31 Best Restaurants in Hong Kong, China

Come to Bakehouse for its freshly baked egg tarts with buttery, crispy shells and creamy custard filling. Expect to stand in line whenever you go, and don't be surprised if it's sold out early in the afternoon.

Duck into this cute counter-top restaurant for delicious baos—fluffy steamed buns sandwiched with all types of delicious ingredients, from teriyaki fried chicken to slow-braised pork belly. The rest of the menu is more globally inspired and includes sharing plates such as drunken clams, beef brisket dumplings, and truffle fries.

It might look like any other tiny, storefront noodle joint, but its humble appearance belies its culinary prowess. The restaurant serves authentic Shaanxi snacks, which can be best described as some of the heartiest and delicious chow that China has to offer.

Ride the Hong Kong tram to its terminus in Kennedy Town and you can reward yourself with a meticulously crafted coffee at this waterfront favorite a few steps from the tram stop. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the blue waters of Victoria Harbour just across the road; the views are even better from upstairs. A Japanese chain headquartered in Kyoto, % Arabica opened its first Hong Kong location in 2013 and now has venues all over the territory.

You can dine on a range of Hong Kong classics at this no-frills cha chaan teng. The service is curt and the turnover is fast, but the scrambled egg sandwich is moist and pillowy soft.

This hip, homegrown Hong Kong bakery chain has a handy branch just off the Central--Mid-Levels Escalator at Staunton Street, where you can line up to grab an order of signature sourdough egg tarts (you’ll want at least two), which pair beautifully with a single-origin coffee to go. Other treats include buttery croissants, cookies, doughnuts, savory pastries, and sourdough loaves. 

Dining in Hong Kong doesn't get more local than having a meal at this open-air stall, where you'll be wedged among taxi drivers and office workers slurping up their food. The menu is full of café favorites like pork chop sandwiches and beef brisket noodles, but the most popular items by far are the thick milk tea and cloyingly sweet Hong Kong–style French toast. It's worth a visit to experience an old-school side of Hong Kong that is fast disappearing.

This blink-and-you'll-miss-it Hong Kong chain entirely focused on Thai desserts has locations throughout the city, primarily in the New Territories. Try the coconut milk pandan cake (it's neon green), the osmanthus cake, or the butterfly pea flower coconut cake.

The decor, staff uniforms, and—of course—the food all capture the retro vibe of the 1960s Hong Kong cha chaan teng (local café). Cantonese pop songs from that era play over the sound system while diners relish bowls of elbow macaroni served in soup and topped with ham and eggs. Other staples include spaghetti served in chicken broth with cha siu pork and green peas. But the sweets here are what really stand out. The egg tarts are rich and custardy, and the French toast is served with a giant slab of butter. Surely the best items, though, are the hotcakes topped with bananas, buttered walnuts, and soft-serve ice cream.

This cozy, Japanese-inspired diner is popular with locals for its fresh, wholesome comfort food. Its menu is packed with hearty rice bowls and flavorful curries, all made with healthy ingredients. The warm, minimalist setting adds to the charm, making it a perfect stop for a casual bite in the neighborhood.

You'll recognize this nondescript street stall from the others around it by the crowds in front, especially during lunchtime. The silky rice rolls drenched in a tasty peanut sauce draw Hong Kongers from across town. Best of all, a combo with siu mai—petite pork dumplings—costs less than a Starbucks coffee.

This quaint cha chaan teng has been a local favorite since it opened in 1951. You can't go wrong with one of their famous, crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-inside pineapple buns stuffed with a slab of butter alongside a cup of creamy milk tea. The retro kitchen also turns out savory cha chaan teng classics like fried noodles.

At this hip noodle shop in the quietly cool Tai Hang neighborhood next to Causeway Bay, you can mix and match your order according to the soup base, noodle type, spice level, and toppings that you want. The braised beef sweet potato noodles that marry light, chewy noodles with a bold, beefy broth are recommended. The retro facade and neon-lit interiors make for a fun dining environment that's reminiscent of a Wong Kar-wai movie. 

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.

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).

The space is dingy, the tables are cramped, and the staff is brash—but the food makes it all worth it. Kam Fung has been around for more than five decades, serving traditional Hong Kong café fare such as crumbly crusted freshly baked egg tarts, and pineapple buns wedged with a thick slab of butter. Wash everything down with the velvety smooth milk tea after a meal that’s cheap, quick, and absolutely satisfying.

This French-owned spot specializes in thin Breton crepes filled with all sorts of sweet or savory fillings. Most of the clientele is French, which is a good indication of the authenticity of the food. Fillings for these made-fresh-to-order pancakes range from traditional to experimental; La Complète buckwheat galette is loaded with a classic combination of egg, ham, and deliciously gooey melted cheese, while L’Americaine has minced beef, Emmental cheese, tomatoes, egg, and caramelized onions. The dessert crepe selection is just as wide-ranging. La Crêperie also carries a delicious apple cider—the traditional drink of choice for accompanying galettes in Brittany.

Bubble-shaped egg waffles are a local specialty in Hong Kong, and Lee Keung Kee offers a delicious version. The waffles here are crisp on the outside but soft and cottony on the inside.

Head to Mammy’s in Sheung Wan for her famously fluffy egg waffles: Hong Kong pastries with the appearance of bubble-wrap and the taste of sweet, egg-rich waffles. You can choose from a huge variety of sweet or savory fillings, from banana chocolate-chip to white sesame pork floss. Combine your dessert with creative Hong Kong-inspired drinks like a milk tea smoothie or salty lemon 7-Up.

This Tsim Sha Tsui takeaway spot for bubble-shape egg waffles is positioned right by the Star Ferry, making it the perfect breakfast or mid-day snack as you step off the boat. You can choose from a huge variety of sweet or savory fillings, from banana chocolate-chip to salted seaweed and corn.

This takeout-only snack shop is extremely popular for its flavorful egg puffs that are crispy on the outside and heavenly soft and chewy on the inside. Wait time varies, though it usually averages around 30 minutes.

This old-school cha chaan teng (local café) has plenty of charm, since the decor hasn’t changed much since the ’60s. Try the famous baked-pork-chop rice or enjoy a slice of crispy French toast with a cup of milk tea. Although prices have gone up somewhat over time, the food still draws plenty of loyal fans.

For western-style treats, head to Petite Amanda, opened by model-turned-pastry-chef Amanda Strang. The sweets shop sells traditional French cakes and pastries such as the layered hazelnut-and-chocolate plaisir sucré.

From croissants to caneles, Plumcot makes all manner of pastries—and very well. This is one of Hong Kong's most popular patisseries and sells out nearly every day, so go early if you want a bite. The artisanal ice creams in experimental flavors like blue cheese are worth a try, too. On weekends, look out for seasonal bakes like bear claws filled with vanilla custard, and brioche smeared with homemade jam. 

Fold-up tables and stools are scattered around this small stall, which specializes in cow offal served with noodles in broth. Tender beef brisket and deep-fried wontons are also popular options.

One of the pioneers of American fast-food-style dining in Hong Kong, Si Sun still looks and feels like an eatery from the swinging '60s. The plastic fixtures have stayed the same over the past few decades, and the menu doesn’t seem to have changed much either. Burgers are geared toward local tastes, and the freshly grilled beef patties are sandwiched between two soft buns and topped with ketchup and mayo. Add cheese or a fried egg and your meal will still be a steal. Si Sun also offers pork and fish fillet burgers, as well as a few rice and noodles dishes.

This outdoor stall has been in operation here since the 1970s and the canopied tables are pretty much always packed from 8 am to 3:30 pm. The iconic dishes are the instant ramen noodles or beef and macaroni served in a sweet tomato broth, as well as the toasted, crispy buns drizzled with condensed milk.

Loved for their crumbly pastry and custard-rich centers, the egg tarts (dan ta) steal the show at this long-running Hong Kong bakery. Tai Cheong sells all sorts of packaged and oven-fresh baked goods including BBQ pork buns, crunchy egg biscuit rolls, and sugar-dusted Chinese doughnuts.

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.