Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island
Hop on to a stool at this Scandi-styled dessert bar and watch gallery-worthy creations materialise with some help from liquid nitrogen and the owner's…
Must-see restaurants in China
Chengdu
A very modern take on the traditional dumpling joints – there are several enticing varieties to choose from, including a number of more adventurous…
New Territories
This famous old shop sells only four things – beef brisket (牛腩), fish balls (魚蛋), fish slices (魚片) and tripe (牛肚) – and they're delicious. You can have…
Pingyao
Traveller-friendly, but no worse for that, this popular and welcoming little restaurant has a simple and tasty menu (in English) of Shanxi dishes. Try the…
Shanghai
Contemporary Hong Kong kitchen specialising in lobster and dim sum. Enjoy a superb bowl of wontons with lobster soup (¥58) in the glam dark-wood space…
Kowloon
Kids will love the adorable, animal-shaped dumplings and buns at this gimmicky yet delicious dim sum eatery. Barbecue pork buns are adorned with tiny…
Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island
Originally a dai pai dong (大牌檔; food stall), this friendly neighbourhood Canto joint is known for claypot rice topped with preserved sausage, steamed…
Guangdong
This restaurant with lake views serves Zhaoqing delicacies such as sticky rice dumplings (裹蒸粽, guǒzhēngzòng), containing beans, pork, chestnuts and egg…
Chengdu
With big, soft sofas and ceilings festooned in Turkish lamps, this crowd-pleasing upmarket restaurant is the place to come to sample dishes from the…
Lijiang
Locals flock here for the superb grilled fish and chicken and soy-bean-paste dishes (get here before 7pm or they will have run out). But all the Naxi…
Hong Kong
What do you get if you cross a traditional Chinese custard bun with Hong Kong's traditional crispy French toast? You get Chau Kee's 'lava' French toast…
French Concession
Head into a courtyard off Songshan Rd to find a branch of this popular vegetarian restaurant, where organic, MSG-free and oil-light dishes are the order…
The Bund & People's Square
This packed, brightly-lit restaurant is within easy striking distance of the Bund and cooks up all manner of homestyle dishes. You can’t go wrong with the…
Chengdu
The newer location of the popular local Are Tibetan Restaurant, set across from the entrance to Wuhou Temple, this branch has a little less character…
Lhasa
A good new Tibetan place down an alley off central Danjielin Lu. Ask the chef for the ganggo (¥58 to ¥98), currently not on the menu, but a wonderfully…
Shanghai
Carnivores rejoice! This slightly upscale barbecue and smokehouse serves meat every which way – beef brisket, rib-eye steaks, dry-rub pork spare ribs,…
Nanning
One of several branches in town, the star here is the tasty lemon duck (柠檬鸭, níngméngyā), a Nanning dish that cooks the fowl with pickled lemon peel,…
Hong Kong
Want to track down Hong Kong's casualistas? Chances are they're eating (or queueing for a table) at Kennedy Town's Catch, an Australian-style streetside…
Hongkou & North Shanghai
This trendy modern dumpling house is a good place to sample xiǎolóngbāo (soup dumplings). It specialises in a dozen kinds of steamed buns, from shrimp and…
Kowloon
Long waits and hurried service are the standard at this beloved Hong Kong cha chaan tang (teahouse), famed for its steamed milk or egg puddings (HK$30),…
Sichuan
One of a cluster of cafe-restaurants with terrace seating on the riverbank, this place is perfect for tea (from ¥15) or fresh coffee (from ¥25) during the…
French Concession
La Cabane sits next door to its French counterpart, La Creperie. Its alpine chalet interior is decorated with pictures of snowy scenes and mountain…
French Concession
This branch of Beef & Liberty has a bistro vibe, with parquet flooring, a long bar area and wicker chairs. It's essentially a fancy burger joint, and it…
French Concession
Lively taco-and-tequila joint with bold red-and-black decor and Luche Libre on screens. Sharing plates like ceviche de mariscos XL (a medley of citrus…
Kunming
Always busy with travellers and students, Salvador’s is now a Kunming staple. With a Mexican/Mediterranean food theme, as well as solid breakfasts, good…
Aberdeen & South Hong Kong Island
At this marine-themed bistro, a light-brown-and-blue palette complements sea views through floor-to-ceiling windows. The simply curated menu covers all…
Hong Kong
Understated faux-retro decor and warm service impart a homely feel at this upmarket place serving Cantonese classics with a healthy twist. Ingredients are…
Shanghai
Popular with the locals, Currify may not serve the most authentic Indian dishes, but they're tasty and you can't beat the price. A chicken tikka masala,…
Shenzhen
A longstanding dim sum restaurant with more than half a dozen branches in Shenzhen, Laurel prides itself on friendly service. This one is right by the…
Guangzhou
Tucked away on the fringes of Yuexiu District, gay-friendly Wilber’s gets top marks for cocktails and atmosphere, and the food isn't far behind. You can…
French Concession
Atmospheric, rustic French-style bakery with a long counter stocked with baked goodies, including all manner of breads and flavoured pastries. There's a…
Ürümqi
This excellent bakery serves up an impressive selection of baked goods, including croissants, fresh bread and cakes, and does real coffee, fresh juice and…
Shanghai
More than 50 small plates of satisfying tapas are served at Pintxos. Order up well-executed Spanish dishes like veggie and ham croquettes, patatas bravas …
French Concession
One of the many branches of Taiwan's most famous chain, where the dumplings are fantastic and the service classy, but it does come with a steeper price…
Hong Kong
Asia's only Italian restaurant with three Michelin stars lives up to its name, and Chef Bombana is here, sleeves rolled, to see that it does. 'Eight and a…
Yangshuo
Just a street removed from traffic-choked Diecui Lu, this place offers good food, quiet surrounds and attractive prices, with river views to boot. There's…
Xi'an
A clean cafe atmosphere is spread over four floors with aspirational snaps of Europe in scattered picture frames on the walls. A lively well-dressed crowd…
Hebei
Specialising in imperial cuisine from the summer courts of Chengde (承德, Chéngdé) in northern Hebei, this fine, long-standing restaurant has a fun…
Ürümqi
Well worth travelling out a little way for, this American-run cafe offers a welcome change of pace from Ürümqi's other dining options, with pizza,…
Chongqing City
The hotpot here is excellent, and the atmosphere is congenial, but the real attraction is the view: you dine as you gaze out across the Jialing River. You…
