209 Best Restaurants in Hong Kong, China

Dim sum joints don’t get more local than this Kennedy Town institution, which starts service at 3 am every day. From the juicy, taut har gow (crystal shrimp dumplings) to the sweet and sour fried spareribs, everything is prepared by hand. English menus are pinned to the walls, or you can simply point at steamers of tasty tidbits as they pass through the dining room. Diners choose and prepare their own tea at a counter, and a mandatory "tea charge" per person is added to the bill.

Lobsters, clams, abalone, crabs, prawns, fish, and everything else from the deep blue sea is here for the tasting on Sai Kung’s picturesque harbor. Crustaceans and fish are quickly cooked by steaming and wok frying, but are first presented whole, leaving no doubt as to the freshness of your food. A quick look inside the tank is like a lesson in marine biology. Pick your favorites, and leave the rest to the chef.

\n Uni (sea urchin), ikura (salmon roe), o-toro (the fattiest of fatty tuna) . . . if these dishes make you drool, then make a beeline for Sushi Hiro, hidden in an office building but quite possibly the best place in town for raw fish. Dinner can be pricey, but lunch sees some fantastic deals.

Helmed by veteran chef Satoshi Sase (who hails from the much-lauded Sushi Zen in Hokkaido, Japan), this high-caliber Japanese restaurant offers some of the freshest fish in town set against a tranquil and sophisticated setting. Omakase is the way to go here, which means you leave your meal in the hands of the chefs, allowing them to dictate the menu according to the best ingredients of the day. The omakase menu is designed according to the seasons and usually consists of sashimi, appetizers, and a wide array of nigiri sushi.

What started out as a one-table private kitchen in a quiet Wan Chai neighborhood has blossomed into a larger location in the Starstreet Precinct due to popular demand. Decked out like a stylish Parisian apartment, the newer space accommodates 20 guests, and there are different menus from which to choose, ranging from Japanese-inspired meals to Shanghai-style dinner. The latter includes the famous not-so-Shanghainese foie gras dumplings. 

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 is one of the oldest restaurants in Hong Kong and also one of the first places to serve “soy sauce” Hong Kong–style Western cuisine. The decor, staff, and menu seem to have remained unchanged since day one, adding to the nostalgic charm of the place. Steaks are served to dramatic effect on sizzling iron plates and brought to the table by waiters clad in waistcoats. Other menu highlights include the baked Portuguese chicken, the near-perfect stir-fried rice noodles with beef (a classic Hong Kong dish), chicken wings doused in "Swiss sauce" (which has no real Swiss associations), and the enormous baked soufflé that takes 20 minutes to prepare and at least three people to devour.

This popular tapas bar is bigger than the original in SoHo, and has a fabulous harborside location, which adds to the laid-back vibe. Authentic Spanish dishes, including ham croquettes and sautéed mushrooms with sherry, are perfect for sharing over glasses of wine. The crispy pork belly is particularly delicious. Tapeo also offers hearty paellas studded with meat and seafood.

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.

Inside the posh 1880 members' club within a slick corporate building, Té Bo offers a rare fine-dining experience in the Eastern District. It's helmed by French-trained, Swiss-Filipino chef Sebastian Lorenz, and as you might expect, the elevated dishes here draw inspiration from different regions. Think lobster with avocado and caviar brightened by a touch of yuzu, and toothfish masala with vermouth and fennel. The food is good enough for a visit even if you're staying in a more central location.

For a perfect warm-weather treat, drop by Tong Pak Fu for the Taiwanese-style shaved snow ice. Blocks of flavored ice (chocolate, milk, fruit, and many others) are put into a special machine that shaves them into thin, ribbonlike sheets that fold up into a mountainous heap. The texture is richer and denser than regular shaved ice. This store also offers other Chinese desserts, including red-bean soup and sesame-filled dumplings.

This restaurant specializes in tonkatsu—pork cutlets that are dipped in panko and deep-fried. When it’s done right, as it is here, the pork is crispy on the outside but remains tender and juicy on the inside. The fillet is sliced up and served with an appetizing, tangy sauce, and goes perfectly with a bowl of steamed rice.

Stuck high up the clouds on the 102nd floor of the towering International Commerce Centre, Tosca di Angelo is a fine-dining restaurant helmed by a Sicilian chef who expertly dishes out Southern Italian fare. The views can be hit-or-miss, depending on how clear the skies are on the day you visit; regardless, you’ll be preoccupied with the stunning interiors (complete with pretty fountains) and plates bursting with flavor. There’s also a degustation menu for those who want a taste of Tosca’s finest.

Run by a chef from Naples, this casual, slightly cramped space has earned a reputation for authentic, well-priced Italian fare. Think honest, hearty plates of pasta and tender stews. The only catch is, you have to book well ahead for a table.

If you have a delicate constitution, take a pass on this home-style Cantonese restaurant. Tso Choi (which literally translates as “rough dishes”) is not everyone’s cup of tea. Offal lovers, however, might be interested in trying some of the house favorites: fried pig tripe, fried pig brain (served as an omelet), double-boiled pig brain—you get the idea. The older Hong Kong generation still likes this stuff; younger folks may demur. The wary can opt for creamy congee, fried chicken, or simple stir-fries.

Finding a hearty meal in Central doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune—especially not if you head to this famous 24-hour eatery. Join the locals and the late-night party crowd and order milk tea, then move on to the extensive menu, which ranges from toasted sandwiches to noodles, fried rice, and Malaysian curries. Although it’s not quite what typical Hong Kongers would make at home, this definitely qualifies as Chinese comfort food. Noodles and fried rice are some of the safest bets for timid palates. There's also a wide range of set meals at very reasonable prices.

This Anthony Bourdain--approved restaurant doles out typhoon shelter cuisine, and its specialty is sweet, fleshy crabs showered in crispy fried garlic. It started decades ago as a street stall but has become so successful, it now occupies three different units along the same street. Perhaps not surprisingly since this is great hangover food, it opens late—until 1 am daily.

Cool and sophisticated, this restaurant is a labor of love for Philippe Orrico, a protégé of revolutionary chef Pierre Gagniare. Though classically trained in French cuisine, Orrico takes inspiration from all around the globe.

From the well-spaced tables overlooking the bay to the unobtrusive service to the menu of delicious French-inspired classics, this is an unabashedly regal experience that delivers with finesse at every turn. The beautiful colonial setting pays homage to the former Repulse Bay Hotel, and is also the perfect place to enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea.

At the Mira Hotel’s flagship restaurant, seasonal ingredients are turned into creative European dishes designed to impress. The half roasted yellow chicken---a mainstay in the rotating menu---is a must-try. Aside from à la carte options, the restaurant offers a 4- to 10-course degustation menu inspired by global flavors and ingredients. Another bonus is the extensive wine list, which features some of the world’s finest vintages at incredibly reasonable prices.

This restaurant serves good Shanghainese fare at reasonable prices. The signature xiao long bao (soup dumplings) are great, and the honey ham with crispy bean-curd skin wrapped in soft bread is delicious and authentic. Be sure to try the tofu dumpling—a unique dish that has mixed greens enveloped in thin sheets of silken bean curd. (This requires advance ordering.) Also not to be missed is the Shanghai-style doughnut on the dessert menu—it’s a deep-fried sphere of whipped and fluffy egg whites stuffed with red bean and bananas.

A hidden gem in this always-bustling neighborhood, Xenri D’zen follows a strict philosophy of seasonal eating that’s inspired by Japan’s traditional kaiseki formal dining. The experience is interpreted in a modern manner without detracting from the quality of the food. The multicourse menu usually includes the season’s freshest sashimi and sushi, followed by various cooked dishes. The prices aren’t necessarily cheap, but a meal here will cost less than most other Japanese restaurants of a similar caliber.

This restaurant channels the nostalgia of Old Shanghai with its old-fashioned furnishings and classic regional cuisine. Try the steamed xiao long bao dumplings filled with tender pork and broth. Entrées include braised "lion's head" meatballs, a specialty of the Yangtze Delta region. 

Expect to wait in line if you want to try the famed milk desserts from Yee Shun Milk Company. The velvety-smooth, double-boiled milk pudding is rich and comforting. The ginger-flavored milk pudding has a nice spicy kick, making it the perfect stomach warmer—a must-try if you’re visiting Hong Kong in the wintertime. Chocolate and coffee puddings are also available.

This family-run restaurant has been around for over 50 years and is now run by the daughter of the original chef. Except for a refresh of the interiors, little has changed in that time—the kitchen still serves up nostalgic dishes like minced pork and chive patties and braised pipa-style duck, and the dining room is filled with local families and corporate executives who've been going for years. The friendly service will make you feel like you're a regular, too. 

This is one of Hong Kong’s most popular Sichaun restaurants, and the chefs are generous with the spices in dishes like the signature crispy chicken with red chilies and peppercorns. Sliced Mandarin fish with crispy soybean crumbs is another classic. For something with a little less heat but still equally delicious, go for the house-smoked duckling or hand-cut noodles served in a flavorful broth. To end your meal, choose from traditional sweets or newfangled creations like chocolate-and-chili ice cream.

Close to Central's nightlife district of Lan Kwai Fong, this three-story restaurant has been a Hong Kong institution since it first opened as a food stall in 1942. The food is authentic Cantonese, served amid writhing gold dragons and phoenixes.

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.

This funky izakaya has a hip but relaxed feel. The open kitchen serves up authentic Japanese fare with a modern twist, including miso-marinated black cod wrapped in hoba leaf. You can also enjoy jet-fresh fish from the sushi bar, as well as a range of innovative desserts. Another bonus is the outdoor balcony, which allows you to take in the surrounding Central night view.