The list of good restaurants in Hong Kong is seemingly endless.
There are always wonderful new dishes and chefs to discover, serving delights in stunning restaurants or hidden gems.
We have asked Le Cordon Bleu graduate and food writer Caroline Li @hungry.pea to take us on a one-day quintessential Hong Kong experience.
CL: I normally do not do breakfast but The China Club is a great place to take out-of-town guests to start the day. It is like stepping into my grandparents’ era in Hong Kong, a beautiful members club with Shanghainese tea house vibes adorned with Chinese contemporary art. A good traditional Chinese breakfast of Congee, Fried Breadsticks and freshly made Dim Sum can be enjoyed in an old-school glam setting. Hearty dishes like hand-pulled beef noodles, Hong Kong-style Baked Pork Chop Rice, Beggar’s Chicken and Peking Duck prepared table-side are popular choices for lunch or dinner. Note: Jackets required.
Otherwise, Luk Yu Tea House is an iconic teahouse for breakfast in town that is opened to the public. Think about indulging in delicious, traditional dim sum while being surrounded by authentic Chinese decor with spittoons and dark wooden benches.
For those who want to try traditional Hong Kong pastries for breakfast, Kam Fung Cafe in Wan Chai is a favorite amongst local food lovers for their freshly baked Pineapple Buns, Egg Tarts and Chicken Pies though I would love to line up at Bakehouse for a box of their instagram famous Sourdough Egg Tarts.
For lunch, if my visitors are big meat eaters I would take them to Seventh Son for the famous Whole-roasted Baby Suckling pig, deep-fried Chicken Testicles Custard, Honey-BBQed eel and Soy Sauce Chicken, along with their usual array of freshly made Dim Sum.
If they prefer Chinese-style seafood, I would take them to The Chairman for the Steamed Flower Crab in Chicken Fat, Shaoxing Wine and Flat Rice Noodles. The fermented Chili Fish Head is another crowd pleaser with add-on house-made dumplings to match. The Slipper Lobster Congee has become a fast favorite amongst Michelin-starred chefs as well as the Deep-Fried Crispy Taro Cakes with Smoked Duck.
A third option would be the three Michelin-starred Lung King Heen at the Four Seasons Hotel for Dim Sum. Visitors that are particular about clean plates with each course would appreciate this restaurant as their service is top notch.
If my guests want to go really local for Chinese BBQed meats, Sun Kwai Heung BBQ in Chai Wan is the city’s favorite for Char Siu in Hong Kong. Roast goose lovers can stroll into Kam’s Roast Goose in Wan Chai for a bowl of Roast Goose Lai Fun Noodles or Yat Lok Roast Goose in Central for a plate of roast goose ribs that trap all the special house spices.
Stop by Interval Coffee for a mid-day Coffee fix and try their freshly baked Canelé, one of the best in town.
For an afternoon sweet snack, Mammy Pancake in Causeway Bay is my favorite spot for Hong Kong-style Eggettes. I love their Banana Chocolate Eggettes but they offer many flavors as well as seasonal flavors, like roasted chestnuts in Autumn. Across the shop is Shari Shari Kakigori House, a popular spot for very Instagrammable Japanese shaved ice that comes in yummy flavors like Hojicha and Kinako cream.
If my guests want to go somewhere more comfortable for High Tea, we would head to The Butterfly Room at the beautiful Rosewood Hotel in Kowloon.
Executive Pastry Chef Holger Deh makes beautiful pastries that are to-die-for. Afterwards, as an all-girls party we would sip on shimmery cocktails at the XX, a secret ladies-only bar at the hotel. The Dark Side is another great option for drinks at the hotel that boast spacious outdoor terraces with wonderful night views of the Victoria Harbor.
Dinner would be at Vea Restaurant and Lounge. Chef Vicky Cheng is a wizard when it comes to pairing Chinese ingredients with classical French techniques. It is a long tasting menu, but every dish is as creative as it is mind-blowing and a truly magical experience not to be missed. It is unlike anywhere in the world.
If my guests are not the fine-dining type, I would take them to Yardbird. The most vibey restaurant in town, famed for Yakitori cooked over Binchotan that is used in Japanese-style grilling. Otherwise, a more low-key but equally delicious option would be Ronin, Yardbird’s sister restaurant that specializes in a more seafood centric menu.
After dinner, rub shoulders with off-duty chefs at The Diplomat. Known for great cocktails and some of the city’s best Cheeseburgers for late night munchies or dance off your food coma at Salon 10.
I could easily do dinner plans for days but for now, here is a list of some of the dishes to target if you have the opportunity to try my recommendations above. Please post your own Best Place For HK dish recommendations below!
Le Cordon Bleu International Culinary Arts Degree graduate / Food columnist turned full-time HW
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