Street markets are a big hit among tourists in every part of the world. That is where you really get to see how the locals go about their everyday lives, sample delicious street food and buy interesting souvenirs back home.

In Hong Kong, street markets are an essential part of life for those who live there. Both working adults and students alike enjoy some casual retail therapy with their friends and family after a long day at work or school.

Our guide to 9 Street Markets In Hong Kong will help you figure out which are the best markets you should be including in your itinerary. You are very welcome!

Photo Credit: Apliu Street Market

#1 APLIU STREET

Computer geeks will find it hard to leave Aplu Street Market as the place is home to all sorts of electronics, computer equipment and gadgets. There are both new and preloved electronic and telecommunications products on sale so you can purchase items on a budget that is comfortable for you.

This is also where you can hunt for antique items such as vintage watches, coins and more.

Apliu Street, Sham Shui Po
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Daily: 10am – 8pm (later on weekends & PH)
Nearest MTR: Sham Shui Po

Photo Credit: Cat Street Market

#2 CAT STREET MARKET

Cat Street Market did not have a very good reputation back in the early days as the market was known to sell stolen goods. However, it is a lively antiques market today where collectors can source for jade, silk, wooden handicraft items and other hidden treasures dating all the way back to the Ming dynasty.

Hollywood Road and Upper Lascar Road
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Daily: Mid morning to 6pm
Nearest MTR: Central

Photo Credit: Esther Poon

#3 FA YUEN STREET MARKET

Also known as ‘Fa Yuen Gai’, sneakerheads will go nuts at all the sneaker and sports street stalls they can find there that carry big brands such as Nike, Adidas, Converse and many more.

Whether you are looking for a pair of sports shoe to wear at the next fitness training or just as a fashion statement, you can find them all at Fa Yuen Street Market which extends from Dundas Street to Prince Edward Road. Those who are not keen on sneakers can browse through clothing, mobile phone accessories and seasonal products.

Fa Yuen Street, Mong Kok
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Sneaker Shops: 11am – 10:00pm
Street Market:10.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest MTR: Mong Kok/ Prince Edward

Photo Credit: Michael Blackford

#4 FLOWER MARKET

Chinese New Year is the busiest period at Flower Market as that is when locals will need to decorate their house with auspicious blooms that will invite good luck. Conveniently located in the heart of Mong Kok, flower market boasts cut flowers, potted plants, seeds, gardening tools and accessories.

Even if you do not have green fingers, why not take this chance to surprise your significant other or loved one with a bouquet of flowers?

Flower Market Road, Prince Edward
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Daily: 9.30am – 7.30pm
Nearest MTR: Prince Edward Station/ Mong Kok East

Photo Credit: I Love Hong Kong

#5 KOWLOON CITY WET MARKET

As the biggest wet market in the city, Kowloon City Wet Market is frequently visited by many chefs who want to pick the best cuts of poultry, fresh seafood and fruits imported from mostly the New Territories and Mainland China.

Apart from its plethora of market goods, this place is also where you can find affordable Chinese food at the many no-frills food stalls. Do not expect to linger there for long as locals generally pop by for a quick meal before going about their business.

100 Nga Tsin Wai Road
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Market: 6am – 8pm
Food Stalls: 6am – 2am
Nearest MTR: Lok Fu

#6 LADIES MARKET

Ladies Market needs no further introduction; every traveler to Hong Kong will know of this iconic street with more than 100 stalls featuring clothing, accessories and souvenirs. It is a place where you can bargain for discounts so you get more bang for your buck.

As this is a popular tourist spot, Ladies Market can come across as rather gimmicky. Do be mindful of counterfeit products that are sold there as you are most likely not allowed to ask for refunds after making a purchase.

Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Daily: 12pm – 12 Midnight
Nearest MTR: Mong Kok

#7 SAI KUNG MARKET

If you are into farmers markets, one of the best you can visit in Hong Kong is Sai Kung Market. Held on the first Sunday of every month from 11am to 5pm, Sai Kung Market is where you can go all out on organic produce, artisanal products and support local businesses.

Parents will also be interested to know that this market is held in a kid-friendly indoor venue. Keep up with their happenings on Facebook!

33 Wai Man Road
Hong Kong Academy
Sai Kung, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2799 9983

Photo Credit: Stanley Market

#8 STANLEY MARKET

Those who are in Hong Kong with a group of friends can consider going to Stanley Market which has a huge variety of products in the likes of clothing, accessories, jewellery, ornaments, homewares and so on. Those who are interested in Chinese-style works of art will find plenty there as well.

It is worth mentioning that Stanley Market is located near to the beach so families can spend a day having fun there and dining at the many seaside bars and restaurants when they are feeling peckish.

Stanley New Street and Stanley Market Road
Stanley, Hong Kong
Daily: 10am – 7pm
Nearest MTR: Causeway Bay

#9 TEMPLE STREET NIGHT MARKET

As its name would suggest, Temple Street Night Market comes to life after sunset where traders will start setting up their stalls. This is probably one of the most vibrant street markets in Hong Kong and there are so many activities to take part in there.

If you are tired of shopping, go around and sample on street snacks, visit a fortune teller or watch exciting opera performances.

Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Daily: 6pm – 12 Midnight
Nearest MTR: Yau Ma Tei/ Jordan

If you need more recommendations on what to see, do and eat in Hong Kong,
read our Hong Kong travel guide.

A city brimming with street food, restaurants that boast long histories and more, Hong Kong’s food scene is colossal in terms of its expansive selection and years of heritage and culture (both local and foreign) injected into each dish be it the humble char siew bao or the European-influenced macaroni and scrambled eggs combo.

When in Hong Kong, eat as the locals do. Not only will you save much more on dining, but you’ll also come to realise that Hong Kong is known for way more than just dim sum and wonton noodles. Here are 16 local foods in Hong Kong to try to say that you’ve truly been there.

BEEF BRISKET

Otherwise known as “ngao lam min” in Cantonese, this dish of stewed beef brisket is delicious, tender and brimming with a number of spices. The flavour is robust and the meat is soft as butter. People typically have it with noodles alongside slow-cooked beef tendons and sometimes even tripe as well.

BO LO BUN (PINEAPPLE BUN)

This sweet, pillowy baked bun contains no pineapple or fruit of any kind, but it does have a sweet sugary crust on top shaped like the exterior of a pineapple (hence the name). At most places, you’ll find it served with a piece of butter stuffed into the middle of it. Enjoy it with milk tea for maximum satisfaction.

CLAYPOT RICE

Boasting a smoky, charred aroma and strong, meaty flavours derived from assorted waxed meats and chicken, this rice dish is a must whenever you’re in Hong Kong. Cooked in a claypot over a roaring fire, the rice on the edges of the pot get crispy and the claypot itself allows all the flavour to be locked in.

CURRY FISHBALLS

You can literally find these snacks at any street-side food stall. Swimming in a thin, spicy curry sauce, the fish balls soak in all that flavour, resulting in bouncy, flavourful balls packed with heat and lots of complex flavours. This treat is great as a snack although the portions they give are usually massive, almost as good as a meal on its own.

DIM SUM

This style of Chinese cuisine sees numerous dishes prepared as small bite-sized portions either in small steamer baskets or on a small plate, especially if it’s fried. Dim sum is usually served with tea and together form a full tea brunch. You can find dim sum literally anywhere in Hong Kong from cosy hole-in-a-walls to high-class restaurants.

Read our guide to the best dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong.

EGG WAFFLES (GAI DAN ZAI)

This traditional street side snack is sweet, crispy on the outside and soft and mushy on the inside. The classic versions call for it to be eaten plain, but there has, however, been an influx of hipsters who doll them up with all sorts of toppings from caramel to fruit.

MACARONI SOUP WITH HAM & SCRAMBLED EGGS

Every component is by no means Cantonese in origin but the combination certainly is. The place that made this breakfast set famous is none other than Australian Dairy Company, but if you’re not a fan of queuing, you can just as easily find this at any cha chaan tang. Savoury, creamy and everything you could ever want to wake up to. Period.

MILK TEA

Milk tea is what it is but somehow it tastes different in Hong Kong. Possibly due to the quality of the tea leaves and milk that they use, their version is often creamier and a lot more fragrant.

RICKSHAW NOODLES

Think of it as our local ke kou mian. This dish is essentially instant noodles served with a variety of other ingredients such as fish balls, beef sirloin, and carrots, with a variety of soup and sauces. The flavours available are massive and the price range can also be pretty wide given its sheer range of ingredient choices.

ROAST GOOSE

Ambrosial, meaty and dripping with liquified fat, roast goose is something of pure luxury. Part of the reason why it is much more delicious in Hong Kong is due to the quality of the goose used—which has a higher fat content and a slightly less gamey flavour—and the fact that Cantonese chefs are just better at preparing this dish. Period.

WANTON NOODLES

A simple dish comprising springy egg noodles, wantons, strands of diced scallions and char siew, this comfort food classic is something that can be had literally at any time of the day.

WHITE SUGAR SPONGE CAKE

Compared to egg tarts, bo lo buns and the multitude of Cantonese sweet treats, these white sugar sponge cakes, otherwise known as “pat dong gou” is hugely underrated. Considered a poor man’s snack, these cakes are chewy, sweet and perfect to have alongside a cup of milk tea.

TOMATO NOODLES

A simple concoction of egg noodles in a concentrated tomato broth made using canned tomatoes, freshly cooked tomatoes and tomato purée, this honest noodle dish has comfort written all over it. Tangy, savoury and oozing with umami, a good place to try this at (if you haven’t before) is at the famous Sing Heung Yuen.

TRADITIONAL HONG KONG BREAKFAST (YOU TIAO, CONGEE, FRIED NOODLES)

Back in Singapore, we have the tasty trinity of kaya toast, kopi and half-boiled eggs, whereas, in Hong Kong, the average person’s breakfast consists of a simple congee, fried noodles and a stick of dough fritter. You’ll find many breakfast spots selling these 3 items and while plain, is worth trying for the experience.

TONG SUI (SWEET SOUP)

Unlike Westerners, the Chinese people enjoy having their dessert hot instead of cold. To immerse yourself fully into the culture of the Cantonese people, pull up a stool at any local dessert joint and order a hot sweet soup. Common items include nut pastes such as almond or sesame.

YING YANG

Literally meaning ying and yang, this popular beverage option sees half milk tea and half milk coffee poured together in a single cup. Genius.