EATING DELICIOUS STREET FOOD AT TAI ON BUILDING IN SAI WAN HO

 The Tai On Building, located at 57-87 Shau Kei Wan Road in Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong, was constructed in 1968 by Hong kong Land Holdings Limited. It was designed as an H-block, a common structure for residential properties in the 1960s1. The building has 28 floors and a total of 1,884 flats. Before land reclamation in 1978, it was situated along the coastal area. The construction of the Tai On Building was a significant event in the early 1960s, as there were no walled residential buildings in the Sai Wan Ho area at that time. Hongkong Land Holdings Limited received over ten thousand applications for the flats. The building also features a shopping center, parking lot, petrol station, and an open garden/terrace area on the first floor. The ground floor arcade is well-known for its numerous snack shops, earning it the nickname "the night market of Hong Kong Island". The Tai On Building in Sai Wan Ho is a hidden gem for street food enthusiasts, with the ground floor arcade is bustling with food stalls offering a variety of local and Asian delights.

History of Tai On Building

In the early 1960s, there were no walled residential buildings in the Sai Wan Ho area. Thus, the construction of Tai On Building was a sensation at that time, and Hong Kong Land Buildings Limited received more than ten thousand applications. Tai On Building features two types of flats: 375 square feet and 465 square feet, including a common area. In its early years, the most expensive flat was priced between $17,300 and $27,000, requiring only a 10% down payment, with the total installment period lasting a maximum of 14 years. This made it financially accessible for the average working class. Besides serving as residences, the building hosts a shopping center, parking lot, petrol station, and an open garden/terrace on the waterfront side of the first floor. In the past, there was a cinema known as Tai On Cinema, located where the current McDonald's is situated. The ground floor boasts a 20,000-square-foot shopping center with around a hundred shops, including food stalls, grocery outlets, a Chinese restaurant, a stationery store, a laundry, a hardware shop, a clinic, a bookstore, a game center, and more. Thanks to this diverse range of shops, many locals, not just residents of the building, frequent Tai On Building for their shopping needs.

Tai On Building is famous for the food stalls. Visitors can find many local snacks from those shops. Besides, as most of the food stalls open at night, Tai On Building has been nicknamed "the night market of Hong Kong Island". Ten years ago, some of the food stalls did not have the Food Factory License issued by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. However, in recent years, most of the food stalls have been licensed, and therefore the hygiene status has been improved. Nowadays, many Hong Kong-style snacks are going to disappear as the young generations are not interested in preserving the local refreshments. However, as Tai On Building is providing more and more local cuisines, the popularity of Tai On Building continues to grow. Besides, the most special thing is, currently, not only local citizens but also tourists from all over the world are interested in visiting Tai On Building. As a result, in the future, it may become one of the hottest eating spots in Hong Kong.

Features of Tai On Building

There are 1,884 flats in the Tai On Building. However, for security reasons, there are no standard mailboxes for flat-owners in the lobby. In the past few years, the Owners’ Association of Tai On Building looked to construct letterboxes on every floor. However, the cost was deemed too expensive, and the Owners’ Association gave up on the idea. As a result, postal delivery personnel have to walk along the H-block for delivery every time. Unlike other typical housing estates, visitors to Tai On Building can go straight up the stairs without any registration. However, there are more than 200 CCTV in different areas, especially at the corners. In addition, there are plainclothes guards working for 24 hours. As a result, crime has been reduced in recent years.

On the first floor of the Tai On Building, there is a non-functional fountain. In the past, the first-floor terrace had a great broad view of the harbour and because of that reason, it used to be an excellent place for residents and guests to relax and chill out. At one point, the fountain was a place for residence to launch their battery-operated toy vessels/boats in the late 1960s and early 1970s, it drew quite a large crowd. When the building first opened to the public, there was a huge party with local bands and popular singers on top of the fountain one weekend and since then, it has been nicknamed "The most colourful lighting fountain" by the public. The advertising agencies also took it as a selling point for Tai On Building and it has presented the former's glory. However, due to the security reasons, the fountain was abandoned years ago. Nowadays, people can only see the periphery of the fountain and few chairs on the first-floor garden.

Popular Snacks Found in Tai On Building

Numerous Hong Kong "street snacks" can be found in Tai On Building, for instance, egg waffles, bovine offals, cart noodles, fish balls, torn pancakes, and others. At midnight, you have to wait for a long time to order food as there is a sea of people.

Egg Waffles

Gai daan tsai (egg waffles) is the most famous food in Tai On Building and it costs about $13 Hong Kong dollars. So Sze Wong, a famous food critic, put it, "This egg waffle is wonderful as it is crispy and tender". Besides, the gai daan tsai in Tai On Building has been awarded as "one of the best egg waffles in Hong Kong" by CNN.

Offal (beef)

Bovine offal is also well known in Tai On Building. It is a cheaper "street snack" in Hong Kong which only costs about $20 to $30 Hong Kong dollars depending on the size. It is a must to eat with sweet sauce and mustard.

Cart noodle

The cart noodles store is located near one of the entrances. There are more than 40 toppings for you to choose from, including chicken wing, vegetable, beef brisket, wonton, spring roll, and more. There are also two soup bases, ranging from original to curry. Each bowl of noodles includes three different toppings, and each additional topping costs HK$3.

Tong sui (dessert)

In Tai On Building, tong sui must be mentioned as many people are attracted by its reputation. The 80 feet dessert cafe serves numerous traditional tong sui, like red bean paste, green bean paste, dumplings, black sesame soup, walnut soup, and others.

Bubble tea

The oldest known bubble tea consisted of a mixture of hot Taiwanese black tea, small tapioca pearls, condensed milk, and syrup. Nowadays, many variations were created, the most common of which is served cold rather than hot. In Tai On Building, there are five or six shops providing bubble tea and other types of drinks such as foam red tea.

Must Try Eateries

Missyou Taiwanese Roti (艾·蜜思手抓餅)

The owner, who learned the authentic Taiwanese technique from relatives in Taiwan, aims to leave a memorable impression on customers, symbolized by the name "AI·MISS" (I MISS in Mandarin). Known for its signature purple sweet potato roti, this stall attracts long queues of customers eager to taste the freshly made, hot roti.

Hainan Chicken Specialist (海南雞專門店)

The dish features flavorful yellow rice cooked with chicken oils and tender, fresh chicken. Complemented by a unique sauce and ginger, this high-quality meal is a steal at such a low price.

This spot offers their signature Hoi Nam Gai Fan (Hainanese Chicken Rice) for just HKD $40. The dish features flavorful yellow rice cooked with chicken oils and tender, fresh chicken.

Lam Kee Cart Noodles (林記車仔麵): 

A go-to spot for budget-friendly eats, Lam Kee Cart Noodles serves the local favorite: cart noodles. A budget-friendly option, Lam Kee Cart Noodles serves the local favorite: cart noodles. You can customize your bowl with various ingredients like pig blood, pig intestine, and gizzard.

Fishball Guy (魚蛋佬)

Despite its name, this stall is celebrated for its satay sauce that accompanies classic Hong Kong street food. The small, unadorned shop draws long lines of customers, lured in by the irresistible aroma.

Chiu Mai Shek Mo Cheung Fan (潮米石磨腸粉)

Known for its wrinkled rice rolls, this stall offers a rustic twist on the traditional GuangZhou version. Renowned for its distinctive appearance, this dish allows customization with an assortment of ingredients like dried shrimp, lettuce, and meat, blended into the rice batter to craft varying flavors. You can customize your roll with ingredients like dried shrimp, lettuce, and meat.

Why Visit Eat Street Food at Tai On Building?

Eating street food at Tai On Building is a special experience for several reasons. The ground floor arcade of Tai On Building offers a diverse range of street food options; there's something to satisfy every craving. The food stalls here are known for their authentic flavors. Many of the recipes have been passed down through generations, ensuring you get a true taste of local cuisine. The lively and bustling atmosphere of the food arcade adds to the charm of dining here. It's a place where locals and visitors mingle, creating a vibrant community vibe. 

Street food at Tai On Building is budget-friendly. You can enjoy delicious, high-quality food without breaking the bank. Eating street food here gives you a glimpse into the local culture and culinary traditions. It's an opportunity to immerse yourself in the daily life of Hong Kong residents. Tai On Building offers a fantastic street food experience that's rich in variety, flavor, and local charm.