One very significant local cuisine to Hongkongers (and simple pleasures of mine), past and present, is the Egg and Ham Sandwich, Fried Eggs and Ham with Buttered Toast, and Cha Sui Macaroni/Spaghetti in soup phenomenon.

This trio is inseparable. This is HK cuisine culture folks - frugal honest food; there's no better way to describe it.

These foods were originally tagged "breakfast only" in Dai Pai Dong's and Cha Chaan Tengs for the working class and those on the go. Nowadays, it's available all day at Dai Pai Dongs, Cha Chaan Tengs, and so-called Dairy Companies, restaurants that specialise in all the above, and a dessert of Double Boiled Milk Custard.

Is a meal like this is worth lining up for? Yup, expect a lengthy queue outside these establishments round-the-clock. Any time you choose to dine at these various local spots, it's an overall experience.

Have an Eggs-ellent Meal

So what's so magical about scrambled eggs and ham between two pieces of white bread? I have no idea myself, but I do love it. The eggs are done so that it remains tender, the egg flavour intense, with a hint of creaminess. It sounds like something that's easy enough to mimic at home, right? Ehhh, well, at least to me. The perfection of the eggs is gained through flipping hundreds of eggs daily. When you take that first bite, savour the flavours and the textures. Sounds severe for a scrambled eggs and ham huh? I don't know about you, but I'll go the distance for the perfect egg and ham sandwich any day.

A streaky thin piece of cheap processed ham, a hefty layer of golden yellow scrambled eggs, a generous spread of butter on impeccably soft and chewy locally baked thick white bread, crust off, is an ultimate combo. Any less of the best of each is a disappointment. I think there must be three whole egg yolks in each sandwich because of the intensity of the egg flavours, the golden yellow colour and the height of the eggs. Talk about raising your cholesterol!

If you like your eggs and ham on a plate, opt for the plated all-day breakfast. You want your eggs sunny-side up, over-easy or scrambled? This plate comes with two strips of ham on the side or on top of the eggs, and two half slices of buttered toast. You can layer them like an open-faced sandwich, or eat them separately, however you like. The macaroni/spaghetti (depending on your preference) in soup is breakfast to most, a comfort food to some. Usually served with a few gangly pieces of washed-out lean cha siu or beef in a flavourful stock.

Nai Cha (milk tea), HK-style coffee, and "Yin-Yeung" (meaning Yin and Yang in Cantonese, is a concoction of half milk tea and half HK-style coffee), are common and specialised beverages at these eateries. Eggs, macaroni and milked caffeine goes hand-in-hand at these local joints.

What You'll Need to Know

A meal like this comes cheap, very cheap. The average price for a sandwich is $17. A set meal of the plated eggs and ham, plus the pasta, plus a drink is under $30, leaving you and your wallet full. A downside at these eateries is that it's a very English challenged experience. The old timers in the biz offer no English menu, and the servers won't be able to communicate outside their mother tongue. Like I said, it's a very local experience.

Take me with you (not literally, but my dictionary) for an ultimate experience. Words are written so you can pronounce them as written, let me know how it goes.

Daan - Eggs

Jeen Daan - Fried Eggs

Chow Daan - Scrambled Eggs

Fuo Tui - Ham

Daw Si - Toast

Sam Mun Zhi - Sandwich

Tui Daan Zhi - Ham and Egg sandwich

Daan Zhi - Egg Sandwich

Toong Fun - Macaroni

Yee Fun - Spaghetti

Cha Siu Yee Fun/Toong Fun - Cha Siu Spaghetti/Macaroni

Ngao Yuk Yee Fun/Toong Fun - Beef Spaghetti/Macaroni

Nai Cha/Doong Nai Cha - Milk Tea (hot)/Iced Milk Tea

Ga Fe/Doong Ga Fe - Coffee (hot)/Iced Coffee

Yin Yeung/Doong Yin Yeung - Yin Yeung (hot)/Iced Yin Yeung

Places to Try

The most famous Dairy Company of all is the Australia Dairy Co. situated in Jordan, known to have the best eggs done any way. And might I just add that they make the best scramble eggs on earth (with a little help from a secret ingredient). The HK style service is prevalent, but you must commend these local servers for their immaculate efficiency and sharpness! The demand for tables is high, so don't even think about making yourself comfortable. Sit down, order, eat, pay, all within 15 minutes. This is the pronto HK buzz I tell you.

Another newly opened nostalgic egg spot is Capital Cafe in Wanchai. Decorated in old school "bing-sut" demeanour, but instead of the hand-written menu on coloured poster paper from the good ol' days, the walls are dressed with movie star posters and celebrity signature boards. Their Scrambled Eggs with Black Truffles is the reflection of the modern day hunger for lavish things even at the simplest places.

For me the simplest foods leave the deepest, lasting impressions, and are the hardest to replicate. Enjoy.

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