Shanghai Street

Where to buy kitchen supplies, kitchen utensils, baking supplies, small appliances for kitchen in Hong Kong? Basically all things Kitchen! The ANSWER is Shanghai Street in Kowloon area. If you are looking for all things kitchen at reasonable prices, head straight to Shanghai Street. You need to take the MTR to Yau Ma Tei station in Kowloon. Its a couple of stops after Tsim Sha Tsui (TST). Once you land in Yau Ma Tei, then take exit B that goes to Portland Street.

You will exit the MTR to hit Portland Street. Cross Portland street across and keep walking to come to Shanghai Street. Shanghai street is parallel to Portland street. The shops should start right away after walking for about 3-4 minutes. If it doesn’t, you are going in the opposite direction.

You will find bargain priced quality kitchen supplies at this place. Shanghai Street has overflowing kitchen shops that serves the requirements of both restaurants and home cooks. You will find store after store filled with pots and pans, cleavers, regular knives, chopping boards, baking supplies, small appliances like blenders, rice cookers, and a super wide range of ceramic-ware. You will find industrial range of kitchen supplies too. If you love cooking, then its a delight to visit Shanghai Street. You will find repetitive items in some shops but that’s ok. Check for the prices in shops and pick the one that gives at the cheapest price. Wall mounted stainless steel racks to toothpicks, you will be delighted with so much choice on offer.

In India, we are so used to using stainless steel bowls for mixing, cooking etc… You will find them all here. I was surprised to find stainless steel plates and cups too! They even have pressure cookers.

Kitchen aid stand mixer costs a bomb at Hong Kong upmarket stores. You will find it at a comparatively lesser price here at Shanghai Street shops. Same goes with branded heavy duty blenders, juicers etc…

Pro Kitchen This store is well stocked with all kind of western kitchenware, small appliances and gadgets. They had all sorts of small appliances popular in western countries like kitchen-aid stand mixers, juicers, coffee makers, blenders, bread makers, handheld mixers etc.. The nearby stores even had sous-vide cooking equipment’s and heavy duty blenders of all sizes.

Man Kee Chopping Board They have been in business for more than 50 years. I was in awe to see the chopping boards that were carved out of a single piece of wood. Those giant wooden chopping boards that look like ottomans are a delight to watch. Do not miss this store.

They also sell all sizes of regular chopping boards, Japanese sushi making tools made of wood, cute little wooden spoons and all kinds of kitchen utensils.

You will also be able to find some traditional moon cake molds here.

Chan Chi Kee knife shop I first knew about Shanghai street after watching an Anthony Bourdain layover episode. He visits Chan Chi Kee knife shop on the show. The giant cleavers and the whole shop filled with knives that they show on the episode will make you want to visit Shanghai Street. You can watch the show here. (They show Shanghai street around the 18th minute onwards) Cleavers, cleavers and cleavers wherever you turn. Wooden handles, metal handles, so sharp and so many varieties.

I have found that even the cheap $50 HKD knives to be incredibly sharp. I bought one to test how long it stays sharp. I have had it for more than three weeks now and it is still very sharp just like day one even after 3 weeks of extensive chopping. They are worth it. Look for knives that are made in Japan.

Shanghai street is also a baking supplies galore. If you love baking, then you are a kid in a candy store. Tools, cutters, silicone moulds, cookie sheets, cake pans, baking ingredients…. You will find them all here.

I Love Cake If you love baking, then you will get all the things you need here. From baking pans, cookie sheets, bundt pans, moulds, cookie cutters to cup cake wrappers, ramekins, food gel colours, nozzles, tart pans, metal icing tips, parchment etc… you will even find baking ingredients here.

You will pick up way more than you need if you like baking!!!!

It was an over populated whisk world across the shops in Shanghai street!

And spatulas!

Crockery Lots of shops on the lane are well stocked with ceramic-ware. From plates to cups, teapots to sleek serveware. They have it all. The japanese ceramic-wares, teapots and saucers, soup bowls in shanghai street stores are all so elegant and cute.

I also came across super heavy mortar and pestles carved out of granite which looked too good to pass. Then the Le Creuset style enameled cast iron pots were there too!

The iron pans, woks, whisks, spatulas you will get everything here. Its a kitchen supply stores heaven.

Even cast iron pans (mocked design like the American LODGE), Iron pancake pans, clay pots etc…

Then, then, then I came across this knife store. I spent close to about couple of hours in the knife section. The Japanase hand crafted knives were so good. The price range starts from $1000 HKD upwards. The layers of steel was so so visible that one realises how much labour, man hours and craftsmanship would have gone into making these knives. Labor of knife love.

Plus, they have good stock of all popular knives. They had a full range of my favorite Wusthof knives. I have been eyeing on buying a nakiri vegetable knife for a long time and they had it.

And came the dim sum steamers!!!!!!!!! You would find bamboo steamers for very reasonable prices. Single bamboo dim sum steamers were so cute.

And these! Sizzlers seems to be so popular here!

The streets seemed endless. Be prepared to carry a lot of stuff. Come with big shopping bags.

Have fun and shop to your hearts desire in this wonderful kitchen heaven!

This is a very easy Egg (muttai) biryani done in the pressure cooker. But instead of just serving the biryani with boiled eggs, this recipe gives the boring eggs a twist. The eggs are stuffed and then pan fried. This is a very easy recipe that can be done within an hour from start to finish. Here is how to do it.

A quick biryani tip: One important thing to do for any biryani is to gently wash the rice and soak it in lots of water for at-least 20 minutes. It helps in keeping the rice grains from becoming starchy and mushy later. So before starting to cook, soak the rice and then move on with the other steps.

Heat oil in a pan and add in the bay leaves, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon. I added star anise too. If you want a rich biryani, you can substitute ghee instead of oil or use a combination of both. Fry for 10 seconds. Add in the sliced onions and fry till the onions are starting to brown.

Grind the ginger, green chillies and garlic with 1/4 cup of water to a smooth paste. Add in the ground paste and the chopped tomatoes to the pan. Fry till the tomatoes are soft and the mixture looks a little dry. Do not cook on high flame or the mixture will burn on the sides.

Add in the salt and the chopped mint leaves and coriander leaves. Saute for a couple of minutes.

Add in the water. For every cup of rice used, add 1.5 cups of water. We used 2 cups of rice. So add 3 cups of water. Let it come to a boil. Once the liquid comes to a boil, add in the soaked and drained rice. Check for seasoning. Close the pan and cook for exactly 2 whistles (6-7 minutes). Switch off the flame and let it rest until the pressure from the cooker gets released naturally. Open the cooker and gently fluff up the rice.

Now the eggs. Here is how to boil the eggs the correct way. Adding the eggs in hot water will help in easy peeling of eggs later on. Always start the eggs in hot boiling water.

Cut the boiled eggs into half. Remove the yolk and set aside in a bowl. Add in the green chillies, coriander leaves, little milk, salt and a teaspoon of mayonnaise to the yolk mixture. The little tart and smooth mayonnaise works so well when frying eggs. Mix everything well.

Fill the yolk mixture onto the halved eggs. Set aside.

Heat oil in a pan and add in the eggs, stuffed side down. Fry for a minute. Remove the fried eggs to a plate. Set aside.

Serve the biryani with fried eggs.

For the Biryani

• 2 Tablespoon Oil
• 2 Bay leaves
• 2 Cardamom
• 3 Cloves
• 2 Sticks Cinnamon
• 1 Star Anise (optional)
• 3 Red Onions, sliced
• 10 Cloves Garlic
• 2 inch piece Ginger
• 4 - 5 green chillies
• 3 Tomatoes, chopped
• 2 Teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 cup Mint leaves, chopped
• 1/2 cup Coriander leaves, chopped

Rice

• 2 cups Basmati rice
• 3 cups Water

For the Stuffed Eggs

• 4 Eggs (hard boiled)
• 1 Green Chilli
• a pinch of Salt
• 2 teaspoon Milk
• 1 teaspoon Mayonnaise
• 2 sprigs Coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 teaspoon Oil for frying the eggs

For the biryani

1. Heat oil in a pan and add in the bay leaves, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon. Add star anise if using. Fry for 10 seconds. Add in the sliced onions and fry till the onions are starting to brown.
2. Grind the ginger, green chillies and garlic with 1/4 cup of water to a smooth paste. Add in the ground paste and the chopped tomatoes to the pan. Fry till the tomatoes are soft and the mixture looks a little dry.
3. Add in the salt and the chopped mint leaves and coriander leaves. Saute for a couple of minute.
4. Add in the water. Once the liquid comes to a boil, add in the soaked and drained rice. Check for seasoning. Close the pan and cook for exactly 2 whistles (6-7 minutes). Switch off the flame and let it rest until the pressure from the cooker gets released naturally. Open the cooker and gently fluff up the rice.

For the Stuffed Eggs

1. Cut the boiled eggs into half. Remove the yolk and set aside in a bowl. Add in the green chillies, coriander leaves, little milk, salt and a teaspoon of mayonnaise to the yolk mixture. Mix well. Fill the yolk mixture onto the halved eggs. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in a pan and add in the eggs, stuffed side down. Fry for a minute. Remove the fried eggs to a plate. Set aside.
3. Serve the biryani with fried eggs.

• Author: Kannamma - Suguna Vinodh
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins
• Category: Main Dish
• Cuisine: Tamilnadu