Top 10 must-eat foods in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, as a port city where Eastern and Western cultures meet, is not only famous for its unique scenery and bustling commercial atmosphere, but also attracts diners from around the world with its rich and diverse cuisine. From street food stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants, Hong Kong’s food culture is a perfect blend of tradition and innovation. Whether it’s authentic Hong Kong-style dim sum or classic seafood dishes, every dish tells the story of the city. Exploring the top ten delicacies in Hong Kong is a wonderful journey on the tip of your tongue, allowing you to appreciate the unique taste and strong human touch of this international city.

 

1.  Hong Kong’s curry fish balls 

 Hong Kong’s curry fish balls are a street snack popular among locals and tourists alike. Its main material is fish eggs, which are small balls made of fish paste. They are similar in appearance to meatballs, but have a more elastic texture. Fish eggs are usually made from a mixture of fish meat, starch and other raw materials. After being cooked, they are paired with a spicy curry sauce, which gives them a unique taste.

 

The characteristic of curry fish eggs lies in the rich aroma and slightly spicy taste of the curry sauce, which is salty but not greasy, and slightly spicy. The fish eggs absorb the flavor of the curry sauce, and you can taste the aroma of curry and the elasticity of the fish eggs in every bite. It is usually skewered on bamboo skewers so that diners can eat it on the go. It is one of the most typical fast food on the streets of Hong Kong.

 

Recommended store:Curry Fish Ball & Fried Snacks

This shop specializes in a variety of street food, especially its curry fish balls, which are very popular. The curry sauce in the store is rich and fragrant, and the fish eggs are chewy and taste great.

Address: Shop G/F, No. 276 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Opening hours: 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM daily

Reason for recommendation: The curry fish balls in this store are a time-honored brand in Yau Ma Tei, and many diners come from all over to try it.

 

Recommended store:Hong Kong Tea Restaurant

The curry fish balls in this tea restaurant are also very popular, with the traditional Hong Kong style tea restaurant flavor, simple but full of the authentic feeling of street food.

Address: G/F, 30 Fa Yuen Street, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Opening hours: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM daily

Reason for recommendation: An authentic Hong Kong-style restaurant that offers a variety of traditional Hong Kong snacks. The curry fish balls here taste authentic and are affordable.

 

2. Hong Kong style dim sum (Dim Sum)

Hong Kong’s dim sum culture is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and it is a delicacy that almost every tourist and local will not miss. Common dim sum such as shrimp dumplings, siomai, chicken feet, glutinous rice chicken, etc. are usually the first choice for morning tea time. Whether it is a traditional tea house or a modern tea restaurant, you can taste a variety of exquisite dim sum.

 

• Recommended store: Lian Xiang Lou

Address: 160 Fa Yuen Street, Central, Hong Kong

Business hours: 07:30-18:00

Features: As a traditional teahouse in Hong Kong, Lin Heung House provides a variety of classic dim sum. The interior has a traditional atmosphere and is a good place to experience Hong Kong teahouse culture.

 

• Recommended store: Gaoji

Address: 5 Yun Kwong Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Business hours: 07:00-22:30

Features: Gaoji’s dim sum is fresh and delicious, especially their shrimp dumplings, siomai and glutinous rice chicken.

 

• Recommended store: Tim Ho Wan

Address: 9 Pei Ho Street, Mongkok, Hong Kong

Business hours: 10:00-22:00

Features: Tim Ho Wan is a Michelin-starred restaurant famous for its exquisite dim sum (such as siu mai, shrimp dumplings, spring rolls) with authentic taste and affordable prices.

 

3. Wonton Noodles

Wonton noodles is a classic Hong Kong snack. The traditional method is to use shrimp wontons with thin noodles, and then topped with clear soup. It tastes light and delicious. Hong Kong's wonton noodles emphasize the elasticity of the noodles and the deliciousness of the soup base, and are often a daily fast food choice for locals.

 

• Recommended store: Mak Wen Kee

Address: 1-3 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong

Business hours: 07:30-22:00

Features: It features shrimp wontons, served with springy thin noodles, and the soup base is delicious and very popular.

 

• Recommended store: Kee Wah Wonton Noodles

Address: 47 Tung Choi Street, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Business hours: 07:30-22:00

Features: Kee Wah's wonton noodles are a classic recommended by locals. The noodles are smooth, the wontons are chewy, and the soup base is fresh.

 

• Recommended shop: Wing Wah Wonton Noodles

Address: 29 Yau Ma Tei Road, Hong Kong

Business hours: 07:30-22:00

Features: Provides classic shrimp wonton noodles, the soup base is light and delicious, and the combination of noodles and wontons is just right.

 

4. Roast Goose

Roast goose is another very popular barbecue dish in Hong Kong. It uses tender goose meat, which is carefully marinated and grilled. The surface is crispy and the meat is tender. The skin of the roast goose is golden and crispy, while the meat remains juicy. Served with sweet noodle sauce, it is full of flavor.

 

• Recommended store: Dasanyuan

Address: 10 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Business hours: 11:00-22:30

Features: Da Sanyuan’s roast goose has crispy skin, fresh and tender meat, good color and aroma, and is deeply loved by locals and tourists.

 

• Recommended shop: Sham Tseng Roast Goose

Address: 9 Sham Tseng Street, Hong Kong

Business hours: 11:00-22:00

Features: The roast goose in this restaurant is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It tastes great and is the first choice among locals and tourists.

 

• Recommended shop: Sham Tseng Roast Goose Restaurant

Address: 1st Floor, Sha Tsui Road Building, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong

Business hours: 11:00-23:00

Features: Mainly roasted goose, the goose meat is tender and juicy, with traditional Hong Kong barbecue flavor.

 

5. Egg Tart

Hong Kong egg tarts are crispy on the outside and filled with rich and sweet custard inside. Egg tart is one of Hong Kong's classic desserts. It originated from Portugal, but the way it is made in Hong Kong is different from other places, and the taste is richer.

 

• Recommended shop: Mingxuan Egg Tart

Address: 41 Des Voeux Road Central, Central, Hong Kong

Business hours: 09:00-19:00

Features: Mingxuan's egg tarts are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, rich in egg flavor, and have a silky texture that is very popular.

 

• Recommended store:Bakehouse

Address:Wan Chai Branch: Shop G/F, No. 14 Tai Wong Street East, Wan Chai (with on-site restaurant)

Tsim Sha Tsui Branch: G/F, 44 Hankou Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Central Branch: 5 Stanton Street, Central, Hong Kong

Causeway Bay: Shop G/F, 16 Kai Chiu Road, Causeway Bay

Stanley branch: Shop G/F, 116 Stanley Street, Stanley

Business hours: 8:00-21:00

Features: Maxim's is a famous egg tart brand in Hong Kong. Its egg tarts are loved by locals and tourists for their crispy crust and rich egg flavor.

 

• Recommended store: Australian Milk Company

Address: 47-49 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong

Business hours: 07:00-23:00

Features: Famous for its delicious egg tarts, with crispy exterior, soft interior and rich taste.

 

6. Hong Kong Milk Tea

Hong Kong-style milk tea is a unique drink that combines strong tea and evaporated milk. It has rich milk aroma and full tea flavor. It is the iconic drink of Hong Kong tea restaurants. It's usually made by filtering through "stocking tea bags" and is smooth and very refreshing.

 

• Recommended shop: Ronghua Tea Restaurant

Address: 36 Des Voeux Road West, Central, Hong Kong

Business hours: 07:30-21:30

Features: Wing Wah's Hong Kong-style milk tea is mellow, rich in milk aroma, and full of tea flavor. It is a classic Hong Kong tea restaurant experience.

 

• Recommended shop: Tea Restaurant Hong Kong

Address: 16 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Business hours: 07:00-23:00

Features: The milk tea in this shop is loved for its strong tea flavor and moderate sweetness. It is a typical representative of Hong Kong tea restaurants.

 

• Recommended shop: Yishun Claypot Rice

Address: 1 Canton Road, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong

Business hours: 11:00-22:30

Features: This store offers a wide variety of claypot rice. Sausage, bacon, chicken and other ingredients are braised and the bottom is crispy.

 

7. Claypot Rice

Claypot rice is a traditional Cantonese dish. Rice and various ingredients (such as sausage, bacon, chicken, beef brisket, etc.) are usually put into a clay pot and simmered. The rice base will form crispy rice cakes, adding a special texture.

 

• Recommended shop: Yishun Claypot Rice

Address: 1 Canton Road, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong

Business hours: 11:00-22:30

Features: This store offers a wide variety of claypot rice. Sausage, bacon, chicken and other ingredients are braised and the bottom is crispy.

 

• Recommended shop: Seng Kee Claypot Rice

Address: West Kowloon Plaza, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong

Business hours: 11:00-23:00

Features: Seng Kee Claypot Rice has a wide variety of ingredients to choose from. The rice grains are soft and fragrant, and the rice crispy rice is crispy. We especially recommend the Chinese Sausage Claypot Rice.

 

8. Pan-fried Buns

Pan-fried buns are a traditional street snack in Hong Kong. The buns are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. They are usually stuffed with pork and fried until the bottom is golden and crispy. It is different from traditional steamed buns, with a crispy outer layer and rich taste.

 

• Recommended store: Jianbao Zhijia

Address: 2 Tung Choi Street, Mongkok, Hong Kong

Business hours: 10:00-22:00

Features: The fried buns in this shop are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with rich meat juice. You can feel the deliciousness of the meat filling in one bite.

 

• Recommended store: Hongfu Pan-fried Buns

Address: 38 Haizhu Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong

Business hours: 10:00-22:00

Features: Pan-fried buns are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with thin skin and rich meat, and a fragrant aroma. They are the representative of street snacks.

 

 

9. Che Tsai Noodles

Che Tsai Noodles is a traditional street snack originating from Hong Kong. It can usually be found in Hong Kong tea restaurants or street stalls. Its name "Chezi Noodles" literally means "car's small noodles", sometimes also called "car front noodles". There are several theories about its origin. One theory is that this kind of noodles is usually sold by vendors pushing carts. Hence the name.

 

• Recommended store: Kam Wah Cafe

Address: 9 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 07:00 AM - 10:00 PM Sunday: Closed

Reasons for recommendation:Jinhua Bingting is one of the representatives of traditional tea restaurants in Hong Kong, famous for its classic Hong Kong-style noodles and rich dishes. The Che Tsai Noodles here have a wide variety of options, with delicious soup base and various toppings. It is especially recommended to try their barbecued pork, which is soft and full of flavor. In addition, Jinhua Bingtang also provides some special snacks, such as pineapple buns and stocking milk tea. If you want to experience the authentic Hong Kong tea restaurant culture, this is a good choice.

 

• Recommended shop: Yat Lan Cart Noodle

Address: G/F, 191 Jordan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Business hours: Monday to Sunday: 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Reason for recommendation: Yilan Che Zai Noodles is one of the very famous Che Zai Noodles restaurants in Hong Kong, famous for its variety of ingredients and customizable soup base. You can choose different types of meat (such as beef brisket, barbecued pork, pork bones, etc.) and choose the soup base (such as clear or thick soup) according to taste. The noodles in the store are particularly chewy, and the soup base has been simmered for a long time, giving it a rich flavor. Many customers like to try various combinations of ingredients here. It is a typical Hong Kong street food restaurant, perfect for diners looking for rich tastes.

 

• Recommended shop: Wing Wah Cart Noodle

Address: Shop 103, G/F, Phase 1, Regal Garden Shopping Center, Tai Wai, Sha Tin, Hong Kong

Business hours: Monday to Sunday: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Reason for recommendation: Wing Wah Che Zai Noodles is famous for its super cost-effective and popular Che Zai Noodles. Its specialty is that it provides a very rich selection of soup bases and ingredients, whether it is fish balls, beef brisket, chicken legs, or various other ingredients, you can find them here. Their beef brisket is particularly recommended. The meat is tender and tender, and it tastes great when paired with springy noodles and a sweet soup base. Although it is a chain store, the quality of each store remains quite stable. It is a long-established Chezi noodle shop that many people often visit.

 

10. Pineapple buns

Pineapple buns are a popular traditional Hong Kong snack named for their resemblance to a pineapple. Although the word "pineapple" is in the name, the pineapple bun itself does not contain pineapple, the name is just a way to describe its appearance. It is characterized by a soft bun body and crispy skin. There is a golden, slightly crispy crust on the outside, usually in a grid shape, like the skin of a pineapple.

 

• Recommended store: Kaya Cafe

Address: G/F, 145 Temple Street, Jordan, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Business hours:

Monday to Saturday: 07:30 AM - 05:00 PM  Sunday: Closed

Reason for recommendation: Jiajia Ice Room is a very classic Hong Kong tea restaurant, famous for its traditional pineapple buns and butter pineapple buns (pineapple oil). The pineapple buns here are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, perfect for pairing with a cup of classic Hong Kong stocking milk tea. The lattice pattern on the skin of the pineapple bun is very obvious, and it has a rich sweet aroma when you bite it. The inside is full of milky aroma and has a rich taste. The butter pineapple bun is the signature of the store. The hot pineapple bun is cut into pieces and sandwiched with a thick piece of butter. The oily aroma is overflowing and the taste is richer.

 

• Recommended shop: Tai Cheong Bakery

Address: Opposite Jao Tsung-I Cultural Center, Central, Hong Kong

Business hours:Monday to Sunday: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

Reason for recommendation: Tai Cheong Bakery is a famous traditional bakery in Hong Kong, enjoying a high reputation for its pineapple buns and egg tarts. Tai Chang's pineapple buns have a golden, crispy outer layer and a sweet taste. Paired with the traditional soft bread, the taste is balanced and not greasy. The most distinctive thing is their egg yolk pineapple bun, which adds a smooth egg yolk to the classic pineapple bun crust, enriching the overall taste. Whether it’s freshly made hot pineapple buns or paired with a cup of Hong Kong-style milk tea, Tai Cheong’s pineapple buns are always unforgettable.

 

• Recommended shop: Tai Cheong Bakery

Address: Opposite Jao Tsung-I Cultural Center, Central, Hong Kong

Business hours:Monday to Sunday: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

Reason for recommendation: Tai Cheong Bakery is a famous traditional bakery in Hong Kong, enjoying a high reputation for its pineapple buns and egg tarts. Tai Chang's pineapple buns have a golden, crispy outer layer and a sweet taste. Paired with the traditional soft bread, the taste is balanced and not greasy. The most distinctive thing is their egg yolk pineapple bun, which adds a smooth egg yolk to the classic pineapple bun crust, enriching the overall taste. Whether it’s freshly made hot pineapple buns or paired with a cup of Hong Kong-style milk tea, Tai Cheong’s pineapple buns are always unforgettable.