When we first arrived in Hong Kong, I was already very excited about the food. I really like sushi, dumplings or other Chinese dishes, and I imagined eating this every day would be perfect. But after some days of eating fried noodles, dumplings and other oily snacks from the street, I started to get a bit tired of it. I realized that I was missing something simple like a salad or some fresh vegetables. In Europe it is so normal to find this everywhere, but here in China it is not the case. Even in the supermarket I couldn’t really find salad.

The supermarkets here are also very different from what I know at home. In Austria or Switzerland we usually have several big supermarkets close to each other. In Shanghai, I mostly see smaller shops with just the most important things. Inside, there are huge meat and fish counters, sometimes even with living seafood. But what you don’t find are many milk products. Cheese, spreads or butter are really difficult to get.

I think one of the main reasons is that many people here don’t really cook at home so often. Apartments are usually small, and it is also very cheap and practical to eat outside or order food. The first time I tried ordering food with Alipay, I was really surprised how fast and easy it worked. In my little village in Austria it was impossible to order food, and if yes, then only with very high delivery costs. Here you can order everything: traditional food, fast food, sweets, even supermarket groceries and often it is free delivery. There are also many special deals, like two pizzas for 100 yuan (around 10 euros). After you order, you can see exactly where the driver is, if the food is ready, and when it will arrive. Sometimes there are also lockers, like at the post office, where you get a number and then pick up your food from a box.

Going to a restaurant for the first time was also a bit stressful for me. I was worried because many people here don’t speak English, and I also had respect for eating rice or noodles with chopsticks. But very fast I found out it is not so difficult. In many restaurants you just scan a QR-code, order and pay directly on the phone. That means you don’t really need to talk to the waiter. And forks and knives you cannot find anywhere, so you have to learn chopsticks but after some days it worked fine for me. What I really like is the way of eating together. At home, everybody usually gets their own plate. Here, people order many small dishes and put them in the middle of the table to share. This makes eating much more social. A highlight for me is the hotpot culture. Everyone sits around a big pot of soup in the middle, and you put vegetables, mushrooms or meat inside. It reminds me a bit of fondue, but here people eat it all year.

Of course, some things were surprising. For example, it is very normal here to slurp or even burp at the table. The first time I saw this, I was shocked, but later I learned it can even be a sign that the food was good. More difficult for me is the habit of spitting on the street. This is something I don’t think I will ever get used to.

In general, I see now how different food culture can be. In Austria and Switzerland meals are more private, structured and individual: breakfast, lunch, dinner. In Shanghai, food is more spontaneous, shared and very connected with daily life. It is less about “my plate” and more about the community.

Now, after one month, I am used to many things and I enjoy it. The cheap prices, the variety and the easy way of ordering food I will really miss when I go back home. But I also already look forward to eating Kässpätzle, mountain cheese and a Wiener Schnitzel again.