How to eat in Hong Kong

Holidays in Hong Kong are made for foodies. The city is a gastronomic paradise, a place that loves food, where all sorts of deliciousness is prepared freshly, lovingly, and innovatively for a population of locals and visitors who can’t help but feast. Savoury to sweet, street stall to high-end restaurant, there is so much flavour to discover, born from a mix of Cantonese and other regional Chinese cuisines, European, Japanese, Korean and Southeast Asian influences.

Our advice? Come hungry!

Dim Sum

Hong Kong’s signature dish, dim sum is an essential element of both Cantonese cuisine and tradition. Part of the ancient Chinese ritual of yum cha (‘drink tea’), dim sum are the little bites that are served with Chinese tea, usually in the late morning. Many establishments serve dim sum, but as this food’s heritage comes from tea drinking, going to a tea house is a great option. Maxim’s Palace, Central City Hall in Central is an excellent example, it’s Art Deco and colonial aesthetic adding to the vibrant atmosphere. Dim sum itself is often served in bamboo baskets or plates with three or four steamed, fried or baked bitesize pieces designed to be shared. You’ll find traditional flavours, modern combinations, and everything in between as dumplings, buns and parcels, each handcrafted by chefs. Popular flavours include steamed siu mai (pork dumplings), har gow (prawn dumplings) and char siu bao (BBQ pork filled buns).

Street Food

There is an incredible amount of yummy street food stalls in Hong Kong. In fact, some of the city’s very best gourmet experiences can be found down back streets and on corners and a few even appear in the Michelin guide! Visiting a street food stall is a sensory experience, the delicious smells, the sound of sizzling, the hubbub of people eating and socialising. As an extremely popular way to eat out, it also offers a fascinating glimpse into another side of Hong Kong life. Some of the many gastronomic highlights includes the iconic curry fish balls, three stuffed treasures (usually fried aubergine, green pepper and tofu), tea eggs, stinky tofu, and an array of things cooked on bamboo skewers, as well as sweet treats like egg waffles, egg tarts and sugar cane juice. The best stalls can be found by following the locals and don’t miss perennial favourites like Fuk Hing Hong in Tai O fishing village, Hop Yik Tai in Sham Shui Po, Fei Jie in Mong Kok and the Michelin guide recommended Mrs. Fong Chinese Desserts on the famous Temple Street.

Noodles

Versatile, affordable, culturally significant, and very tasty, noodles are ubiquitous with eastern Asia and in Hong Kong, they are an essential part of day-to-day life. A dim sum option, on street food stalls, dai pai dongs or restaurants of all budgets, you’ll find these humble strands of deliciousness wherever you are in the city. Be it egg noodles, rice noodles, ho fun or any of the hundreds of varieties available, they can be freshly made and served in soups, stir fried, tossed in a sauce or cold in salads. Wonton soup is a particularly popular choice; a steaming hot bowl of comfort food, it uses classic Cantonese flavours – pork and prawn dumplings, eggs noodles and a rich umami broth. Try places like Kuen Kee Won Ton Noodle on Peel Street in Central or Lau Sum Kee Noodle in Sham Shui Po.

Luxury Dining

There is a wealth of gourmet establishments in Hong Kong that fulfil the needs of food connoisseurs from around the world. The 2023 Michelin Guide lists 77 starred restaurants in the city – 10 with three stars, 18 with two stars and 49 with one. Ranging from classic Cantonese to European gourmet and everything in between, some restaurants boast big name chefs, others intricately curated menus and a number are in magical locations. Some, Felix at The Peninsula and the two Michelin-star Lung King Heen at the Four Seasons Hotel for example, are housed on the upper floors of Hong Kong’s top high-rise hotels, with views that will take your breath away. As Hong Kong has long been an intersection of cultures, it’s no surprise that the food created here is innovative and bold, so if you have the budget to blow on eating out, prepare for it to blow your mind in return.

As a destination, Hong Kong can be whatever you want it to be. It has food, shopping, history, beaches, culture, nature and everything in between. Explore it for yourself on one of our stopover itineraries – our three-day Hong Kong Glimpses or four-day Hong Kong in Focus itineraries or speak to us about creating an adventure of your very own.