Tiny Urban Kitchen

Exploring Food from Boston to Hong Kong and Beyond

  • About Me
  • Travel
  • Recipes
  • Michelin
  • Subscribe
  • Taiwanese
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About Me
  • Travel
  • Recipes
  • Michelin
  • Subscribe
  • Taiwanese
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About Me
    • Travel
    • Recipes
    • Michelin
    • Subscribe
    • Taiwanese
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    • Nanjing, China
      Weekend Trip to Nanjing China
    • Po Toi Island and Stanley Hong Kong
      Po Toi Island and Stanley Hong Kong
    • Wakaran Hong Kong
      Wakaran Wan Chai
    • Godenya Hong Kong
      Godenya Hong Kong (revisited)
    • The Chairman Hong Kong
      The Chairman Hong Kong (1 Michelin Star)
    • Hanu Wan Chai Hong Kong
      Hanu (Korean Beef) Wan Chai
    • Always Joy Hong Kong
      Always Joy Hong Kong
    • Michael Chiarelli Ottimo Yountville California
      Bottega + Ottimo Yountville
    • Ciccio Yountville California
      Ciccio Yountville
    • Charter Oak St. Helena Napa Valley California
      Charter Oak St. Helena Napa Valley California
    • Cole’s Chop House Napa California
      Cole's Chop House Napa California
    • Compline Restaurant Napa California
      Compline Restaurant + Wine Shop Napa
    Home » Restaurant

    Kwan Kee Bamboo Noodle Hong Kong

    Published: Oct 25, 2018 by Jennifer Che

    Kwan Kee Bamboo Noodle
    There are only a handful of places left in Hong Kong that still make noodles using the very traditional art of using a bamboo stick. These bamboo noodles (竹昇麵 or jook-sing noodles) are made with a dough that is painstakingly flattened with a bamboo pole. Kwan Kee Bamboo Noodle in Cheung Sha Wan is one of them.
    Kwan Kee Bamboo Noodle
    It takes many many different "rounds" of pressing to get the bamboo noodle dough thin enough. Overall, it can take up to two hours to get the dough ready just to make 100 portions. It's a slow, laborious process, which is why it's quickly fading. Definitely check out the video below which shows the bamboo pole action!

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Jennifer Che (@tinyurbankitchen) on Jul 10, 2018 at 9:16am PDT

    Noodle making demonstrations at the window occur only three times a week during a very narrow window of time: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1PM to 1:30PM.
    Kwan Kee Bamboo Noodle
    The focus is clearly on the special noodles. The whole restaurant basically serves variations on three main noodle themes: noodle soup, dry noodles, or deep fried noodles. Thankfully there is an English language menu. Just make sure to ask for it!

    Soup is one of the most classic ways to go, and Kwan Kee does a good job. There are all different types of fish balls, shrimps balls, beef balls, as well as wontons (delicious!) and other toppings.

    I really enjoy the simple wonton noodle soup, which is about as classic as it gets. I like how their noodles don't have that characteristic alkaline flavor that you get at places like Mak's Noodle. Usually the alkaline additive helps give wonton noodles their characteristic texture, but here, the special bamboo method provides that.
    Kwan Kee Bamboo Noodle
    If you really want to enjoy the al dente texture of the bamboo noodles, then I would recommend ordering a dry-tossed noodle. You have your choice of meats to accompany the noodles. Picture above: pork knuckle and shrimp roe dry tossed bamboo noodle.
    Kwan Kee Bamboo Noodle
    Finally, the craziest version is the fried "chao" bamboo noodles with seafood. You won't believe this, but even the individual sized portion is HUGE! This version is fun to eat and impressive to look at, but honestly I think it showcased the noodle's unique texture the least. Once it's fried, it's just crunchy. You don't really appreciate the "Q" al dente texture anymore.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Jennifer Che (@tinyurbankitchen) on Sep 18, 2018 at 8:20am PDT

    So, it's fun to order if you are eating with a group since it's fun to try. However, if you are there alone, get one of the other two bamboo noodle dishes.
    Kwan Kee Bamboo Noodle
    The vegetable offerings are far from exciting. Basically, you can choose between several different types of fresh vegetables, and they'll blanch it for you and serve it with oyster sauce (you can request "on the side" if you want). It was my first time eating Chinese chives that way. It wasn't bad, but it definitely is not the strength of the restaurant!
    Kwan Kee Bamboo Noodle Hong Kong
    A good gift! You can buy their shrimp roe in jars or their noodles (dried and packaged as a gift)!

    All in all, it's worth the trip to Cheung Sha Wan to get a glimpse of this very traditional style noodle, or at least to see and experience one of the few remaining bamboo noodle shops in Hong Kong. Supposedly there are still some in Guangzhou as well, though the same thing is happening there where the younger generation is not continuing to learn the same craft.

    So come enjoy it while you can. Someday, we may really not be able to try a truly handmade version anymore.

    This is the fourth post in the updated #50Postsin50Days - Take 2 Challenge. Other posts in this series will be added to the bottom of the original post.

    Kwan Kee Bamboo Noodle
    1 Wing Lung St, Cheung Sha Wan
    4-minute walk from Exit C of Cheung Sha Wan Station

    More Restaurant

    • Forbidden Duck Causeway Bay
      Forbidden Duck Causeway Bay
    • Kunming China
      Kardia Cafe Kunming China 從心開始
    • 凹糟管 Aozao Restaurant
      Aozao Guan 凹糟館 - Modern Yunnan Cuisine in Kunming, China
    • chocolate
      La Dame de Pic - Paris France

    Recent Posts

    • Weekend Trip to Nanjing China June 20, 2025
    • Po Toi Island and Stanley Hong Kong June 17, 2025
    • Wakaran Wan Chai June 15, 2025
    • Godenya Hong Kong (revisited) June 12, 2025
    • The Chairman Hong Kong (1 Michelin Star) June 6, 2025
    • Hanu (Korean Beef) Wan Chai June 2, 2025
    • Always Joy Hong Kong May 29, 2025
    • Bottega + Ottimo Yountville May 14, 2025

    Trackbacks

    1. 50 Posts in 50 Days - Take 2! Exploring Hong Kong in 2018 - Tiny Urban Kitchen says:
      October 25, 2018 at 11:20 am

      […] ONGOING POSTS Cheung Chau Island Kin’s Kitchen  Mercedes Me Brunch Kwan Kee Bamboo Noodle […]

      Log in to Reply
    Jennifer Che Tiny Urban Kitchen

    Hi, my name's Jen and welcome to my cooking, eating, and travel site! I am an expat who moved from Boston to Hong Kong 5 years ago. Born and raised in Ohio to Taiwanese immigrant parents, I am a chemistry nerd, patent attorney by day, blogger by night, church musician on weekends, and food enthusiast always. Feel free to explore away, maybe starting with the Recipe Index or one of the travel pages! I hope you enjoy this site!

    More about me →

    logo
    Food Advertisements by

    Explore

    • Recipe
    • Restaurant
    • US Travel
    • World Travel

    Popular Posts

    • Napa, California
      Thomas Keller's La Calenda: A Tribute {Now Closed}
    • Ad Hoc Thomas Keller Brunch Yountville California
      Thomas Keller Ad Hoc + Addendum + Bouchon Bakery
    • Mandalay San Francisco
      Mandalay San Francisco (Burmese Food)
    • Boulettes Larder Ferry Building San Francisco
      Boulette Larder (Ferry Building) San Francisco

    Recipes

    • Appetizer
    • Snacks
    • Meat
    • Vegetables
    • Soup
    • Salad
    • Seafood
    • Noodles

    Recently Traveled

    • Hong Kong
    • France
    • Belgium
    • Boston
    • California
    • United Kingdom
    • Germany
    • Spain

    Support Us

    Support Tiny Urban Kitchen by making purchases on Amazon through our affiliate link:

    Recognition


    Featured on the front page
    of the FOOD Section: 2015

    Best Food Blog Awards:
    Restaurant & Dining 2012

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • My Equipment
    • In the Press
    • Project Food Blog
    • Privacy Policy

    Eating Guides!

    Eating & Travel Guides
    Trip Reports
    "Kawaii" (Cute Foods)
    Around the World

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Mail
    • RSS Feed

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Shop at Amazon

    Copyright © 2024 Tiny Urban Kitchen