Cart Noodles

This is definitely a 100% local product, as the story goes, in the 1950s of the last century while Hong Kong had gone through the long days of the Japanese occupation and the civil war in Mainland China, where a large influx of people had flocked to Hong Kong to seek refuge. They were faced with overwhelming hardship as employment opportunities were few; therefore, those who were in dire straits had to crack their brains to find a way to eke out a living. Some started roaming the streets peddling whatsoever they could think of, some went out selling cooked food using a self-made wooden cart equipped with a stove to cook on the spot such things as curried fish balls, radish, beef entrails, noodles and the like. There was a particular kind among them, selling noodles plus a variety of popular choices such as fish balls, braised pig skin, pig blood and pig intestines at rather cheap prices. The service was cook-to-order and a customer was free to pick his or her favorites plus soup and sauce. Despite its popularity, it had remained nameless for its genre. As it was being prepared on the street where sanitary conditions were less than desired, it was jokingly referred to as Dirty Noodles, but it eventually came to be known as Cart Noodles with reference to the wooden cart used for business. In the 1970s, the government ordered the banning of unlicensed hawkers to clear the streets.
The Cart Noodle hawkers were forced to leave the streets and move into shops, which, on the contrary, drew more customers than less. Besides, the more spacious shops were then allowed the preparation of a wider variety of choices to include beef brisket, sausages, deep-fried chicken thighs, sour veggies…to refresh the eyes of the customers and let them pick their best choices. Today, in addition to hose traditional choices, other exotic regional tastes and styles have been integrated into the menu, such as those from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Sichuan Province…elevating its status to a higher level as one of the best local favorites.

Recommended Shops

1) Car Noodle's Family
Address: Shop A, 1 Anton Street, Wan Chai
Telephone: 25296313

2) Min Jun
Address: Shop 5, G/F, V Point, 18 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay
Telephone: 23263062