[Photo/VCG]

Dai pai dong

Dai pai dong are open-air street stalls which serve cooked food. The name means a restaurant with a big license plate, and refers to the large size of the licenses they were issued in the past. Today, the term is applied to all open-air food stalls, and not just the ones with this specific license.

Da pai dong can be found almost anywhere around the city. Although the stalls serve just about any snack or food, they are best known for their humble home dishes like a stir fry. The diners may find this a good chance to bond with local people because, very likely, they will end up sharing a table with strangers during busy hours.