Lau Fau Shan Seafood Street

Lau Fau Shan Seafood Street is a vibrant, open-air seafood market and dining strip in Hong Kong's northwestern New Territories, where fishing boats bob in the shallows and tanks of live fish, prawns, and crabs line the pavement. It's a raw, authentic slice of local life — no frills, just incredible freshness and the salty tang of the sea. For self-drive travellers, it's an easy detour off Route 3, offering a chance to pick your own seafood and have it cooked to order at one of the rustic restaurants.

Highlights & What to See

• Pick-your-own seafood: Wander past tanks of giant grouper, mantis shrimp, flower crabs, and geoduck clams. Vendors will bag your selection for a nearby restaurant to cook.
• Cook-to-order dining: Hand your seafood to a restaurant (try Hoi Tin or San Lee) and choose a style — steamed with ginger and spring onion, salted egg yolk, or spicy black bean sauce.
• Sunset over Deep Bay: Grab a table on the waterfront side and watch the sun sink behind the mangrove-fringed bay, with views across to Shenzhen's skyline.
• Lau Fau Shan Temple: A short walk from the street, this small temple to Tin Hau (goddess of the sea) offers a quiet contrast to the bustle.
• Oyster farming legacy: The area was once famous for oyster cultivation; look for dried oyster stalls and try the local oyster omelette.

Suggested Time to Spend

Allow 2–3 hours for a leisurely meal and a browse of the market. Arrive by early afternoon (around 2pm) to see the widest selection of seafood and avoid the dinner rush. If you're self-driving, combine it with a quick visit to the nearby Mai Po Nature Reserve for birdwatching — half a day covers both easily.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Mai Po Nature Reserve: A Ramsar wetland teeming with migratory birds, just 10 minutes by car — best visited in winter months.
• Tin Shui Wai: A modern new town with the Hong Kong Wetland Park, a family-friendly attraction with boardwalks and a visitor centre.
• Yuen Long: The historic market town, 15 minutes away, offers traditional street food and the Tang Dynasty–era Ping Shan Heritage Trail.
• Deep Bay: Drive along the coastal road for panoramic views of the bay and the Shenzhen skyline, especially photogenic at sunset.

Please check official sources for current details.