There’s nothing we care more about than how and where we eat in Hong Kong. Our city is known as a foodie’s paradise because of our humble street food and local fares influenced by the British. We’ve carefully curated a guide to restaurants that are our favourites so you can eat your way around Hong Kong!

The Classics

Kam Wah Cafe

It’s been 45 years since this cha chaan teng set up shop in Prince Edward and they’re best known for their pineapple bun and egg tarts. Our fave is having these signature Hong Kong pastries with a cuppa of hot Hong Kong milk tea. Mind you though, there’s no pineapple used in the buns! The soft, pillowy bun is topped with a golden crust and the look resembles to the fruit, hence the name. You can either go with the original, or live a little and order the one with a dollop of butter sandwiched between. I mean, why not go all out right?

Address: G/F, 47 Bute St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 6:30 am - 11:30 pm, Monday to Sunday

Ma Sa Restaurant

The most iconic dish at this casual diner: nicely done spam, 3 sunny-side up eggs and soy sauce on top of a bed of rice. It’s such a simple dish, yet Ma Sa turns it into a special staple in the neighbourhood. The runny egg yolks are cooked perfectly and mix beautifully with the soy sauce, and the portion is also incredibly generous for its price. Don’t forget to order a glass of red bean ice on the side (a drink that’s mixed of red beans and milk).

Address: G/F, 23 Hillier St, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 7 am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Saturday 7 am to 4pm. Closed on Sundays and public holidays

Kung Wo Dou Ba Chong

If you’re into tofu, this is the place for you. Nothing has changed at Kung Wo since it opened in 1958 and the small factory/restaurant has been cooking up delicious tofu dishes such as the tofu pudding and pan-fried tofu stuffed with fish paste. Tofu pudding (known as tofu fa to the locals) is one of Hong Kong’s specialties and it’s often eaten as an afternoon snack or dessert. The extremely soft tofu is served in a bowl and swim in a pool of ginger syrup, which is then finished off with a dash of yellow sugar. You can also buy blocks of fresh tofu made in house from the shop and bring them back home.

Address: G/F, 118 Pei Ho Street, Sham Shui Po
Opening Hours: 7am to 9pm, Monday to Sunday

Po Kee BBQ Restaurant

You probably wouldn’t have thought Po Kee as a Michelin 1-star restaurant when you first step into the restaurant. Just like other casual Cantonese diners, Po Kee is small and unassuming. There's pretty much only one thing that you need to order here: roasted duck / goose leg over with rice noodles. The key to a good roasted duck/goose is about the perfectly crispy skin, yet the meat is still succulent and tender, and Po Kee makes it just right. The legs sold out quickly though, so make it there before 2pm to avoid disappointment.

Address: 425 Queen's Rd W, Shek Tong Tsui, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 11:30am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday. Closed on Sundays.

Mak Man Kee Wonton Noodles

You might have heard of Mak’s noodles and wonder which branch serves the best wontons in town. The story goes like this: Mak Woon Chi, who was known as the master of wonton noodles, brought the Cantonese-style noodles from Guangzhou to Hong Kong in the 40s. His style of wontons are filled only with prawns, which is different from the original version from Guangzhou, which uses a mix of prawns and minced pork. His sons and their families started to take over and open up more shops, so in the end it all goes back to Mak’s legacy! You’ll find 4 wontons on the bottom of bowl, topped with a bed of thin egg noodles so the noodles won’t soaked up all the soup and loses its chewy texture. Their pig trotters noodles is another favourite, which are marinated with sweet fermented red bean curd. Steamed Chinese veggies is always a staple at such noodles shops but the chef here dresses the veggies with duck fat and oyster sauce, which gives it a richer taste.

Address: 51 Parkes St, Jordan, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 12 pm to 12:30 am, Monday to Sunday

Crystal Jade

This Shanghainese specialty restaurant comes from a Singaporean chain and it’s extremely popular in Hong Kong due to its consistency and good service. You can never go wrong with their Dan Dan Mian (a Sichuan noodles with a soup base made with peanut sauce and chili oil, topped with minced pork and scallions) and Xiao Lung Bao (known as soup dumplings in the West). There are currently 21 branches of Crystal Jade in town and it’s my go-to spot for a quick breakfast or lunch after I land at the Hong Kong International Airport.

Address: Shop B221A, B2/F, Times Square,1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay
Opening Hours: 11 am - 11 pm, Monday to Sunday
* Other branches include Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui and Terminal 1 at Hong Kong International Airport

Din Tai Fung

While the Taiwanese chain has taken up shops in the U.S and Asia, it remains a favourite for those who need to satisfy their soup dumpling cravings. Each branch showcases their chefs making dumplings from scratch through a glass window and the show makes a bit better for the wait! Besides the essential xiao lung bao (soup dumplings), try their pot stickers if you prefer something crunchy. There are also plenty of choices for vegetarians as well. The stir fried pea tendrils and cucumber with chili oil are on the top of our lists and we also love the drunken chicken, which is served as a cold dish.

Address: No.68 Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, China
Opening Hours: 11:30 am to 10 pm, Monday to Sunday

Tung Po Kitchen

Tucked away in a cooked food centre in North Point, Tung Po Kitchen is known for its wild and amazing dining experience. The restaurant serves a wide range of classic Guangdong dishes and fresh seafood (steamed/stir fry). Our favourites are the deep fried prawns with salted duck egg yolk, stir fry razor clams with black bean sauce, steamed lotus leaf rice and spicy eggplant with minced pork in clay pot. Don’t forget to order a round of beer, which you then drink out of bowls with the Chinese word “Victory” imprinted in them! Besides the good food, Tung Po is also known for its incredibly fun atmosphere, thanks to the legendary Robby who runs the place and entertains his guests by putting on random pop music loud on the speakers (and if you’re lucky, you’ll hear some opera too!).

Address: 2/F Java Road Municipal Services Building, 99 Java Rd, North Point, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 5:30 pm to 12:30 am, Monday to Sunday
*Reservations are needed, or else it might take a while to wait for a table if you’re a big group!

Little Bao

The 20-seat restaurant has an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs work their magic, while you sip on their specialty cocktail Snake Master, a drink that’s made with a snake wine base with a rim of preserved plum. The owner May Chow won the Best Female Chef Award in Asia in 2016 and the food there does live up to its hype. Little Bao is known for their “bao”, a Chinese style burger that’s made with a steamed bun. The recipe of their bespoke bao is created in house and the texture is just a tiny bit denser than the regular ones, which gives it a better chew. Must-try items include fried chicken bao, truffle fries and lamb tartare with tofu chips. Finish off your meal with their deep fried ice cream bao sandwiches and I can never have enough of their salted caramel ones! If you’ve got the time, try to get there 10 minutes before the restaurant opens at 6. The queue can get quite insane and LB does not take any reservations.

Address: 66 Staunton St, Central, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 6pm to 11pm, Monday to Friday, 12 pm to 4 pm Saturday and Sunday.

The Chairman

This contemporary Cantonese restaurant offers traditional dishes made with a touch of Western techniques. The waiters know their crafts here, so don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations and advice on portions. For starters, smoked baby pigeons with longjing tea and chrysanthemum and deep-fried duck with taro are always a hit. If you’re into seafood, try the steamed flower crabs with aged Chinese wine and chicken fat and king prawns cooked in fish and rice broth for the mains. There are plenty of choices for meat and veggie lovers as well. We love the personable service and consistency at The Chairman, and don’t forget to make a reservation before you go!

Address: No.18 Kau U Fong, Central, Hong Kong, China
Opening Hours: 12-3pm, 6-11pm, Monday to Sunday