Longing for an authentic Hong Kong experience? Look no further than Bowrington Road Market. It leans more toward old Shanghai. I love it.
Bowrington Road Market is a vibrant mix of sights sounds and smells. It stands on the Wan Chai Causeway Bay border. The “Villain Hitting” Bridge is beside it. Stay tuned for more on that soon. This market is both indoor and outdoor.
Let’s step into this bustling hub. Up and down the two main streets stalls spill out. They sell fruit spices and medicinal herbs. Racks of meat hang ready to be cut. Fish flap. Greens abound. So many greens.
Inside Bowrington Road Market you will find even more. More fruit and vegetable stands await. Household goods are here too. You can find clothing and tailors. A cooked food center offers quick meals.
Don’t be intimidated by the Cantonese signs. It is the language you’ll hear most. Most people speak some English here in Hong Kong. Don’t be shy. Ask about the produce. Strike up a conversation. One visitor spoke with a vegetable seller. She learned about a must-visit beach. Another chatted with a woman at the herbal tea stand. She drank medicinal tea. It was supposed to clear the heat from her body. Not a bad thing in Hong Kong in August.
Unlike picture-perfect farmers markets Bowrington Road Market is a working market. Vendors receive deliveries constantly. They trim produce and prep food right in the street.
The variety here is overwhelming. It is especially so when you don’t recognize most of it. You could spend hours here. Really looking. The bakeries nearby sell juicy steamed pork buns. A takeaway dim sum stall is also close.
Venture beyond the meat and greens. You’ll discover unusual items. Buckets of fermented vegetables and dried seafood are available. Tons of medicinal herbs are for sale.
Bowrington Road Market is the standard bearer of cooked food centers. It’s easy to find near a major metro stop. They have an English menu. The crowd is raucous. The food is the best. It’s easy to get a Tsingtao. You leave feeling I love Hong Kong. Bowrington Road serves the Chinese food you’d expect. But you couldn’t find it in China. They have the best sweet and sour chicken. The quality can vary with each visit.
Consider Wai Kee in Bowrington Market Cooked Food Centre. It is a very unique restaurant. It offers Halal food. It also has Chinese roasted duck. One visitor ordered mutton curry with rice. The curry was aromatic and rich in flavour. The mutton was juicy. It is busy all the time. Especially during lunchtime on weekdays.
If you are visiting Hong Kong stop off at Bowrington Road Market. Explore it. To help identify what’s for sale consider a guide. The Chinese Wet Market Handbook is useful. It has pictures English and Chinese names. It even has eating and cooking instructions.
Come experience the real Hong Kong at Bowrington Road Market.