From Michelin stars to street food, this vibrant and vast city is the perfect place to indulge all your gastronomic appetites.
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It was not a dish I expected to eat here. At the table, a waiter is carving a huge bistecca Toscana. It’s been aged for 45 days before hitting the charcoal grill at Carna, Italian butcher Dario Cecchini’s glittering dining room committed to nose-to-tail eating.
That’s the genius of Hong Kong. You can eat almost anything you want, at any time of day, and at any price point. At 9am, I’m having dim sum at legendary Luk Yu Tea House, surrounded by families and shift workers. Hours later, I’m tearing into a roast goose leg at Yat Lok. An $8 bowl of noodle soup topped with king prawn wontons at Tsim Chai Kee is no contest for that $360 bistecca, but it’s a satisfying repast nonetheless.
Food here is serious business and an important accompaniment to any occasion. Even a weekend visit to the Xiqu Centre, an ultra-modern venue and part of the West Kowloon Cultural District, can involve a meal, with an introduction to Cantonese theatre accompanied by traditional tea and dim sum. One thing’s for sure…you’ll never be hungry.
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From street to stars
From the perfect snack of fluffy pineapple buns and iced cappuccinos at Sai Kung Cafe & Bakery out of the buzz of the city to a three-Michelin-star Cantonese extravaganza at The Langham’s T’ang Court, wherever you are in Hong Kong, there’s another delicacy to try.
Here, there are 79 Michelin-starred restaurants and 67 Bib Gourmand eateries (this recognises establishments that serve great food at moderate prices). The Bibs include Wang Fu, a Peking dumpling spot on Wellington Street surrounded by Michelin mentions.
One of the thoroughfare’s more spectacular offerings is VEA, a one-star restaurant with epic views and an innovative tasting menu that blends French technique and local ingredients, from sea cucumber to bird’s nest.
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“On our system, we have a record of when you were last here, which menu you had and where you sat,” says executive chef Vicky Cheng. “So, when you come back, whether that’s next week or next year, we’ll make sure we have a different experience for you.” It goes some way to explaining how difficult those stars are to get and hang on to.
At the other end of the spectrum is the Temple Street Night Market. After the sun goes down, order plates of pan-fried dumplings, hot wings and fish paste-stuffed vegetables from the stalls. Still hungry? Get in line for Hong Kong egg waffles at Mammy Pancake.
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Raise a glass
If you want a view with your aperitif, Avoca, on the 38th floor of the Mondrian, has a modernist aesthetic and sky-high vistas of Victoria Harbour. You can spritz a little of each of its locally inspired, signature cocktails from a perfume bottle before deciding what to order.
Antonio Lai pioneered the Multisensory Mixology concept in Hong Kong (his most famous venue is Quinary) and has won countless awards. He’s just opened The Opposites with Samuel Kwok, which offers paired cocktail offerings that highlight the duo’s different approaches.
If you’re seeking a more relaxed vibe, NY-style dive bar The Pontiac and its classic cocktails are calling. The Shady Acres, a tiny establishment where patrons spill out into Peel Street, is another great option for hard slushies, natural wines, and a good range of beer.
Hong Kong’s food scene is a mix of tradition and innovation, where street stalls stand alongside Michelin-starred restaurants. From humble noodle shops to fine dining menus, one thing is clear—you’ll never go hungry in Hong Kong.
