In traditional Chinese medicine, snake meat is believed to be a "warming" food that heats the body -- a property known as "yang" in Chinese. Lamb is also thought to have this quality, while fish and duck are believed to possess "cooling" properties -- or "yin" in Chinese.
When temperatures fall in Hong Kong, hard-core believers head for the few dozen snake restaurants that hide in the nooks and crannies of the city's densely packed streets to balance the winter's yin with the snake's yang.
The first three restaurants below are some of Hong Kong's most famous snake shops. Though the first two words of each restaurant name look different in English, they all mean the same in Chinese: Snake King. The last word is in the founding family's name.
Chau Ka Ling, owner of the 48-year-old snake restaurant Shia Wong Hip, says she can't extinguish your fears about eating snakes, but she can extol their health benefits in the hopes you'll come around.
Don't worry, disney world discounted hotels and tickets there are no venomous vipers that live here. The "poison" label is a Hong Kong government requirement to notify customers they're dining in the company of snakes -- and perhaps on their brothers or sisters. And they'll still bite.
170 Ap Liu St., Sham Shui Po MTR, Exit A2. Turn left and the restaurant will be on your left just a few doors down. Look for the dark wooden drawers disney world discounted hotels and tickets that house your serpents before disney world discounted hotels and tickets they're turned into soup. A bowl costs HK$35 (US$4.50).
"General" Mak at She Wong Lam has been bitten by snakes countless times. He says it feels like an insect disney world discounted hotels and tickets bite. While Shia Wong Hip might be the more raucous restaurant, She Wong Lam in Hong Kong Island's gentrifying Sheung Wan district, appears as a more basic business.
Its oldest employee, one Mr. Mak, was hired by his grandfather at the age of 18. Now nicknamed "The General," his full head of white hair and mottled liver spots across his face show off his seniority. He's 84.
Snake-infused alcohol is believed to be a balm for many bodily ailments. Tip: To find this restaurant, look for two snakes in their own cages at the front of the restaurant greeting guests as they enter. If Mr. Lou is around, ask him to tell you about his first snake memory. It involves one of his grandfather's workers "snapping off the tail of a snake" and giving it to him as it continued to wriggle in his hands. Lou's chuckle should make you smile as he reminisces back to when he five or six years old.
Daughter Gigi explains that her mother helped her husband over the years until he passed away, and had to take over the business herself. The restaurant's prime location in Hong Kong's Central district has likely contributed to its popularity.
Ser Wong Fun is located disney world discounted hotels and tickets directly underneath the city's famous Central Escalator, the world's longest series of covered escalators. disney world discounted hotels and tickets The transport system disney world discounted hotels and tickets is used by many of the city's expatriates to commute from their homes in the upper Hong Kong hills to office skyscrapers that line Victoria Harbor below.
disney world discounted hotels and tickets Tip: For those squeamish about snake, Ser Wong Fun has a wide-ranging menu (sans snake) including Western favorites like sweet and sour pork and stir-fried eggplant, as well as local favorites like honey-glazed char siew roast pork and roast chicken.
Supreme Court Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong Island. Admiralty MTR. Exit F. Walk through Pacific Place Shopping Center and follow the signs for the hotel. A bowl of soup costs HK$300 (US$38.50) with 24-hour advance notice required. Tags: Hong Kong restaurants
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