Where to eat in Hong Kong

What to eat in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is world-renowned as a culinary capital. Thanks to international influence throughout the region's history, the city's cuisine is a perfect combination of Eastern and Western culture. While the dominant cuisine is Cantonese, delicacies from all over China, wider Asia and Europe come together here, finished off with unique Hong Kong flair. Some of the most iconic dishes are:

• Youtiao: fried dough sticks, similar to a churro.
• Pi dan (century egg): egg preserved in a mixture of quicklime, clay, ash and salt for several weeks or months.
• Dim sum: bite-sized portions of food made from steamed meat, vegetables, seafood and fruit, usually served in a bamboo basket. Typically served as part of yum cha, the Cantonese tradition of brunch.
• Shaomai: steamed dumplings with pork and prawns (part of dim sum).
• Wonton: dumplings with thin skin filled with ground pork.
• Wonton noodles: soup with noodles and wontons.
• Hot pot: a meal based around a simmering pot of soup stock at the dining table which diners dip ingredients into to cook.
• Put chai ko: small, sweet pudding made of sugar and rice flower.
• Cha siu bao: barbecue pork filled bun.
• Congee: thick porridge of rice served with other ingredients like meat and fish.
• Char siu: roasted barbecued spiced pork.
• Peking duck: originally from Beijing, this has become one of the best known Chinese dishes worldwide. It consists of seasoned roast duck served with spring onion, cucumber and sweet sauce with pancakes.
• Buddha's delight: a vegetarian dish made with at least 10 and sometimes up to 35 ingredients.

Vegetarian food

As in some other countries in Asia, it can be challenging to find vegetarian food, as even vegetable-only dishes have often been cooked in meat stock or seasoned with oyster sauce. If you are strictly vegetarian or vegan, the best bet is to find specific restaurants catering to your needs.

Where to eat in Hong Kong?

Throughout Hong Kong there are countless places to eat suitable for every budget, whether you're looking for a simple bowl of noodle soup for lunch or an extravagant evening meal with harbour views. Restaurants are usually open for lunch from 11 am to 3 pm and for dinner from 6 pm to 11 pm, and experiencing yum cha, the traditional Cantonese brunch which includes dim sum, is highly recommended. Meals are a communal activity and dishes are often designed for sharing, like hot pot.

Restaurants and bars with a view

Whether you're travelling for a celebration, for work or for sightseeing, make sure to spend an evening dining in one of Hong Kong's restaurants and bars with a view. Take a look at some of the best scenic venues in the city.

Street food stalls

Hong Kong, and especially the Kowloon area, is full of street food stalls selling delicacies like wonton noodles and fish ball skewers. Known in Cantonese as dai pai dong, the stalls specialise in cheap everyday food, like congee, rice and noodles and can be found around most markets.

Floating restaurants

For a unique experience typical of Hong Kong, many people choose to enjoy a meal at one of the floating restaurants in Aberdeen Harbour. The most famous of these is Jumbo Kingdom, the largest floating restaurant in the world and a popular attraction for celebrities and regular tourists alike.