長發麵家

Being angry can sometimes be under rated.
It is actually a healthy thing if channeled the right way. Case in point, the peaceful protests that have been going on recently. HK people involved in the protests have not been violent (and in fact very orderly and civilized) despite their rage against injustice, yet they got lobbed upwards of 87 tear gas bombs several days back. This is inclusive of those medical professionals pitching tents to help the wounded (who got their share of tear gas attack). WTF?!
Do not go gentle into that good night
Rage, rage, against the dying of the light!
Dylan T, you the man!
HK never give up!!!
Others react to rage differently. Pantera, Rage Against the Machine, and Rammstein, are fine forms of music to channel that energy.
Some do it through exercise, and heck, even sex! (Others say who needs sex when you get f**ked by the government everyday… but I would prefer sex in that case, just not from the government).
Other times, you just want to say «shuck this fit», and just go back to roots.
Enter 長發麵家 (Cheung Fat Noodles). Dai Pai Dong. 30 years back, you can go to any dai pai dong, e.g. in Wanchai and get some no nonsense noodles. Granted the alkali water flavor was so thick it was like someone pouring clear Windex/​ammonia, and should you sniff that stuff, it would hurt way more than artificial wasabi. But now the # of dai pai dongs are dwindling. Who knows if you will ever get to experience this in another few years? Cheung Fat still does it like it was in the past. It doesn’t get anymore grass roots than this.
Yiu Tung Street in Sham Shui Po has maybe 4 or so dai pai dongs, each doing their own thing and unique offering. Significantly less glamorous than the ones on Stanley Street in Central which are heavily visited even by tourists. Sham Shui Po? It’s like going to Oakland in California, even though a subway/​MTR ride will get you there pronto.
Dirty sticky floors. Folding stools. «open kitchen (haha)» with the menu written on the wall in Chinese.
Recommended:
Made on premise hand rolled fish and squid balls
Braised pig feet
Braised beef brisket with a super thick flavor rich gravy that is the stuff of legends
but the must try item if you are a carb and noodle whore?
豉油王撈麵 — lo mein (brothless noodles). Basically cooked egg noodles, drained of water. Lard (yes good ol’ fashion melted liquid pig fat) is drizzled (bottom of the bowl) with the house (well dai pai dong) seasoned soy sauce, which is on the sweet side, and some scallions. There is broth on the side for you to drink and add a touch into. You take your chopsticks and your remix dat chit until the cows come home.
Cantonese pasta al dente. No protein, because you are eating old school.
Cantonese blue collar delights, not meant for the wuss or health conscious.
Cantonese lo mein, without lard, is akin to life without meaning, an alpha male suffering from impotence.
Guess you won’t see Bourdain or Zimmern here anytime soon, which is a good thing.