When you think of Hong Kong, the first thing that comes up is usually a shopping paradise but actually it is also a food heaven! There is a variety of food choices from street food to Michelin-star restaurant that you’ll be spoilt for choices. Believe me, you will definitely unforgettable the foods you tried in Hong Kong!
In this Hong Kong food guide, you’ll discover 12 dishes and snacks that you don’t want to miss eating when you’re in Hong Kong. For each dish, you’ll also find the best restaurants in Hong Kong where you can try them. Ok, let’s get started with this Hong Kong food guide.
1. Hong Kong Dim Sum
One of the best reasons you should travel to Hong Kong is to eat dim sum! It is impossible to go Hong Kong without trying out one of their celebrated dim sum items, from steamed, baked, pan-fried to deep fried. When in doubt, order the classic ones – pork dumplings, BBQ pork buns, shrimp dumplings, lo mai gai, osmanthus jelly, cheung fan, spring rolls, siu mai and egg tart.
Best places to try:
i. Tim Ho Wan (添好运)
• Shop 12A, Hong Kong Station (Podium Level 1) IFC Mall, Central
• Opening hours: 10:00–21:30
• Nearest MTR: Hong Kong or Central
ii. Fook Lam Moon (福臨門)
• Shop 3, G/F, Newman House 35-45 Johnston Road, Wanchai Hong Kong (10 min walk from Wan Chai MTR)
• 53-59 Kimberley Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon Tsim Sha Tsui MTR, Hong Kong
• Opening Hours: Lunch 11:30am-3pm (Mon-Sat), 11am-3pm (Sun). Dinner 6-11pm Daily
iii. Lin Heung Teahouse (蓮香樓)
• 162 Wellington St, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
• Opening hours: 6 am – 11 pm daily
iv. Duen Kee Restaurant (端記茶樓)
• 57-58 Chuen Lung Estate, Route Twisk, Tsuen Wan
• Opening hours: 6 am – 2 pm daily
2. Pineapple Bread
If you read any Hong Kong food guide or travel guide, a pineapple bun will undoubtedly be listed as one of the must eat foods in Hong Kong. And rightfully so, because not only are they considered a part of the Hong Kong cultural heritage, but as soon as you take your first bite of this legendary pastry, you’ll know why it’s so famous.
Locally called it as bor lor bao, a pineapple bun is fluffy and crusty with a crumbly crust at the same time, sweet but not overly so, and sometimes served with a tongue sized slice of butter right in the warm middle.
Best places to try:
i. Kam Wah Café (金華冰廳)
• G/F, 47 Bute Street, Prince Edward, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
• Opening hours: 6:30 am – 12 am midnight daily
ii. Kam Fung Restaurant
• Address:G/F, Spring Garden Mansion, 41 Spring Garden Lane, Wan Chai.
• Opening hours: 6:00am – 7:00pm
iii. Honolulu Coffee Shop (Honolulu Bakery)
• Address: G/F & Mezz Floor, 176-178 Hennessy Rd, Wan Chai.
• Opening hours: 6:00am – Midnight.
iv. Tsui Wah in Central
• Address:G/F, 84-86 Des Voeux Road Central, Central.
• Opening hours: 7:00am – 2:00am.
3. Hong Kong Milk Tea
Chinese tea culture features strongly in Hong Kong but the local milk tea is a more recent concoction, having only come on the scene in the 1950s. Various blends of Sri Lankan black tea are infused with evaporated or condensed milk. It is called Stocking Milk Tea because it is percolated in a stocking-like filter. The brew is smooth and creamy in texture. According to Wikipedia, Hong Kong residents drink 900 million glasses of milk tea per year.
Best places to try:
The traditional Cha Chaan Teeng tea restaurants will serve a good old fashioned milk tea, but for the original head to Lan Fong Yuen at 2 Gage Street, Central. This establishment laid claims to inventing the silk stocking milk tea, the first to strain tea leaves through a woman’s silk stocking.
4. Tofu Pudding & Steamed Milk
Tofu Pudding and steamed milk is one of the most signature desserts in Hong Kong that you must have a try! Especially the steamed milk, the plain milk pudding was silky smooth, milky and creamy but it was not too sweet. I can say this is a very special dessert in Hong Kong that I’ve not tasted anything like it before and you will definitely unforgettable this Hong Kong steamed milk after back to Malaysia!
Furthermore, the tofu pudding was extremely smooth and tasted richly of soybean, the clear syrup wasn’t overly sweet and the tofu pudding came with a huge dollop of brown sugar.
Best places to try:
i. Kung Wo Beancurd
• G/F, 118 Pei Ho St, Hong Kong
• Opening hours: Mon–Sun, 7:00 AM–9:00 PM
ii. Yee Shun Milk Company
• Tai Wo Commercial Building, 513 Nathan Rd, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
• Opening hours: 8am – 12am, open daily.
iii. Australian Dairy Co.
• G/F, 47-49 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong.
• Open Friday – Wednesday 7:30am – 11:00pm (closed Thursdays).
5. Congee & Wonton Noodles
Most congees in Hong Kong are painstakingly cooked for many hours, resulting in a thick, creamy, smooth bowl that warms the tummy and the heart. The favors of the congee come from pork bones, and you can top it with ingredients such as meat slices, pork ball, fish belly or fresh prawns.
Wonton noodles are a hugely popular Hong Kong must eat dish (commonly found at dai pai dongs), and while there are plenty of different versions across China, the Hong Kong dish is normally fresh parcels of pork and shrimp mince, wrapped in a wonton pastry and served with steaming hot soup curly egg noodles, the goods bowls have noodles with a slightly springy texture.
Best places to try:
i. Ho Hung Kee
• 1204-1205 Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay
• Opening Hours: 11:30am – 11pm
ii. Wong Chi Kee
• Basement, 10-12 Stanley Street, Central.
• Opening hours: 7.30am – midnight
iii. Tsim Chai Kee
• Shop B, G/F Jade Centre, 98 Wellington Street, Central.
• Opening hours: 9:00am – 10:30pm.
iv. Mak’s Noodles, Central
• 77 Wellington St, Central.
• Open daily 9:00am – 10:30pm
v. Sang Kee Congee Shop (生記粥品專家)
• 7-9 Burd Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island (MTR Sheung Wan Station Exit A2, turn right and walk about 5 min along Hillier Street)
• Opening Hours: 6:30am – 9pm (Mon-Sat), 6:30am – 6pm (PH) Closed on Sunday
6. Egg Waffle
Snacking in Hong Kong is a diverse business; with everything from slush drinks and egg waffle to octopus balls are available on the streets. Graze your way around the city for a really local experience. Just look out for the long lines of customers and you’ll be onto a good thing!
Known in Hong Kong as gai daan jai (鷄蛋仔), it is one of the most popular Hong Kong street foods. Sweetened egg batter grilled in a mold to make puffs. It is crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. These days it comes in a range of flavors, including chocolate, strawberry and coconut.
Best places to try:
i. Hung Kee Top Quality Egg Waffles (鴻記極品雞蛋仔)
• Shop A34C, second corridor, Tai On Building, Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong
• Opening hours: 2 pm – 2 am daily
ii. Tai O Fishing Village (大澳炭燒雞蛋仔叔叔)
• G/F, 59 Kat Hing Street, Tai O
• Opening hours: 12pm – 6pm, open daily
iii. Mammy Pancake
• 8-12 Carnarvon Road, Tsim Sha Tsui (franchise).
• Opening hours: Sunday – Thursday, 11:30am – 9pm. Friday and Saturday 11:30am – 9:oopm
iv. Master Low-key Food Shop
• 76A Shau Kei Wan Main Street East, Shau Kei Wan
• Opening hours: Monday – Friday: Noon – 10:00pm. Saturday & Sunday 11:00am – 10:00pm
v. Lee Keung Kee North Point Egg Ball
• 492 King’s Road, North Point.
• Opening hours: 7:00am – 11:00am.
7. Egg Tart
There are many local snacks you must try in Hong Kong – pineapple buns, mini egg puffs, wife cake, white sugar cake and not forgetting the egg tarts. Oh yeah, that smooth bright yellow egg custard, seated inside crumbly fragrant buttery crust. Remember to get them freshly baked, and eat them warm!
You can find excellent fresh baked Hong Kong must eat egg tarts at Dim Sum restaurants. Tsui Wah tea restaurant and Honolulu Cafe previously mentioned, serve pineapple buns as well as delish egg tarts. Here are a few more of the very best in Hong Kong:
i. Hoover Cake Shop 豪華餅店
• 136 Nga Tsin Wai Rd, Kowloon City
• Opening Hours: 6:30am – 11:30pm, open daily
ii. Tai Cheong Bakery 泰昌餅家
• G/F, 35 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central
• Opening Hours: 7:30am – 9pm (Mon-Sat), 8:30am-9pm (Sun & PH)
8. Sticky Rice Pudding “Put Chai Ko”
This street food is put in a small china bowl. When the pudding sets, it can be removed from the bowl by using a small stick and eaten like a popsicle. Modern innovations of this traditional snack have introduced a few new flavors such as pumpkin and green tea. However, I would recommend you to try the original flavor – the brown sugar version with red beans. This classic street snack is one of the must-try foods if you are in Hong Kong.
Best places to try:
i. Kwan Kee Store
• 10, 115-117 Fuk Wing St, Un Chau, Hong Kong
• Opening hours: 8am – 12am, open daily
ii. Ah Po Put Chai Ko (阿婆砵仔糕)
• 350-380 Des Voeux Road West, Shek Tong Tsui, Hong Kong
• Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 3.30pm – Midnight
iii. New Century Soy Bean Store (時代豆業)
• 1/f., Canal Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
• Opening hours: 8am – 11pm, open daily
iv. Shun Hing Lung (信興隆食品)
• Shop F, 182 Ma Tau Wai Road, To Kwa Wan, Hong Kong
• Opening hours: Mon – Sat, 9.30am – 6.30pm; Sun, 9.30am – 1pm
9. Stinky Tofu
Another street food classic, stinky tofu says everything that it is.
It indeed has a stench that may turn a hungry person off. The rancid smell is a result of a mixture of fermented milk, fish and meat that can last up to a few months. The taste of stinky tofu is way better than the odor it gives out.
Deep fried until it’s perfectly crunchy, this is best eaten with sweet, chili sauce. Enjoy a good filling snack by having it alongside with a bowl of piping hot noodles and a refreshing glass of fruit drink that a lot of food stalls offer.
Best places to try:
i. Temple Street’s Food Stalls
• Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
• Opening hours: 7am – 11pm, open daily
ii. Kai Kei Snacks
• 41 Dundas Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
• Opening hours: 12pm – 12am, open daily
iii. Delicious Food Shop
• Shop 10, G/F, 30-32 Nullah Road, Prince Edward, Hong Kong
• Opening hours: 10.30am – 9.30pm, open daily
10. Chinese BBQ Meats – Siu Mei
It is impossible to miss this cuisine in Hong Kong because after the highly seasoned meats are roasted on spits over an open fire or in a rotisserie oven, they are hung inside the restaurant and visible from the street. You’ll see siu mei hanging in fast-food chains, high-end restaurants and supermarkets. It is a sight and taste that is ubiquitous wherever there are Chinese communities.
Glistening sides of Char Siu (barbecued pork), crisp and juicy roast goose cooked over charcoal, crunchy crackly roast pork and tender suckling pig with a delicate crunchy skin are enjoyed by Hong Kongers regularly. Oh No! I’m feeling hungry already, are you?
Best places to try:
i. Joy Hing Restaurant
• 265-267 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai.
• Opening hours: Monday – Saturday, 10:00am – 10:00pm.
ii. Yung Kee
• 32-40 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong
• Opening hours: Monday – Sunday, 11:00am – 11:00pm.
iii. Kam’s Roast Goose
• G/F, Po Wah Commercial Center, 226 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai.
• Opening hours: Monday – Sunday, 11:30am – 10:30pm.
11. Hong Kong Cafe, Cha Chaan Teng
Hong Kong’s Cafes, better known as Cha Chaan Teng, are a class of their own not found in other parts of the world. It is another Hong Kong culinary experience that not to be missed. There are selling almost everything under the roof, from toast, instant noodles, scrambled eggs, barbecued meat, congee, curry, steak, silk-stocking milk tea and desserts. If you’re hungry go for a set menu. Some cafes open till very late too.
Best places to try:
i. Kam Wah Café (金華冰廳)
• G/F, 47 Bute Street, Prince Edward, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
• Opening hours: 6:30 am – 12 am midnight daily
ii. Australian Dairy Company 澳洲牛奶公司
• G/F, 47-49 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong
• Opening Hours: 7:30am – 11:00pm (Closed Thursdays)
iii. Capital Café (華星冰室)
• Shop B1, G/F, Kwong Sang Hong Building, 6 Heard Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong (10 min walk from Wan Chai MTR)
• Opening Hours: 7am – 11:00pm
iv. Mido Café (美都餐室)
• G/F, 63 Temple Street (Yau Ma Tei MTR Exit B2)
• Opening Hours: 8:30am – 9:30pm
12. Hong Kong Street Food, Dai Pai Dong
Don’t miss the opportunity to eat at a Dai Pai Dong, a quintessential Hong Kong must eat dining experience, they serve up cheap local Cantonese dishes like grilled pork chop with rice, salt and pepper prawns and sizzling pepper steak in a no-frills setting.
Pull up a plastic stool, squeeze around a table in a noisy communal atmosphere and glimpse into an authentic slice of working class Hong Kong. The once plentiful open-air Dai Pai Dong that occupied every busy street corner in Hong Kong has slowly vanished. So, if you are planning to travel in Hong Kong, remember do not miss out this Hong Kong’s style dining experience before it’s gone!
Best places to try:
i. Tung Po
• 2/F Java Road Municipal Services Building, 99 Java Rd, North Point, Hong Kong.
• Open daily: 5:30pm – 12:30pm
ii. Sing Huen Yuen, Central
• Corner of Gough and Mei Lun Streets, Central
• Open Monday – Saturday 8:30am – 5:00pm
iii. Sing Kee, Central
• 9-10 Stanley St, Central.
• Open daily 11:00am – 3:00pm and 5:00pm – 11:00pm.
iv. Oi Man Sang, Sham Shui Po
• 215 Lai Chi Kok Road, Sham Shui Po.
• Open daily 5:30pm – 1:00am.
This list is just the tip of the iceberg of the wonderful and varied Hong Kong must eat foods. With a multitude of delicious places to eat, the best part is discovering something by wandering the Hong Kong city streets. Spanning from local traditional Cantonese favorites like dim sum to Western influenced comfort food like French toast; Hong Kong is a food paradise where your taste buds will have the time of their lives. Finally, I hope this guide gives you a few ideas of must eat foods to try when you’re in Hong Kong!
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