While Hong Kong is all about glitz and glamour and boasts some of the world’s best fine dining restaurants, its robust culinary heritage can also be explored travelling on a budget. The upcoming Wine and Dine Festival: Taste Around Town is a foodie extravaganza featuring around 400 restaurants and bars throughout the city.
In fact, in Hong Kong, some of the best flavours are hidden behind unassuming facades and narrow alleys. The best part? Some of them are even Michelin favourites, having earned the coveted stars and Bib Gourmand award. To make it easier for you to find them, here’s our list of dishes you absolutely must eat and the best places to find them:
With a thriving tradition of cha chaan tengs (Hong Kong-style diners that became popular during the 1950s for serving fusion Western comfort foods) and dai pai dongs (open-air food stalls popular for Cantonese fare), every meal in Hong Kong is a feast fit for a king, even when travelling within a budget. Here are the top must-eats:
This one Michelin-starred joint, tucked away in the buzzing Central, is a must when visiting Hong Kong. Founded in 1957, the family-run, quaint joint boasts one of the best roast geese, all thanks to its 20-step preparation, which features a marinade that is hailed to be a secret recipe. Available in many sizes, their legendary roast geese are best enjoyed with a simmering bowl of lai fun noodles. A filling meal for one will typically cost you HKD 150.
Address: Hong Kong, Central, Stanley St, 34-38號G/F
Leaving Hong Kong without relishing a few bowls of wonton noodle soup is impossible, and if there is one place that makes an experience out of it, it is Lau Sum Kee Noodles in Sham Shui Po. Operating since 1956, this old-school joint sticks to how it did things back in the day—by using a bamboo pole to knead noodles, giving it that classic springy texture. The noodles are only elevated with their succulent pork or prawn wontons with homemade radish pickle on the side. A meal for one would typically cost you HKD 70.
Address: 48 Kweilin St, Un Chau, Hong Kong
If you are searching for a breakfast spot, So Kee waits with its traditional Hong Kong-style café experience. With its original old-school look still intact, So Kee in Sham Shui Po is one of the legendary spots that continues to serve dai pai dong classics like yuen yeung (a local beverage prepared by blending coffee and tea), pork ramen with a sunny side up, and stuffed French toast. A satisfying meal for one, comprising up to three dishes, will typically cost you HKD 120.
Address: 404 Jaffe Rd, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Another iconic spot in the city that has been open since the 1920s, Hang Heung is a must-stop if you have a sweet tooth. While they’ve expanded since then, with branches spread throughout Hong Kong, their first-ever shop in Yuen Long is where you must head to for the real deal. Must-haves here include the century egg tart (featuring a preserved egg in the centre), the wife cake (flaky pastry filled in the centre with almond paste and winter melon), and, if you’re visiting in September, the signature white lotus seed mooncakes that are available only during the Mid-Autumn festival. You can enjoy a pack of assorted traditional desserts for approximately HKD 120.
Address: 66號 Castle Peak Rd - Yuen Long, Yuen Long, Hong Kong
Dim Sum is so central to Hong Kong’s culinary culture that there are probably hundreds of best places to get your fill. But for a truly local and communal experience, head to the historic Lin Heung Tea House, which has been open for 106 years now. At Lin Heung, things are still done the old way—servers wheel out tall stacks of dim sum baskets instead of taking orders, and you get to pick the dim sums of your choice. While all the dim sums are made to perfection, keep your eyes out for their steaming siu mai and rice rolls. A typical meal, including a variety of dim sums, at Lin Heung will cost you approximately HKD 150.
Address: 160號 Wellington St, Central, Hong Kong