Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China on the southern coast, made up of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon peninsula, the New Territories and more than 200 outlying islands. It pairs one of the world's densest skylines with country parks, beaches and fishing villages, all linked by an efficient metro and ferry network.
Hong Kong is one of the world's great food cities, built on Cantonese cooking but shaped by the wider Chinese regions, colonial-era British and Portuguese influence, and a fast-moving street culture. Dim sum, wonton noodles, siu mei roast meats, congee, egg tarts and Hong Kong-style milk tea are the core staples, eaten in places ranging from dai pai dong street stalls and cha chaan teng diners to Michelin-starred hotel dining rooms. Prices are quoted in Hong Kong dollars (HK$7.8 is about US$1). Meals are quick, shared and social, and the density of good eating per block is unmatched.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Hong Kong.
Dim Sum
Bite-size steamed and fried dishes eaten with tea, such as har gow shrimp dumplings, siu mai and barbecue pork buns
Where to try: Tim Ho Wan (Sham Shui Po), Lin Heung Tea House, Maxim's Palace
Price: HK$60-200 (~$8-26) per person
Wonton Noodles
Thin egg noodles with shrimp wontons in a shrimp-and-pork-bone broth
Where to try: Mak's Noodle, Ho Hung Kee
Price: HK$50-90 (~$6-12)
Roast Goose
Lacquered, crackling-skinned goose served with plum sauce over rice
Where to try: Kam's Roast Goose, Yung Kee, Yat Lok
Price: HK$80-200 (~$10-26)
Hong Kong-style Milk Tea
Strong black tea blended with evaporated milk, served hot or iced
Where to try: Lan Fong Yuen, cha chaan teng across the city
Price: HK$20-35 (~$3-4.50)
Egg Tart
Flaky or shortcrust pastry with a wobbling egg custard
Where to try: Tai Cheong Bakery, Kam Wah Cafe
Price: HK$10-15 (~$1.30-2)
Pineapple Bun with Butter (Bolo Yau)
Sweet bun with a crackled sugar crust served hot with a slab of butter
Where to try: Kam Wah Cafe, Tsui Wah
Price: HK$15-25 (~$2-3)
Typhoon-Shelter Crab
Wok-fried crab buried in crisp garlic and chili
Where to try: Under Bridge Spicy Crab
Price: HK$400-800 (~$51-103) per crab
Claypot Rice
Rice cooked in a clay pot with cured sausage and chicken, best in cool months
Where to try: Temple Street stalls
Price: HK$70-110 (~$9-14)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Hong Kong
Cantonese Snake Soup
Hong Kong Egg Tarts
Hong Kong Street Drink
Hong Kong Tofu Pudding
Japanese
Modern Cantonese
Seafood
Traditional Cantonese Dim Sum
Food tours & tastings in Hong Kong
Eat your way through Hong Kong with a guide.
Browse food experiences in Hong KongWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Curry Fish Balls
Chewy fish balls simmered in curry sauce on skewers
Find it at: Street stalls in Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po
Egg Waffles (Gai Daan Jai)
Bubble-shaped sweet waffles sold hot from griddle carts
Find it at: Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay
Stinky Tofu
Fried fermented tofu with chili and sweet sauce
Find it at: Mong Kok, Temple Street
Siu Mai (Fish Ball) Skewers
Street-cart fishball and siu mai skewers with soy and chili sauce
Find it at: Sham Shui Po
Fresh Sugarcane Juice
Cold pressed sugarcane juice
Find it at: Kung Lee, Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Temple Street Night Market
Evening market with dai-pai-dong style seafood and claypot stalls, plus souvenir stands
Hours: Daily about 6PM-midnight
Graham Street Market
Central's oldest street market for produce, meat and fish, on the slopes near Soho
Hours: Daily about 7AM-7PM
Tai Po Market and Cooked Food Centre
Local wet market and cooked food centre in the New Territories
Hours: Daily; cooked food centres roughly 7AM-11PM (verify)
Sham Shui Po Cooked Food Stalls
Cheap noodles, fishballs and dessert stalls around Fuk Wing Street
Hours: Daily; busiest at lunch
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch peaks 12:30-2 PM and dinner 7-9 PM; queues are shorter before 12 or after 2 PM.
Many local places serve a set lunch (tea set) on weekdays that costs less than an a-la-carte order; look for a tea-set price board.
Tea is served free (cover charge HK$5-15 (~$0.65-2) per person) at Cantonese restaurants; the first pot is poured for the table, and tapping two fingers on the table is the thank-you gesture.
Service charge of 10% is often added; tipping beyond that is not expected, and cash or an Octopus card is accepted at most casual spots.
Restaurants may share tables; sit where the staff points and eat quickly if others are queuing.
- Vegetarian
- Buddhist vegetarian restaurants are widespread and dim sum has vegetable options, but many broths contain pork or shrimp; say 'ngo sik jai' (I eat vegetarian) and ask if the stock is meat-free
- Halal
- Halal options exist around Kowloon Mosque in Tsim Sha Tsui and in Indian and Pakistani restaurants on Chungking Mansions
- Gluten free
- Limited; soy sauce and wheat noodles are ubiquitous. Rice-based dishes, steamed fish and plain congee are safer. Carry a translated allergy card
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | HK$40-100 (~$5-13) per meal | Wonton noodles, congee, cha chaan teng set meals and street snacks |
| Mid-range | HK$150-350 (~$19-45) per meal | Dim sum halls, roast goose restaurants and casual seafood dining |
| Upscale | HK$800+ (~$103+) per meal | Michelin-starred Cantonese dining, harbour-view hotel restaurants and tasting menus |