True to its name, Mong Kok (which means “busy corner” or “prosperous corner” in Cantonese) is one of the most vibrant and bustling districts in Hong Kong.
With shops operating around the clock, it is a place of endless energy and vitality. A long time ago, this area, located in the southern part of the Kowloon Peninsula, was once named after the dense vegetation that took over the lands as it was undeveloped and overgrown with silvergrass. Later, the arrival of the railway stimulated the development of various industries, with laundry businesses, textile dyeing factories, soy sauce factories, and tobacco factories emerging and thriving in the area.
In the 1930s, Mong Kok was renamed from “Silvergrass Corner” to “Prosperous Corner” in Chinese, while its English name remained unchanged. As commercial activities in the district became increasingly frequent, and due to its central location between Hong Kong Island and the New Territories, Mong Kok became a major transportation hub and was transformed into a bustling shopping and residential area.
Today, Mong Kok not only serves as a meeting place for the hip and young, it is also the most densely populated area in the world as named by the Guinness World Records. The area is packed with restaurants and cafes offering endless choices. Are you ready to rub shoulders with locals as you explore this lively community where high-end apartments coexist with old tenement buildings, and where luxury hotels stand alongside local cha chaan teng?
Where to Stay
If you wish to stay in the heart of Mong Kok, the MICHELIN-recommended Cordis Hong Kong is an excellent choice. This stylishly designed hotel has 665 guest rooms and suites across 20 different room types, all featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that offer mesmerising Hong Kong city views. The hotel boasts a collection of over 1,500 contemporary Chinese art pieces. It is also home to the one-MICHELIN-Starred Ming Court(Mong Kok), where guests can enjoy exquisite dim sum and Cantonese cuisine without venturing outside of the hotel.
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For travellers who enjoy a touch of nature, try the MICHELIN-recommended Hotel Madera Hong Kong, just a 20-minute walk — or 15-minute drive — from Mong Kok city centre. This wood-themed boutique hotel has integrated nature-inspired aesthetics into its spaces, from the carved wooden reception desk and mini vertical garden, to the natural and earthy tones of the guest rooms and suites. Be sure to head to the rooftop and take in the beautiful views of the hotel’s surroundings.
Also a 20-minute walk or 15-minute drive from Mong Kok’s city centre, Hotel Stage in Yau Ma Tei is a great option for travellers who adore modern design. This MICHELIN-recommended hotel with modern minimalist décor features a soft and muted colour palette for its interiors, as well as large windows that allow natural light to flood into the room for a sense of calm and balance. The hotel houses an art boutique shop that offers books on culture, art, and design. Other features that set this hotel apart include its basement wine cellar and an art gallery that showcases the works of local and international artists.
The Mira Hong Kong is another MICHELIN-recommended hotel near Mong Kok. Located in Tsim Sha Tsui, the stylish hotel leaves lasting impressions with its eye-catching exterior of swanky curves, as well as surprisingly spacious guest rooms fitted with iconic Egg chairs by the renowned Danish designer Arne Jacobsen and Bose sound systems.
Facing the Victoria Harbour, the legendary The Peninsula Hong Kong is the epitome of quality and elegance, from its luxurious guest rooms to the exceptional service quality and the iconic staff uniforms. Even after 80 years since its opening, the “Grand Dame of the Far East” continues to impress and delight. Gaddi’s and Spring Moon, both with one MICHELIN Star, are also located within the hotel. For those seeking a bold and playful hotel experience, W Hong Kong, just a stone’s throw away from the West Kowloon Cultural District, offers eight different room types all featuring a stylish and modern design. We recommend visiting its WET pool on 76th floor, where guests can swim, lounge, and admire the stunning city and harbour views at night.
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Where to Eat
There is no shortage of amazing food in Mong Kok. Why not kick off your food adventure with an exquisite Cantonese meal at one-MICHELIN-Starred Ming Court(Mong Kok)? Helmed by the seasoned Chef Li Yuet-Faat, with over 20 years of culinary experience, the restaurant offers signature dishes such as stuffed crab shell crafted with the meat from king crab, mud crab, and another seasonal crab to add different textures and elevate the sweet umami flavour; shrimp dumplings are made with blue angel prawns instead to lend a rich brininess and bouncy texture, taking the classic dim sum to the next level. Ming Court’s wine cellar houses an impressive collection of 300 premium wines and spirits to complement the dishes for a complete dining experience.
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Fung Shing Restaurant may have closed in 2019, but travellers who wish to savour its outstanding Shunde cuisine would be glad to know that its staff was not willing to see this 30-year-old establishment close and had taken over and reopened it at the same address as Eton. The restaurant still specialises in Shunde cuisine and has been awarded a Bib Gourmand since 2021. Its crispy fried chicken and deep-fried shrimp toast remain the restaurant’s signature dishes. Other must-try dishes include Daliang-style scrambled egg whites with milk and Shun Tak fish tripe thick soup.
A trip to Mong Kok is not complete without trying some street snacks. Recommended by the MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong and Macau, Ki Tsui is one of the few remaining traditional Chinese pastry shops in the city. The shop offers an array of delectable Chinese pastries, including the popular phoenix cookies (gai zai beng), wife cakes, Chinese shortbread, walnut cookies, and banana mochi rolls. First-time visitors can try the shop’s signature pan-fried mochi (siu beng), available plain or stuffed with red bean and come tasty and chewy.
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Another MICHELIN-recommended eatery in Mong Kok is Joyful Dessert House, which serves meticulously crafted Western-style desserts, such as mango napoleon, roasted pineapple sorbet, and green tea lava cake. The Mong Kok branch of Sichuan-style snack store Twins Liangpi Limited (Mong Kok) has seating and offers its signature liangpi dish with julienned cucumber, coriander, crushed peanuts, and a secret spicy vinegar — and you can choose your preferred level of spiciness.
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Over in the nearby Yau Mai Tei, the long-standing Temple Street Beef Offal serves up a variety of beef offal — tripe, intestines, spleen, and lung — that have all been steeped in a rich broth. For an authentic experience and elevated flavours, dip the beef offal in a selection of sweet sauce, mustard, and chilli sauce.
Where to Shop
Sneakers Street
Nicknamed Sneaker Street, the 150-metre-long Fa Yuen Street is lined with specialty sportswear and sporting goods stores, offering a wide selection of sneaker styles and sizes that cater to every taste. On the same street is sports-themed concept mall, The Forest, which brings together top global sports and athleisure brands. It also features a free interactive sports experience zone where participants can hone their sports skills through motion-based games. Sports enthusiasts would not want to miss out — be sure to book in advance.
Ladies’ Market
Ladies’ Market refers to the section of Tung Choi Street near Yau Ma Tei. As travellers walk down Tung Choi Street, they will be greeted with this sprawling open-air market that has taken up the entire street. There are over 100 stalls selling clothes, shoes, handbags, souvenirs, and more. Do not be afraid to haggle with the vendors and enjoy this unique Hong Kong experience like a local.
Goldfish Street
Goldfish Street is the section of Tung Choi Street towards Prince Edward. Entering Goldfish Street is like stepping into an aquarium in the middle of the bustling city. The street is lined with aquatic specialist shops, with some of the fish displayed in transparent bags hanging outside the stores. The variety of fish on display is truly dazzling, ranging from common species to rare and expensive ornamental ones. Even if travellers cannot bring home the fish, the unique character of this street makes it well worth a visit.Further Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Sham Shui Po: Where to Eat, Stay, and Shop
The article is written by Mandy Li and translated by Iris Wong. Read the original article here.
