Drinking beer from bowls: a Hong Kong tradition

The practice of serving and drinking beer from bowls can be traced back to dai pai dongs, the outdoor cafes with folding tables and chairs located on the streets and in the alleys of Hong Kong that serve inexpensive food to the working class. The bowls, also known as “battle bowls“ or “fighting bowls,“ are made of ceramic and stored in a refrigerator. The idea is to keep the beer cold after it has been poured from the bottle, much like the frosted beer mugs of the Western world.