Want to visit Hong Kong but need a kick-start on tips of the top spots to visit? We’ll save your precious time and effort in doing hours of researching. Start your journey here, as we bring you unique eateries and that are quintessentially Hong Kong. Come with an empty stomach and a keen sense of adventure and you’ll be sure to leave happy and satisfied with all your fulfilling experiences in this city of wonder.
The Best Food To Eat In Hong Kong
Take your taste buds on a tour of Central, a paradise for food lovers, offering a world of choices that are steps away from each other. From traditional dim sum to local dai pai dong to street food, from fusion cuisines to international fine wine, there’s something that appeals to everyone’s taste buds.
Lin Heung Tea House
Dim sum, the steamed and fried Cantonese dishes created to go with tea, has undergone countless reinterpretations in Hong Kong and is now widely available around the world. However, in the hustle and bustle of Central, many traditional teahouses with decades of history still offer the most classic dim sum dishes, and Lin Heung Tea House, established in the early 20th century, is one of them.
Step into this two-storey building and be transported back in time by the vintage hanging fan, bird cages and Chinese calligraphy. Resisting modern trends, Lin Heung Tea House still maintains the tradition of serving dim sum in carts pushed by staff. Usually busy and lively, this is the place to try some of the most classic dim sum dishes, such as roast pork belly rolls, large chicken buns, and steamed pork siu mai with quail eggs. Rather than waiting to be served, diners here walk over to the cart to pick out their favourite dishes — a rare sight in today’s restaurants.
Address: 160 Wellington Street, Central
Tel: +852 2544 4556
Website: www.linheung.com.hk (Chinese only)
Sing Heung Yuen
From morning till night, Sing Heung Yuen is always full of customers who come to this dai pai dong (open-air food stall) for the signature tomato noodle soup and crispy buns with lemon and honey. The former is a sweet and sour delight with fresh tomatoes, whilst the latter is a traditional crispy bun topped with butter, honey and fresh lemon juice.
Address: 2 Mee Lun Street, Central
Tel: +852 2544 8368
Lan Fong Yuen
Influenced by British culture, locals love to enjoy milk tea, but the Hong Kong version comes with evaporated milk and sugar. Different proportions and mixing techniques offer different flavours and textures. If you want a cup of authentic Hong Kong-style milk tea, Lan Fong Yuen is the place to go.
Address: 2 Gage Street, Central
Tel: +852 2544 3895
Yuk Yip Desserts
Already passed down to the fourth generation, the century-old Yuk Yip Dessert is known for their simple, no-gimmicks Chinese desserts that bring traditional tastes to customers. Try the smooth, refreshing green bean soup with kelp, and glutinous rice balls topped with sugar and shredded coconut.
Address: 2 Elgin Street, Central
Tel: +852 2544 3795
Tai Cheong Bakery
Fancy a piping hot, silky and irresistibly aromatic egg tart? Grab one from Tai Cheong Bakery on Lyndhurst Terrace. With over 60 years of history, this household shop used to be a favourite of Hong Kong’s last colonial governor Chris Patten.
Address: 35 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central
Tel: +852 8300 8301
Website: www.taoheung.com.hk
Also read: Michelin HK: Your definitive guide to the best dining options in Hong Kong
Chan Yee Jai
Want to bring traditional Hong Kong-style desserts back home? Head to Chan Yee Jai, which has offered freshly made traditional delicacies such as haw flakes, preserved lemon with liquorice, Chinese almond biscuits, barley biscuits and bird’s nest cakes since 1927.
Address: 176B Queen’s Road Central, Central
Tel: +852 2543 8414
Website: www.chanyeejai.com.hk (Chinese only)
Graham Market
Graham Market with over a century’s history is a popular place for groceries. Traditional foods such as sauces and handmade noodles make great souvenirs, and Kowloon Soy Company, founded in 1917, is renowned for soy sauce made with traditional techniques. Another must-go shop is Kan Kee Noodles, which has been operating for over six decades. The shop is famous for handmade shrimp egg noodles, egg noodles and wonton wrappers, which are favoured by nearby restaurants including Kau Kee Restaurant, Lin Heung Tea House and Shanghai Min.
Address: Graham Street, Central
Kung Lee Herbal Tea
Herbal tea is a quintessential part of Hong Kong life. Chinese herbal tonics, called leung cha (cooling tea), are thought to expel heat and dampness from the body and treat everything from acne to colds.
Founded in the 1940s, the herbal tea house Kung Lee is still loved by many locals. The décor transports one back to the 1950s and 60s, with wooden fixtures, ceramic tiles and ceiling fans. Among the menu of herbal tonics, sugarcane juice is the bestseller. Peeled and steamed using traditional methods, the sugarcanes are pressed with an antique juicer to produce a refreshingly sweet juice that is served chilled. Don’t miss the glutinous sugarcane cakes if you are a fan of chewy sweet treats.
Address: 60 Hollywood Road, Central
Tel: +852 2544 3571
Also read: VJ Bani J discovers Hong Kong…and it’s time you do too!
