Must-see restaurants in Hong Kong

  • Beancurd pudding at Kung Wo Tofu Factory

    Kung Wo Tofu Factory

    Kowloon

    Regulars come to this charming 50-year-old shop for fresh soy milk, pan-fried tofu and sweet tofu pudding (HK$12), made the traditional way from beans…

  • Duddell's

    Hong Kong

    Light Cantonese fare is served in riveting spaces enhanced by artwork at this one-Michelin-starred restaurant-gallery. There's a graceful dining room,…

  • Yè Shanghai

    Kowloon

    Dark woods and subdued lighting inspired by 1920s Shanghai impart an air of romance to this otherwise bustling restaurant serving exquisite Shanghainese…

  • Yue Kee Roasted Goose Restaurant

    New Territories

    In an alley lined with roast-goose restaurants, 60-year-old Yue Kee is the king. Order gorgeous plates of coppery-skinned charcoal-roasted goose (half is…

  • The Yunnan Rainbow Restaurant at 18 Shelter Street in Causeway Bay.

    Lamma Rainbow

    Lamma

    Gigantic Rainbow may boast 800 seats but you still need to book ahead for prime hours. Steamed grouper, lobster and abalone are the specialities at this…

  • Ap Lei Chau Market Cooked Food Centre

    Aberdeen & South Hong Kong Island

    Above an indoor market, dai pai dong (food stall) operators cook up a storm in a sprawling hall littered with folding tables and plastic chairs. Pak Kee…

  • Tim Ho Wan

    Kowloon

    Renowned as the first budget dim sum eatery to receive a Michelin star way back in 2010, Tim Ho Wan has spread from its Mong Kok roots (opened by a former…

  • Kam's Kitchen

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    A family feud at the venerable Yung Kee in Central created this excellent-value spin-off. Kam's Kitchen serves classic, labour-intensive Cantonese dishes…

  • Kau Kee Restaurant

    Hong Kong

    You can argue till the noodles go soggy about whether Kau Kee has the best beef brisket in town. Whatever the verdict, the meat – served with toothsome…

  • Chi Lin Vegetarian

    Kowloon

    Savour organic wild mushrooms with rice or noodles, and impeccable veggie dim sum such as steamed asparagus with lily bulbs and truffle, as an artificial…

  • Hutong

    Kowloon

    Northeastern Chinese is on offer at this stylish space at the top of the H Zenter building. The stunning dining area is surrounded by wall-to-wall windows that…

  • ᠎Sun Hing Restaurant

    Hong Kong

    Many a drunken Soho reveller has trudged westward after a long night seeking cheap dim sum, but to no avail. Then just before they pass out, there appears…

  • Rōnin

    Hong Kong

    With just 24 counter seats locked down behind an unmarked door, Rōnin has all the hallmarks of a coveted Soho dining spot before you've even seen the…

  • Lock Cha Tea Shop

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    Set in the lush environs of Hong Kong Park, Lock Cha serves fragrant Chinese teas and vegetarian dim sum in an antique-styled environment designed to…

  • Seventh Son

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    Worthy spin-off from the illustrious and famously wallet-unfriendly Fook Lam Moon – aka Tycoon's Canteen, for its clientele of movie stars and politicians…

  • Lan Fong Yuen

    Hong Kong

    This rickety facade hides an entire cha chaan tang (tea cafe). Lan Fong Yuen (1952) is believed to be the inventor of the ‘pantyhose’ milk tea, and droves…

  • Man Mo Café

    Hong Kong

    At this welcoming place, chefs from culinary giants in Taiwan (Din Tai Fung) and France (Robuchon) team up to create high-end fusion dim sum. Portions are…

  • Old Bailey

    Hong Kong

    The joy of Old Bailey begins with its snazzy Herzog & de Meuron–designed interior that mixes mid-century-modern Scandi with Chinese design principles, and…

  • Little Bao

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    A trendy diner that wows with its bao (Chinese buns) – snow-white orbs crammed with juicy meat and slathered with Asian condiments – and fusion sharing…

  • Loaf On

    Sai Kung Peninsula

    The motto here is: eat what they hunt. This three-storey Michelin-starred restaurant is where fish freshly caught from Sai Kung waters in the morning…

  • Din Tai Fung

    Kowloon

    DTF's steamers of perfectly pleated xiao long bao (Shànghǎi-style dumplings) have made this Taiwanese chain an Asia-wide institution. Order them wrapped…

  • Sun Kwai Heung

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    This off-the-beaten-track shop has unbeatable Cantonese barbecue and none of the lines of better-known places. Char siu (barbecued pork) emerges from the…

  • Sha Tin 18

    New Territories

    Sha Tin 18's Peking duck (half/whole HK$538/848) has put this hotel restaurant, adjacent to the Chinese University, in the gastronomic spotlight. Book…

  • Spring Deer

    Kowloon

    Hong Kong’s most authentic Northern Chinese–style roast lamb is served at this long-standing locals' favourite. Better known is the perfectly bronzed…

  • On Lee Noodle

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    Quiveringly tender beef brisket is the big draw here, eaten with noodles either in a soup or 'stirred' with soy sauce (you still get a little bowl of…

  • Tai Cheong Bakery

    Hong Kong

    Tai Cheong was best known for its lighter-than-air beignets (deep-fried dough rolled in sugar; sa yung in Cantonese) until former governor Chris Patten…

  • Yat Lok

    Hong Kong

    Be prepared to bump elbows with locals at this tiny, basic joint known for its roast goose. Anthony Bourdain gushed over the bird. The leg is the most…

  • Tim Ho Wan – North Point

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    This less hectic outpost of Hong Kong's famously cheap (for the quality) dim sum chain, is now a global brand with branches in Southeast Asia, Australia…

  • Samsen

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    One bite of Samsen's delectable pad thai and Queen's Rd E becomes Khao San Rd; but at this hip little gem presided over by an Aussie chef, the good ol'…

  • Tung Po Seafood Restaurant

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    You're guaranteed a hearty repast at any dai pai dong (大牌檔, food stall) atop Java Rd Wet Market, but at Tung Po (and its sister spot, 店小二), you'll…

  • Mido Café

    Kowloon

    Kowloon's most famous tea cafe, this highly instagrammable cha chaan tang (teahouse; c 1950) with mosaic tiles and metal latticework stands astride a…

  • Sun Hon Kee

    New Territories

    Well-executed Hakka cuisine, known for its use of preserved ingredients as well as stews and braises, is on offer at this busy two-floor restaurant…

  • Choi Lung Restaurant

    New Territories

    This 40-year-old establishment near the village entrance uses spring water to make tofu dessert. It's self-service – pick up your dim sum from the kitchen…

  • Pirate Bay

    Outlying Islands

    Delicious crepes (the caramel is our favourite) by a French and Hong Konger couple, also hearty homemade chicken rillette, ratatouille and beef…

  • New Chettinad

    Kowloon

    Rub shoulders with Indian business people, tailors and traders at this tiny halal kitchen, the best of many in the marvellously multicultural maze that is…

  • Kwan Kee Beef Balls & Pork Knuckles

    New Territories

    There's always a wait at this unpretentious shop for the bouncy beef balls and the chewy, collagen-laden pork knuckles served in blue plastic bowls and …

  • Bo Innovation

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    Committed foodies with dollars to burn will be determined to try this three-starred gastro-lab presided over by the 'Demon Chef', aka Hong Kong's own…

  • Dim sum trolley at Lin Heung Tea House, Central.

    Lin Heung Tea House

    Hong Kong

    In the morning, this famous 1950s teahouse is packed with older men reading newspapers. Eating here can be overwhelming for the uninitiated: dim sum (from…

  • Forum

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    The flagship of a fine-dining brand with over a dozen branches worldwide, this two-Michelin-star eatery serves exquisite Guǎngdōng classics (including…

More destinations you need to see