I'm sad I only discovered Kwai Chung Plaza in recent years. It's a hub for cheap buys and…read moreaffordable food. The third floor of the complex is basically an indoor night market (but opened during the day time). There are so many food stalls, with more variety than I could imagine. They have Taiwanese sausages, Japanese takoyaki, local HK delicacies, and more. Aside from food stalls, they also have actual sit-down restaurants, too. I was not that hungry when I came, so I couldn't indulge in as many foods as I wanted to. If I had more stomach space, I would have definitely fit in some of the many bevs on offer and maybe even ice cream. But they don't only have food. They also sell random products that you could typically find in residential HK malls like clothes, accessories, cute merch, etc. I found some really adorable Sanrio red envelopes here! This place is kind of like a maze and it's easy to get lost in. My sister and I separated here and we ended up going home without the other because that was easier than trying to find each other again. The third floor has some benches circling the escalators area, but they're usually all taken. I was really tired from walking, and I would've stayed longer if I was able to sit and rest for a small break. The one star off is for the lack of sitting areas, confusing layout, and honestly could use a facelift. I would come back again to do a proper food crawl, but I'll probably bring my portable chair.

Kwai Chung Plaza is a vibrant shopping hub in Hong Kong, offering a mix of shops, eateries, and…read moreentertainment. It's perfect for budget-friendly shopping and diverse dining options. However, it can get crowded, and seating is limited. For more fun, check out word games at Wordle Today. A great spot for a lively day out! https://wordletoday.cc/

I only give this place a 4 because I have not had an opportunity to wear many of my purchases and…read morelaunder them to know how the quality will stand up over some time. But I love COS and love that I discovered this store. I am not a fashionista, but I do love well made clothes that look taylored and yet have room to function and move. I always read care labels before a purchase and I do shy away from merino wool because it can pull and not wash well if not extremely well made. COS does have many pieces made of merino wool, so I kind of looked past these items. The clothes might use a lesser quality fabric on many pieces, but the cut and tayloring is current and comparable to items you would find in any high end retailer. The clothes, brand and price point kind of make me think of this brand as higher end than an H&M, less quality and cheaper price than Saks Fifth Avenue brands, equal in cut, structure and function as Marimekko and other equaivalent cut, high-end clothing lines in many ways and very current in the realm of what is happening in fashion. Simple lines, simple colors, modern. For business or casual, COS offers classic pieces I hope to have in my wardrobe for some time. COS is out of England. As stated on their website: "COS is a fashion brand for women and men who want modern, functional, considered design. Offering reinvented classics and wardrobe essentials, we create pieces that are made to last beyond the season. Traditional methods and new techniques merge to form timeless, understated collections. Since launching in 2007, we have opened stores worldwide in carefully considered locations, applying an architectural design concept that preserves buildings' original features whilst creating a modern, welcoming space." The store itself is a two story structure. Lots of staff if you needed assistance and pretty open space to browse around. Men's clothes are on the second floor. Store seems well organized. There are some comfortable seats throughout if you had a spouse who needed to park it while you look around.

Before departing for Hong Kong I thought to search and see if the city had a COS (H&M's high end…read morecousin) and to my surprise and delight, they had not one but two locations! COS (Collection Of Style) was a wardrobe staple of mine when I lived in London. (COS hasn't yet made it to the USA.) As a regular COS shopper I knew the sizing of the clothes here is often variable (in some items I'm an XS, others I'm a M) so I took armloads into the dressing room. I think this is a good strategy in almost any shop (if you're going to go through the hassle to take your clothes off to try on one item, you might as well try on six, right?) but even moreso here. Think you're a medium? Take a small and a large in with you too! This COS shop is on the medium-large side, with two stories and women's, men's and children's offerings. I tried on heaps of clothing and ended up going home with a fun grey jumper whose sleeves you can turn up to reveal a bright blue inside lining, an oversized sweatshirt dress and a cashmere hat. COS is definitely worth a look if you want to inject some Scandinavian cool into your closet.

I think most of us know of H&M, but not many from the states know of Monki. It's own by the same…read morecompany as H&M, but the style and quality of the clothes here are definitely a step up. I'd say Monki is a bit like Urban Outfitters. The clothes are trendy and it caters to people who want to be fashionable without spending a heap of money. This particular location was literally the size of a shoe box, so the selection was lacking compared to larger shops, but I was able to pick up a shirt and a bag. Both of which costs under $200 HKD!

I don't go to Mong Kok very often, but when I do, I try to squeeze in a trip to Monki at Langham…read morePlace. Monki is right next to H&M - and also, in my opinion, the worst H&M there is because it's permanently crowded and they never seem to turn up the air conditioning. So whenever I'm at Langham, I always give the H&M a miss and head straight for Monki. The clothes at Monki range from girly to things you can sort of create a goth look out of, making it a place where everyone can find something that they like. It's one of the few places I know with sizes XXS, so it's great for people who are a little on the smaller size. I've bought everything from nice dresses to basics here and I find that the quality of clothes here is not bad at all. The accessories section at Monki is worth checking out - they have some really cool jewelry like statement necklaces that go great when paired with solid tops. Their stuff doesn't look cheap either. Last year, they were doing a sale on their tote bags, and I was out shopping with a friend from Singapore and she bought 2 back. They were only around $50 each, if I'm not wrong, the designs were cute and the cloth seemed pretty solid and durable. The changing rooms at Monki are really cool - they're filled with mirrors on each side, so looking straight into any one is nothing short of a real life optical illusion! I do wish Monki would have more sales though - usually, they just have one section of stuff on sale and some accessories too. I've never been to Monki and seen that they're having a huge sale. Hopefully, that will change the next time that I am there!