Tantalise your tastebuds with the best eats in the city.
Hong Kong is a feast for the senses. Everywhere bright lights call, there’s an endless chatter in the air and the smell of spices, sauces and delicious dishes lures you into fine dining restaurants and hawker-style street stalls alike.
When it comes to where and what to eat, you’re not short of choice. Top of your “must-eat” list is undeniably the dim sims which you can find inside tea houses. These are traditionally served with hot tea and can range from braised chicken feet to pork siu mai.
Other must-eats that aren’t hard to come by are roast goose, pork or chicken, char siu (bbq pork), fried rice, wonton noodles, steamed fish, egg tarts and egg waffles. They’re all staples of Hong Kong cuisine. For something a little left-of-centre, try Hong Kong French Toast – it’s a testament to the city’s foreign influences and comprises of white bread covered in butter and peanut butter and is deep fried.
As to where to go, the CBD area between Central and Sheung Wan station houses some of the finest restaurants while Lan Kwai Fong is famous for its bustling bar and restaurant scene and is the place to be on a Friday or Saturday night.
Hong Kong restaurants
Luk Yu Tea House
This iconic tea house boasts 1930s decor and a world-renowned sweet and sour pork that is made in the traditional way using hawthorn, thus giving it a darker hue than what you might be used to.
It’s a popular one with tourists so be warned and be prepared to wait for a seat.
24 Stanley Street, Hong Kong
Lung King Heen
Perhaps best known for being the first Hong Kong restaurant to be awarded three Michelin stars, Lung King Heen is an authentic Cantonese restaurant that serves dim sims by day and heartier Chinese dishes by night.
Its name literally translates to “view of the dragon” and it enjoys a prize position overlooking Victoria Harbour from its fourth floor location in the Four Seasons Hong Kong hotel.
Podium 4, Four Seasons Hotel, 8 Finance Street, Central
Ming Court
Located inside Cordis, Hong Kong at Langham Place, this hotel restaurant offers traditional Chinese cuisine in a modern setting.
Boasting two Michelin stars, what’s more impressive than its bold dishes and seasonal menus is its wine list. Ask the sommelier for his or her expert advice for the perfect pairing of dish and tipple.
555 Shanghai Street, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Caprice
For a touch of international charm, Caprice is a TripAdvisor favourite that features exquisite French cuisine.
Its decor is opulent and inviting and its service is impeccable. As to its menu you should expect nothing less than the highest quality wines and artisanal French cheeses, which Caprice keeps in its in-house cheese cellar. If that’s not impressive enough, its ingredients are flown fresh from France daily.
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, 8 Finance Street, Hong Kong
Amber at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental
Regarded as the “best restaurant in HK” by more than one TripAdvisor user, Amber at The Landmark is another French dining experience that’s worth the praise.
Helmed by culinary director Richard Ekkebu who has worked at numerous award-winning restaurants, the dishes he churns out are inspired, modern and exciting. Fresh seafood is the centrepiece with deliveries being made daily from local and international destinations such as Japan and France itself.
The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong
Tin Lung Heen
Take the elevator to the 102nd floor of The Ritz hotel for that special occasion – you won’t regret it. However, what you will regret is not making a booking early to secure a window table as these book out quickly.
Even if you don’t get to secure that prized seat, the elegance of the room, attentive service and mouthwatering dishes are sure to win you over. Stuck for choice? Try the signature dish. It’s a barbecued Iberian pork, which is a siu mei that’s char-roasted in a special marinade.
Level 102, International Commerce Ctr, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong
The Fat Pig
This new kid on the block has been making waves on the Hong Kong food scene since it first opened a few years back. Inside, the words “in pork we trust” are splayed on a wall in neon lights and as the name suggests, it’s all about one meat here. You guessed it: pork.
Helmed by Tom Aikens, the youngest British chef to be awarded two Michelin stars, this is Aikens’ second venture in Hong Kong and adheres to a nose-to-tail concept, utilising all parts of the beast from ears and trotter to belly and tail and cooking them in both traditional and adventurous ways.
Shop 1105, 11/F Times Square, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Tri
Celebrating Balinese culture in the heart of Hong Kong, Tri will transport you to the beauty and calm of Bali with its traditional decor and arresting sea views.
Its name references the three causes of wellbeing in Balinese philosophy which is man, nature and divinity. To achieve this, a holistic design has been employed with the use of sustainable materials. Its dishes are fresh and authentic.
Shop 302, 3/F, Lobby C, The Pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay, Hong Kong
Ho Lee Fook
This one didn’t just make it onto this list because its name is absolute genius (but it is!). The name of this venture translates to “good fortune for your mouth”, so say it over and over for good luck. All jokes aside, Ho Lee Fook is part of the burgeoning hipster food scene in Hong Kong and garners the spirit of late-night Chinatown hangouts in New York City.
Brought to us by Sydney’s own Jowett Yu, of Ms G’s and Mr Wong fame, Ho Lee Fook boasts traditional dishes with a modern twist. Think drunken clams in beer and the “mostly cabbage, a little bit of port” dumplings with sacha soy dressing for an idea of what to expect.
G/F No. 1-5 Elgin St, Central, Hong Kong
Image: TripAdvisor
One Dim Sum Chinese Restaurant
This restaurant is a not-so-well-kept secret where you’ll have to arrive early if you don’t want to build your hunger up while in line.
It’s one of TripAdvisor’s top restaurants in Hong Kong and is some of the best value for money in town. Don’t be discouraged by the line, it’s “well worth the wait!” according to a TripAdvisor user. It’s a small restaurant that is in no way pretentious and is in every way delicious with the dishes bearing the marks of all your standard yum cha favourites.
Shop 1 & 2, G/F, Kenwood Mansion, 15 Playing Field Road, Prince Edward
Food tours and cooking classes
Eat like a local, try new dishes and explore local haunts with these food-based tours in Hong Kong.
