Don't Fear The 7/11 Kitchen
- Andrew Spires
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The food in 7 Eleven, although tantalising, is a little terrifying, not least as none of the food is labelled in English and most of it’s not entirely distinguishable as food.
Here are the IslanderHK.com top tips for a delicious and almost nutritious meal on the go. Let's unbox the treasures waiting for you in the kitchen of your local 7/11.
Firstly, it’s worth noting that all food is ordered not at the food counter, but at the till. They’ll then pass you a receipt, which you then pass to the ‘chef’ behind the glass.
🍜 The Noodle that Satisfied a Thousand Cravings
Let's start with the pièce de résistance, the holy grail of Hong Kong 7-Eleven cuisine: the lo mein. Whilst not remotely nutritious, they’re very tasty.
For a humble price, you get a container of perfectly cooked instant noodles, seasoned with a magical, salty, and slightly spicy sauce from a sachet, and finished with a light dusting of magic powder. Don’t ask what’s in it, you probably don’t want to know. It's the kind of meal that's prepared, eaten, and thrown away in less than five minutes, leaving you with zero washing-up and maximum satisfaction. Pro-tip from a regular: you can ask the staff to adjust the spiciness level to your liking!
How to ask: Lo main, un gai.
To adjust the spicy level:
Sil lat = not too spicy
Ho lat = Very spicy
Um yeal lat zu yau = No chilli oil
🍜 My Favourite: Rice Flour Rolls with Sweet Sauce
When I first moved to Hong Kong, you could get ‘churn fun’–the delicious steamed rice flour rolls–in a newspaper from the wet market, like you get a portion of chips in the UK. Newspaper snacks have long since disappeared, but fear not as our trusty 7/11 has your back. Churn fun is eaten with a stick that’s guaranteed to splash the sauce all over your top. Ask for everything added, which includes a sweet, a satay and a soy sauce, topped off with chilli oil and sesame seeds. It’s the don of 7/11 snacking and my kids love it.
How to ask:
Churn fun, un gai.
To adjust the spicy level:
Sil lat = not too spicy
Ho lat = Very spicy
Um yeal lat zu yau = No chilli oil
🍢 The Street Food Circus on a Stick
No visit to a well-equipped 7-Eleven is complete without a stop at the hot food counter. It’s a re-heated street food carnival without the need to wander the streets! You'll find an array of goodies including:
Curry Fish Balls: A quintessential Hong Kong snack, these bouncy balls swimming in a mild curry sauce are a must-try. Non-curried fish balls are also available.
How to ask:
Curry flavour: Ga lei yut daan, un gai.
Non curry: Yut daan, un gai.
These next set can simply be asked by their title name.
Siu Mai (Shao Mai): Those classic pork and shrimp dumplings you love at dim sum, available for a quick fix.
Char Siu Bao (Barbecue Pork Buns): Fluffy, steamed buns filled with sweet and savoury roasted pork. A true Hong Kong dim sum classic.
Mystery Meat on Cocktail Sticks: Be adventurous! Part of the fun is pointing at something unidentifiable and discovering a new favourite.
🥟 Beyond the Counter: Microwaveable Marvels
The magic doesn't stop at the hot counter. The chilled shelves are a treasure trove of ready-to-heat delights. Many stores have microwaves, so you can transform these gems into a steaming hot meal on the spot.
Dumplings: You can even find Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings). The package often comes with microwave instructions.
Meal Boxes & Sandwiches: For a more substantial meal, look for the wide range of meal boxes and sandwiches under the 7-SELECT brand. My favourite is the Chicken Teriyaki sandwich and the Caesar. Surprisingly good for the money.
☕ Must have drink:
I implore you to order a hot local milk tea. It’s like a wet kiss from the gods! Heavily stewed tea with super sweet condensed milk. I add one further sugar.
How to ask:
Yeet nai taa, un gai.
👑 How to Be a 7-Eleven Connoisseur
Grab a Blue Girl or Tsing Tao beer and enjoy your mystery meat snack on some steps right outside the 7/11 for the true Hong Kong experience.
