7 Best Restaurants in Lantau Island, Hong Kong

In the heart of Po Lin Monastery, surrounded by some of the best views afforded to Lantau Island, lies this Buddhist vegetarian cafeteria that's popular with tourists and locals alike. If you're traveling with others, nominate one of your party to pay for the food (do this outside of the main dining hall); seats quickly fill up given the limited hours, so guard your table well. Fortunately, there are spillover picnic tables just outside. Dishes are lightly seasoned so that you can more easily enjoy the natural flavor of the vegetables.

The first thing you’ll notice here is the most Disney-ish touch: a computer-animated koi pond, where electronic fish dart out of the way as you walk by. Once inside the crystal-studded space, your focus will turn to the food on the pan-Chinese menu. Favorites include Sichuan dan dan noodles, honey-glazed barbecued pork, and double-boiled pear topped with mandarin peel. Kids will get a kick out of the “character dim sum,” which includes pork and vegetable buns shaped like Toy Story’s little green men, and seafood pancakes bearing the likeness of Mickey Mouse. Make sure to order these in 24--48 hours in advance.

Pui O is famous for its beautiful beach, but not for its dining scene. This seaside restaurant, however, aims to change that by combining a laid-back surfer’s attitude with a reverence for top-quality cooking. Locally sourced ingredients feature heavily on the menu, which includes house-ground burgers and nachos made with pork wontons instead of tortilla chips. The restaurant also serves regionally brewed ales and cocktails designed to beat the summer heat.

It may look like your run-of-the-mill Hong Kong eatery, but that's where the similarities end. Here, you can taste authentic specialties that include squid, steamed shrimp, and shrimp paste fried rice---no wonder since it's located in one of Hong Kong's last traditional fishing villages. Also, even if you don't read Chinese, get the Chinese menu and use a translator. Like many places in Tai Po, there are two different menus with incongruous pricing.

If you’ve made your way out to Tai O, this gorgeous glass-roofed restaurant is a great place to enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea or dinner. Formerly the Tai O Police Station, the historic building has been lovingly refurbished, and the restored colonial decor includes authentic wooden furnishings. The menu is short, sweet, and eclectic, offering a mix of Cantonese, pan-Asian, and Western dishes.

This Hong Kong supermarket chain is one of the better ones, particularly if you're looking for some snacks before all of that Lantau Island hiking. Deli counters in the huge branch of the local supermarket Taste have sushi, sandwiches, salads, baked goods, and fruit.

A laid-back beachfront dining terrace and an extensive international menu make this one of the best outdoor restaurants in Hong Kong. Perched on the Discovery Bay promenade a 25-minute ferry ride from Central, the sea and beach views alone are easily worth the trip. Signature dishes include deep-fried calamari and grilled baby back ribs. Pizzas and pastas also share the spotlight with Asian and Mexican favorites. Come early to enjoy the great beach, and stay to catch a free view of nearby Disneyland’s nightly fireworks display. If you spend more than HK$100, you get a free ferry ticket back to Central.