After dim sum parlours and traditional cafés, street stands are a typical Hong Kong solution for a quick lunch – the perfect choice for citizens who are always on the run. But despite the gaudy signage, Hong Kongers are also quite picky about their street eats.

Here are four typical Hong Kong street snacks.

Egg Puffs

Known in Hong Kong as ‘Little Eggs’ (雞蛋仔), egg puffs are one of the most common snacks. Like a waffle, they’re made with a batter of eggs, sugar, butter and flour, cooked in a shaped iron plate that gives them their distinctive appearance, like little eggs linked together in a honeycomb formation.

Egg puffs are usually crispy on the outside and soft and quite chewy on the inside, with a hint of egg aroma when you bite into them. Recently, shops have developed a wealth of new flavours, from sesame and green tea to red bean – and even added ice cream.

Grid Cakes

Grid cakes are, essentially, Hong Kong’s version of the classic waffle, made with a batter similar to the egg puffs but cooked on a grid. Condiments, however, are completely different from European or American waffles: Hong Kongers like their grid cakes with sugar, butter, condensed milk and peanut butter sauce.

You’ll often find grid cakes sold alongside egg puffs at the self-same stall.

Fish Balls

You really can’t leave Hong Kong without tasting fish balls at least once. Called ‘fish eggs’ (魚蛋) in Cantonese, fish balls are made of fish paste that has been salted and floured, shaped into balls and then boiled in soup or hot water. Locals say the best way to judge the quality of a fish ball is to check its bounce. If a fish ball bounces like a ping pong ball, it’s good to eat.

Eat the yellow fish balls with curry or soy sauce, or try white fish balls in traditional cafés or hotpot joints. Enjoy them in a noodle soup, on a skewer, or in a plastic container: the low cost of a skewer (less than HKD $10 or USD $1.30) means you’ll find hawkers selling them in local areas like Mongkok and Sham Shui Po.

Three Stuffed Treasures

‘Three Stuffed Treasures’ usually means a trio of green peppers, red peppers, and eggplant stuffed with a thin layer of dace meat or fish paste, fried and served with soy sauce or chilli sauce. But in addition to the classic three treasures, many stalls also offer variants made with tofu or smoked sausage.

You’ll sometimes find them in dim sum parlours, but the place to enjoy them is at a simple street stand, like a local.

Feeling ready to take your trip? Why not book your flights to Hong Kong now and fly with Cathay Pacific to taste a slice of the territory in person.