Name(English): Ser Wong Lam
Name(Chinese): 蛇王林
Category: Food & Beverages
Phone Number: +852 25438032
Address(English): 13 Hillier Street, Sheung Wan
Address(Chinese): 上環禧利街13-15號連威大廈地舖
Address Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/rWkgQYUzgVJAVCTx7
Address longitude and latitude: 22.285657260766953, 114.15151310420623
Nearest MTR Station: Sheung Wan MTR Station Exit A2
Nearest MTR Station Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/omKqBd4QuxiZnZCB6
Nearest MTR Station longitude and latitude: 22.286803305877424, 114.15188749071369
(1 min from Sheung Wan MTR Exit A2)
Opening hours:
MON 09:00 – 18:00
TUE 09:00 – 18:00
WED 09:00 – 18:00
THU 09:00 – 18:00
FRI 09:00 – 18:00
SAT 09:00 – 18:00
SUN 09:00 – 16:00
Closed between Ching Ming Festival and Chung Yeung Festival
Budget(per person): HKD50
Recommended Time to Visit: 3pm as an afternoon treat
Recommended Food/Drinks: snake soup
Accessibility Note: Easy access
If you have mustered up all the courage to taste Snake Soup – one of the most exotic local delicacies in Hong Kong, hop over to Ser Wong Lam (literally “Snake King of Lam”), which has been in business for almost 120 years, and is never the one to be missed out!
Stepping in the store, you will find the interior is not quite aligning with the urban styles of the restaurants around the area but will surely be intrigued by its authentic settings: century-old name plate hanging up on the wall, wooden cabinets marked with warning signs “Venomous Snakes” (毒蛇) stacking up on the side, bottles of snake wine lining up above, and the friendly senior staff that has served the business for over 50 years! They are more than happy to show you the sneaky snakes hidden in the boxes only if you dare to ask. Oh, don’t forget to order the one and the only dish at the eatery – their snake soup priced at HKD$65 comes in a good portion and is meant to warm up your body amid the cold of winter.
But the eatery’s future is dim as the whole industry, due to the decreasing popularity of snake meat. The descendant of the founder has already retired 2 years ago which left the long-serving employees to run the business in order to support their living. Though their customers could still be young, it is unlikely that the younger generations could sustain the specialty given the years of training and special skills required. Maybe we should try best to appreciate this snake soup culture before it fades away?
What is Snake Soup?
It can be unfairly cold during winter times in Hong Kong due to the winds and its dampness being a coastal city herself – but a warm bowl of snake soup can certainly treat the chills. Even if you are yet to be a daring foodie, it is still worthwhile checking out this exotic food culture at this rare eatery.
This gooey translucent broth is infused with other ingredients that include snake meat strips, shredded chicken, black fungus, and herbs. The real question is – how does snake meat taste like? it does resemble the texture and the flavor of chicken but has more chewiness. The best way to enjoy it is to put in the Chinese crackers that add some crunchy textures to the soup, white pepper and red vinegar for extra spice.
The reason why snake soup can heat our blood stems from the idea of YinYang, the beauty of balance. In Chinese medicine, snakes possess the “Yang” element that can warm our body to neutralize the “Yin” effect brought by the winter cold. It also claims to be a superfood that improves circulation and cures ailments. No wonder Hong Kongers would gather around the table amid the cold trying to make them stronger with this treat. There are still quite a number of snake soup stores scattering across the city so try it out only if you dare!
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