms for their satisfying meaty texture. Customers should feel free to put their own twist on these fried goodies by mixing and matching them with the stall’s 18 different condiments and sauces, including garlic powder, chili, honey mustard sauce, ketchup, and such. Aside from the deep fried items, Luen Lup Lup also offers buckets of bite size chocolate brownies. Yes—super random. Choose any single item for $12, or go for the two-item combo for $15.
Shop 7C6B, Whampoa Estate, 99K-99W Dock St., 2334-5388.

K-wind

Hon Dim is the first eatery in Hong Kong to specialize in Korean street snacks and takeaway cuisine. Mrs. Heo—who owns and manages the shop alongside her husband—moved to Hong Kong as a student back in 1992 and has since picked up the Cantonese language and a love for the city. Hon Dim is a realization of the Heos’ love for food and cooking—Mr. Heo actually left his former job in the travel industry to open up the shop. For a space that can barely fit half a dozen people, Hon Dim offers a pretty wide range of menu items, which are displayed as large, glossy photos on the wall. The two most popular Korean snacks are the chewy, sweet and spicy stir-fried Korean rice cakes ($25) and the thinly sliced fish cakes ($10), which are served on a skewer in a rich fish broth. Hon Dim also offers more satiating items, such as thick and glossy japchae (stir-fried glassy noodles), bibimbap (stone pot rice), K-style jajangmyeon noodles, as well as mini kimchi and seafood pancakes. And for the summer, they’re looking to add Korean red bean snow ice onto the menu, so watch out for that.
Shop 2, 59-67 Bulkeley St., Hung Hom, 3480-4441.