Whether you like them sweet or savoury, these glutinous rice dumplings are the best for celebrating Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong.
Good news, Honeys – yet another long weekend is around the corner! In 2022, the Dragon Boat Festival lies on Friday 3 June, and not only is that day a public holiday, but it’s also the occasion for zongzi (粽子), or glutinous rice dumplings. While they’re all pyramid-shaped and wrapped in aromatic bamboo leaves, Northern Chinese rice dumplings are traditionally sweet, filled with bean paste and jujube; whereas Southern Chinese ones are savoury, stuffed with pork belly and salted egg. No matter you prefer them sweet or savoury, luckily for us, we’re blessed with plenty of choices and flavours here in the 852. Here are our top picks for the best rice dumplings in Hong Kong this year.
Celebrate Dragon Boat Festival 2022 with these rice dumplings in Hong Kong
1. Chilli Fagara
Add a kick to your classic rice dumplings with Chilli Fagara’s Dragon Boat Zhongzi ($88)! Inspired by the flavours of her hometown, Chong Qing, Chef Chan elevates the traditional sticky rice dumplings with a hint of spice. The glutinous rice dumplings are generously filled with Sichuan cured meat, Iberico pork, salted egg yolk, and mixed beans, before being wrapped in a bamboo leaf. What’s more, those purchasing four rice dumplings or above will receive a complimentary jar of handmade Mandarin Tangerine Sauce.
Order Chilli Fagara’s rice dumplings via its website.
Chilli Fagara, 7 Old Bailey Street, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2796 6866, 中環奧卑利街7號麻辣燙
2. Yuè, Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel
For those who love a bit of variety, Sino Hotels’ range of glutinous rice dumplings will be perfect for you. Crafted by Yuè in Gold Coast Hotel, this year’s offerings include two savoury and two sweet rice dumplings: Rice Dumpling with Whole Abalone and Conpoy ($248); Chinese Ham and Salty Pork Rice Dumpling ($158); Treasury Rice Dumpling with Assorted Beans ($138); and Golden Lotus Seed Paste Rice Dumpling ($118). There’s also a special Rice Dumpling Set ($338) which contains a Rice Dumpling with Whole Abalone and Conpoy alongside a jar of Yuè XO Sauce. Moreover, you’ll get to enjoy discounts upon buying ten dumplings or more, making them ideal for gifting.
Find out more about Yuè’s rice dumplings. Note that they’re only available until 29 May.
Yuè, Lower Ground Level, Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel, 1 Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong, p. 2452 8668, 屯門青山公路1號香港黃金海岸酒店低層地下粵
3. Hotel Icon
Whether you like them classic or modern, Hotel Icon has you covered with its two different rice dumplings gift sets this year. Firstly is the Truffle Dumpling with Yunnan Ham, Conpoy, and Abalone ($288), crafted by Above & Beyond’s Executive Chinese Chef, Wong Chi-ki. You’ll find premium ingredients within the rice dumplings, including South African abalone, Japanese dried conpoy, Chinese Yunnan ham, pork belly, chestnuts, truffle sauce, and more.
Unlike anything we’ve seen before is Hotel Icon’s Rainbow Sweet Dumpling with Durian Pandan Kaya ($238). A unique creation by Executive Chef Danny Ho (AKA Durian Price) and Guest Chef Oliver Rattanamanee, this dumpling is made up of three colours and flavours of glutinous rice: blue (butterfly pea flower); green (pandan); and yellow (turmeric). Rice dumplings in Hong Kong have never been so snazzy!
Find out more about Hotel Icon’s rice dumplings. Note that you must order at least three days in advance.
Hotel Icon, 17 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Hong Kong, p. 3400 1189, 尖東科學館道17號唯港薈
4. Deliveroo x Infiniti C
Conscious about overeating during the Dragon Boat Festival period? Say no more – Deliveroo is partnering up with Infiniti C, a local brand that promotes gluten-free and low-carb diets (not to mention it’s also one of our fave cake shops), to create the Gluten-free Low-carb Vegetarian Rice Dumpling ($78) and Gluten-free Keto Rice Dumpling ($85) this season. In place of pork belly and salted egg yolk, the former uses cauliflower, red beans, green beans, and mung beans to create an equally scrumptious filling.
Order Deliveroo x Infiniti C’s rice dumplings via Deliveroo.
Infiniti C has several locations across Hong Kong.
5. Man Ho Chinese Restaurant, JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong
Making its Dragon Boat Festival debut this year are the glutinous rice dumplings from Man Ho Chinese Restaurant. This one-Michelin-starred eatery is offering two different rice dumplings (from $388 for two): Man Ho Red Bean Glutinous Rice Dumpling and Man Ho Dried Abalone Glutinous Rice Dumpling. The latter features premium ingredients carefully selected by Executive Chef Jayson Tang. These include South African dried abalone; conpoy and shiitake mushroom from Japan; Korean organic chicken thigh; Hunan lotus seeds; and more.
Order Man Ho’s glutinous rice dumplings set via its e-shop. Psst – there’s a 10% discount for all online purchases!
Man Ho Chinese Restaurant, 3/F, JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong, p. 2810 8366, 金鐘金鐘道88號太古廣場香港 JW 萬豪酒店3樓萬豪金殿
6. Hung Tong, Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong
Offering an array of goodies this Dragon Boat Festival, including gift boxes and hampers, Kerry Hotel’s Hung Tong Deluxe Dumplings Trio ($288) will be sure to please. This set contain three handcrafted rice dumplings with different flavours: salami dumpling with cordycep; black garlic chicken dumpling with porcini; and sweetened red bean dumpling with osmanthus. Those with a more traditional palate will love the Hung Tong Sticky Rice Dumpling with Yunnan Ham and Conpoy ($248) on offer, too.
Order Kerry Hotel’s rice dumplings via its e-shop.
Hung Tong, Level 7, Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong, 38 Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom Bay, Hong Kong, p. 2252 5320, 紅磡灣紅鸞道38號香港嘉里酒店7樓紅糖
7. Nina Hotels
Nina Hotels is serving a savoury Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Whole Abalone ($198 per dumpling) and sweet Glutinous Rice Dumplings with Lotus Seed Paste ($108 per set of two) for Dragon Boat Festival 2022. The former is filled with a whole abalone, jinhua ham, and conpoy; whereas the latter contains handmade lotus seed paste, with its silky sweetness complemented by chewy, sticky rice.
Order Nina Hotels’ glutinous rice dumplings via its e-shop.
Nina Hotels (如心酒店) has several locations across Hong Kong.
8. The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
The popular Deluxe Dumpling Set ($378) by The Ritz-Carlton is making a comeback this Dragon Boat Festival. This rice dumpling is made with abalone, conpoy, pork, and other top-quality ingredients. In addition to the savoury dumplings is the new Premium Red Bean Glutinous Rice Dumplings Set ($268), which contains a Shanghainese-style Sticky Rice Dumpling with Red Bean Filling, and a Red Bean Paste with Mandarin Peel Rice Dumpling.
Order The Ritz-Carlton’s rice dumplings via its e-shop.
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, International Commerce Centre (ICC), 1 Austin Road West, West Kowloon, Hong Kong, p. 2263 2263, 西九龍柯士甸道西1號環球貿易廣場香港麗思卡爾頓酒店
