Top 10 Hong Kong Street Food Cantonese Phrases for Foreigners

This is the number one street food that you must try when you come to Hong Kong! It is so popular that every foreigner tries it! Usually made with a crispy texture, smells really fragrant, and has all kinds of flavours!

1) What is egg waffle in Cantonese? Click below for pronunciation.

雞蛋仔 'Gai1 Daan6 Zai2' (Little Chicken Egg)

This checkered type of waffle is probably the second most popular among the foods that foreigners try, but it sometimes take quite long to cook so they choose egg waffle instead. However, this is usually tastier as it is served with sweet sauces like peanut butter, cream, and chocolate.

2) What is checkered waffle called in Cantonese? Click below for pronunciation.

格仔餅 'Gaak3 Zai2 Beng2' (Checkered Biscuit)

Fish balls are common everywhere, not just in Hong Kong. But sometimes they are cooked in peculiar styles with uniquely flavoured sauces that make the eating experience so much more enjoyable!

3) What are fish balls called in Cantonese? Click below for pronunciation.

魚蛋 'Yu4 Daan2' (Fish Egg)

Again, pork dumplings may be common in typical Chinese restaurants, but since the street version usually uses a different kind of meat and can be accompanied with soy sauce and spicy oil, it is so not the same as the traditional siu mais!

4) What are steamed pork dumplings called in Cantonese? Click below for pronunciation.

燒賣 'Siu1 Maai2' (Burn Sell)

The tofu pudding is just a downright perfect dessert that you can eat anytime anywhere, but preferably after dinner! It is healthy, silky smooth, can be hot or cold, and is just suitable for any occasions.

5) What is bean curd desert in Cantonese? Click below for pronunciation.

豆腐花 'Dou6 Fu6 Faa1' (Bean Curd Flower)

The clay pod pudding is made from a mould, is soft like jelly but is chewy at the very same time! Since it is made from flour, it is more filling than bean curd.

6) What are clay pot puddings called in Cantonese? Click below for pronunciation.

砵仔糕 'Buut3 Zai2 Gou1' (Little Clay Pot Cake)

The sweetheart cakes are not really cakes, but are biscuits with soft, sweet, chewy winter melon paste inside them. Usually made with a crust of flaky pastry, this is usually eaten as a snack for afternoon tea.'

7) What are sweetheart cakes called in Cantonese? Click below for pronunciation.

老婆餅 'Lou2 Buo4 Beng2' (Wife Cake)

The stinky tofu is just utterly famous due to this pungent, stinky smell that some people may find really stinky, but is in fact a natural smell derived from fermented milk, fish and meat. Hence, it is not as stinky as it tastes even though it smells!

8) What is stinky tofu called in Cantonese? Click below for pronunciation.

臭豆腐 'Cau3 Dou6 Fu6' (Smelly Tofu)

This is a smaller version of what you can order at traditional Chinese restaurants (糯米雞), but sometimes people eat this because they dont want to eat too much in order to save their stomach for dinner!

9) What is sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf called in Cantonese? Click below for pronunciation.

珍珠雞 'Zan1 Zyu1 Gai1' (Pearl Chicken)

These are just plain rice rolls, but are such a popular morning breakfast snack, as it can be served with soy sauce, sweet sauce, spicy sauce, and sesame sauce! You can even sprinkle sesame seeds on top!

10) What is steamed rice roll called in Cantonese? Click below for pronunciation.

豬腸粉 'Zyu1 Cheung4 Fan2' (Pig Intestines Noodle)