Siu mai, rice noodles, even concern groups for… coriander? We’re here to tell you all about these quirky food-related concern groups inside Hong Kong’s Facebook community.
There’s been a strange fad in Hong Kong recently, and that’s the emergence of food-related concern groups on Facebook. (Although, if you consider how much Hongkongers love to eat, this fad isn’t that strange at all.) These concern groups cater to hyper-specific communities of local foodies, enabling them to discuss in detail one specific food item in the city. Be it street food, dim sum, hot pot, or egg tarts – whatever food you fancy – check out the concern groups to find the expert recommendations for the best in town.
What’s the catch?
You need to know how to read Chinese, or at least be proficient enough to identify the names of the restaurants. Also, note that not every post is a recommendation; in fact, many of them are complaints. So, make sure you scour the comments to gauge if the said restaurants are good or bad. That being said, we think you should ultimately be the judge of your own experiences, and we encourage everyone to explore the city! Without further ado, let us introduce you to the top five most popular food-related local concern groups on Facebook, so you can join in on the fun.
Five local food concern groups you should be joining on Facebook
1. Hong Kong Siu Mai Concern Group (香港燒賣關注組)
If you’re wondering about the beginning of it all, look no further than Hong Kong Siu Mai Concern Group. Established in mid-2020, the group has amassed nearly 100,000 followers in half a year (and about 120,000 as of now). And what are these people concerned about exactly? Well, it’s all about the quality and prices of siu mai and soy sauce, baby. How this group works is that the admins write posts, to which regular members can then react, comment, and share. These posts are often restaurant ratings and critiques, as well as DIY siu mai tips and recipes. Also, admins engage with fellow siu mai aficionados by playing guessing games, where followers need to guess where certain siu mai are from, judging by only one picture – it’s a superpower at this point, isn’t it?
On that note, have you figured out where the siu mai in the picture are from? According to clever netizens, they’re siu mai made from minced fish, pork, and preserved vegetables from Seng Kee in Fan Ling. How people manage to identify the exact brand and flavour of siu mai just by looking at one photo – we’ll never know.
Take a look at Hong Kong Siu Mai Concern Group (香港燒賣關注組) here.
2. Hong Kong Rice Noodles Concern Group (香港米線關注組)
Also known as rice vermicelli or mixian, rice noodles are the staple of many Hongkongers’ diets. Created at the end of December 2020, the Rice Noodles Concern Group has gathered over 123,000 like-minded individuals in just half a year. The group is very active, as it welcomes anyone to post. Its casualness encourages people to write reviews, so maybe you can toss a photo up, write a sentence or two – and you might just become the next viral foodie on the Internet!
Head over to Hong Kong Rice Noodles Concern Group (香港米線關注組) here.
3. All Day Breakfast Concern Group
Hong Kong’s Facebook concern groups don’t just revolve around HK-style food – here’s one for those of you who love all day breakfasts. Referred to as ADB, members of this group make frequent posts about the best all day breakfasts they find around the 852. Feel free to get hands on by cooking your own ADB, then show it off on the group for some love!
Check out the All Day Breakfast Concern Group here.
4. Hong Kong Satay Beef Noodles Concern Group (香港沙爹牛肉麵關注組)
Are you a fan of satay beef noodles? We are! Discussing everything about satay beef noodles (and satay beef noodles only), you’ll find reports and reviews of restaurants written by users of the group, as well as homemade recipes. According to this concern group, the best satay beef noodles need to have adequate spice, hints of peanuts, freshly cooked and al dente noodles, as well as a sauce that isn’t wishy-washy. In addition, there’s been intense debates about whether there should be pre-mixed peas, corn, and carrots (三色豆) in the ideal bowl of satay beef noodles. What do you think?
Find out more about Hong Kong Satay Beef Noodles Concern Group (香港沙爹牛肉麵關注組) here.
5. Hong Kong Milk Tea Concern Group (香港奶茶關注組)
A trip to the local cha chaan teng just isn’t complete without a cup of Hong Kong-style milk tea. Heck, even those of us who are lactose intolerant often find its aroma and flavours irresistible! With over 55,000 members in this private group, people usually share their experiences with milk tea at various restaurants in town, their reviews of branded bottled milk teas, or the best ways to enjoy the drink.
Join the Hong Kong Milk Tea Concern Group (香港奶茶關注組) here.
Bonus: My Wife Has Married Mirror, Severing Our Marriage Concern Group (我老婆嫁左比Mirror導致婚姻破裂關注組)
Turns out concern groups aren’t just about food, so here’s a bonus! If you haven’t heard of Mirror yet, chances are you’re either an expat, or you live under a rock (just teasing ya!). This famous boy band has swept Hong Kong with its charms and artistry, ever since its debut in 2018, following ViuTV’s King Maker talent show. Over the past few years, Mirror has gained a substantial fanbase in Hong Kong. With people across HK all moaning about their obsessed partners being ‘stolen away’, it’s no wonder that this concern group managed to accumulate over 200,000 members within just three days since its creation. Pretty crazy, don’t you think?!
Check out My Wife Has Married Mirror, Severing Our Marriage Concern Group (我老婆嫁左比Mirror導致婚姻破裂關注組) here for some laughs.
