The Best Rice Dumplings in Hong Kong
Rice dumplings and dragon boating go together like rugby and meat pies. Chloe Tong dives in to find the best zong in town.
Sure, the dragon boat regattas are fun to watch—but we’re more eager to dig into some zong, or rice dumplings. These delicious dumplings are a dragon boat tradition with a sort of depressing history. When Chinese poet Qu Yuan drowned himself in 278 BC to protest a corrupt regime, people threw rice into the river to distract the fish from his body. Ever since then, the Dragon Boat Festival has been marked with these sticky pyramids of rice. Carry the tradition forward with a few of the best zong around.
Zongs of Praise
It’s only fitting that the Island Shangri-La takes a luxurious twist on authentic rice dumplings. Crafted by Michelin two-starred chef Ip, these dumplings come in three different varieties. Expect rice cones packed with extravagant ingredients such as abalone, bird’s nest and truffle pesto. If you want to try all three kinds, opt for the gift set ($388)—the proceeds go to the Heep Hong Society, which provides care and education for kids with developmental problems.
Pacific Place, Supreme Court Rd., Central, 2877-3838.
Royal Rice
For those after something atypical, try Royal Garden’s fusion flavors. The resto takes a refreshing twist on Chinese rice dumplings, by combining influences from Japanese and Italian cuisine. Try the Italian-style sticky rice dumpling ($188), made with black truffle and Parma ham. And the Japanese-inspired Kagoshima pork and dried Sakura shrimp zong also comes highly recommended.
69 Mody Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui East, 2721-5215.
Trust Fund
There’s something about Trusty Congee King that’s hard to argue with: maybe it’s the four consecutive years of one Michelin star, or the reasonable prices—the salty pork rice dumpling costs $22—or maybe it’s just the persuasive name. In any case, this eatery serves up very special zong: In 2008, founder Mr. Lam apparently bought a secret rice dumpling recipe from a mysterious old woman. He added a five-spice powder blend, resulting in a unique flavor. If you want to take some home, you can treat yourself or a lucky loved one to the Five Blessings gift set ($279), which features a mix of five dumpling flavors.
7 Heard St., Wan Chai, 2882-3268.