Served steamy hot, snake soup (also known as dragon stew) is a popular Cantonese delicacy that serves as a “winter warmer” among Hong Kong citizens. But how has this poisonous reptile become an essential treat during cool weather?
During ancient times, people believe that eating snake meat can help strengthen their bones, improve skin, and increase life expectancy. The exotic dish originated in Chinese cuisine and there are only five types of snakes you can mix in the stew. It includes the Chinese cobra, banded krait, Chinese rat snake, radiated rat snake, and long-nosed pit viper.
In this article, we’ll check out some restaurants in Hong Kong that offer the most flavourful snake soup.
Note: Ser Wong Fun and She Wong Lam import snakes from registered farms in Guangxi and Guizhou, while Shia Wong Hip captures snakes from the wild across Asia.
She Wong Lam Snake Restaurant
Considered an aboriginal establishment in the Sheung Wan district, this shop has been offering medicinal products made from snakes for more than a century. They started as a food stall built by an aspiring snake vendor named Lou Tai-lam and eventually expanded into a shop. At present, the restaurant still uses their original wooden sign that reads “She Wong Lam,” which means “Lam – The King of Snakes.” Aside from snake wine and medicines, the shop serves snake soup in Hong Kong to warm the stomachs of their loyal patrons who believe that consuming snake meat can help cure rheumatic disorders.
The restaurant can cater up to 15 customers and is open daily from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Location: 13 Hillier Street, Sheung Wan
Shia Wong Hip
Established in 1960, Shia Wong Hip managed by the Snake King Association specialises in capturing live snakes found in the Sham Sui Po area. They’ve researched thoroughly about the uses of snakes in terms of therapy, medical health, leather goods, and more.
From catching to cooking, the restaurant ensures that they serve the most nourishing and healthiest snake soup in Hong Kong. Aside from snake soup, they also offer wholesale supply of snake meat, snake strips, and snake bones for purchase or reservation.
They have five varieties of snake soup and other must-try recipes are snakeskin cold salad, salt and pepper snake, dragon braise (snake and chicken), and more.
The restaurant’s snake-centered menu items cost HK$20 to HK$480.
Location: G/F, 170 Apliu Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Ser Wong Fun
With the aim to preserve Cantonese cuisine with traditional cooking skills, this restaurant has been selling live snakes, raw snake meat, and snake wines since 1895 and has been passed down to the fourth generation.
Currently, Ser Wong Fun or Snake King Fen (the old restaurant’s name) guarantees to serve only the healthiest snake soup in Hong Kong.
Regardless of the weather, many Hong Kong citizens love to visit the century-old restaurant to eat snake soup cooked with stir-fried ingredients.
Location: G/F, 30 Cochrane Street, Central
