Hong Kong is one of the world’s great food cities, with a palate-pleasing array of choices when it comes to restaurants. Here’s a selection of what’s on offer in some of the city’s best foodie neighbourhoods.
SOHO/MID-LEVELS
Soho’s Elgin Street and Staunton Street are lined with bars and restaurants. There are so many cuisines to choose from in this area, with a good selection of European restaurants, such as French, Italian and Mediterranean, along with hip Vietnamese and Chinese eateries. Olive has been a stalwart on the scene for years with its Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine, with a menu masterminded by celebrated international chef and author Greg Malouf.
Olive, 32 Elgin Street, Soho 2521 1608 | diningconcepts/restaurants/olive
Also in the area:
Bindaas, MEATS, Chôm Chôm, SoHo Spice, Linguini Fini, Maison Libanaise, Little Bao, Bouchon Bistro Francais, Soho Spice, Ho Lee Fook, Tate Dining Room & Bar, Happy Paradise
CAUSEWAY BAY
Causeway Bay can sometimes be overlooked as a dining destination in favour of nearby Wan Chai or Soho, but it can definitely hold its own in the foodie stakes. Tainan A Dou Zai offers Taiwanese street food for something a bit different.
Tainan A Dou Zai, G/F, 19 Lan Fong Road, Causeway Bay 2217 0520 | facebook.com/tainanadouzai
Also in the area:
The Fat Pig, Sijie Sichuan Restaurant, The Red Pepper, Minh & Kok, Seasons by Olivier E., ALTO, Sushi Hiro, Brick Lane, Din Tai Fung, Jamie’s Italian
SHEUNG WAN
Sheung Wan is one of those neighbourhoods that has a cool, creative vibe – and this definitely applies to the restaurants in the area. There are all sorts of places tucked away in laneways and side streets. Grassroots Pantry has a cult following with its uber-healthy menu, which features organic, sustainable and plant-based dishes. Popular with vegetarians and vegans, it has a great kids’ menu, too.
Grassroots Pantry, 108 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan 2873 3353 | grassrootspantry.com
Also in the area:
Bibo, Chachawan, Yardbird, Aberdeen Street Social, Blue Butcher, Cocotte, Figaro, La Cantoche, Upper Modern Bistro, Mrs Pound, Sohofama, Frantzen’s Kitchen
KENNEDY TOWN
With the MTR now well established, the changing face of K-Town is evident in the number of new restaurants and cafes opening. West Australian craft beer brewer Little Creatures has joined the throng, establishing itself on New Praya. The large premises make it great for family dining, and the staff are very accommodating to kids.
Little Creatures, Shop 1, G/F New Fortune House, 5A New Praya, Kennedy Town 2833 5611 | littlecreatures.hk
Also in the area:
Chino, K-Town Bar & Grill, Bistro Du Vin, Missy Ho’s, Comptoir, Shoreditch, Belgica, 11Westside
CENTRAL
Central is much more than a retail district; there are plenty of dining venues too. One of the newer offerings in the area is Gough’s on Gough, this is the first restaurant in the world to be opened by upmarket British furniture brand Timothy Oulton. Not surprisingly, the décor is fantastic, and the food doesn’t disappoint either, showcasing modern British dining to great effect.
Gough’s on Gough, 15 Gough Street, Central 2473 9066 | goughsongough.com
Also in the area:
Spiga, Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Arcane, ON Dining & Kitchen, Envoy, Duddells, Twenty Six by Liberty, Carbone, Mama San, Bread Street Kitchen, Bombay Dreams, Moi Moi by Luke Nguyen, TokyoLima, Chifa, Uma Nota
SAI YING PUN
Sai Ying Pun is having a moment. Its blend of old and new Hong Kong has seen it become one of the hippest districts in the city and a real foodie hotspot. The Hong Kong edition of Potato Head is always jampacked, testament to the great food and atmosphere.
Potato Head, G/F, 100 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun. 2858 6066 | ptthead.com
Also in the area:
Metropolitan, Flying Pig Bistro, Fish School, Locofama, La Paloma, Blacksalt, Potato Head Kaum, U-Hang
WAN CHAI
Ignore the tourist-trap bars as there is a lot more to Wan Chai. It has pockets of excellent eateries on Ship Street, Star Street, Lee Tung Avenue and along Hennessy Road. Newcomer Madame Ching can be found in the hip Star Street quarter, and is a modern Chinese restaurant and roast house featuring dishes such as char siu and roast goose served in reimagined ways.
Madame Ching, G/F, 5 Star Street, Wan Chai 257 7227 | madameching.hk
Also in the area:
Fishsteria, The Pawn, Pirata, 22 Ships, Le Pain Quotidien, Ham & Sherry, The Optimist, Le Bistro Winebeast, Francis, Pici, Samsen
SOUTHSIDE
Stanley Plaza, Repulse Bay and Wong Chuk Hang have a solid selection of restaurant options. For a seriously good burger, try Beef & Liberty. You’ll also find outlets in Wan Chai and Central, but the Stanley venue is great, with the option of sitting outside and watching the kids play in the square while you tuck in.
Beef & Liberty, G/F, Stanley Plaza, The Piazza, 23 Carmel Road, Stanley 2563 2798 | beef-liberty.com
Also in the area:
Classified, Limewood, Tri, The Ocean, Shoku, Cabana, Stan Café, Hotshot, Pomegranate Kitchen
TSIM SHA TSUI
The TST area is a major drawcard for some of the biggest and best in the world (think Alain Ducasse, Gordon Ramsay, Nobu Matsuhisa and the like), and you will find something to please even the fussiest palate along the harbour. Celebrity chef Laurent Tourondel’s BLT Steak offers world-class dining with a view of Victoria Harbour.
BLT Steak, G62, G/F, Ocean Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui 2730 3508 | diningconcepts.com/restaurants/BLT-Steak
Also in the area:
La Locanda, Spasso, London House, Hutong, FINDS, La Taverna, Brick Lane Gallery, Nahm, OM Tapas, Aqua, Hutong, Gaylord Indian Restaurant
Other areas
There are some pockets around the city that are shaking things up in their own ways. Here’s what you’ll find in …
Lan Kwai Fong:
While technically a part of Central, LKF has grown into a spot that is just as likely to draw discerning foodies as late-night revellers. We love: Brickhouse, Lily & Bloom, Bread Street Kitchen, CÉ LA VI, Porterhouse by Laris, Jinjuu, Braza Churrascaria, Bistecca, Braza, Fang Fang.
Quarry Bay:
This side of town is not generally thought of when planning a night out, but there are some great options if you want to head left of centre. Don’t miss: Mr and Mrs Fox, Plat Du Jour, FEAST, Grand Cuisine Shanghai Kitchen, Shiro Sushi.
Admiralty:
Admiralty has a number of good dining options, many of which are found in the Pacific Place complex. Check out: Dim Sum Library, Commissary, Bizou, Brick Lane
Room Service
As far as hotel dining goes, Hong Kong has an unusually high number of Michelin-starred restaurants inside hotels – taking fine dining to a whole new level – as well as some of the city’s favourites.
Here are our picks:
The Four Seasons: Caprice, Lung King Heen Island
Shangri-La: Restaurant Petrus
The Peninsula: Felix, Chesa, Spring Moon Landmark
Mandarin Oriental: Amber Mandarin Oriental: The Mandarin Bar & Grill, Pierre
The Upper House: Café Gray Deluxe
Hotel ICON: Above & Beyond, The Market
InterContinental: Spoon by Alain Ducasse, NOBU, Yan Toh Heen
The Ritz-Carlton: Tin Lung Heen
JW Marriott: Flint Bar & Grill
See more in our wine and dine section:
Hong Kong restaurants: new venues and menus
This article first appeared in Expat Living’s CityGuide. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
