Push cart noodles (che zhai mein) are a popular treat in Hong Kong where vendors run their business from small carts along the roadside. Well they did in the 1950’s. Now they mostly operate from small stalls in residential areas with minimal tables and chairs.
Che Zhai Mein
I tried a bowl for supper, not too long after my roast goose and siew yuk dinner at Tai Hing. Even then, I got greedy and picked from the assortment of sausages, pig skin, offal, beef balls, fishballs, crabsticks, siew mai, wantan…etc.
This shop serves a variety of noodles too – hor fun, thick noodles, thin noodles, udon, yee mee, maggi mee and oil noodles. Basically, you pick the items you want, hand the bowl over to the uncle or auntie and tell them what noodles you want.
Obviously, it’s easy to differentiate my bowl from Mei’s. The uncle didn’t know how to add the beefy broth into my bowl because it was too full. I reckon I should bring my own huge bowl to fit more ingredients inside, if I plan to return next round.
Simple, fuss-free goodness!
Picking the ingredients requires a bit of skill – the gravy from the ingredients can alter the taste of the beef broth. Some for the better, some not so good. Mine was pretty decent, but Mei’s broth was yummier. To be fair, she’s been in Hong Kong for a couple of months so that’s an unfair advantage. :P
My noodles cost about HKD45. That’s pretty reasonable considering the amount. I don’t know how to get to this pushcart place and I can’t read the signboard either. But I know that you need to take the MTR to Sai Wan Ho and go to Exit A. The shop is inside Tai On Buidling.
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Ambiance: 4/10
Price: 7/10
Food: 6/10 (non halal)
Verdict: Not great, but I liked the experience.
Push Cart Noodles
Sai Wan Ho (MTR)
Tai On Building
Hong Kong