Lok Yuen King of Beef Balls (乐园牛丸王)

Eat your way around Hong Kong:

Are these the so-called ‘Exploding Beef Balls’ in the Stephen Chow comedy The God of Cookery? Rumour has it that the scriptwriter was inspired after tasting Lok Yuen’s Beef and Fish Maw Balls. “We were the first to offer this and now everyone calls this dish the ‘Exploding Beef Balls’,” says the owner of Lok Yuen.

Beef is the main ingredient in the Beef and Fish Maw Balls. Pepper and garlic are added for taste after removing the tendons from the beef, and they also help to obscure any fishiness.

The Four Treasures Noodles is ideal for those who wanted to try everything, as it consists of six types of meat/fish balls in handmade fi sh noodles. The Fish Dumplings contain dried sole and dried shrimp, and goes very well with the beef and pork bone soup which is simmered for more than 10 hours.

Recommendations

• The Fish Dumplings (HK$23) are completely made of fish, including the dumpling skin. With six types of ingredients, the Four Treasures Noodles (HK$23) is a good choice for first-time patrons who want to try a bit of everything.
• Be careful when you bite into the Fish Maw Beef Balls (HK$27), as the steamy broth may scald your tongue.
• The Fried Fish Skin (HK$11) of the yellow eel improves the taste of the soup.

Only the “Exploding Beef Balls” (aka Beef and Fish Maw Balls) is worth a try!

Location: 11 Fa Yuen St, Kowloon, Hong Kong (view Google Maps)
Directions: From Mongkok MTR Station Exit E2, walk along Nelson Street until you arrive at Fa Yuen Street, turn right and walk on.
Tel: 852-2384-0496
Opening Hours: 9am to 3am