As you may have noticed, the stifling summer heat is upon us in Hong Kong and it does not seem to be going away anytime soon. Among the plethora of various foods in Hong Kong, the season of summer means it is time to be downright serious when it comes to icy-cold snacks and refreshing desserts.
Interesting note for visitors is that Chinese people believe drinking hot water offers several potential health benefits to the body’s circulation and digestion. So, don’t be too surprised that even during hot summers, hot drinks and desserts are still offered. Without further ado, here are a few cool dessert places to add to your summer check list and hey, you can also enjoy these during other times of the year too!
Luk Lam Dessert（綠林甜品）
(See featured image)
Sham Shui Po, a densely-packed maze of cramped flats and one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in Hong Kong, is a must-visit for visitors and also a hub of delicacies. After a long walk around Sham Shui Po, a bowl of mango soup with real mango chunks and rice balls, not too sweet but refreshing, can quench your thirst and give you a boost of energy. Grab a seat at Luk Lam Dessert, order any icy local dessert to enjoy and watch the neighborhood residents bustle about their daily lives. The dessert shop, which has been in operations for decades, also has a branch in Causeway Bay.
Opening hours: Daily, 2:00pm–1:00am (Sham Shui Po); daily, 1:30pm–12:00am (Causeway Bay branch)
Luk Lam Dessert 77-79 Un Chau Street, Sham Shui Po
G/F, 23A Canal Road West, Causeway Bay
Photo Credit: Deliveroo
Tei Mou Koon Dessert (地茂館)
If you are walking through Kowloon City which used to be one of the most striking features of the Hong Kong landscape, you shouldn’t miss this time-honored Chinese dessert shop. Besides feasting on the typical Hong Kong-style desserts like mango pomelo and sweet sago soup, and black sesame soup with glutinous rice balls, there are other desserts such as mango pancakes or durian pancakes which are packed with large chunks of fruit inside. This dessert place opened another branch in Tseung Kwun O making their desserts more reachable especially when you’re craving for something sweet!
Opening hours: Daily, 12:00pm–12:45am (Kowloon City); daily, 12:00pm–11:00pm (Tseung Kwan O)
Tei Mou Koon Dessert (地茂館) G/F, 47 Fuk Lo Tsun Road, Kowloon City
Shop 036, 1/F, Tseung Kwan O Plaza, 1 Tong Tak Street, Tseung Kwan O
Photo Credit: BEE花万里
Honeymoon Dessert (滿記甜品)
Honeymoon Dessert is a Hong Kong-based chain of desserts, founded in 1995 and famous for its handmade desserts made from fresh fruits such as durian and mango. Using fresh and seasonal ingredients finely made traditionally or with a creative twist, Honeymoon Dessert has become one of the go-to dessert places to relax and enjoy a sweet treat. Their popular mango series, uses fresh mango juice, fruits and various toppings for the best in taste and texture. Some great combination dishes are mango, pomelo and sago sweet soup with tofu pudding, mango tofu pudding, Thai black glutinous rice with mango and coconut milk, and many more!
Opening hours: Monday–Friday, 1:00pm–1:00am; Saturday, 1:00pm–2:00am; Sunday, 1:00pm–1:00am
Honeymoon Dessert (滿記甜品) G/F, 10A, B, C Po Tung Rd., Sai Kung
Shop 409, Level 4, Langham Place, 8 Argyle Street, Mong Kok
Shop 4-8, G/F, Western Market, No. 323 Des Voeux Road, Sheung Wan
Photo Credit: 女子的休假計劃- 痞客邦
Mister Softee (富豪雪糕)
Mister Softee, Hong Kong’s historically iconic mobile truck selling ice cream, is still operating and has become a part of every Hong Konger’s memory. Mobile Softee was initially franchised from Mister Softee in the United States during the 1970s. It can be found quite often in popular sightseeing spots such as Mongkok, Tsim Sha Tsui or Causeway Bay. Nothing says summer more than enjoying soft serve vanilla ice cream while exploring the city in the sweltering heat. Today, Mister Softee trucks sell vanilla-flavored soft-serve ice cream, nutty drumsticks, large ice cream cups and jumbo orange sherbets. Simply refreshing!
Opening hours: flexible
Mister Softee (富豪雪糕) Flexible, usually in tourist hot spots
Photo Credit: Tarts and Pies
Yuan Kee Dessert(源記甜品專家)
Founded in 1855, Yuan Kee Dessert is more than a century old and is said to be one of the oldest dessert shops in Hong Kong. Taking into consideration, taste and health, this dessert shop insists on making their menu items traditionally, presenting a variety of healthy desserts. Among the offerings, most visitors are impressed by the sang ji sheng lotus seed and egg sweet soup (桑寄生蓮子茶). The taste is unique, delicate and not greasy because the lotus germs are removed by hand due to its bitter taste. And with boiled tea-flavored eggs, the sweet soup tastes like grass jelly tea. This soup is said to help rheumatism, liver and kidney health, and has beauty benefits. Additionally, almond paste with lotus seed, sesame paste and fragrant sponge cake (清香雞蛋糕) are also featured in the store.
Opening Hour: Monday-Sunday 1:00pm – 11:00pm
Yuan Kee Dessert G/F, 32 Centre Street, Sai Ying Pun, Western District
