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Header image courtesy of Meyer
Almost two years ago, coronavirus erupted into our lives, we all fell back into the safety of our homes, and collective boredom gave rise to an unprecedented spike in baking cookies, bread, and speciality pastries. Now, the pandemic still hasn’t ceased, and neither really has the fervour in baking, but if you’ve already tried every Basque burnt cheesecake recipe in existence, then how about swotting up on cooking skills as well?
Hong Kong’s various department stores may stock the necessary supplies, but it’s always much more fun to look through speciality stores, so here is a range of excellent cooking and baking supply stores in Hong Kong!
Boasting its status as Hong Kong’s first gourmet cookshop, shoppers shouldn’t expect to find any bargains in Pan-Handler, but there’s a reason these guys have been on the Hong Kong culinary scene since 1988. Housed in one of Central’s most prestigious buildings, this kitchen utensil store stocks a wide range of European tools for both professional chefs and enthusiastic amateur cooks.
They have products for everything from measuring and food prep to roasting, oven-to-table, and utensil care. Shoppers can expect to find reputable brands such as KitchenAid, Dualit, Imperia, and Bamix of Switzerland. Need a pasta machine from Italy, or a set of German or Japanese steel knives? Pan-Handler will have them. This is also our go-to store when buying for fancy wedding gift lists!
Pan-Handler Hong Kong, Shop 227–228, 2/F, Landmark Prince’s Building, 10 Chater Road, Central | (+852) 2523 1672
This low-key foodie company might have flown under your radar but they’ve actually been creating a diverse range of high-quality pots, pans, bakeware, cutlery, and electrical appliances for the modern kitchen since 1972. We’ve got our eye on Meyer’s recently launched range of products called the Accent series, which includes eight products essential to every kitchen. Think ergonomic handles, subtle curves that minimise boilovers and allow for pouring liquids without drips, as well as a clever universal lid that fits everything in the series. Not gonna lie, we’re sorely tempted by their six-piece Spark special edition set that comes in bright warm hues perfect for the Lunar New Year—be still, our beating heart!
It speaks to our food-loving sensibilities that Meyer’s products have been created by foodies for foodies, and their designs solve problems that commonly occur in kitchens everywhere. Visit their sizable store in Kwun Tong to view (read: loving cradle) their range in person, and see if you’re lucky enough to also catch some outlet sale prices! Pro tip: Spend just $200 to enjoy two hours of free parking in the building itself, and take your time to shop around.
Meyer, 382 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong | (+852) 2763 9313
We’re so glad to see that our favourite local zero-waste grocery store also stocks a range of sustainable kitchenware. If your new year’s resolution was to commit to a plastic-free lifestyle, then you might want to deck out your kitchen with eco-friendly utensils that are made from biodegradable plant fibre or made to outlast fast consumerism. We particularly like their bamboo- and corn-based bioplastic products, as well as the range made from olive wood. Aesthetically pleasing and being mindful of the environment in one good? We’re here for it!
Slowood, locations across Hong Kong
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Every cook worth their salt knows that Shanghai Street in Yau Ma Tei is the best place in Hong Kong to stock up on Chinese kitchenware for cheap. Pretty much the entire two-kilometre road is lined on both sides with wholesale suppliers who also accommodate walk-in retail business, and therefore have arguably the lowest prices in the city. You’re unlikely to find any European products here, but some digging may turn up well-known brands at a more affordable price point than in other retailers. If you’re in the market for a traditional Chinese cleaver, specific sizes of bamboo steamer baskets, or other Asian cooking implements, then Shanghai Street should be your first port of call.
Aside from an extensive range of baking ingredients and pantry staples including organic, vegan, and gluten-free options, Baking Warehouse also stocks plenty of bakeware and special tools. Shoppers will be able to find everything you need to measure, prep, and bake, as well as a portion of products that are biodegradable and eco-friendly. We also like that they have a selection of good quality pizza stones, because, of course, there’s nothing quite like piping hot pizza fresh out of the oven! While their physical store is temporarily closed due to the pandemic, you can always shop their full range at their online shop.
Baking Warehouse, Unit 01, 12/F, Lladro Centre, 72 Hoi Yuen Road, Kwun Tong
This little shop tucked away in an upstairs unit in Wan Chai used to be somewhat of a secret among local baking enthusiasts in the know, but has since enjoyed a boom in popularity after word spread about it during the initial baking spike. There are most likely to be queues at the tills now, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that Twins are a fantastic shop with a focus on baking sweet goods. Wander among their aisles to find scales, brushes, tins, and more varieties of moulds than you know what to do with—and at affordable prices, to boot!
Twins Baking Supplies, 1/F, Luki Tower, 5 O’Brien Road, Wan Chai | (+852) 3188 1887
Another upstairs baking supply store is Sweet Decorations, specialising in cake decorations. Despite its unassuming location, the items that they stock are of a more premium quality than many of Hong Kong’s baking supply joints, and you can tell they are professionals at what they provide. We like visiting Sweet Decorations for their extensive range of baking stencils, cookie dough cutters, silicon moulds, and fondant items—making this the perfect shop to pop by if you like your baked goods in all sorts of funky shapes.
Sweet Decorations, 1/F, Simsons Commercial Building, 137–139 Johnston Road, Wan Chai | (+852) 2892 2033
This neighbourhood favourite on the east side of Hong Kong Island stocks everything from piping tips and silicone moulds to electrical appliances like mixers. The proprietors have a fondness for baking cookies decorated like cartoon characters that look too cute to eat, so it’s no surprise that this is the shop to hit up for decorative icing and pastes in all sorts of colours. Keep an eye online for their classes and special offers on products.
Little Bear Baking Supplies Shop, Shop H3, G/F, Block 2, Kornhill Gardens, 1112 King’s Road, Quarry Bay | (+852) 2363 8567
Hongkongers will know that a shopping run to create specific dishes may take visits to three different shops before managing to buy everything needed, but not so the case with I Love Cake. These guys have worked hard to collate everything a potential baker would need to get started, including fresh ingredients, under one convenient roof. Trawl through this treasure trove to find spatulas, scrapers, tongs, brushes, cookie cutters, even a tool that allows you to serve ice cream in stacks instead of scoops, and much more besides.
This store in North Point may look like an office at first glance, but carries an impressive array of baking supplies such as pans, tins, lifters, decorating nozzles, cutters, and many other baking basics. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to bake a batch of cupcakes or a full-on wedding cake, because New Oriental is likely to stock what you need—they even purportedly sell mooncake moulds! It’s basically impossible to walk through here without wanting to whip up a batch of homemade cookies.
Hong Kong New Oriental Baking Supplies, Unit 01, 26/F, Kwai Hung Holdings Centre, 89 King’s Road, North Point | (+852) 2499 8563
Catharina has recently returned to her hometown of Hong Kong after spending her formative years in Singapore and the UK. She enjoys scouring the city for under-the-radar things to do, see, and eat, and is committed to finding the perfect foundation that will withstand Hong Kong’s heat. She is also an aspiring polyglot, a firm advocate for feminist and LGBTQIA+ issues, and a huge lover of animals. You can find her belting out show-tunes in karaoke, or in bookstores adding new tomes to her ever-growing collection.
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