Rongliangchen

Tai Pai Dong（大牌档）

Because I am a native of Hong Kong, I have a high degree of attention to the food in Hong Kong. I am very good at discovering food and entertainment in various places in Hong Kong, and what I feel the most to share is: About "Dai Pai Dang"

“Dai pai dong” is about the food stalls that gather and line up. They are opened on the roadside or near residential areas at night. The meals they provide are seafood, barbecue, home-cooked dishes or snacks from all over the world. They have had a profound impact on people in the 1970s and 1990s. , this food stall has brought a lot of convenience and has become the memory and yearning of many Hong Kong people，Because of the wide variety of food and low prices, it is popular with the middle and lower classes and has become an essential tourist attraction for tourists visiting Hong Kong.

In order to regulate fixed-line stall vendors, the government has established a "big brand" system to unify stall specifications. It was not until 1958 that the Urban Council announced the newly designed specifications of the big-pai cooked food stalls, which were separated from the mobile vendors "small-pai" stalls, hence the name "Dai-pai stalls". In the history of Hong Kong’s food culture, Dai Pai Dong definitely occupies a pivotal position, witnessing the development of Hong Kong and gradually becoming a part of Hong Kong’s history. It is full of various traditional Chinese delicacies If you want to fully understand Hong Kong and have a sense of Hong Kong, experiencing food stalls and mobile stalls is indeed an essential part. "Dapaitang" is usually opened in a side street or alley, with stalls set up on the roadside and tables and stools set up for diners to sit. The name "Dai Pai Dong" originated from the catering business license issued by the Hong Kong government in the early days. It was larger than the catering business license issued to ordinary small vendors at that time and needed to be hung in a conspicuous place. Therefore, stalls with this big license plate are called "Dai pai dong". In recent years, due to the gradual decline of Dai Pai Dong, not many young people know about this situation. In addition, "排" and "牌" have the same pronunciation. Many people mistakenly believe that "Dai Pai Dong" is because of the rows of stalls on the street. It got its name, so it was rumored to be a "food stall". The kind of stalls that stand next to each other with light bulbs on and steaming are the food stalls in Hong Kong. Since ancient times, food stalls have been closely connected with life, and people of all ages and sexes will patronize them. It can be said that they are Hong Kong's second kitchen.

Historical reason

In the 1950s after Hong Kong's renaissance, the government combined the licenses for big brands and cooked food stalls into one, turning street cooked food vendors into "dai pai stalls" the Hong Kong government, in order to avoid a large number of unapproved cooked food stalls on the streets, the government therefore stipulated that the licensed fixed cooked food stalls need to display licenses. Compared with other roadside stalls, the licenses of fixed cooked food stalls It is a large piece of paper with the information of the licensee and the stall. This license plate needs to be framed and hung in a conspicuous position of the stall. Therefore, this type of street cooked food stall is called "Dai Pai Dang".

After an in-depth analysis of the past and development of "Dai pai dong", we already know that "Dai pai dong" was once prosperous and witnessed the rapid development of China's economy. "Dai pai dong" was undoubtedly the most missed memory in people's hearts. After all, "food stalls" carry not only the function of "eating", but also include the need for socialization and communication.

Even the "morning tea culture" of today's Hong Kong people is not simply an act of "satisfying one's hunger". Of course, the acceleration of urbanization and the rapid development of the market economy will undoubtedly change people's lifestyles. There is no so-called tradition that is immutable. The only way out is to keep pace with the times.

Regardless of the environmental pollution and noise nuisance of "food stalls", the gradual withdrawal of "food stalls" is still the market's choice. The improvement of the quality of national life has made people eating out pay more attention to food hygiene and safety. And "food stalls" inherently represent simplicity and roughness, which inevitably raises concerns about hygiene. At the same time, the rise of the takeout industry has also filled the gap between late night snacks for most people, and people no longer need to go out late at night to find food. The convenience of takeout is undoubtedly suppressing the current situation of "food stalls".

It has become inevitable to guide the "food stall" industry to operate in homes. Of course, in addition to respecting the appearance of the city and environmental hygiene, it is also responsible for the diners. Therefore, in recent years, the transformation of "food stalls" in Guangzhou's urban areas has become an inevitable trend. So far, there are no traces of "food stalls" around the main arterial roads in Guangzhou. Only some urban villages or suburban areas remain, and a few are still operating.

The "food stall" culture has witnessed the development of China's economy and influenced a generation.

After a busy day at work, wanting to release the melancholy and depression of life, people sit in groups in the open air, blowing the autumn breeze, and enjoying the pleasant nightlife. Perhaps, such opportunities will become increasingly rare in major urban areas.