Hui Liu San is the top name for mango desserts in Hong Kong. Their outlets are everywhere. When I first tried Hui Liu San in 2006, I loved it. Unfortunately the quality has gone down over the years. It is still acceptable even though it is not in the same league as Yong Kang 15 in Taipei. The reason is the quality of the mangos. Yong Kang 15′s mangos are fresh and tasty while the mango quality at Hui Liu San is inconsistent.
Fresh mango, black and white glutinous rice in mango puree
Mango ice cream, glutinous rice balls, mango ice icream, in mango puree.
Mango Sampler Platter
The three desserts I just listed are among the top sellers at Hui Liu San and my personal favorites. They survived the various menu changes that Hui Liu San constantly churns out. Even the most popular chains in HK have to constantly crank out new menu items to entice their customers.
Yea I miss it
The one on Centre Street off Chinatown had such an unwelcoming exterior that I never ventured in. They wouldn’t have used Filipino mangoes anyway. Taiwan seemed more of a fruit paradise with so much fresh fruit available for sale (in plastic baggies) and there hasn’t been the same news that retail rents are out of control in Taipei like it is in Hong Kong (and Manhattan).
I think high rents are like killing the golden goose. I remember when delicious Jamaican coffee (Blue Mountain brand) was 25 cents to 50 cents in Chinatown and it was WAY better than Dunkin Donuts but not as good as espresso. I remember REAL buttercream in Chinese bakeries and definitely real eggs and fresh squeezed orange juice in the paper wrapped sponge cakes. I think frozen puff pastry and tiramisu flavoring doesn’t go towards longevity.
How is Saint’s Alp in Hong Kong? I think their seating is too uncomfortable and their nondrink menu items aren’t competitive in terms of quantity and freshness and execution. I liked their drinks better than Starbucks but four dollars is too much for me when a half gallon of juice is about that much.
I read an article recently that said mango production India had been blighted this year, including the famous Alphonso — I wonder if that could have affected the quality? Whatever the case, this desserts look delicious. What’s your favorite Hui Liu San branch?
They are all about the same. I usually go to the one in the Shun Tak center (Macau Ferry Terminal) as that is the one closest to me.