Visiting On Lee Noodle Factory in Sheung Wan Reminds Me of Hong Kong Shrimp Roe Noodles from My Dorm Days!

 

I’m not completely off-topic—this post is still very much about noodles. It’s just that I never knew which shop made the shrimp roe noodles I had back in my dorm days. Would that shop still be around? Or has it already closed down? After all, my Hong Kong friend back then told me it was an old shop, and the owner was thinking about retiring. Every bowl we ate might have been one less chance to enjoy it.

Last year, while walking around Sheung Wan in Hong Kong, I happened to spot On Lee Noodle Factory, which was selling shrimp roe noodles. Of course, On Lee isn’t the only place selling them—I saw a few other shops claiming to have been around for a long time too. But how would we know which one is the best? Unless a local Hong Konger recommends one, it’s all down to personal preference.

But what shrimp roe noodles really remind me of—besides their distinct flavor—is the scene of my dormmates squeezing into one tiny room, gathering around for a meal together. The memory still plays vividly in my mind. A simple bowl of shrimp roe noodles (which, to be honest, is not that simple—the flavor is rich, and just one good sauce pairing makes it incredibly delicious) didn’t always fill us up, but it made us happy. Eating was just one part of it; the laughter and camaraderie were what truly mattered. After all, reality tends to hit once you step out of campus life.

We’d fling open the dorm door and yell, “Anyone up for a late-night snack?” Or just knock on the next room and call out whoever was around. Before you knew it, everyone who was supposed to show up, did. Those with chopsticks brought chopsticks, those with bowls brought bowls, and someone always managed to produce a spoon or two. Even cooking equipment—things that weren’t exactly allowed in the dorm—somehow made an appearance. Everyone had their roles: the ones who could cook, cooked; the ones who cleaned, cleaned. We pitched in with whatever we had—food, effort, or just company. No one kept score, no one argued over who contributed more. It was a simple, pure moment of friendship. (Of course, there was always that one troublemaker every now and then!)