Hong Kong is a full city. It’s filled with people, skyscrapers, culture, and restaurants…so many restaurants! With a huge number of dedicated establishments influenced by a variety of culinary backgrounds, it’s hard to know where to start. Hong Kong is the perfect place to try expertly-crafted Cantonese fare and Chinese classics, so grab your chopsticks. Here are ten of the best foods and drinks in Hong Kong, China.
Dim Sum at Tim Ho Wan
Tim Ho Wan, often called Timmy’s, had to top this list—it’s the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant. But its affordability in no way signifies a lack in quality, as Tim Ho Wan is home to some of the best dim sum on the planet. Using simple ingredients in the spirit of old Silk Road teahouses, this restaurant strives for dim sum perfection. Their barbecue pork buns are downright incredible, as are the spongy, caramelly egg cakes. Whatever your preference of Cantonese fare, Tim Ho Wan will blow your mind.
Clams with Peppers at Sing Kee
Dai pai dongs, China’s open-air food stalls, used to sell their goods all over Hong Kong. Now, however, there are less than thirty. Sing Kee is one of the best, serving up Cantonese grub with a quality that has kept them in business as their competition slowly dwindles. Try their clams, which are fried with chili peppers and pickled soybean.
Dumplings at Jin Jiao
Don’t go to Hong Kong without getting some dumplings. Everyone loves them, and Jin Jiao serves up the classics as well as some more unique offerings. The interior is a cozy bar-like atmosphere, modern yet welcoming like the food they serve. You can never go wrong with a traditional pork dumpling, but Jin Jiao also offers their unique pan-fried spicy beef mala variety if you’re looking for some kick. The tomato-egg dumpling is also as tasty as it is interesting.
Milk Tea at For Kee
Milk Tea is a Hong Kong staple, with around 900 million glasses consumed a year. Hong Kong-style milk tea is made by mixing several types of black tea (Ceylon is used commonly) with unsweetened evaporated milk. It’s a simple combination, but the milk tea at For Kee is especially popular. They also serve pork chops that locals rave about, so don’t get your tea to go.
Wonton Noodles at Mak’s Noodles
Wonton noodles is an iconic dish reportedly created by a street vendor named Mak Woon-chi, and Mak’s Noodles was opened by one of Mak Woon-chi’s grandsons. The dish consists of wheat noodles joined with prawn dumplings in a pork-based broth, and Mak’s (also known as Chung Kee) crafts every element perfectly. You don’t want to miss the chance to try wonton noodles, and Mak’s is the place to go.
Abalone Puff at Lung King Heen
Lung King Heen was the first Chinese restaurant to earn three Michelin stars, so you know you’ll be blown away. With a breathtaking view of the Victoria Harbour and incredible Cantonese cuisine, this restaurant, located in the Four Seasons Hotel, is a national treasure. Anything you order will be immaculately prepared and presented, from braised goose webs to pork ribs with osmanthus and pear. Be sure to try their baked whole abalone puff with diced chicken, a popular dish other restaurants have tried desperately to mimic.
Flower Crab at The Chairman
The Chairman offers modern spins on Cantonese classics, seeking the highest quality ingredients for their dishes. Utilizing a small farm, they use organic vegetables as much as possible, rely on local suppliers for produce, use homemade sauces, and keep their food MSG-free—quite a feat! Be sure to try the Steamed Fresh Flower Crab with Aged ShaoXing Wine. The particular variety of crab is native to local waters, and they serve it dressed with the aforementioned wine as well as chicken fat, the whole offering presented on a bed of rice noodles.
Yakitori at Yardbird
Yakitori is a popular Asian dish comprised of charcoal-grilled skewered chicken meat. Yardbird, a gastropub opened in 2011, might just be the hottest yakitori place in Hong Kong. Its six-year run has maintained customer enthusiasm throughout, and its yakitori has a particular hold on people. Using every part of the chicken to create a wide variety of mouthwatering dishes, including skewers of hearts and ‘meatballs’, Yardbird knows exactly what they’re doing.
Jumbo Pomelo & Mango with Sago at Hui Lau Shan
If you’re looking for a treat both sweet and refreshing, Hui Lau Shan is the way to go. A dessert specialist founded in the 60s, they invented a new recipe for Mango Sago in 1992, and it’s been a beloved sweet treat ever since. The Jumbo Pomelo & Mango with Sago gives you a triple-flavor-and-texture combo that will satisfy your sweet tooth as well as refresh you. Hui Lau Shan uses Carabao Mangoes imported directly from the Philippines, so you know you’re getting the good stuff.
Hong Kong Rooftop at Ozone at Ritz-Carlton
Ozone at the Ritz-Carlton is the world’s highest bar, but this fact isn’t the only reason to visit. The 118th floor provides incredible views of the Victoria Harbour, an ambiance perfect for sipping their classic (and aptly named) Hong Kong Rooftop. A combination of kumquats, strawberries, pears, and grapefruits, you’ll get a good helping vodka as well as salted caramel. This is one fruity drink you won’t want to miss.
If you’re planning an executive meeting or incentive travel program to Hong Kong, contact Gavel International to learn more.
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