Food Heaven in the sticks

Courtesy of circumstance, we found ourselves in a tiny apartment, out in the sticks.  Well, sort of sticks - technically Tai Kok Tsui, it seemed a bit too far from anything.  But it was cheap because the entire area is going through some sort of Urban Renewal, so we grabbed it.

Said Urban Renewal - to you, it looks yuk, to me, I see opportunity

How wrong we were!  I found food heaven and convenience heretofore unfound in cheap HK accommodation.

We arrived at night in Man Ying Street - no safer place in the world with kids

In no particular order, it was fantastic because:

1. It's a block and a half from Austin Station, which is like an 8 stop line that will quickly get you connected - that's a quick trip to Tung Chung for outlet shopping, Disneyland for, well, Disneyland and 2 stops from Hung Hom for a trip to China.
2. It's a little longer to Jordan, but not much - and that gets you down the 'backbone' of HK MTR stations.
3. Food - I think there are more cheap eats per steet than anywhere I've been, and pretty much tourist free (thus making them cheaper and more 'local') - and all different cuisines too.
4. 3 7-Elevens within a block.  Booze is sorted.
5. Near Jordan Road, so you can walk anywhere.
6. About 3 blocks from Temple Street Night Market and Woosung Street (more on Woosung in another post).
7. It's quiet by HK standards and a little safer to get kids over the street safely.

If none of this makes sense to you, then you'll need to read last year's trip a bit.  Or just trust me - it's a great place.

Typical Canto-restaurant, where we paid $15 for more food than we needed

Mini Parked in front of one of 4 Japanese Restaurants in a row

I love old school HK buildings

Urban renewal during the day

In 4 days, there is only so much eating one can do.  Once you remove the obligatory trip to Yoshinoya to satisfy the kids (and Mrs Brisket) and a gorge on egg tarts for one breakkie there isn't much time left to try everything.  I could be here a month and only need to travel a couple of blocks in any direction and never eat the same thing twice.

Restaurants line each side of Man Ying Street

Austin Station is also fantastic.  It's quick to a number of places (I finally made it to Tai O) and not as packed as say a Jordan, Admiralty or TST/MK station.  That is superb when you are yelling at 4 kids to get the hell on the train or risk losing an arm.  There is no stampede to work through.

These side street markets are more interesting than the tourist markets

Temple Street is close by, I'm not always a fan, but it's worth poking down the side streets a few streets away for local food and stuff.  We bought some towels for $20 (HKD) to go swimming with.

I'll do some posts on what we did eat nearby, as well as Tai O (Venice of the East), Woosung Street and Cha Chaan Teng Food.

Suffice to say, Man Ying Street will be revisted and restayed at by us, hopefully in the middle of the year.  Do yourself a favour, get over here.