I was dreaming about all of the delicious things to eat in Hong Kong before we even set foot there. I fantasized about platters of steamed dumplings and bowls of steaming noodles. My thoughts ran wild over the onslaught of Hong Kong wontons I was certain to consume. And, let me just be clear: the food in Hong Kong did not disappoint!
During our trip, we packed our 3-Day Hong Kong Itinerary with iconic sightseeing and dazzling viewpoints. The sights and attractions were impressive, but I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I was most excited about Hong Kong food!
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Best Hong Kong Food
A lot of our time in Hong Kong was spent feasting – we no doubt ingested heaps more calories than recommended daily. Although laden with carbohydrates and sodium (and probably a good dose of MSG), the Hong Kong dishes we consumed delivered on deliciousness.
From Hong Kong street food stalls to HK Michelin-rated restaurants, we sampled as much of the cuisine as possible. With a desire to get a good taste of Hong Kong, we often relied on staff’s suggestions and ordered two to four different menu items at each restaurant. Truly, nothing fell short – and a few Hong Kong eats rocked our world!
6 Incredibly Delicious Things To Eat in Hong Kong
As we were on a short trip to HK, we had to carefully choose what to eat during our stay. We wanted to try a variety of Hong Kong Must-Eat Food – from savory to sweet. In the end, there wasn’t a single HK meal that didn’t satisfy!
We compiled our list of what to eat in Hong Kong to help fellow travelers navigate their way through the absolutely incredible food scene. Not only do we highlight our 6 must-eat Hong Kong foods, but we also name a recommended restaurant where you can order the dish.
Later in the article, we provide a map to Hong Kong restaurant locations – plus a pin drop to each spot so that travelers can quickly find the location and read reviews. Alright, now let’s eat our way through Hong Kong!
#1 Baked BBQ Pork Bun HK
I’m going to cut right to the chase: the baked BBQ Pork Buns we ate in Hong Kong were better than I ever dreamt they could possibly be. Pillowy-soft, slightly sweet and perfectly warmed, biting into the BBQ Pork Bun was heavenly…and that was before we even arrived at the center where the tender, marinated pork awaited us.
Where To Eat Hong Kong BBQ Pork Buns
One Dim Sum. Located in Prince Edward, One Dim Sum is a small eatery that has been awarded a Michelin Star. We thought the wait staff was particularly kind. Taking the time to help us learn which things to eat from a bowl or with chopsticks and which sauces to use on each dish. We also ordered – and loved: Steamed Shrimp Dumplings.
#2 Wonton and Pork Dumpling Noodles
Noodles – or, rather, wonton noodle soup – was the thing I was most looking forward to eating in Hong Kong. It is pretty much a staple on the Hong Kong culinary scene. We tried everything from HK street-food fish ball noodles served in a Styrofoam cup to contemporary noodles slathered in cheese sauce and topped with an egg. However, nothing compared to the bowl of classic Wonton and Pork Dumpling Noodles.
Best Place in Hong Kong for Wonton Noodle Soup
Mak’s Noodle. Now serving noodles from several Hong Kong locations, Mak’s Noodle evolved from a 1960s street-food cart. They keep their 100-year-old family recipe a secret, which was brought to Hong Kong from Guangzhou. At the original Central HK location, the chef works from a small kitchen in the front of the restaurant – while another man sitting at a table quickly assembled fresh wontons. We also ordered – and loved: Beef Brisket Noodles and Shrimp Wonton Noodles.
#3 Hong Kong Roast Goose Rice
Roasted goose is a Hong Kong food specialty – and it’s fairly common to see just-roasted geese hanging in restaurant windows. The limp birds, toasted from the tail to the beak and dangling from their neck might not look appetizing, but after one bite of the rich, tender meat, those visions were erased from my mind. Goose would normally be out of our price range, but in Hong Kong, roasted goose on a bed of steamed rice can be had for less than $10.
Where To Eat Roasted Goose in Hong Kong
Yat Lok. At first glance, it is hard to believe that this inconspicuous, family-run restaurant, Yat Lok, was awarded a Michelin Star. The small space is crammed with tiny tables and the staff are quick to get you in, get you served and get you out. But, alas, the roasted goose prevails. We also ordered – and loved: Goose and Pork Rice. But really, you go to Yat Lok for the goose.
#4 Hong Kong Satay Beef
It is easy to forego fruits and vegetables when eating Hong Kong fare, which – let’s face it – just isn’t healthy. Enter: Satay Beef. Although drenched in an undoubtedly unhealthy sauce, the simmered beef is accompanied by sautéed peppers, onions, ginger and fresh pineapple. The classic Asian dish can be paired with rice or noodles – or save the carbs for later and just eat the main course!
Top Hong Kong Restaurant for Satay Beef
Tak Kee Seafood Restaurant. Located on the corner of Temple Street and Pak Hoi Street in the heart of the Temple Night Market, Tak Kee Seafood is a shack of a restaurant with a friendly staff and picture menus. The street-side tables are fantastic for people-watching! We also ordered – and loved: Fried Rice with Shrimp.
#5 Egg Tart Hong Kong
I rarely associate sweet baked goods to Asian cuisine (maybe because the main courses leave no extra room!) – but that is not the case in Hong Kong. The bakeries in Hong Kong crank out sugary breads, flaky cakes and creamy custard tarts.
The Hong Kong Egg Tart was introduced by the Portuguese, but differs from the ones we’ve eaten in Belem, Portugal. The velvety filling tastes less-sweet-more-eggy and, together with the buttery crumbly crust, the dessert is simply scrumptious.
Best Hong Kong Egg Tarts
Tai Cheong Bakery. The Tai Cheong Bakery has been around for more than 60 years and now has many locations in Hong Kong. Ranked by both locals and foreigners as the best place for Egg Tarts in HK, it’s advised to eat them when they are fresh from the oven and still warm. We also ordered – and loved: Pineapple Bun, of which pineapple is not an ingredient!
#6 Milk Tea Hong Kong
The popularity of Hong Kong-style Milk Tea grew from the time when the country was under British rule (differentiating it from Chinese tea, that is served without milk). The drink – served hot or cold – is a concoction of black tea and condensed milk, creating a deliciously smooth drink.
Where To Get Hong Kong Milk Tea
Lan Fong Yuen. Established in 1952, Lan Fong Yuen is a tea restaurant that got its start as a HK street food stall. The stall still occupies the space in front of the original restaurant – and is where you can order a Milk Tea to-go. That said, we heard that it is worth going inside for the spongy French Toast…but that will have to wait for our next HK trip!
Map of Recommended Restaurants in Hong Kong
Use this Google Map for an interactive version of our Best Hong Kong Food Map.
More Tips On Eating Hong Kong Food
We have highlighted what to eat in HK and the best restaurants in Hong Kong that serve the dish as a specialty. However, eating in Hong Kong can be a bit confusing. To help, we are sharing our top Hong Kong food tips.
Where To Eat in Hong Kong
Our list of 6 incredibly, delicious things to eat in Hong Kong is by no means exhaustive (Not. Even. Close.). The above mentioned places to eat in Hong Kong are just the tip of the iceberg. The sheer volume of eateries in Hong Kong – which number in the tens of thousands – is mind-boggling.
We loved popping into modest, sans-English-signage restaurants filled with locals just as much as we enjoyed seeking out Hong Kong Michelin Star Restaurants.
One thing we didn’t do, however, was indulge in any Western cuisine, of which there is plenty – for an upcharge, of course. Trendy restaurants serving gourmet burgers, wood-fired pizzas and beef steaks line the streets of the HK Soho District.
For ‘fast food’ Ebeneezer’s serves up tasty kebabs and pizza (but, don’t expect it to be ‘cheap’). We also avoided fine dining in Hong Kong – not because it doesn’t exist or wouldn’t be exceptional, but simply because they didn’t fit our HK Budget Itinerary.
Food Costs in Hong Kong
Of all the Hong Kong food we ate, the most we paid for a single dish was for both the plate of Goose and the bowl of Wonton and Pork Dumpling Noodles – about $10. On average, for typical-Hong Kong food, we paid about $5 per meal, with the more local establishments charging even less
One thing to be aware of when you dine in Hong Kong: ‘hidden fees’ are often added to the total cost of a meal. Some restaurants add a 10% service charge to all bills (which should be posted), If there is a service charge added, there is no need to tip. Also, if tea is served to the table, expect to see it appear on the bill.
When To Eat in Hong Kong
Eating times in Hong Kong are fairly standard, at least in regards to how the majority of the world consumes food. Breakfast is served until about 11am, Lunch is from 12-2pm and dinner is in the mid-evening. However, hours of operations for restaurants vary.
Some Hong Kong restaurants are open from early in the morning into the late hours of night, but not all. One noodle restaurant I was eager to try, Kau Kee, doesn’t open until 12:30pm – and it never worked in our schedule to dine there for lunch.
It should also be noted that in our Hong Kong restaurant research, we often read about long waits at some of the most popular restaurants (One Dim Sum, Mak’s Noodles and Yat Lok among them). During our visit to Hong Kong, however, we never found this to be the case.
We avoided peak dining hours – and never waited once for a table. When restaurants do fill up, don’t be surprised to be seated with strangers – especially if dining by yourself or in small groups. Space is tight – and they want to fill every seat possible.
Service in Hong Kong Restaurants
Another recurring tidbit we read in our research was to expect poor service in Hong Kong restaurants – which included warnings of staff shouting, slamming food on tables and flat-out ignoring guests. Fortunately, we experienced none of those things. In fact, we encountered only friendly service at the places we ate in Hong Kong.
Cultural differences do exist (and, if they didn’t, what fun would traveling be?!), so here are a few tips of what to expect.
- When entering a HK restaurant, the hostess will most likely bluntly ask “How many?” and then emphatically point at the table where they want you to sit.
- Not all Hong Kong restaurants provide napkins, but sometimes a roll of toilet paper will be placed on the table for wiping your hands. As a general rule, it’s a good idea to always carry a small packet of tissues with you in Hong Kong.
- If the restaurant is busy, the waitress expects you to order, eat and pay quickly, so the next customers in line can get a seat. Lingering over a meal while other people are waiting for a seat will likely get you shooed out the door.
- After the food arrives, the bill will be left on the table; take it to the register to pay right before leaving the restaurant.
- At more local establishments, the staff may not (or may not want to) speak English. In that case, point at pictures, at other patrons’ meals or give charades a go – better yet, be adventurous and select a menu item at random and see what arrives! Do refrain from repeating the same English words over and over, only louder; that seldom (as in never) works.
Food Tours in Hong Kong
If you are hesitant to dive into Hong Kong cuisine on your own, there are several highly-rated food tours that help visitors get acquainted with some of the best food the city has to offer. Consider joining one – or more! – of them to get a good taste of Hong Kong.
Meet fellow travelers and local guides to sample food from restaurants, markets and stalls in Kowloon or tour the top eateries on Hong Kong Island.
Get a complete lesson on Dim Sum or join tours that are neighborhood specific, indulging in food in the Wan Chai District, Sham Shui Po District or Central and Sheung Wan Districts.
Alternatively, hire a food guide to create a tour specific to your tastes on a 4-hour Private Hong Kong Tasting Tour.
Drinking in Hong Kong
As inexpensive as it can be to eat in Hong Kong restaurants, the same doesn’t ring true for drinking alcohol. At restaurants, a single bottle of beer can cost nearly as much as some main entrees. The cost of beer in the bars, pubs and clubs in Soho or Lan Kwai Fong is astounding – easily costing $10-15 for a pint.
Naturally, craft beer and cocktails are poured at an upcharge – but as fans of microbrew, we just couldn’t resist sampling a few Hong Kong craft beers. Thankfully, we found two craft beer budget options: 99 Bottles and The Beer Bay, where craft beers are more in the $7-10 price range. The truly supreme budget option for drinking in Hong Kong is ‘Club 7-11’. That is, buy beers from the corner 7-Eleven and drink them in the streets!
Planning a Trip to Hong Kong
Deciding what and where to eat in Hong Kong is just one facet of trip planning. Travelers also need to design a sightseeing plan and determine where to stay.
Our Hong Kong Itinerary is a perfect place to start. We share specific day-by-day details to help you create your best Hong Kong vacation!
Where To Stay in Hong Kong
During our visit to Hong Kong, we stayed at Y Hotel, a boutique hotel in the Sheung Wan district, close to Central. However, there are oh-so- many Hong Kong Hotels to choose from on HK Island and the mainland. Before you start your search, read our advice for Finding Top Hotels at the Best Rates.
Organize your HK Trip
Planning a HK trip is a big task – and travelers need to stay on top of all the details. Use our Printable Travel Planner to make sure nothing slips through the cracks!
Start planning your trip to Hong Kong! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want more travel advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for more tips on traveling – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!
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