The Oldest Dai Pai Dong in Hong Kong

If you ever visit Hong Kong, enjoying a dinner at a dai pai dong is a must. Over the decades, the dai pai dong (大排檔)—a traditional open-air food stall that serves cheap, cooked-to-order food—has become a symbol unique to Hong Kong.

In the second half of the twentieth century, however, the number of dai pai dongs—which literally means "big license stalls"—has dwindled. As of 2026, only seventeen licensed dai pai dongs remain in business. These are mainly concentrated in two historic neighborhoods: Sham Shui Po in Kowloon, and Central on Hong Kong Island. This decline occurred after the government ceased issuing new licenses in the 1970s, and even initiated buy-back schemes for hygiene reasons and to clear the streets for traffic.

Today, Oi Man Sang (愛文生)—founded in 1956 and located at 1 Shek Kip Mei Street in Sham Shui Po—remains the oldest dai pai dong still in operation. Although its dining area moved indoors to comply with hygiene regulations, its "street kitchen"—a green metal box on the sidewalk utilizing high-pressure kerosene burners—has enabled it to retain its official classification as a dai pai dong.

In fact, much like Oi Man Sang, the overwhelming majority of the remaining stalls have had to adapt to strict city regulations on street obstruction and public health. To survive, many have had to morph into hybrid dai pai dongs.