I’ve found myself back in Hong Kong. This wasn’t a planned trip, but life has a way of happening. That said, I still need to eat. Saying I like eating the food of my ancestors is a bit of an understatement. I’m not really into those high-end Cantonese restaurants; instead, I’m drawn to the places that remind me of basic home comfort—the kind of meals my grandparents used to serve when they were still around.

It was breakfast time, and I needed something warm and familiar. And what’s better than jook, also known as congee, when you’re in Hong Kong? I did a bit of Googling and came across a place called Catch a Congee. I actually started on OpenRice, but it was so loaded with ads it drove me nuts. So, I gave up and used Google instead.

When I got there, it wasn’t too busy. I noticed they used QR codes to order—efficient, and I could read the menu in English. I went with my two favourite Cantonese breakfast staples: jook with preserved egg and pork, and cheung fun (steamed rice rolls) stuffed with Chinese fried dough, dried shrimp, and scallions. I also needed something to drink, so I had an iced milk tea.

The jook arrived quickly, as expected. It had generous chunks of preserved egg, strips of pork, a bit of ginger, and spring onions. The flavour was mild, comforting, and not overly seasoned, which I actually appreciated first thing in the morning. I added a few extras: pickled cabbage, a splash of vinegar, and a bit of chilli oil, which really brought it to life.

The Cantonese milk tea differs significantly from the Taiwanese version. It’s less sweet, has a much stronger tea flavour using British-style tea, and is made with evaporated milk instead of fresh milk or creamers. Honestly, I hadn’t had it in ages and kind of forgot what it tasted like. It was… okay—just a bit too strong on the tea for my personal preference.

Then came the cheung fun, served with soy sauce on the side. I added chilli sauce and hoisin—bam—so good. Honestly, whoever thought of wrapping crispy fried bread inside a rice roll deserves an award.

All in all, a simple, no-frills local spot. The service was friendly, the seating was straightforward, and the food hit exactly the right note for a Hong Kong morning. Forget cereal—this is how I want to start my day.

Address: 63號 Pilkem St, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong