As cross-border shopping in Shenzhen surges and Hong Kong’s retail sector faces an unprecedented wave of closures, a handful of beloved Yuen Long street food vendors are staging remarkable comebacks—proving that local flavour and community loyalty can still triumph over adversity.
In a city where “staycation” has given way to “stay-and-spend-local” as a rallying cry, three iconic Yuen Long street food stalls have reopened their shutters after teetering on the brink of extinction. Old Market Rice Rolls, Long Ping Sushi Auntie, and Long Ping Fish Maw & Cart Noodles—each a cherished name among Yuen Long’s food-obsessed locals—have transitioned from illegal street carts and night bazaars to permanent brick-and-mortar shops. Their survival stories offer a rare glimmer of hope in Hong Kong’s struggling food-and-beverage landscape.
Old Market Rice Rolls: A Taste of Qing Dynasty History for Pocket Change
Few places in Hong Kong can claim a culinary lineage stretching back to the Qing Dynasty. Old Market (Kau Hui), established in 1669 during the reign of Emperor Kangxi, is often called “Man Qing Street” for its preserved heritage buildings and historic pawnshops. Amid these ancient walls, a humble stall called Kau Hui Tea House rose to fame for its no-frills, ultra-affordable street snacks.
Today, that stall has rebranded as Old Market Rice Rolls and relocated to Yuen Long’s Kai Tak area. But the prices remain frozen in time: HK$10 gets you seven silky rice rolls, eight fish balls, or seven siu mai. Two beef balls cost the same. The new shop even offers a handful of indoor seats—a luxury its predecessor never enjoyed.
“Most of our food sells out by 5 or 6 PM,” a staff member told us. Locals queue daily for these relics of affordable eats, making the stall a must-visit early in any Yuen Long food crawl.
- Address: Shop 26, G/F, Ho Shun Yi Building, 9 Fung Yau Street East, Yuen Long
- Hours: 10 AM to 7–8 PM daily (or until sold out)
Long Ping Sushi Auntie: Thirty Years of Fried Sushi Glory
Ask any Yuen Long resident about late-night eats, and “Auntie’s sushi” remains a ritual. Now in her 70s, the woman behind Long Ping Sushi Auntie has been serving her signature deep-fried sushi for over three decades. Her journey began with a wooden cart in Long Ping Estate, evolved into a booth at the now-defunct Yuen Long Night Bazaar, and recently settled into a permanent stall near Yuen Long Plaza.
At her peak, Auntie could sell 2,000 pieces of fried sushi in a single day—priced at HK$40 for 12 pieces. But business has slowed. “It’s not like before,” she admitted quietly. Yet loyal customers still flock for her fried noodles (HK$50), assorted deep-fried snacks (from HK$15), and teppanyaki chicken wings (HK$30).
“She’s a piece of Yuen Long history,” said regular customer Kenny Wong, 34, who has been visiting Auntie’s stall since he was a child. “We can’t lose places like this.”
- Address: G/F, Man Yip Building, Yuen Long
- Hours: 5 PM to 1 AM daily
Long Ping Fish Maw & Cart Noodles: The 90-Minute Queue Worth Waiting For
Perhaps the most dramatic resurrection belongs to Long Ping Fish Maw & Cart Noodles. What began as a rogue street cart in Long Ping Estate later moved into a shop on Ma Wang Road—until noise complaints forced a temporary shutdown. The owner vanished for months. Foodies mourned.
Then, like a phoenix, the stall reappeared on On Ning Road. And the queues returned with a vengeance.
On a recent visit, this reporter waited 90 minutes for a bowl of fish maw soup (small HK$30, large HK$38) and fish maw with fish broth (small HK$32, large HK$40). The portion was generous to the point of absurdity—shredded fish meat cascading over the rim, held in place only by the lid. The secret weapon: a spoonful of fiery preserved chilli radish (lat choi poh), which locals swear elevates the dish from comfort food to obsession.
“We’re still not serving cart noodles yet,” the owner said, referencing the stall’s former specialty. “But maybe one day.”
- Address: G/F, 188 On Ning Road, Yuen Long
- Hours: From 6 PM until sold out (closed Wednesdays)
A Movement Worth Supporting
These three stalls are microcosms of a larger trend: Hongkongers choosing to dine locally rather than cross the border to Shenzhen, where RMB–HKD arbitrage has made dining dramatically cheaper. According to recent industry data, Hong Kong’s restaurant sector saw over 1,000 closure notices in 2024, while Shenzhen’s dining scene boomed on the back of mainland Chinese and Hong Kong tourists alike.
Yet stalls like Old Market Rice Rolls, Long Ping Sushi Auntie, and Long Ping Fish Maw represent something deeper than economics. They carry the DNA of Yuen Long—its history, its resilience, its refusal to bow to convenience.
The next time you plan a trip to Yuen Long for its legendary B Choy Liang or Wing Nin Cart Noodles, make detours for these three survivors. Bring cash. Bring patience for the queue. But most of all, bring an appetite for stories served on polystyrene plates.
For more Yuen Long food guides, including Michelin-recognised street eats and late-night supper haunts, check our companion articles: [10+ Yuen Long Food Recommendations] and [10+ Yuen Long Supper Spots].