There are so many star items and must-eats in Hong Kong. Apart from dim sum and roast goose, Hong Kong is also home to some of the most amazing desserts we’ve tried.

Oddies Foodies has been an internet sensation in the last year, and we are unashamed to say that we are one of those fans who would queue up for a cup of the ridiculously photogenic egg waffle with ice cream.

But of course, we are not the only ones who are obsessed with this Gai Daan Jai Parfait.

This inconspicuous outlet in Wan Chai is easy to miss. Its unassuming shopfront is really just a tiny kiosk that is predominantly white with a small logo.

Oddies Foodies has successfully combined Hong Kong’s popular street snack gai daan jai with Western desserts. The owner graduated from reputable Le Cordon Bleu in France and proceeded to create an eclectic variation of East-meets-West ice cream desserts.

The idea here at Oddies Foodies is pretty simple. Primarily made up of egg waffles – or what we all know as gai daan jai – and Italian gelato, every cup is a sight to behold.

It is also somewhat like a deconstructed dessert, where various in-house bakes and are chopped up into bite-sized pieces and layered to create the iconic parfaits.

Our pick is most definitely the Night Wolf (HK$50 / S$9.18) – a delightful cup of low-fat gelato, layered with brownie and chocolate chip gai daan jai that is so sinfully decadent, buttery crumble, caramelised banana ice cream and passionfruit panna cotta.

There are seasonal desserts and flavours from time to time, but if you are gonna have only one cup, Night Wolf it shall be. Some classics stay gold forever.

Oddies Foodies
Mon: Closed
Tue to Sun: 1pm – 10pm
Shop 1F, G/F, 149 Wan Chai Road
Nearest Station: Wan Chai

For more recommendations, read our guide to the best ice cream in Hong Kong.

Hvala Waffle Bar, a food kiosk at the basement of 313@Somerset, has just launched a new dessert that all of us in Singapore have been waiting for – the Hong Kong-style Egg Waffle with Soft Serve.

It is every bit photogenic, but is it anywhere near the original Oddies Foodies of Hong Kong?

Haven’t heard of this waffle bar? Business started back in May this year for Hvala, serving thin waffle on a stick. Sure, it is pretty, but ‘gai dan zai’ soft serve is still sexier and we definitely gravitate towards that more.

Hvala Waffle Bar’s rendition comes with vanilla soft serve in a cup, egglet (or what we all know as ‘gai dan zai’), and two toppings of your choice – koko crunch, muesli, fruits and fruity pebbles are a few to name. An Egg Waffle Soft serve with two toppings is S$6.90.

Admittedly, this is a direct copy of the famous Oddies Foodies in Hong Kong. Oddies Foodies’ version is much more sophisticated and well-balanced with a good mix of contrasting ingredients – think panna cotta, brownie and fruits – whereas Hvala Waffle Bar has kept theirs a lot simpler, and free for you to customize and ‘play up’.

We love how Hvala has so many different types of sauces to pick from; maple, chocolate and speculoos are a few to boast. But when it comes to the soft serve, it still has a lot more to catch up with Oddies’.

We have to wait and see if Hvala Waffle Bar can emulate the success of Oddies Foodies to start a new wave of egg waffle soft serve trend here in Singapore.

For now – trend or fad? You decide.

Hvala Waffle Bar
313 Orchard Road
#B3-50 313@Somerset
Singapore 238895
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

Gone are the days where Hong Kongers are limited to their traditional desserts of egg waffles and glutinous rice balls. It is fair to say that the multifaceted global city has progressively embraced the influences of the West and its other Asian neighbours over the past decades. Today, modern civilians of Hong Kong are spoilt for choice when it comes to desserts.

From Little Bao’s ice cream burgers to Oddies Foodie’s Egg Waffle Soft Serve, we are excited to share with you 6 Most Delicious and Instagram-Worthy Ice Creams In Hong Kong. These head-turner lovely ice creams will thrill all enthusiastic foodies and instagram addicts alike.

#1 ATUM DESSERANT – IMPROVISATION (HK$328+)

Get ready to be blown away by Atum Desserant’s Improvisation. The massive edible sweet masterpiece is a far cry from the traditional gelato – and that is what makes it even all the more exciting!

While ice cream is not the sole ingredient in Atum Desserant’s Improvisation (HK $328+ / S$60.25+), liquid nitrogen ice cream is still included in this jaw-dropping dessert. Do bear in mind that the price is meant for two diners and includes juices and coffee/tea.

16/F, The L. Square,
No. 459-461 Lockhart Road
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2956 1411
Tue to Thu: 2.45pm – 12am
Fri to Sun: 1pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Causeway Bay

#2 LITTLE BAO – ICE CREAM BURGER (HK$48)

Available in either green tea or salted caramel flavours, the ice cream is sandwiched between two deep fried buns and drizzled with sweet condensed milk.

Each of these palm-size ice cream burgers are sold at HK$48 / S$7.90 each and are available for dine-in and takeouts. Don’t say we didn’t warn you – the ice cream melts rapidly so do snap your shot quickly!

G/F 66 Staunton Street
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2194 0202
Mon to Fri: 6pm – 11pm
Sat: 12pm – 4pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sun: 12pm – 4pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Central / Sheung Wan

#3 ELEPHANT GROUNDS – ICE CREAM SANDWICH (HK$68)

Tucked away at the back of a retail store called WOAW! is Elephant Grounds, a tiny hipster cafe renowned for their excellent coffees and ice cream sandwiches (the tasty dessert is only served on Fridays to Sundays).

We had the Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies Sandwich (HK$68 / S$12.50) but note that flavours change on a weekly basis. Their new outlet offers ice cream sandwiches during weekdays, so drop by The Factory instead to fix those Monday blues.

11 Gough Street
Tel: +852 2253 1313
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 9pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 7pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

1/F The Factory
1 Yip Fat Street, Wong Chuk Hang
Tel: +852 2562 9000
Mon to Fri: 9am-6pm

#4 MUNCHIES – ICE CREAM DOUGHNUT (HK$70)

Munchies might be a new kid on the block of hipster district Sheung Wan, but is already a hot favourite amongst the local and expatriate community for its insanely delicious organic sammies (HK$70 / S$12.86).

The sammies comprises a combination of handcrafted ice cream sandwiched between two cookies or donut halves. A myriad of ice cream flavours are available and you can choose from dark chocolate, earl grey, espresso, matcha and salted caramel.

4 Shin Hing Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Mon: Closed
Tue to Sat: 12pm – 10pm
Sun: 12pm – 9pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

#5 ODDIES FOODIES – THE NIGHT WOLF (HK$50)

Oddies Foodies has successfully combined Hong Kong’s popular street snack gai daan jai with Western desserts. The owner graduated from reputable Le Cordon Bleu in France and proceeded to create an eclectic variation of East-meets-West ice cream desserts.

The Night Wolf (HK$50 / S$9.18) is a delightful cup of low-fat gelato served with brownie and chocolate chip gai daan jai, buttery crumble, caramelised banana ice cream and passionfruit panna cotta.

Mon: Closed
Tue to Sun: 1pm – 10pm
Shop 1F, G/F, 149 Wan Chai Road
Nearest Station: Wan Chai

#6 SMALL POTATO ICE CREAMERY – PURPLE YAM ICE CREAM WITH YAM PASTE DORAYAKI (HK$48)

Yam fans rejoice! Haven Street has a cutesy little store specialising in purple potato ice cream. The Japanese Purple Yam Ice Cream With Purple Yam Paste Dorayaki (HK $48 / S$8.82) is subtly sweet and perfect for those who have a preference for lighter desserts. You can choose to add toppings (from HK $4 / $0.73) such as popcorn and mochi to your prefixed ice cream.

G/F, 28-30 Haven Street
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2618 9032
Sun to Thu: 2pm – 11pm
Fri to Sat: 2pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Causeway Bay

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves traveling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.

Hong Kong prides themselves as “Asia’s World City”, and this busy commercial city is probably the busiest playground in Asia, with many mouth-watering snacks to check out too; we are just about to share with you the 10 Must-Eat Local Foods in Hong Kong.

Well-loved for countless reasons, and visited by many from all over the world, Hong Kong is a heaven in many forms. Among which, of course, is it gourmet offerings that unites foodies from all over the world. There is no such thing as ‘dieting’ when in Hong Kong. When we think of ‘diet’ when in Hong Kong, we really meant ‘diet for the soul’ – which means stuff your faces in all the amazing local foods.

Please, do yourself the favour and check out these 10 Must-Eat Local Foods in Hong Kong. Your life will be complete, and they will have you counting down to your next trip to Hong Kong.

#1 DIM SUM

Hong Kong is also unofficially but very affectionately known as the ‘Land of Dim Sum’. Essentially delicate-size snacks that are served in baskets, eating dim sum is like a ritual in Hong Kong, and is part of a local’s lifestyle. We never say no to a good dim sum meal, and it is something we look forward to waking up to when in Hong Kong.

There is no lack of dim sum options in Hong Kong, and you can read our post here on the Dim Sum Restaurants in Hong Kong. But if there is only one you must go to, it has to be One Dim Sum. It is a nondescript and humble outlet at Prince Edward, and on to the menu, an assortment of dim sum awaits you – nothing is above HK$26.

#2 EGG TART

Egg tarts in Hong Kong are of a different league – the top, if we must. The best egg tarts are found in Hong Kong, and what you an expect from a good Hong Kong-style egg tart is a baked buttery pastry shell that flakes as you eat, with rich creamy egg custard that is wobbly and mildly sweet.

We have this love-hate relationship with egg tarts; very much more of ‘love’, definitely. Why ‘hate’, you may wonder. Because for some unbeknownst reason, egg tarts are extremely high in calories. Well, we try to forget about this fact whenever we are in Hong Kong, because egg tarts are too damn good to pass on.

And where do you find the best egg tarts in Hong Kong? Head straight to Honolulu Cafe. For just HK$8 per piece, this is satisfaction at its very peak; happiness can be so affordable.

#3 EGG WAFFLES

Egg waffles are also known as ‘Gai Daan Jai’ or ‘Gai Daan Tsui’ in Cantonese, which literally means little eggs when translated. The snack is actually made up of numerous egg-shape waffle pieces that are conjoined together to form a honeycomb structure.

Gai Daan Jai is an extremely popular street snack amongst the locals and they can be found on almost every street and corner in Hong Kong. The egg waffle is crispy on the outside, warm and chewy on the inside and it is interesting to note that the they are actually hollow! For the best, get your serving at Lee Keung Kee North Point Egg Waffles.

#4 MILK TEA

Though ubiquitous, Milk Tea is a must-try when in Hong Kong. Unequivocally an iconic drink of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong-style Milk Tea is prized for its smoothness and full-bodied creamy taste.

The traditional ones are prepared with black tea and milk, and usually carries a hint of bitterness within it sweetness body. Hong Kong-style Milk Tea can be easily found in cha chaan teng, and are available in both hot and iced versions.

Though the disparity between a good and better Milk Tea is not huge, and the chances of getting a bad cup is pretty low, we highly recommend Lan Fong Yuen’s version.

#5 ROAST GOOSE

Whoever said money cannot buy happiness obviously hasn’t been to Hong Kong for their famous Roast Goose! That plumpness, that severe juiciness, those fatty layers, and very crisp skin; a divine Roast Goose is worth jogging those additional laps for.

Hong Kong is home to many splendid roasts restaurants, and the highest form of indulgence is a roast goose leg (that usually comes with a premium price) served with sweet plum sauce. Honestly, the fattier, juicier and oilier, the better. And we crown Kam’s Roast Goose the Number One in Hong Kong.

#6 PINEAPPLE BUN

Or more commonly known as Bo Luo Bao. And there is no pineapple. It is a sweet and fluffy bun, with a crusty top that resembles a pineapple (hence its name) – akin to the crunchy texture of sugar cookies. A popular choice for breakfast, eat this with a slab of butter and your life will never be the same again.

There are probably dozens, if not hundreds, of good bakeries, cha chaan teng and dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong that do a good Bo Lo Bao. And our loyalty is sold to Kam Fung Restaurant in Wan Chai – be there early and hit the fresh batch from the oven in the mornings.

Read our guide to the best pineapple buns in Hong Kong.

#7 CURRY FISHBALLS

The irony is in Hong Kong, their fishballs are almost completely free of fish. Never mind that, because we still love our Curry Fishballs all the same. It is a classic street snack with decades of history, but let’s just skip the long stories and head straight to the point – Hong Kong’s Curry Fishballs are so spring and yummy!

More often than not, they are prepared with a thick curry sauce that is sweet and mildly spicy. A cup of Curry Fishballs is tasty and ideal for sharing. You can find them at every corner and every turn, and let’s just say that whatever stall we buy them from, they are always satisfying and enjoyable.

#8 MACARONI SOUP WITH HAM & EGG

This is a very quintessential Hong Kong-style breakfast that is usually eaten in local cha chaan teng. And the macaronis in Hong Kong is one that is unique to the city, for we can never find anything close anywhere else. Do not think of their macaronis as you would of a typical Italian pasta; the ones in Hong Kong are slimmer and has a smooth surface, quite often cooked to a softness that is almost melty to taste.

A typical Macaroni Soup is served with ham and egg, though it is not uncommon to find variations with luncheon meat, pork chop or sausages. They make inexpensive breakfast choices, and are usually sold as a set with a side of buttered bun and milk tea. While there is nothing overly fancy about this dish, Macaroni Soup with Ham & Egg is still a must-try if it is your first time to Hong Kong. We have a few favourites, but Tsui Wah’s rendition never fails us.

#9 WANTON NOODLES

There are many variations of wanton noodles in Asia, and while they are all arguably ‘the best’ in their own rights, Hong Kong’s version deserves our love for it is ever comforting. The main ingredients are egg noodles that are cooked al dente and boast a springy texture, blanched Chinese vegetables (usually kai lan or cabbage) and dumplings (wanton) – fat dumplings that are really plump prawns wrapped in smooth skin.

Served either dry or in soup, the former is our preferred version. Tossed in a special sauce and topped off with prawn roe, and presented with a bowl of wanton soup. The soup version is simpler – just unpretentiously a noodle soup dish that warms thy soul.

Wanton Noodles are everywhere in Hong Kong, and Mak’s Noodle is a unanimous favourite all these years.

#10 TONG SUI

Quite simply ‘sweet soup’ in English, Tong Sui refers to a group of Cantonese desserts such as red bean soup, gingko barley soup, gui ling gao, walnut paste and jellied beancurd. Tong Sui stalls are aplenty in Hong Kong, and many of them devote themselves to preparing fresh traditional desserts daily in-house.

It is hard to choose pick just one favourite Tong Sui, so we will leave this open for your exploration. But we are pretty certain that even if you do not have a sweet tooth, you will find it hard to resist a bowl of Tong Sui when in Hong Kong.

Drop by Chiu Chow Hop Shing, a 50-year-old institution in Kowloon City that dishes out some of the best traditional sweet soups from Chiu Chow province.

For more recommendations, read our food and travel guides to Hong Kong.

If you are in Hong Kong and there’s only room left for just one more dish, you would definitely have to spend your remaining dollars and calories on Hong Kong’s most famous local street snack – Egg Waffles.

Egg waffles are also known as ‘Gai Daan Jai or Gai Daan Tsui’ in Cantonese, which literally means little eggs when translated. The snack is actually made up of numerous egg-shape waffle pieces that are conjoined together to form a honeycomb structure.

Gai Daan Jai is an extremely popular street snack amongst the locals and they can be found on almost every street and corner in Hong Kong. You certainly cannot leave Hong Kong without trying it!

Made with a simple recipe of typical baking essentials (baking powder, eggs, flour and sugar), it seems almost effortless to replicate these Hong Kong waffles – but the cooking process is actually far, far from easy.

Specific measurements for these snacks vary across each vendor, which explains the diverse taste and texture you will come across when sampling numerous egg waffles. Skillful techniques of handling the waffle mould are essential in guaranteeing successful preparation, and these skills can only be acquired overtime from experience.

Gai Daan Jai can be easily fragmented, where you can pluck out the eggettes piece by piece for bite-size consumption. While the waffle looks unintimidating and feels light, you will be surprised by how easily it fills you up with its high carbohydrate content.

The egg waffle is crispy on the outside, warm and chewy on the inside and it is interesting to note that the they are actually hollow! Charcoal flames were used to cook the waffles in the past but present day hawkers have resorted to electric stovetops for safety concerns and cost-effectiveness.

Hong Kong style Egg waffles are available in many flavours – plain (original), chocolate, strawberry etc. But the original flavour remains the most popular option. Gai Daan Jai was first created in the 1950s as a way to get rid of unwanted cracked eggs but soon became a favourite street food amongst the locals.

In fact, Hong Kong egg waffles has withstood the test of time; the classic treat remains completely unfazed in the face of challenging competition from food fads and increasing surge of celebrity restaurants opening.

It is truly heart-warming to see how much local Hong Kongers love their favourite childhood street snack.