10 April 2026
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Hong Kong’s vibrant dried seafood culture has deep roots. Once a fishing hub, the city’s waters provided an abundance of seafood and generations of locals developed methods to dry and preserve it. Today, products like abalone, sea cucumber, fish maw, dried shrimp, dried oysters and dried scallops are essential to both local cuisine and trade, forming a key part of Hong Kong’s culinary identity. A trip to the city isn’t complete without exploring its dried seafood treasures.
Further Reading: Dried Seafood and Mandarin Peels
Sheung Wan: The Dried Seafood Streets
The streets of Sheung Wan — particularly Des Voeux Road West and the full stretch of Wing Lok Street — are legendary for dried seafood. Before land reclamation, this area was a harbor for fishing boats. Merchants set up shops here to trade dried goods, creating a hub that witnessed Hong Kong’s transformation from fishing village to global city.
Exit Sheung Wan MTR Station at A1 and you’ll immediately smell the rich aroma of dried seafood. On sunny days, shops display their goods outdoors to sun-dry, creating a distinctive street scene, and many stores retain decades-old decor and family-run traditions. Around Lunar New Year, local news reports often feature these shops, highlighting their abundant festive offerings and warm old-world charm.
Shops range from traditional stores like Yue Wo Hop Kee and Chi Shing Co , offering a wide variety of affordable dried seafood, to modern stores such as Kwan Shing Store, which provide clearly labeled prices, individually packaged products and approachable options for premium ingredients like abalone and sea cucumbers. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable about shipping, making these shops perfect for tourists and younger consumers.
Along Des Voeux Road West, you’ll find Man Lee Lung Lap Mei Shop, a 70-year-old shop selling homemade Chinese sausages and cured duck — ideal for gifts. Advanced seafood enthusiasts can visit Yuen Shing Hong Salted Fish, known as “the Tsukiji of salted fish.” Though traditional auctions have faded, the shop remains a treasure trove of salted seafood varieties.
RELATED: Discover Hong Kong’s MICHELIN-Recommended Restaurants by MTR: Island Line, Western Section
Within walking distance, you’ll also find MICHELIN Starred and recommended restaurants. Lung King Heen, a Two-Starred restaurant, serves signature dishes like fish maw casserole with abalone, shrimp, scallops and chicken in abalone sauce, showcasing premium dried seafood flavors. For authentic home-style dishes, Bib Gourmand establishment Ship Kee sources the best dried oysters and shrimp from around Hong Kong to create flavorful stir-fries worth trying.
Further Reading: 10 Essential Cantonese Sauces Explained
Kowloon: Classic Shops and Cantonese Delights
Beyond its reputation for Thai cuisine, Kowloon is also a hub for dried seafood. Locals and food enthusiasts like Chua Lam have long shopped here, and the MTR makes it easy for visitors.
Recommended stores include Goodies, a modern shop established in 2007, known for South African abalone and specialty sauces, and Kam Shing Dried Seafood on Nga Tsin Long Road. Though traditional in appearance, Kam Shing attracts celebrity customers and offers top-quality fish maw and dried scallops, with expert advice on pricing and selection.
RELATED: The Ultimate Shopaholic's Guide to Hong Kong: Kowloon
Kowloon City also features MICHELIN-selected Cantonese restaurants such as Eton, an established eatery serving traditional Shunde cuisine. Alongside homestyle dishes like steamed pork patties with water chestnut and dried squid, the Shunde fish maw soup evokes nostalgic flavors.
Further Reading: MICHELIN-Recommended Dining Near Hong Kong’s Avenue of Stars
Lau Fau Shan: The Hidden Oyster Haven
In the western New Territories, Lau Fau Shan is a hidden gem for seafood lovers. About a 15-minute drive from Yuen Long or Tin Shui Wai, this scenic fishing village offers stunning sunsets and a street lined with seafood restaurants, dried seafood shops and stalls. Most dried seafood is locally produced, including dried shrimp, scallops and even starfish.
Visitors should definitely purchase oysters here. Lau Fau Shan sits at the intersection of salt and fresh water, producing many oysters, including one named after Hong Kong itself. Oyster farming in Lau Fau Shan has a history of over 700 years, once supporting hundreds of households. Like other traditional trades, oyster farming has declined, but a few shops still produce oysters and oyster-based products.
Further Reading: The Best Seafood Restaurants in Hong Kong
Lau Fau Shan is a seafood paradise. Here, local sourcing and tasting seafood on the spot offer the most authentic experience. While there are no MICHELIN-listed restaurants in the area, a short drive brings you to Yuen Long town center, home to several Bib Gourmand eateries. Tai Wing Wah, known for its traditional pun choi and homestyle Cantonese dishes, often incorporates dried oysters and shrimp to add deep, rustic flavor. Yuen Long is also rich in Bib Gourmand dessert and snack spots, including Banana Boy for freshly made pancakes and So Kee for silky double-steamed milk custard — perfect endings to a seafood feast.
Further Reading: Bouncing Through Time: The Journey of Hong Kong's Iconic Fish Ball
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