Chinese Foods to Try in Hong Kong

I'll say it: Chinese food scares me. Chinese food, with its heavy sauces, mystery meats, and difficult-to-pronounce names makes me uneasy. I lived in Hong Kong for two years and shied away from it -- I'm just a grilled cheese and scrambled egg kinda girl. However, on my most recent trip to HK I sampled some Chinese cuisine that is making me think I should change my mind.

I'm not quite brave enough to try the scads of restaurants and stands located in the maze of Hong Kong's alleys, so decided that a fine dining experience at The Above & Beyond restaurant was probably my best bet for a foray into Cantonese cuisine. Located in Tsim Sha Tsui, on the 28th floor of the Hotel Icon, the setting is non-threatening enough for a squeamish and picky eater like myself to feel comfortable.

A picture diary of what I had:

I began with dim sum, which is always a great choice when you don't want to commit to just one thing.

Crispy Taro Cakes with Whole Abalone

Steamed Truffle Dumplings with Mixed Fungus

Crispy Shrimps Rice Flour Roll

Next up, the main dishes.

Hot and Sour Soup with Scallops

Barbecued Suckling Pig and Honey-glazed Barbecued Kagoshima Pork

Crispy-fried Sweet and Sour Pork with Red Wine Vinegar

Dessert topped off an already decadent meal.

Citron Honey-coated Crispy Egg Twists

Wolfberry and White Sesame Ice Cream

Hungry yet? I was stuffed after such a feast. With the exception of the crispy egg twists, I liked everything, which shocked me since I'm not good with trying new foods, especially if they're foreign.

Are you a fan of Chinese food? Are you a picky eater when you travel?