What To Eat in Hong Kong: Best Budget-Friendly Michelin Bites

Hong Kong’s food scene is not a stranger to the Michelin Guide, with more than 16,000 spots receiving prestigious stars and recommendations over the years. The best part is that not all Michelin-starred meals come with a hefty price tag. While you can enjoy a fine dining experience at a glamorous restaurant that overlooks the beautiful skyline, there is a lot to uncover otherwise as well. Here’s our recommendation for the top eateries that have received a nod from Michelin.

Tim Ho Wan

Tim Ho Wan is one of the most famous budget-friendly Michelin-starred eateries in Hong Kong, renowned for its dim sum. The BBQ pork buns are iconic, featuring a crispy exterior with a soft, sweet-salty char siu pork filling. The Har Gow, with its delicate wrapper, plump shrimp filling, and turnip cake, are other must-try items. Despite being a Michelin-starred eatery, a meal here is extremely affordable. Most dim sum items are priced between HKD 20 and 40 each. You can expect to spend between HKD 80 and 120 per person, depending on how many dishes you order.

Mak's Noodle

Mak's Noodle is a Hong Kong institution famous for its springy, delicate wonton noodles. The standout dish is the shrimp wonton noodle soup, served with fresh shrimp wontons in a rich broth and firm, bouncy noodles. The beef brisket noodles are another popular choice, with tender slices of brisket that melt in your mouth.

Although the portions are smaller, the quality and taste of the food make it worth every penny. Expect to pay between HKD 50 and 70 for a bowl of noodles.

Yat Lok Roast Goose

Yat Lok, a one-Michelin-starred restaurant, specialises in roast goose, a Hong Kong favourite. Their signature dish is a roast goose with crispy skin and tender meat, served with rice or noodles. The perfectly roasted goose pairs well with the chewy noodles or fluffy rice, giving you a simple yet rich flavour profile.

A meal at Yat Lok can cost anywhere from HKD 70 for a smaller portion to HKD 150 if you order a larger plate or add extra items like a side of vegetables or noodles. For roast goose enthusiasts, this place is a must-visit for an authentic and affordable Michelin experience.

Kau Kee Restaurant

Kau Kee is a beloved local eatery with a Michelin recommendation for its unbeatable meat brisket noodles. The menu star is the tender meat brisket served with clear broth or a richer curry sauce paired with their signature chewy noodles. The flavours are bold, and the portions are satisfying. A bowl of these noodles typically costs around HKD 60–100, depending on the portion size and whether you choose a clear broth or the curry version.

Sing Kee

Sing Kee is a Michelin-recommended eatery in Hong Kong's heart that offers classic Cantonese stir-fried dishes. The menu includes a wide range of seafood, such as stir-fried clams with black bean sauce and salt and pepper squid. Their sweet and sour pork is another crowd favourite, with crispy pork pieces coated in a perfectly balanced sauce.

The restaurant is affordable by Hong Kong standards, with most dishes costing between HKD 50 and 80 each. If you’re sharing with a group, a meal at Sing Kee will cost approximately HKD 80–150 per person, depending on how many dishes you order.