Where to buy kitchen equipment and ingredients in Hong Kong
HONG KONG – EQUIPMENT AND INGREDIENTS
KITCHEN EQUIPMENT AND BAKING INGREDIENTS
I normally shop at Wing On and Sogo for kitchen equipment. For specialty items I go to Panhandler or Pantry Magic. For baking ingredients, Twinsco, Sweetie Baking, Great Food Hall and City Super have great selections.
Apita
Cityplaza 2, 18 Tai Koo Shing Road, Quarry BayTel: 2885.0331
http://www.unyhk.com/catalog/index.php
Kitchenware, bake ware, and kitchen appliances.
Complete Deelite
2/F, On Lan Centre 11-15 On Lan Street CentralTel: 3167.7022
Bake ware
This shop has an extensive selection of good quality American bake ware (Wilson) and some baking ingredients. They carry cake pans, cake pan insulators, cake lifters, pastry bags, and decorating nozzles.
I Love Cake
G/F, 338 Shanghai Street KowloonH2, G/F, 188 Wan Chai Road Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island
Tel: 2671.2644
Bake ware
This shop has an extensive selection of inexpensively priced, although not the best quality, bake ware and ingredients. They carry 00 flour.
IKEA 宜家俱乐
Three locations in Causeway Bay, Kowloon Bay, and Shatin.
Bake ware, utensils, serving ware, ingredients
I love Ikea for glass baking pans, metal kitchen utensils, salad spinners, wooden spoons, and chocolate and marzipan for baking.
Panhandler*
318, Prince’s Building 10 Chater Road CentralTel: 2523.1672
Cook ware, bake ware, kitchen appliances, knives, serving ware
This small shop has an extensive selection of kitchenware, all very high quality, albeit expensive. Can order online. I buy all my specialty cookware from Pantry Magic and Panhandler if Sogo or Wing On do not carry it.
Pantry Magic*
G/F, 25 Lok Ku Road 香港中環樂古道25號地下 CentralTel: 2504.0688
www.pantry-magic.com/hongkong/
Cook ware, bake ware, kitchen appliances, knives, serving ware
This small shop has an extensive selection of kitchenware, all very high quality, albeit expensive. I buy all my specialty cookware from Pantry Magic and Panhandler if Sogo or Wing On do not carry it.
Sincere
Stores in Central, Mongkok, Sham shui po, and Tsuen wan
Cook ware, bake ware, kitchen appliances, knives (Zwilling)
This local department store prides itself on fair prices for good quality products. There is a good range of internationally branded kitchenware.
Shanghai Street
Tools, kitchen appliances, knives, utensils
Shanghai Street, Mong kok, KowloonShanghai Street caters primarily to professionals but individuals can buy here too. Most products are more industrial in nature however. At the following addresses 305, 306, 307-309, 334, and 337 Shanghai Street you can buy things like Henckels knives, Victorinox scissors and peelers, blenders, scales, bowls, bake ware, hand blenders, kitchen aids, bread makers, irons, wire mesh, palette spatulas, perforated spoons, whisks, cherry stoners, salad spinners, measuring cups, pepper mills, pastry cutters, mortar and pestles, and caffettièras. Number 333-9 Shanghai St has wooden boards, wooden rolling pins, and mortars and pestles. I Love Cake is also on this street at number 338.
Sogo*
555 Hennessy Road Causeway Bay2833.8338
Cook ware, bake ware, kitchen appliances, knives, serving ware
Sogo has an extensive selection of good quality kitchenware and I buy many items here (although I do my own research beforehand rather than rely on the advice of the sales staff). Good quality brands found here include Tefal, Stau, Lagostino, Le Creuset, Henckels, Alessi, WMF, Kuhn Rikon, Emile Henry, and all the major kitchen appliance brands. They also sell caffettieras, food processors, hand blenders, blenders, gelato makers, and standing mixers. Research the item you want to purchase before buying as the Sogo salespeople and individual company spokespersons are difficult to distinguish. Obviously the company spokesperson is there to encourage you to purchase their brand alone. I mainly buy from Sogo and Wing On.
Sweetie Baking
10/F, 22 Yee Wo Street Causeway BayTel: 2882.7188
Bake ware, baking ingredients
Great selection of dried fruit, nuts, spices, extracts (vanilla, lemon, almond, orange, and more), savoiardi biscuits, liqueurs repackaged into small quantities, candied citrus peel, chestnut paste, maraschino cherries, cookie crumb, chocolate (Callebaut, Valhrona, Weiss), covering chocolate and gianduia, invert sugar, glucose syrup, fondant, ice cream stabilizer, dried glucose powder, apple pectin, citric acid, gelatin sheets, cake emulsifier, dry yeast, egg white powder, potato flour, buckwheat flour, many types of bread flour including multigrain, rye, etc., cake flour, 00 flour, semola, shortening, lard, icing, decorations, butter, cream, mascarpone cheese, puff pastry, hazelnut paste, fruit puree, pistachio praline, tomato paste, tinned tomato, cake tins, moulds, spatulas, pastry torches, scales, cake testers, brushes, cake stands, decorative packaging, and boxes.
Twinsco
Simsons Commercial Bldg 1/F, 137-139 Johnston Rd 香港灣仔莊士敦道137號新盛商業大廈1字樓 Wan Chai, Hong Kong Tel: 3188.1887
They have other locations in 8/F, Nan Fung Centre, 264 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan and 8/F, On Yip Commercial Building, 395 Shanghai St, Yau Ma Tei in Kowloon so check their website (Chinese only).
Bake ware and baking ingredients including: cake tins, moulds, scales, mixers, bread machines, fresh yeast, mascarpone, cream, butter, hazelnut paste, frozen puff pastry, frozen short crust pastry, fruit fillings, cocoa powder, chocolate (including Valrhona), gelatin sheets, spices, and more.
Wing On*
211 Des Voeux Road Central Sheung WanTel: 2852.1888
They have other locations in Tai Koo Shing on Hong Kong Island, Jordan and Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, and Lantau Island.
Cook ware, bake ware, kitchen appliances, knives
This local department store prides itself on fair prices for good quality products. There is a good range of internationally branded kitchenware (Tefal, Kuhnkikon, Lagostina) and kitchen appliances. I mainly buy from Sogo and Wing On.
COOKING INGREDIENTS
You can find pretty much whatever you need in Hong Kong….although sometimes at a hefty price. For expensive, difficult to find items like vanilla beans, I order them off ebay.com from sellers who will deliver internationally. Although always check the postage cost beforehand to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Another tip is that the Peninsula Boutique at the Peninsula Hotel has a food ordering form which includes difficult to find items such as demi glace, dried morels, stocks, consommes, fresh horseradish, and fresh meat and seafood as well as pre-cooked food, although it is expensive.
Generally I order what dry goods items I can from Park n Shop or Wellcome as they have a good range and are priced well. I order specialty Italian products from Buonissimo mainly and then Stable Trading. I get vegetables from Eat Fresh and Homegrown (where I also buy my pork). For fresh meat I order from all of the shops listed below.
I apologise in advance for my hugely Hong Kong Island biased shopping list. If you suggest places to check out in Kowloon, I’ll go have a look and add it to my list. I do realise these are not all the on-line shops in Hong Kong but I have used many of them and these are the ones I would recommend. If you order goods from an on-line shop and they do not arrive in the condition you expect them to then it is only fair to inform the merchant. The merchant does not always know what condition the goods are in when they have arrived as they pass through several hands before they reach your door. I know too many people who received less than stellar goods and then never used the merchant again, never giving them feedback so that they can improve their service. Good merchants genuinely appreciate this feedback as for every person who complains there could be 10 others who are unhappy and will not return.
Italian Speciality Food Shops
I tend to order what I can from Buonissimo and whatever they don’t carry, especially dry goods and fresh yeast from Stable Trading.
Buonissimo*
Free delivery over HKD 500. This is THE place in my opinion to buy Italian food in Hong Kong. The items are fresh and well-priced for imported high quality product. Their mozzarella and prosciutto are the best I have had in Hong Kong and whenever I have had issues with vegetables being delivered in less than pristine condition they have always dealt with it to my satisfaction. Their vegetables and fruit are fantastic and include impossible to find items like agretti, artichokes, puntarelle, real Italian tomatoes, chicory, figs, blood oranges, Roman mint, black kale, and turnip tops (cima di rapa). Their cheese is the best and cut to smaller portions as is their cured meats. Their speciality dried pastas have a nice texture. Buonissimo also started carrying fresh meat and fish recently. They also sell wine, preserved vegetables, sauces, truffles, truffle honey, panettone, Italian chocolate Easter eggs, olive oil, vinegar, biscuits, chocolates, and coffee. They now also carry fresh meat and seafood.
Il Bel Paese
299 Queen’s Road Central Sheung WanThey have many shops on Hong Kong and Lantau islands.
e-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 2868.1300
Free delivery over HKD 500. Their website is not extensive, it is better to ask for a printed inventory of goods and email or ring to order from the list. This shop has a good range of Italian products. They carry risotto, pasta, pasta sauce, olive oil, vinegar, pasta sauce, cheese, cured meats, panettone, wine, coffee, Plasmon biscuits for babies, Mulino Bianco biscuits, savoiardi biscuits, grano cotto, and honey.
Stable Trading*
Tel: 852.2554.9528
Free delivery over HKD 350. Sometimes their website does not work so you may have to ring them.
They have a good range of Italian products although for cured meats, cheeses, vegetables, and fruits they sell in bulk so you need to purchase a large quantity. Also most of the cured meats do not come sliced (although they have a small selection now of some pre-packaged sliced meats) and many of these items should be professionally sliced to serve them as thin as they should be eaten. Stable Trading is great for dried items like Sicilian almonds and pistachios, Piedmontese hazelnuts, chickpea flour, semolina, bread crumbs, olive oil, vinegar, Mulino Bianco biscuits, savoiardi biscuits, pistachios, dried squid ink, dried pasta including kamut pasta, frozen wild board, frozen baby squid, frozen langoustines, frozen octopus, frozen artichokes, frozen porcini mushrooms, dried porcini mushrooms, risotto, 00 flour, fresh yeast, artichokes, real Italian tomatoes, tinned tomatoes, preserved anchovies, preserved tuna, preserved vegetables, panettone, cheeses (such as taleggio, ricotta, and mascarpone), cocoa powder, coffee, grano cotto, and preserves.
Sud Delight
https://www.facebook.com/SudDelight
Free delivery for purchases over HKD 800 during certain hours. They don’t have prices on-line and you cannot shop on-line as they mainly cater to restaurants. You can email them and ask for the prices. The first time you order it is best to go to the showroom and try their products and get a full explanation on how to use them. A specialty southern Italian food supplier carrying high quality products such as capers, sea urchin roe, swordfish pate, salami, anchovies, caponata, pesto trapanese, pasta, tomato sauce, juice, sweet wine, wine jelly, pistachio cream, powder for making gelato, gelato flavourings, mixed sugar for making gelato, almond paste for making latte di mandorla, limoncello, dried oregano, and olive oil.
SUPERMARKETS
Apita
Cityplaza 2, 18 Tai Koo Shing Road, Quarry BayTel: 2885.0331
http://www.unyhk.com/catalog/index.php
Apita has a broad range of Japanese goods but also carries local Hong Kong fresh pork and chicken. They have figs, melons, pasta, pasta sauces, and cream.
City Super*
They have several locations: IFC in Central and Times Square in Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island, Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, and New Town Plaza in Shatin in New Territories.
Free delivery over HKD 500. They do not deliver refrigerated or frozen items. City Super has a great range of Japanese products but it also carries high-quality, albeit at high prices, meat, vegetables, cheese, cured meats, fruit, and dairy products. They also have a very good selection of baking ingredients, kitchen ware, pasta, pasta sauces, coffee, wine, and make some very good bread. The Times Square store has a good selection of baking ingredients.
Great Food Hall *
Pacific Place Mall Basement, Two Pacific Place, Queensway, AdmiraltyTel: 2918-9986
http://www.greatfoodhall.com/eshop/OnlieShopLanding.do
Can order online. Free delivery over HKD 500. They will deliver refrigerated and frozen items. The prices can be quite high. They carry a broad range of more European goods and have an excellent range fresh, imported, vegetables and fruits, fantastic European cheeses, cured meats, fresh herbs, dried pasta, a very good range of baking ingredients, 00 flour, frozen broad beans, grissini bread sticks, cream, vanilla extract, pasta sauces, excellent chocolate selection, and fresh meat and seafood.
The Marketplace by Jason’s*
LG/F, Nexxus Building 77 Des Voeux Road CentralTel: 3104.0652
They have several locations throughout Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and New Territories.
http://www.marketplacebyjasons.com/mpjshop/en/html/shop/index.html
Can order online. Free delivery with orders over HKD 500. They do not deliver refrigerated or frozen items. Jason’s carries vegetables and fruit including rocket, fennel, leeks, and Savoy cabbage. They have a good cheese selection, fresh meat and seafood, cream, cured meats, frozen vegetables, dried pasta, tinned tomatoes, pasta sauce, dried herbs, spices, vanilla extract, baking ingredients, wine, grissini bread sticks, olives, capers, and preserved anchovies.
Oliver’s*
Shop 201-205, 2/F Prince’s Building 10 Chater Road, Central, Hong KongEmail: [email protected]
Tel: +852.2810.7710
https://www.facebook.com/oliversthedeli/
Can ring or email to order for delivery, ask for Sonia. Free delivery over HKD 500. They will deliver refrigerated and frozen items. The prices can be pretty high. They carry a broad range of more American goods and have a good range of fresh vegetables, cheeses, cured meats, fresh herbs, dried pasta, baking ingredients, cream, pasta sauces, preserved anchovies, preserved tuna, honey, preserves, and fresh and frozen meat.
Park n Shop*
They have several locations throughout Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and New Territories.
Free delivery with orders over HKD 500. Fresh and frozen goods are not kept cold so do not order these items. They have a food special every month featuring a different country which is a good time to pick up items like candied citrus peel, specialty biscuits, and specialty pasta. Park n Shop is great for its broad range of products including fresh vegetables and fruit which sometimes includes artichokes and fennel bulb, fresh herbs, a good range of dried pasta, tomato paste, 00 flour, dried yeast, tinned tomatoes, tomato sauce, olives, capers, preserved tuna, preserved anchovies, olive oil, vinegar, cream, and baking ingredients.
Wellcome
They have several locations throughout Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and New Territories.
Free delivery with orders over HKD 500. Fresh and frozen goods are not kept cold so do not order these items. Wellcome is very similar to Park n Shop.
SPECIALTY SHOPS
Bistronomique Boucherie
Shop 5, G/F Grand Fortune Mansion 1B Davis Street Kennedy TownTel: 2872.0522
Meat
A real Western butcher on Hong Kong Island selling beef and veal.
Breadbox
Bread, biscuits, chocolates
Started by two Swiss mothers, the breads from this shop are very good quality and taste amazing. They are not particularly Italian but I recommend them all the same. They bake the breads 90%, freeze them, deliver them, and then at home you can finish the baking so they are perfectly fresh. I did a bread baking class with them as well which was fabulous, although tiring.
Eat Fresh*
Farm fresh vegetables
This is the only place I have found that sells locally grown Swiss chard, green onions, ginger, and broccoli.
The Fish Wives
This shop delivers fresh and smoked salmon to Hong Kong once a month. I buy whole sides of salmon and barbecue them on planks of wood. The smoked salmon is also very good.
Fresh Grower*
Fresh grower has really fresh vegetables and a bit of fruit. They carry Tuscan black cabbage (cavolo nero), kale, and broccoli raab.
Hing Fat Coconut & Spices
18 Spring Garden Lane Wan ChaiTel: 2572.7725
A good place for fresh spices like fennel, saffron, black peppercorns, and nutmeg.
Homegrown*
Farm fresh vegetables, local Hong Kong fresh pork, fresh beef, dry goods, lentils, wine, etc.
www.homegrownfoods.com.hk
This shop is pricey but I have found all its products to be excellent. I love that they are creating local, high quality ingredients. Their beans, pasta, and wine have been some of the highest quality I have bought in Hong Kong. Their customer service is good as well. I have been using them for a few years now and find that when purchasing meat there are occasionally delivery issues so perhaps it is a good idea to reconfirm when the delivery is needed.
I-Herb*
A great resource for specialty products, particularly environmentally friendly and health products. They have a good range of specialty flours, herbs, nuts, spices (including Vietnamese cinnamon), and sugars, all at US prices with quick and inexpensive shipping.
Lestafette*
Stan Café Shop 505, Stanley Plaza Carmel Road StanleyTel: 2324.9008
http://www.lestafette.com/
French charcuterie, cheeses, dairy products, wines, and dry goods
Run by a really lovely guy (who also speaks Italian), they have a great selection of French foods and seasonally carry fresh oysters and raclette cheese (and will rent you the machine!)
Marks and Spencer*
Basement – 1/F, Central Tower
22 – 28 Queen’s Road
Central
Tel: 2921.8323
They have several locations throughout Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and New Territories.
http://global.marksandspencer.com/hk/en/
Cheese, dry goods, frozen vegetables, wine
They deliver wine. A great place for inexpensive wine, good well-priced cheese selection, frozen vegetables, biscuits, and pasta sauces.
Meatmarket*
Fresh and frozen meat, vegetables, dry goods
Run by a lovely Aussie couple, this on-line shop sells high quality meat, although I have to admit it is quite pricey. They sell bones as well which I found difficult to find for imported meat. They also import vegetables from Australia.
Pacific Gourmet
53 Caine Road. Mid-levelsTel: 2898.9000
They have shops in Ap lei chau and Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island and an online store.
Meat and seafood
They carry a good range of beef, pork, poultry, and lamb as well as seafood (including swordfish, fresh oysters, crabs, and lobsters).
Po’s Atelier*
70 Po Hing Fong Sheung WanTel: 6056.8005
Bakery
I love this bakery and their original breads. I definitely recommend them. It is not that easy to find very good bread in Hong Kong.
Porterhouse
Fresh and frozen meat and seafood
This on-line shop sells very high-quality meat, although is expensive. They have live oysters, Scottish crab, frozen lobster, shoulder of lamb, lamb rib racks, and Cornish game hens, but the real attraction is their steaks.
South Stream Seafoods*
Fresh and frozen meat and seafood, bread, some vegetables, dry goods
This shop is well priced for the quality of meat that they carry so I use them a lot. They carry ossobuco, veal, rack of lamb, lump crab meat, organic pork mince, etc.
Spicebox Organics
72 Third Street, G/F Shop K, Fook Moon Building,Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
Tel: 2568.2728
Herbs, spices, dry goods
Free delivery on Wednesdays for orders over HKD 600. Organic herbs, seeds, nuts, legumes, spices, and vanilla beans.
T.C. Deli*
10-12B G/F, Hang Hau Village Sai KungTel: 2358.2332
http://tcdeli.com/
Meat
A real butcher shop with quality meat.
Wine
For a guide on where to buy wine in Hong Kong, see this page written by my sommelier friend.