Dumplings à la carte
Who wouldn’t want to eat in a restaurant that was recommended by the Michelin Guide? Sadly, most of the time these restaurants are far too expensive. But since 2009, the gourmet guide has been awarding a ranking to smaller, regionally influenced restaurants in Hong Kong that offer exceptionally good value for money. They appear in the list of Michelin’s Bib Gourmand restaurants, where “Bib” is the abbreviation of Bibendum, the company’s nickname for its iconic Michelin Man trademark. A three-course menu without drinks shouldn’t cost more than about $HK320, or 37 euros.
One of these is Wang Fu in Wellington Street. Alongside a variety of other dishes, it always offers freshly made signature dumplings - traditional Beijing-style dumplings, with 10 different home-made fillings. Two of the most popular are spring onions and mutton, and pork and chives. For a modest premium you can have your dumplings fried – and then they’re known as “potstickers.”
Info
Address G/F, 65 Wellington Street, Central | Public Transport Near Mid-Levels Escalators | Hours Daily: 11am–10pm; cash only| Tip The street was named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, who conquered Napoleon’s troops at the Battle of Waterloo.
Many Europeans are unfamiliar with the difference between dim sum, dumplings, jiaozi and wontons. Dim sum, which means “touch the heart,” are bite-sized portions of food that are offered primarily for breakfast or lunch in teahouses, along with dumplings. Italian ravioli or German Maultaschen are ultimately dumplings, too. Jiaozi are made from a slightly thicker flour and water dough that is shaped around the filling to form a crescent or, literally, “little horn.” Wonton dough is thinner and sometimes made from rice flour. In wontons, which are squarish and often open at the top, the dough is pressed like a flower around the filling.
Wung Fu is a modest restaurant where it’s not possible to make a reservation, which is why a queue of patiently waiting customers, many of them regulars, often forms in front of the door. If you do not want to wait, you can buy raw dumplings that you can cook at home.
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