A big part of travelling to Hong Kong is the food. Melding together influences from its traditional Chinese roots and British colonial history, Hong Kong’s dining options are dizzyingly endless. How can one fill every meal with perfect choices with so little time? We got you. From 3-star Michelin restaurants to the oldest Dai Pai Dong (street stall) in town, we have you covered on the top ten restaurants that every tourist has to visit.
1. The Chairman
Credits: The Chairman
A Michelin star restaurant, The Chairman offers superb service and food as expected. Its light and delicate interpretation of rich traditional Cantonese food sets it apart from the rest of the restaurant crowd in Hong Kong. The restaurant prides itself in its famous self-made sauces and sourcing livestock locally from the New Territories. Many diners have left impressed with the Steamed Fresh Flowery Crab with Aged ShaoXing Wine.
2. Otto e Mezzo
Credits: Otto e Mezzo
Otto e Mezzo is the only Italian restaurant outside of Italy to have received 3 stars from the Michelin Guide. Its founder and head chef, Umberto Bombana, is famous for his creative methods of incorporating white truffle into his dishes. Otto is a prime example of fine dining in Hong Kong with a spacious area of 4,700 square feet and a view that overlooks the bustling Chater Road. Try the Warm Blue Lobster with an autumn salad topped with white truffle and anchovy and citrus dressing.
3. Kam Wah Cafe
Credits: TripAdvisor
Often touted as home to the best pineapple bun in Hong Kong, locals and tourists alike line up at Kam Wah Cafe to get their hands on that elusive golden bun. Tourists unfamiliar with the pineapple bun are in for a treat - the bun actually contains no fruit, but gets its name from its crispy caramelized exterior that makes it look like a pineapple. The pineapple bun is one of the biggest symbols of classic Hong Kong cuisine, and also one of the most affordable options on the list at less than 28 HKD.
4. Mak's Noodles
Credits: TripAdvisor
Wonton noodle soup is another one of Hong Kong’s biggest culinary trademarks. For the best wonton noodle soup, head over to Mak’s Noodles. The price is extremely affordable, and Mak’s is currently the cheapest Michelin star restaurant in the world. Brewed for hours out of fresh shrimp, the broth carries a savory and complex flavor that enhances the noodles in the best way possible. Wontons are of course handmade with love and stuffed with juicy, tender meat.
5. Tung Po
Credits: TripAdvisor
After trying pineapple buns and wonton noodle soup, why not sample the rest of the Hong Kong staples while you’re at it? Cha Chan Taangs and Dai Pai Dongs are old-school, streetside establishments well-loved by locals. While they do not offer the fancy ambience of Michelin star restaurants, Dai Pai Dongs carry the essence of local HK dining culture and a long history to boot. Experience Hong Kong through the eyes of a local at Tung Po, one of the oldest Dai Pai Dongs in Hong Kong. Expect to chow down on scrumptious seafood dishes such as salt-and-pepper fried shrimp.
6. Lung King Heen
Credits: Lung King Heen
What would Hong Kong be without dim sum? Everyone loves the bamboo baskets that house tiny delightful treasures such as sui mai (pork shrimp dumplings) and har gow (shrimp dumplings in a crystal wrapper). Enjoy dim sum in style at the sophisticated environment of Lung King Heen. While there are many dim sum establishments in Hong Kong, Lung King Heen has major cred that wins over even locals: it is the world’s first Chinese restaurant to be awarded a Michelin three-star rating.
7. Yat Lok Goose Restaurant
Credits: TripAdvisor
Ah, the roast goose. Probably the mascot of Hong Kong’s signature BBQ style, the roast goose is a must-try while in the city. Yat Lok Goose Restaurant’s version is as authentic as it is delicious. The skin is crispy and glistening while the inner meat remains juicy and tender. The price is also reasonable, and you can see locals buying many of these for dine-in and to-go.
8. Tim's Kitchen
Credits: Tim's Kitchen
Though awarded with 2-star Michelin stars, Tim’s Kitchen eschews the stuffiness that plagues many Michelin restaurants. Instead, it settles for a very comfortable and down-to-earth environment and focuses its energy on creating the highest quality food. Ingredients are sourced fresh, and the chefs actually shop wet markets in the early morning to prepare for the day. This place is ideal for trying classic Cantonese dishes such as Crispy Chicken.
9. L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
Credits: L'Atelier
Hong Kong doesn’t just do its own cuisine well, but also provides outstanding foreign options for those who miss Western food. L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon offers some of the finest French available in the world and has been awarded three Michelin stars by the MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong and Macau for three consecutive years. Though a splurge, the Discovery Menu is a worthy investment that gives guests a chance to taste the various small and delicate contemporary French dishes that L’Atelier excels at.
10. Amber at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental
Credits: Amber
Amber’s new take on classic French food has won itself two Michelin stars, so it must be doing something right. It successfully uses less fat, sugar, and salt, a revolutionary feat in the realm of French cuisine, which revolves around cream and butter. More importantly, Amber cares for the community and contributes to charitable causes such as Feeding Hong Kong. Dine here to set your heart and stomach at ease.
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