Hong Kong Food Guide - 20 Must-Try Traditional Dishes & Where to Eat

The food of Hong Kong is influenced by many diverse cultures like the European, Chinese, Japanese but it is also majorly influenced by Cantonese cuisine. There are a variety of ingredients in dishes of Hong Kong that are common with the Cantonese cuisine, such as shiitake mushrooms, Chinese sausage, Chinese cabbage, red bean, lotus seed, and duck eggs.

Here is the list of 20 best food in Hong Kong and where you can find them-

1. Dim Sum

Everyone’s favourite Dim Sum is a very common food in Hong Kong. You can find classic stuffings for your dim sum such as steamed shrimp, barbecued pork, chicken and vegetables as well.

Where to eat:
- Tim Ho Wan Restaurant - 9-11 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po
- Dim Sum Icon - 100 HK Shop L308, Level 3, The ONE, 100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
- Dim Sum Library - One Pacific Place, Shop 124, Level 1, Admiralty
- Yan Toh Heen – InterContinental, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

2. Roast Goose

The Roast Goose is cooked in a traditional Cantonese style. Considered a traditional food of Hong Kong, the goose is typically cooked till the skin gets a good crackle and the flesh remains succulent. It is sometimes served with a plum sauce.

Where to eat:
- Yue Kee Roasted Goose Restaurant - 9 Sham Hong Road, Sham Tseng
- Ho Lee Fook - 1-5 Elgin Street, Central
- Yat Lok - 34-38 Stanley Street, Central
- Kam’s Roast Goose – 226 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island

3. Fish Balls

A popular snack, fish balls are a fish-meat delicacy cooked and served in different ways from being deep-fried, boiled in soup broth or in a curry. This food in Hong Kong can be commonly found at street stalls.

Where to eat:
- Chun Mei – Shop 7A, G/F, Kai Yin Mansion, 12-26 Nelson Street, Mong Kok
- Hong Kong Fishball King - 309-314 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai
- Tung Tat Food Shop - G/F, 172 Fa Yuen Street , Mong Kok

4. Beef Brisket

A common Hong Kong food, the brisket is a prime cut of beef that is mainly marinated in barbecue sauce, brown sugar and other spices. It is slow-cooked in the oven and then served in a noodle soup with daikon and fresh green spring onion.

Where to eat:
- Sister Wah - 13A Electric Road, Tin Hau
- Kau Kee Restaurant – 21 Gough Street, Central
- Jun Yuen – Sunbo Building, 1 San Kan Street, Sheung Shui
- Sang Kee – 20-22 Cleverly Street, Sheung Wan
- Wah Lam Noodle Restaurant – G/F & 1/F, 5-11 Thomson Road, Wan Chai

5. Egg Tart

Egg Tarts are a staple food of Hong Kong and a regional favourite! The delicacy has a soft, creamy egg custard filling surrounded by a thick, flaky crust or shell. The crust can be found in two different styles from a flaky puff pastry to a crumbly shortbread style. It is best served piping hot.

Where to eat:
-  Hoover Cake Shop - 136 Nga Tsin Wai Road, Kowloon City
- Tai Cheong Bakery – 35 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central
- Door Door Bakery – 65 Broadway Street, Mei Foo Sun Chuen, Mei Foo, Kowloon
- Sai Kung Café and Bakery – G/F, 6-7 Kam Po Court, 2 Hoi Pong Square, Sai Kung, New Territories
- Bakehouse – 14 Tai Wong Street East, Wan Chai
- Catherine Bakery – Shop 1, G/F, Fuk Sing Court, 378 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan

6. Hot Pot

Hot pot is best enjoyed during the cold winter months of Hong Kong. The concept behind a hotpot is similar to a fondue; you can dip raw meat into boiling vessels of broth. You can typically choose your soup and broth base as well.

Where to eat:
- Megan's Kitchen - Fifth floor, Lucky Center, 165-171 Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai
- Da Hong Pao – G/F, Shun Fai Building, 64-66A Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
- Shing Kee Noodles – Shop 5, Lek Yuen Estate Market, Sha Tin, New Territories
- San Xi Lou – Shop 1102, 11/F, Food Forum, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay
- The Drunken Pot – 27/F, V Point, 18 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay

7. Pineapple Bun

You would think that the bun has some pineapple in it from the name, but the bun actually got its name from its appearance. The top of the bun is made from dough that contains sugar, eggs, flour, and lard, giving it the crackly crunchy texture and sweetness that resembles a pineapple. The bottom of this Hong Kong dish is made from comparatively softer dough. It is generally served with a piece of butter stuffed inside and has other variants like red bean paste, custard cream or even barbecued pork.

Where to eat:
- Kam Wah Café and Bakery – 47 Bute Street, Prince Edward
- Kam Fung Café - 41 Spring Garden Lane, Wan Chai
- Sai Kung Cafe & Bakery - G/F, 6-7 Kam Po Court, 2 Hoi Pong Square, Sai Kung, New Territories
- Mrs Tang Café - Shop 3-4, G/F, Tonnochy Towers, 272 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai

8. Egg Waffles or Eggettes

Also called “Gai daan zai" (or the mini chicken egg), the egg waffles are Hong Kong’s representation of the traditional waffles. The waffles have a crispy texture that masks the soft and fluffy batter on the inside. This food of Hong Kong can be eaten plain or with fruit or chocolate toppings. They are definitely an all-time favourite!

Where to eat:
- Lee Keung Kee - 492 King's Road, North Point
- Oddies Foodies – G/F, 45 Gough Street, Central
- Eat with Me – Shop D, G/F, Nga Chi Building, 12 Sze Pei Square, Tsuen Wan
- Mammy Pancake – G/F, Carnarvon Mansion, 8-12 Carnarvon Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

9. Black Truffle Scrambled Eggs

Not a traditional Hong Kong dish but still equally delicious, the Black Truffle Scrambled Eggs are super creamy and served on slices of toast. If you’re looking for some comfort food in Hong Kong, this is your way to go. 

Where to eat:
- Capital Café - 6 Heard Street, Kwong Sang Hong Building, Wan Chai

10. Chinese Barbecue

Also known as ‘siu mei’, Chinese barbecued meats are quite popular in Hong Kong. You can choose from delectable cuts such as barbecued pork or ‘char siu’, roasted pork or even barbecued goose.

Where to eat:
- Limewood - Shop 103/104 The Pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Basy, Hong Kong Island
- BBQ by the Beach - Siu Lam, New Territories
- Beach BBQ King - Sai Kung, New Territories

11. Wonton Soup

The wonton soup is a clear and light broth seasoned with chicken broth, sesame oil, ginger, garlic and a little soy sauce for flavour. The wanton dumplings for the soup are filled with small amounts of succulent choices of meats and shrimp which are then wrapped in thin wonton wrappers and cooked.

Where to eat:
- Mak’s Noodle – 77 Wellington Street, Central
- Ho Hung Kee – Shop 1204-1205, 12/F Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay
- Good Hope Noodle – 18 Fa Yuen Street, Mong Kok
- Tsim Chai Kee – Jade Centre, 98 Wellington Street, Central
- Kwan Kee Bamboo Noodle – 1E Wing Lung Street, Cheung Sha Wan
- Lau Sum Kee Noodle – 48 Kweilin Street, Sham Shui Po
- Wing Wah Noodle Shop – 89 Hennessey Road, Wan Chai

12. Hainanese Chicken Rice

The popular food of Hong Kong, the Hainanese Chicken Rice is named after the tropical island - Hainan. Rice infused with garlic is served with a juicy piece of cold chicken, soy sauce, ginger, and scallions.

Where to eat:
- Café Causette – M/F, Mandarin Oriental, 5 Connaught Road Central, Central
- The Farm Café - Shop A, 38-40 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town

13. Rice Noodle Rolls or Chee Cheong Fun

Chee Cheong Fun translates to “touch the heart”. The white rice noodles sheets are steamed and filled with different kinds of meats like beef or shrimp and vegetables before being served as a snack or in dim sum. This food of Hong Kong also has a sweet variant the rolls are topped with a peanut butter sauce and sesame seeds.

Where to eat:
- Tim Ho Wan Restaurant - 9-11 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po
- Bo Innovation - J Residence, Hong Kong island, Shop 8, Podium, 1, 60 Johnston Road, Wan Chai
- Hop Yik Tai - G/F, 121 Kweilin, Street, Sham Shui Po

14. Steamed Sticky Rice

Usually wrapped in a Lotus leaf; the steamed sticky rice looks like a dumpling of sorts. Upon unwrapping the delicacy, you would find a steaming mound of rice filled with meats like chicken, Chinese sausage, mushrooms all cooked in soy sauce.

Where to eat:
- Yan Toh Heen - InterContinental Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Kowloon
- YunYan Sichuan Restaurant - Shop 1001B, 10/F, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay
- Tsui Heng Village - 5/F, Miramar Shopping Centre, 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

15. Steamed Fish

Fish is steamed in water that is boiled at a rolling temperature to ensure that the fish remains tender and doesn’t lose its flavour. The piece of fish is then usually coated in a sauce that is made from fresh ingredients like ginger, spring onions, and soy sauce to give it more flavour. 

Where to eat:
- Boat Dweller Steam Hot Pot Specialist - 1 Hau Fook Street, Tsim Sha Tsui
- One Harbour Road - 8th Floor, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai
- Sing Kee Seafood Restaurant (there are around 3 branches) - Sai Kung, 39 Sai Kung Street (Red House)

16. Claypot Rice

Claypot rice is traditionally slow-cooked over a charcoal stove. This cooking style give the dish a smoky flavour. However, this food of Hong Kong is nowadays cooked on stoves to crisp the rice at the base of the dish. Further giving it a golden and crunchy texture, which happens to be the favourite part for many.

Where to eat:
- Hing Kee Claypot Rice - 15 Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei Kowloon
- Kwan Kee - 263 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun
- Four Seasons - 46 Arthur Street, Yau Ma Tei Kowloon
- Seung Hei - G/F. 25 North Street, Sai Wan, Kennedy Town
- Wing Hop Sing – G/F, 360 Dees Voeux Road West, Shek Tong Tsui, Western District

17.  Durian Pancakes

These pancakes look nothing like the favourite breakfast item we all eat. Its called a pancake because of the fluffy-ness of the dessert. On biting into the cloud of a dessert, you will get a mouthful of durian meat and a creamy filling.

Where to eat:
- Cong Sao Star Dessert - G/F, 21-23 Tai Wong Street East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

18. Cart Noodles

Cart Noodles are a typical street food of Hong Kong. You can choose the ingredients you want from the noodles, including the meat and vegetables.

Where to eat:
- Chopsticks Kee - Shop A1, Khuan Ying Commercial Building, 85-89 Wellington Street, Central
- Wing Kee Noodle – G/F, 27A Sugar Street, Causeway Bay
- Man Kee - G/F, 121 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po (MTR exit D2)
- Block Sixteen Cart Noodle - G/F, 215A Fa Yuen Street, Prince Edward (MTR exit B2)

19. Mango Sago Pudding

Made of mango puree, coconut milk, fresh-cut chunks of mango and sago (tapioca) pearls, the pudding makes for a refreshing end to a meal. This food of Hong Kong is also served with pomelo sometimes, to cut the sweetness and emanate a slightly acidic flavour.

Where to eat:
- Honeymoon Desserts - 10A-C Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, Hong Kong
- Kei Kee Dessert - 33 Kam Fai Path, Yuen Long, Hong Kong
- Five Dynasties - Shop G11, Elizabeth Hse, 250-254 Gloucester Rd, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

20. Mooncakes

The sweet pastry depicts appreciation for the moon. They are usually thick and round in shape, filled with a lotus-seed or red-bean paste.

Where to eat:
- Lin Heung Tea House - 162 Wellington Street, Sheung Wan
- Sugarfina - IFC Boutique Shop 1023 on Podium 1 of IFC mall, 1 Harbour View Street, Central
- Mandarin Oriental - Hong Kong 5 Connaught Road, Central

How many of these dishes have you tried? Do you plan on indulging in the unique food of Hong Kong? Let us know in the comments below!