209 Best Restaurants in Hong Kong, China

The nicest spot for a drink or casual meal at Repulse Bay, Classified has two highly coveted swing sofas hanging from its open frontage, which offer glorious beach and sea views. The brunch-centric menu riffs around bacon and eggs, avocado on toast, and eggs Benedict, along with smoothies, fresh juice, and freshly brewed coffee---or you can go for healthy salads, pasta, and tartines at lunch or dinner. A selection of wines, beers, and cocktails makes it a worthy choice for sundowner drinks.

With a prime spot right on the golden sand of Shek O Beach, this sunny terrace restaurant dishes up Mediterranean seafood classics like bouillabaisse (traditional Provençal fish soup), steamed mussels, and salad niçoise, alongside well-charred Neapolitan pizzas and pasta. With its charming maritime-theme interior and a smattering of outdoor tables, it’s a lovely spot to simply relax with a drink and listen to the rolling waves.

It looks like a sleek trattoria, but this Milanese-inspired coffee shop is 100% homegrown. The stunning interiors with details like custom-made cups and hand-painted mirrors reflect the local owner's love of Italian coffee culture. Coffee aside, you can get easy, all-day dining bites here too, like mortadella-stuffed sandwiches or pasta with anchovies. It's no wonder Coffeelin is fast expanding across Hong Kong, with each outlet telling a different Milan-inspired story. Of all the branches, this Fortress Hill café is the largest.

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.

This Cantonese restaurant in IFC Mall impresses with a premium offering of dim sum alongside upscale banquet dishes made with pricy ingredients like bird's nest, king prawns, and wagyu beef. 

Hidden away near the old Jordan pier, this little sit-down restaurant has excellent dim sum without the insane queues that plague its more famous competitors. That’s not to say that it doesn’t get packed during mealtimes; thankfully, the venue stays open until 10 pm, so you can sneak in for a late-night dinner when the crowds have dissipated. While it does all the classics, it’s the newfangled house creations that are really worth trying. We love the crispy shrimp rice-flour rolls drizzled with soy sauce. The chefs also do black-truffle crab dumplings and golden pastries filled with a combination of apples and cha siu pork.

The dim sum menu here goes beyond common Cantonese morsels like har gau (steamed shrimp dumplings), embracing dishes more popular in the north, including chili prawn dumplings, Beijing onion cakes, and various steamed buns. Decadent dim sum options, such as abalone pastries, are particularly popular, but also extremely pricey. Lunch reservations are not taken, so there’s always a long line, especially on weekends. Arrive early, or admire the antique Chinese decor while you wait.

Originally from Taiwan, this global restaurant chain is most famous for its expertly made dumplings. The place is serious about its craft—each dumpling is made from a specified amount of dough and kneaded to a uniform thinness to ensure maximum quality control. The signature steamed xiao long bao dumplings arrive piping hot at the table, filled with delectable fatty pork and slurpfuls of flavorful broth. Anyone with a sweet tooth should try the taro-paste dumpling. The excellent food is paired with VIP treatment from the friendly staff, making Din Tai Fung completely worthy of its immense popularity.

This ultracool wine bar and restaurant serves small plates for casual snacking and mixed platters ideal for sharing. Not surprisingly, it’s popular with the drinks-after-work crowd. But don’t underestimate the food: the tuna tartare with avocado, for starters, is delicious. You can also enjoy cheese and charcuterie for snacking purposes or create your own tapas platter. Gorgonzola and black-truffle penne or lobster linguine with fresh tomatoes are among the best mains. DiVino also stays open for revelry late into the evening.

Located along a stretch of semi-alfresco eateries known as Brim 28 (named after its waterside location on 28 Harbour Road), DiVino Patio touts rustic, homestyle Italian fare to match its laid-back surroundings. The expansive space is designed like a retro grocery store, and you can purchase gourmet condiments, salumi, and cheeses to enjoy on the go. For eat-in orders, try any of the hand-tossed pizzas, or go for one of the succulent selections from the rotisserie. The spit-roasted Vallespluga game hen is exceptional, with tender meat and crispy skin. The restaurant also has excellent lunch sets.

This buzzing Chinese restaurant specializes in Beijing and Huaiyang cuisine and draws a following for its upscale atmosphere, Mongolian mutton hot pot, and stellar appetizers (the smoked eggs and crispy eel). Try the hand-cut noodles, traditional Peking duck, and award-winning combo dishes such as wok-fried crabmeat, rock lobster, and salted egg yolk served on rice crackers.

Art and food come together in this beautiful two-story establishment, which encompasses a bar, garden terrace, and dining room. The interiors are sophisticated yet inviting, and the Cantonese cuisine has garnered plenty of praise from locals and visitors alike. Signature items include crispy salted chicken and fried lobster with scallions and shallots. The dim sum lunch here is also popular.

Dining on haute Cantonese cuisine at this stunning restaurant with panoramic views over Victoria Harbour is a memorable experience. The chefs here are famed for adapting family-style recipes into elegant dishes, and the service is impeccable yet friendly. The menu changes with the seasons and leans heavily toward fresh seafood, though the barbecued pork is also a must-try. With its high ceilings, old-world charm, and laid-back tempo, Dynasty is one of the rare top-notch restaurants where you can comfortably linger over a meal.

In the New Territories, it's uncommon to find a vegetarian restaurant not attached to a temple, but this canteen, in the same cafeteria as the Old Tai Po Police Station, is strictly a no-meat, no-eggs affair. Locally sourced, organic produce is used whenever possible; their jams and preserves, dressings, and pesto are all made fresh. A co-op shop is also located on the on-site farm, a fun choice for green thumbs.

Eaton Hotel's jazzy food hall is as hip as the hotel. The spacious and well-designed modern food court offers a handful of dining options, from Japanese curry and Cantonese beef noodles to burgers and tacos---all hearty and delicious at reasonable prices. They also host art, community, and music events regularly, so be sure to check out their event calendar beforehand.

Unlike some of the more common Japanese eateries, Rakuen serves authentic Okinawan cuisine. Start with the umi-budo—an interesting variety of sea kelp shaped like bunches of grapes (the bubble-like appearance has also won it its “green caviar” nickname). Other regional specialties include the homemade peanut tofu, which, despite the name, is not a tofu dish but a gelatinized mixture of peanuts that has a chewy but firm texture and discerning nutty flavor, which is drawn out by a drizzling of soy sauce. Okinawan ingredients—such as bitter gourd and squid-ink noodles—are found throughout the menu, and the melt-in-the-mouth grilled ox tongue is a definite must-order.

Dundas Street in Mong Kok is filled with street vendors. The Fei Jie Snacks Stall is one of the best, with its dizzying selection of skewered choices ranging from chewy squid to duck gizzard to pig intestine (best eaten with a squirt of mustard).

This Philippe Starck–designed, preposterously fashionable scene atop the Peninsula boasts breathtaking floor-to-ceiling views of Hong Kong. The dinner menu is equally stunning, and while rooted in European cooking, includes bright Asian touches as demonstrated by items such as the grilled wagyu beef tenderloin. The “Felix Experience” menu features some of the chef’s most creative dishes and changes on a regular basis. The food here is generally good, but expect it to be quite pricey. Many people come just for cocktails or to try out the most celebrated restroom in Asia—the views across Tsim Sha Tsui are superior to those in the restaurant itself. Note that sleeveless shirts and shorts are not allowed for men.

This modish SoHo spot packs out nightly with devoted foodies chasing a taste of chef-owner Salvatore Fiata’s famous Neapolitan-style pizzas, revered for their beautifully charred crusts and quality toppings like mozzarella di bufala, truffle pesto, and spicy sausage from Fiata’s home city of Caserta in southern Italy. The tables fill up fast, so book well in advance online.

As its name suggests, this restaurant goes back to the basics by focusing on a few key ingredients. Everything that passes through the kitchen is top grade, whether it’s the fresh homemade tagliatelle with chicken and truffle emulsion, or the whole roasted Italian sea bass with fennel. Dishes are categorized into small or large plates, but everything is designed to share. Fish & Meat offers decent cocktails, but if you’re serious about your drinks, check out its sister bar, Stockton, which is located below the restaurant.

The Hong Kong outpost of Shanghai’s popular restaurant is showy, with a snow-white interior decked out with designer chairs and fiberglass animal figurines. On the food side of things, authentic tapas share menu space with creatively contemporary Spanish dishes. Ibérico ham served with tomato bread, sautéed prawns with garlic, and chilled tomato gazpacho represent the classics, and they’re certainly well executed, but the modern dishes offer much more excitement. Scallop ceviche, for instance, is laid on a bed of creamy avocados and topped with crispy shallots, while braised beef cheek is served with bananas and passion fruit. The paellas are also worth trying, whether steeped in the flavors of Boston lobster or bathed in jet-black squid ink.

This all-day restaurant is perpetually packed with locals and tourists who come for breakfast baskets of dim sum and Cantonese classics at lunch and dinner. The retro interiors—that look like they haven't been refreshed since the 1970s—and no-nonsense service only add to the authentic experience.

This culinary gem does modern-fusion cuisine without any pretentious gimmicks. The food is well thought out and expertly executed in a constantly changing, market-driven menu. Reasonably priced set lunch and dinner menus are available, but the tasting menu (six or eight courses) is the way to go. Sunday brunch here is legendary, and requires booking several weeks ahead. The food is paired with friendly and attentive service.

The concept at this trendy restaurant is a re-creation of Rome’s Spanish Steps, complete with alfresco seating. The restaurant is particularly popular with the business crowd, many of whom come especially for the excellent antipasti buffet. The authentic pan-Italian fare includes wide pappardelle noodles in rabbit ragout, beef carpaccio with mustard and peppercorns, and the signature thin-crust pizzas topped with everything from hot salami and mozzarella cheese to fresh arugula with prosciutto.

This was one of the first Indian restaurants on the Hong Kong dining scene, and the atmosphere is still intimate and fun, especially on nights when there's live music. The food is packed with authentic spices, and there's an extensive menu for vegetarians. The chowpatty chaat is a winning combination of potatoes, chickpeas, and crisp wafers in a spicy dressing, and the chicken tikka masala is almost legendary. Lamb dishes are also done well, especially those in fragrant curry sauce, perfect for scooping up with bits of naan bread, or for spooning over plates of fragrant basmati rice. The restaurant also offers several lunch and dinner menus at excellent value.

One of the best Korean restaurants in town, Go Koong covers extensive ground, from raw meats and seafood that are cooked sizzling on the tabletop grills, to kimchi stews and thick pancakes studded with shrimp, squid, and scallions. The complimentary banchans (appetizers) are a feast in themselves, with more than 10 different items available every day. Order the smoked duck-breast salad to start before moving on to more substantial fare such as the tender beef ribs steamed in whole pumpkin. If you still have room at the end of the meal, remember to try the patbingsoo—a giant bowl of crunchy shaved ice laced with sweetened red beans and fresh fruit.

The menu here is inspired by the multicultural flavors chef Harlan Goldstein grew up with while living in New York. Italian preparations take precedence, but you’ll also find things like salmon crudo with a citrus dressing and crispy falafel served with tahini. The handcrafted pastas are easy favorites, but if you’re in the mood to feast, go for the 38-ounce fiorentina (steak Florentine style, designed for two) with a side of black-truffle mash. Gold also has a great wine selection, and you can always enjoy a glass on the restaurant’s open-air terrace.

Travel back to the romantic 1960s at this retro restaurant. Both the decor and the food have remained largely unchanged since the restaurant’s heyday, and you’ll find local interpretations of borscht, gravy-covered steaks, and other western dishes.

There's usually a queue and the service is often brusque, but the extraordinarily tasty Shanghai-style dumplings are worth the chaotic experience at this traditional Chinese restaurant. The hand-pulled noodles are good, too.

You don’t have to be vegetarian to enjoy the food at Grassroots Pantry. The health-conscious, plant-based menu here is full of vibrant flavors and always reflects the season’s freshest produce. Try the appetizer platters or the market-inspired stir-fries and pastas. Grassroots also offers a delicious selection of gluten-free desserts. Being healthy never tasted so good.