With the 5.1 Golden Week crowds preparing to visit Hong Kong, tourists do not need to settle for the same old souvenir tins. A new UFood guide, drawing on viral Xiaohongshu posts and in-store checks, rounds up more than 60 must-buy snacks and drinks from major Hong Kong grocery retailers—including Wellcome, ParknShop, 樓上, Don Don Donki, Best Mart 360 and Marks & Spencer—along with discount tips. For travellers who want local flavour, supermarket shelves are becoming the city’s next great souvenir aisle.
Local Staples at Wellcome and ParknShop
Hong Kong’s two biggest supermarket chains are a solid starting point. Wellcome, founded in 1945, remains the city’s oldest major grocery chain, with more than 280 branches across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and the outlying islands as of 2024. Shoppers will find familiar local favourites there, including Zhen Zhen shrimp rings, Garden malt biscuits, Danish butter cookies, Vita Soy Milk and bottled Hong Kong-style milk tea.
ParknShop, meanwhile, offers similar value and has long been a one-stop stop for everyday household snacks. The best strategy is simple: check the front-of-store promotional displays, look for “2-piece specials” and grab local biscuit brands before moving on to imported treats such as Calbee chips or Milka chocolate.
Don Don Donki: Your Japanese Snack Hunting Ground
For Japanese snack fans, Don Don Donki is a must-visit. The retailer released its 2025 Product Awards on April 8, 2025, covering sales from January 2024 to January 2025. The ranking is split into five categories: best sellers, overseas customers’ favourite, viral online products, Gen Z staff picks and customer feedback winners.
Among the standout recommendations are Nissin Donbei fried-tofu udon, a bestselling instant noodle from Japan, and tempura cup udon. Fans of sweet-and-chewy treats should also look for Imuraya mochi ice cream, made by a Japanese brand with nearly a century of history. Popular flavours include red bean, matcha and sesame. For sharing, Tenryu assorted crispy beans come in individual packets, making them an ideal hotel-room or minibus snack.
Marks & Spencer Hidden Gems
British shoppers may already know Marks & Spencer, but M&S outposts in Hong Kong have developed a cult following among foodies and Xiaohongshu users. The current hype revolves around pistachio dark chocolate, pistachio tiramisu and a remarkably cheap HK$3 pistachio crisp stick. Another standout is lobster bisque, a pantry upgrade for travellers who want to recreate an elevated meal at home.
M&S also sells classic Percy Pig sweets, butter biscuits and tea boxes—gifts that pack well and rarely linger at the back of cupboard.
Souvenir Cheat Sheet: What to Add to Your Cart
The guide lists dozens more ideas, but some of the most popular picks include:
- Black & White evaporated milk, an essential ingredient for authentic Hong Kong milk tea
- Orihiro konjac jelly, a low-calorie snack in multiple fruit flavours
- Wa Yuen satay beef slices and spicy braised fish fillets, classic savoury grazing items
- Ferrero Rocher chocolates, a dependable all-occasion gift
- Butterfly pastries and almond sticks, often compared with local bakery treats
- Familie butter cookies, a quiet competitor to fancy cookie tins
- Hello Kitty instant noodles, a playful gift for younger travellers
The Bottom Line
Hong Kong supermarkets are no longer just places to buy water and instant noodles. With the 5.1 Golden Week boosting demand for fresh gift ideas, these tips let tourists skip crowded bakery queues and discover what locals actually eat. As the travel season begins, travellers should check UFood’s full guide on their site or look up the Donki 2025 Product Awards online for the latest crowd-approved snacks.