Hong Kong wet markets are the less pretentious version of North American farmer's markets. Don't…read moreget me wrong, I love both. Farmer's markets to me are a great place to get local produce but then you also get stuff like hipster coffee, cucumber/avocado/kale water, and funky cheeses. But these wet markets are something else. Less refined, but feeling like the real deal. Here you walk around hanging cuts of meat and tanks of seafood. Take in that raw stench and realize that cow stomach hanging from a hook could be in your next bowl of noodles. Tai Po Hui is indoors with air conditioning, already one step above traditionally outdoor street stalls, but you still get that authentic feeling. Vendors are talk-shouting across the stands to each other. People are picking out the best cut of steak, the fattest fish, the plumpest chicken feet. This is where the neighborhood comes to shop, haggle, and grab cheap eats. I'm sure there are many other wet markets around Hong Kong, but this one is very large and very clean. The freshness of the food is remarkable. The shrimp are bouncing around on top of each other, the fish are still swimming energetically. And as someone who did not grow up in Hong Kong, I saw species I've never seen before, like beautiful Lilac-coloured clams and rose apples. I never went to the cooked food centre, but I'm sure it's as impressive and diverse as the ground level market. This feels like a common market for the common folk, but it can also be an exotic food journey for tourists. I cannot recommend going to a wet market enough and Tai Po Hui Market is a great choice. It's truly a unique experience to get a taste of local culture, figuratively and literally. This, of course, is juxtaposed by the fact that the parking lot is an absolute mess of Mercedes, BMWs, and all manners of rich cars from the nearby millionaires who like to live in Tai Po. Just uh...take the subway. :) (53/100) - 2017

Splish-splash, first floor gives you a fish bath. Tomato or tahmahtoh, the second floor serves up…read moreroots, fruits, veggies and potatoes. No time to cook? Just want to chow down now? Head to the third floor for some cooked noodles, stir fried meats, and spongy hot fish balls. Huge selection of foods for whatever your taste- except cooked western foods- don't look for those here unless you're making them yourself from the ingredients available.

I saw Ma po po farm featured in a blog as one of the top 5 organic farms in Hong Kong and next…read moreSunday morning, off I was to check it out. Mapopo Farm is located in Ma Shi Po Village. I took the MRT to Fan Ling and then got on a light bus to the village. If you don't speak Cantonese you should probably bring the name of the farm written down in Cantonese characters as locals didn't seem to have a clue about it when I talked to them in English. After 15 minutes walking in circles I found out that the farm was just 2 minutes away from the bus stop... I was extremely excited to be there at last! I first visited the small market at the entrance. There wasn't much on display, just a few leafy green, potatoes, and ginger. They are all organic and prices are very reasonable. A nice old lady added some extra ginger to my bag for free. I asked some of the staff about the produce and they told me this time of the year (March) wasn't the greatest to grow vegetables and recommended I come back in June. At the time I visited the farm there was a cooking workshop going on at the other side of the market, but it was being held in Cantonese so I just wander around to see if I could pick up any words...not a chance! Just after I made my precious purchases I decided to visit the farm, as rain was on a truce. I saw a group of people doing a guided tour and I thought it was a better idea than visit on your own. That way you can find out more about what the actually grow and how the community works. However my personal tour around Mapopo was a peaceful treat to the senses...you only need to walk a few steps into the farm to feel you are in the middle of nature. After my retreat, it started to pour down again and I started my long journey back... I would recommend visiting Mapopo farm on a sunny day, arrange for a guided tour and bring your friends along. They sell their produce at their market on Wednesdays and Sundays and provided the reason is fruitful, it is worth checking it out.

This is the place if you want to do cheap grocery shopping in the Ma On Shan Area. There are plenty…read moreof higher end grocery stores in the area, and 耀安街市 (Yiu On Market or "Gai See") is the cheapest in the hood. Nestled in a somewhat back alley way of Yiu On Estate, Yiu On Market occupies a very large square footage of space with many vendors selling fish, meat, vegetables at a cheap price. The food here is out in the open, meaning you pick what you want, how much you want, and can scrutinize the quality closely. Unlike the higher end grocery stores in the same Yiu On complex which have all your meat and produce prepackaged, you can really see what you're getting and judge the freshness. The prices here are dirt cheap compared to the other markets. The shopping experience may be a bit overwhelming for someone who has never been to a Chinese market. You'll see ladies yelling at the top of their lungs marketing how fresh and cheap their vegetables are; you'll see men gutting fresh fish in front of you; and you'll see women cleaver-happy as they chop up roasted duck and char siu for customers. Definitely not what you'd typically see at a Safeway or Albertson's! If you happen to be in the Ma On Shan area, which tourists rarely are, and you need to buy cheap vegetables or meat -- come here! Not everyone may speak English, so you'd definitely be in for a unique cultural experience coming here!