21 Best Restaurants in Hong Kong, China

Celebrated chef Gray Kunz’s restaurant offers expertly prepared modern European fare in a casual and relaxed 49th-floor locale with stunning urban vistas. A fan of fresh, seasonal ingredients, Kunz incorporates local produce into the ever-evolving menu whenever possible, often adding Asian flavors to excellent effect.

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.

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.

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.

It’s a blast from the past at this retro Hong Kong café, done up in period '70s decor, complete with autographed Cantopop idol posters from that era. The food is old-school as well, and you’ll find hearty local specialties like elbow macaroni with barbecued pork, milk tea, and toasted sandwiches filled with fluffy scrambled eggs. If you come after 3 pm, try the “principal's toast”—it’s black truffle paste and cheese smothered on thick pieces of bread. It’s delicious indulgence done the cheap and cheerful way.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 classic cha chaan teng serves some of the best Hong Kong classic dishes. Sample both their baked treats and carb-focused mains---try the beef hor fun, a savory and aromatic stir-fry noodle dish, followed by a pineapple bun with a slab of cold butter or an egg tart (or both). If you have room for dessert, the Hong Kong French toast is a must.

Faded decor, cranky waiters, and old men reading the newspapers: there's nothing fancy about Lin Heung Lau Tea House, but it's been doing great dim sum for years. Stop by any time after 6 am and fill up on such dishes as har gow (steamed shrimp dumplings) and char siu bao (barbecue pork buns), washed down with lots of tea.

Bright, white, and postindustrial, this smart Sai Ying Pun café is a buzzy place to brunch (think healthy, ingredient-packed "buddha bowls" and smashed avocado on sourdough toast), hang out with friends, or tap away on a computer while nursing a flat white and a pastry. NOC roasts its single-origin beans in-house; the rich coffee aromas whump you in the nose as soon as you enter the café.

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. 

Refurbished in 2024, this old-school municipal food hall is packed to the rafters with vendors hawking various affordable eats, from Chinese noodles and dumplings to cheap Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, and even Italian fare. You first order from your chosen kitchen then find a spot at the plastic chairs and tables, which you might be expected to share with other diners at busy periods. It's a delightful back-to-basics canteen experience.

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.

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.

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.

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.