OFFERING everything from Michelin-endorsed dim sum to juicy smoked goose served in world-renowned restaurants, Hong Kong is home to some of the finest culinary experiences on the planet.

But there are hundreds of underrated meals that aren’t going to have quite the same impact on your credit card balance. And many of them can be found in Hong Kong’s hawker markets, which are filled with cheap, delicious eats.

“Hong Kong’s cooked food centers are a hub for grassroots gourmets,” says Lui Ka-chun, a columnist and food critic.

Most of the government-run cooked food centers, commonly found attached to local fresh food markets, were built in the early 1970s. By moving some of the street hawkers indoors, city officials hoped to improve the hygiene and general environment of Hong Kong’s streets.

“The relatively cheap rent at cooked food centers means that shop owners could afford to spend more resources on food,” says Lui.

“They could still afford to slowly stew a congee and spend time on a bowl of noodles with quality ingredients. I often have lunch at cooked food centers because I think they’re so full of life.”

There are more than 60 government-run cooked food markets around Hong Kong today — some with better foods and cleaner facilities than others. But they are all home to affordable dishes and serve their surrounding communities.

Here is a list of eight top-quality Hong Kong markets along with some of the best dishes to try.

Bowrington Road Market

鹅颈街市

Located next to the Canal Bridge, Bowrington Road Market is one of the oldest cooked food centers in the city and still draws huge crowds at lunch.

A persistent but efficient queue tells you just how popular the Kau Kee Beef Offal Noodles stall is.

Famous for its richly flavored beef and offal noodles, Kau Kee has a simple but meticulous system diners must follow. First, choose the type of noodles you want. Wait for your turn then tell the boss which toppings you’d like. He’ll listen while picking up the ingredients from the simmering pot and cutting them directly into your bowl. When the noodles are served, be ready to add pickles and chili sauce from the jars on the counter before moving to the cashier.

The most basic order is the assorted beef offal egg noodles. For something more adventurous, we recommend the rice noodle soup with beef brisket, beef offal and fried fish patty.

Beef noodles aside, the market also has a wide array of food offerings, including roast duck leg from Wai Kee and vegetarian dishes at Kan Kee.

Kowloon City Market

九龙城街市

The former site of the Kowloon Walled City, Kowloon City Market is one of Hong Kong’s favorite and most diverse food destinations.

The upstairs cooked food market has a handful of great stalls but the most famous of them all is Lok Yuen, a Cantonese eatery.

Its honey-glazed French toast with satay beef filling, paired with an icy glass of Hong Kong-style milk tea and coffee drink is the perfect sweet and savory afternoon tea set.

Founded in 1988, the 35-year-old market is going to be redeveloped and the grocery stalls and restaurants will be relocated to a new center by 2030.

(SD-Agencies)