YHA Mei Ho House Youth Hostel

Since 1893, this much-loved shop has been making its own tofu that exudes a deep, rich soy aroma. The tofu pudding is a must-try. With murals that depict tofu being made, the room is styled to attract a younger crowd.

The shop has a traditional feel to it. Green wooden window frames on the wall are reminiscent of old-time Hong Kong. Dumplings are handmade daily and only the freshest ingredients are used in the fillings. Try their most-ordered item lamb and Peking scallion dumplings. Or surprise yourself with the specialty, such as mackerel dumplings and cuttlefish dumplings. Shandong roast lamb and meat pie are also recommended.

Lined by multi-tier fish tanks, the entrance showcases live seafood from around the world – Hokkaido scallops, Thai marble goby, even Hanasaki crab if you're lucky. Chicken dishes are another strong suit. To avoid disappointment, it's best to pre-order signatures such as double-boiled chicken soup with conpoy and Yunnan ham, braised chicken stuffed with abalone and sea cucumber, stock-poached leafy greens with chicken liver or chargrilled suckling pig.

One of the early branches of the chain, it offers over 20 dim sum on the menu, all skilfully made and attractively priced. Some items rotate every two to three months to keep them fresh. Don’t miss their shrimp dumplings, baked buns with barbecue pork filling or steamed beef balls with tangerine peel. The spruce interior takes up two floors and the unflappable team operates seamlessly and swiftly, keeping waiting times down to a minimum.

It’s inside a local market but easy to spot, thanks to the big yellow sign. Watch the kitchen at work through the glass wall as noodles are made the traditional way – with the chef seesawing on a bamboo pole to painstakingly knead the egg-rich dough for that stringy texture. Secret techniques are deployed to remove the soapy taste of lye and accentuate the eggy flavour. Don’t miss the signature noodles tossed in shrimp roe and oyster sauce.

With black sesame seeds ground non-stop by the two stone mills at the door, you can tell what this shop is famous for – sweet black sesame soup, ice cream, pudding… and black sesame rolls prized for their intense flavour and chewy texture.

This hole-in-the-wall is always jam-packed and that's down to chef-owner Ng's cooking, not the decor or service. Cantonese stir-fries prevail, alongside a few spicy options. The must-try salt-baked Wenchang chicken is succulent, flavoursome… and tends to run out early. Live seafood is also big on the menu, eg pan-fried prawn in soy sauce or steamed eel in black bean sauce. Reservations are recommended and it's worth pre-ordering the chicken to avoid missing out.