The classic Bo Lo Bao—also known as pineapple bun—is a popular old-school Hong Kong street snack that can be found across bakeries and cha chaan tengs in the Pearl of the Orient. Interestingly, these traditional pineapple buns have no traces of the fruit at all. The name was aptly bestowed to the palm-size snack due to its uncanny resemblance to the checkered fruit.

These sweet buns are crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and typically served warm with a slab of butter in between.

In recent years, unique renditions of the classic Bo Lo Bao have emerged in Hong Kong. We are seeing flavours such as peanut butter and strawberry rose jam being injected into these buns, and even a hybrid between a croissant and Bo Lo Bao!

Don’t get us wrong; we still love the traditional pineapple buns—especially the ones from Kam Wah’s. But we are game for trying new things. Here are some unique Bo Lo Bao creations you must try in Hong Kong.

BALL LAW COWSSANT

URBAN Bakery Works’ Ball Law Cossant is a brilliant east-meets-west invention. It is essentially a hybrid of croissant and pineapple bun stuffed with a slab of French butter. The golden brown croissant’s texture is crisp and flaky with delightful buttery folds.

URBAN Bakery Works
Room 322, 3/F The Landmark
15 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3565 4320
Mon to Fri: 7.30am – 8pm Sat, Sun & PH: 8.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Central

HAMBURGER PINEAPPLE BUN

Kasa’s contemporary take on the classic Bo Lo Bao has revamped it into a Hamburger Pineapple Bun. The fusion burger comprises a sunny-side-up egg and Japanese char siu with ginger mayonnaise stuffed between two pineapple buns.

Suite 103, 1/F Shui On Centre
6-8 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2659-9189
Mon to Fri: 8am – 9.30pm
Sat: 12pm – 9.30pm
Closed on Sundays
Nearest Station: Wan Chai

Source: Hoover Cake Shop

PEANUT BUTTER BO LO BAO

Hoover Cake Shop is an unassuming Chinese-style bakery situated in Kowloon City. The bakery sells an assortment of interesting flavoured bo lo baos and is especially popular amongst locals. The selection of flavours include Peanut Butter Bo Lo Bao with real peanuts.

Hoover Cake Shop
136 Nga Tsin Wai Road
Kowloon City, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2382 0383
Daily: 6.30am – 11.30pm
Nearest Station: Lok Fu

Hong Kong’s famous cha chaan teng Honolulu Cafe is opening in Singapore! Famous for its egg tarts with flaky pastry, it will open a 1,500 sq ft restaurant with 50 seats at The CentrePoint in Orchard Road at the end of April 2016. We will go out on a limb to say that Honolulu Cafe has the best egg tarts in Hong Kong.

Over the past years, we have seen several openings of successful Hong Kong food brands in Singapore.

Honolulu Cafe is a franchise brought in by a new company set up by Mr Lee Yuen Yong – the managing director of F&B company Asia Gourmet. For those who are unfamiliar with the name, it is the same company that brought in wonton noodle specialist Mak’s Noodle from Hong Kong. Unsurprisingly, it is opening Honululu Cafe at CentrePoint where Mak’s Noodle first debuted.

Here’s some background knowledge about Honolulu Cafe – it was founded in the 1940s by the late Mr Yeung Jin Hei. The cafe started out by selling Hong Kong-style coffee, tea and baked goods.

But over the past 20 years, it has gradually expanded its menu and added more dishes, and today you can find everything from noodle dishes to sandwiches, baked pastries and rice dishes. Honolulu Cafe in Hong Kong is now a full-fledge cha chaan teng, and whenever we are in the city, we find ourselves returning to Honolulu Cafe again and again for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

It currently has three shops in Beijing and one in Shanghai. Honolulu Cafe in Singapore will be its fifth overseas outlet and it will serve freshly baked egg tarts (S$1.70 each), along with the Hong Kong classic dishes such as macaroni noodle dishes and weekly specials.

And of course, when Honolulu Cafe hits our shores, the egg tart is what you must try, for it was what made Honolulu Cafe so famous today. Its signature flaky tarts boast a very buttery and mildly sweet light-coloured pastry shell, filled with a center of smooth, creamy egg custard.

Other than the amazing egg tarts, you should also save room for their Pineapple Buns (Bo Luo Bao).

We are the biggest fans of Honolulu Cafe and everyone knows that by now, so you bet we are most excited about their arrival in Singapore!

With Tai Cheong Bakery and Honolulu Cafe set to enter the Singapore market, would we see a new egg tart craze this year in 2016? We cannot wait to find out.

For more recommendations, read our guide to the top 11 Cha Chaan Teng in Hong Kong.

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.

A pineapple bun, for those of you who have never heard of it, is a popular snack in Hong Kong and Macau. Also known as Bo Lo Bao, it is a pillowy soft bread with a crunchy and sugary top crust which looks like a pineapple, hence the name. There is no pineapple in the bun. Most places serve it with a piece of butter stuffed into the middle of the bun (Bo Lo Yau). Imagine the butter melting within the soft and fluffy bread. A good pineapple bun is to die for, and one of the must-eats in Hong Kong.

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. Below, we will share with you 5 of the best pineapple buns in Hong Kong, including a special creation of a hybrid between croissant and pineapple bun.

Canton Deli

Canton Deli at Harbour City is a popular Chinese restaurant and it serves reasonably good Chinese food, but not many people know that it also offers a very good Bo Lo Yau. I have tried many pineapple buns in Hong Kong, but this is one of the few that still lingers on my mind till today.

Shop 3303 3/F Gateway Arcade, Harbour City
17 Canton Road Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2613 9889
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

Kam Fung Restaurant

Kam Fung Restaurant is a local institution known for its excellent milk tea, egg tarts, baked chicken pies, and Bo Lo Bao. It is not to be missed when you are exploring the Wan Chai area. Go there early and get it fresh out from the oven.

G/F Spring Garden Mansion
41 Spring Garden Lane
Tel: +852 2572 0526
Daily: 6.30am – 7pm
Nearest MTR: Wan Chai

Kam Wah Cafe

Ask any locals where to find the best Bo Lo Bao in Hong Kong and they will reply Kam Wah Cafe at Bute Street in Mong Kok. I wholeheartedly agree. Kam Wah’s rendition, to me, is the perfect pineapple bun. It has a gorgeous golden brown top crust, and the bread is so soft that I can easily eat half a dozen of it in a go. I will fly to Hong Kong just to eat this.

Kam Wah Cafe is always crowded, but trust me, the pineapple buns are worth queueing up for.

47 Bute St
Prince Edward, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2392 6830
Daily: 6.30am – 12 midnight
Nearest MTR: Prince Edward

Tsui Wah Restaurant

Tsui Wah needs no introduction. It is probably the most famous cha chaan teng in Hong Kong, with locals and tourists flocking there for their signature chicken rice, fish ball noodles, and Bo Lo Yau. What I like about Tsui Wah’s pineapple bun with butter is that it is always consistently good no matter which outlet you visit.

15 Wellington Street
Tel: +852 2525 6338
Daily: 24 Hours
Nearest MTR: Central

For more recommendations, read our guide to the Top 10 Hong Kong Cha Chaan Teng