Get Your Bun On
The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is an annual Taoist-based celebration filled with street processions and traditional Chinese ceremonies that attract an enormous audience to the island each year. One of the highlights of the festival is the bun-snatching competition held at the “bun towers” at Pak Tai Temple, which are made from 60-foot bamboo structures and covered in plastic buns—they used to be edible but were switched to the fake variety a couple years ago for hygiene reasons. This year, the festival falls on May 10.

With its fishing culture and reputation as a popular local getaway, Cheung Chau has developed a dining and street food culture all of its own. Once visitors are done exploring the island by foot or on bicycle, they’ll line up around the block to sample well known treats from tiny shops whose proprietors busily churn out snacks to feed the ravenous crowds. If you fancy a larger meal, the excellent seafood is greasy, tasty, and far cheaper than on the mainland. Just make sure to pick up some tasty desserts for the ferry ride home.

Savory Treats

Island Brewery
For a fun and flavorful snack, one must-try is Island Brewery’s swirly crisps-on-a-stick. The crisps are made-to-order from one full potato, freshly cut, then pierced and fried on a stick. Flavor your chips with seaweed bits, garlic chunks, powdered seasonings and other condiments provided right outside the brewery. We especially love the “Cheung Chau”-style mix and the chicken-flavored powder. You can also get a cup of their specialty bubble tea or their “Bingo Punch” fruit juice to go with your snacks. In addition to the regular treats, Island Brewery is serving up a special “Bingo Bun,” an ice cream and Chinese peanut butter candy concoction, to celebrate the upcoming Cheung Chau bun fest.
16 Tung Wan Rd., 9281-7755.

Kam Wing Tai
This renowned snack shop offers all kinds of local favorites, from chicken wings to fish balls—not to mention their famous bacon sausage wrap, sold exclusively here. Take your picks and the staff will fry them right on the spot. If you’re craving something more filling, go for a slab of their pork chop or chicken breast, which are fried to a golden crisp—sinful but delicious. For a mere $20, you’ll be able to try almost all of their famous snacks. What a steal!
106 San Hing St., 2981-3050.

See Loi Eatery
Just follow the alluring aroma of grilled squid and it will lead you straight to this snack shop tucked away on San Hing Street. The squid is grilled on a charcoal grill, traditional Cantonese style, giving the meat a delightfully crispy texture. Another of See Loi’s Cheung Chau delicacies is the massive fist-sized fish balls (two for $8), which come in two flavors: original or super spicy. Also try a bottle of their sweet and sour plum juice, frozen fruits on a stick or their rice cakes.
G/F, 150 San Hing Back St., 2986-9969.

Sweet Stuff

Cheese House
This dainty cake shop owned by Mr. Chiu boasts a yummy display of cakes along the front. The bakery houses over 10 different types of cheesecakes, from green tea cheesecake to tiramisu. One of the most unique items on the menu is the tofu cheese cup. Made with tofu, cheese and biscuit crumbs, this cake is served in a cup for easy handling. Cheese House also has chestnut, mocha, peach chocolate or Yakult mousse cakes to balance out their cheesy offerings.
G/F, 113 Hing Lung St., 9879-0095.