Hong Kong is renowned for its vibrant street food culture, but finding the vegan version for them could be challenging if you don't know where to look.
In this guide, I'll show you my top five must-try street food picks in Hong Kong and where to find the vegan versions, so you can enjoy the local flavours without compromise.
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Egg Waffle (Gai Daan Jai 雞蛋仔)
Usually not vegan, need to look for vegan version specifically
The iconic egg waffle, a famous Hong Kong street dessert, is traditionally made with egg batter. But you can find a delicious and authentic version in LN Coffee in Sai Ying Pun.
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Fish Ball (Yu Daan 魚蛋)
Usually not vegan, need to look for vegan version specifically
Fish ball is a timeless Hong Kong street food staple, traditionally made from fish paste for that signature chewy texture and savoury taste. Some shops in Hong Kong offer vegan versions, like Chuen So Fai in North Point and Lotus Seed Liza’s Veggies in Wan Chai. It’s also sometimes found in the frozen section in supermarkets.
[.tips][.icon-idea][.icon-idea][.div]Tip: You can also find vegan siu maai at the same shop at Chuen So Fai in North Point.[.div][.tips]
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Steamed Rice Noodles (Cheong Fun 腸粉)
Vegan
One of my favourite street snacks in Hong Kong - freshly prepared rice noodle pieces served with a generous drizzle of soy sauce, sweet red soy-based sauce, and rich peanut sesame sauce, all topped off with sesame seeds and an optional chilli sauce. Don’t be afraid to add extra red and sesame sauces, as they create an amazing flavour combination. Found in many street food stalls and it’s vegan. The one I had was from Tin Tin Vegetarian, a chain vegetarian takeaway shop in Hong Kong.
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Wheat Gluten Pieces (Jaai Lou Mei 齋鹵味)
Vegan
Wheat Gluten is the quintessential street food that people associate with vegetarians and vegans. They are made with wheat gluten pieces braised in different savoury, umami-rich sauce, and it’s vegan. You can find that in more traditional vegetarian restaurants, including their takeaway counters. It’s also found in some supermarkets.
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Egg Tart (Daan Taat 蛋撻)
Usually not vegan, need to look for vegan version specifically
Traditional egg tart features a flaky pastry crust and an egg-based custard filling and won’t be vegan. But if you want to try a vegan version, head to MAYA Bakery, where you can find both vegan egg tarts and an innovative vegan lava egg tarts.
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More Vegan Street Food In Hong Kong
There are a lot more vegan street food in Hong Kong that I didn't have time to cover in this guide. In my ebook, The Vegan Foodie Guide To Hong Kong, you'll find a total of 18 types of classic street food and drinks, and where to find the vegan versions of them, so that you can eat like a local foodie!
