Food · Hong Kong · China
What to eat in Hong Kong
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Hong Kong, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
Start with Dim sum, Roast goose and char siu and Wonton noodles. Join locals for dim sum and tea in a large Cantonese restaurant before noon; go early on weekends, when families fill the halls. Many restaurants add a 10% service charge; check the bill before leaving extra.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Dim sum
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- A 10% service charge is added in most sit-down restaurants, so further tips are optional.
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Breakfast
1.Dim sum (Yum cha)
Steamed and fried small plates eaten with tea from morning to mid-afternoon: har gow (prawn dumplings), siu mai, char siu bao, cheung fun rice rolls and chicken feet. Tick what you want on the order sheet.
Where: Traditional dim sum halls across the city and Michelin-listed budget dim sum chains in Sham Shui Po and Central.
Dish
2.Roast goose and char siu (Siu mei)
Cantonese roast meats hang in shop windows: crisp-skinned goose, sweet-glazed char siu barbecue pork and roast pork belly, served over rice with greens.
Where: Siu mei shops in every district; Wan Chai and Sham Shui Po have well-known names.
Street food
3.Wonton noodles
Thin, springy egg noodles with prawn wontons in a clear broth flavoured with dried flounder, served in a small bowl with chives.
Where: Noodle shops in Central, Sheung Wan and Mong Kok.
Dessert · Vegetarian
4.Egg tart (Daan taat)
Custard tarts in either buttery shortcrust or flaky puff pastry, best eaten warm from the oven.
Where: Bakeries and cha chaan tengs, including long-running bakeries in Central and Sheung Wan.
Drink · Vegetarian
5.Hong Kong-style milk tea
Strong black tea strained through a fabric 'silk stocking' and mixed with evaporated milk; yuenyeung blends it with coffee.
Where: Any cha chaan teng (tea restaurant), hot or iced.
Bakery · Vegetarian
6.Pineapple bun (Bo lo bao)
A soft sweet bun with a crackly sugar topping that looks like pineapple skin (there is no pineapple); the bo lo yau version comes with a thick slab of cold butter.
Where: Cha chaan tengs and bakeries, freshest in the morning and mid-afternoon.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
7.Hong Kong French toast
Thick bread slices sandwiched with peanut butter, dipped in egg, deep-fried and topped with butter and golden syrup.
Where: Cha chaan tengs everywhere, often as part of a set breakfast or tea set.
Street food
8.Curry fish balls
Skewered fish balls simmered in a mild yellow curry sauce, the classic snack of Hong Kong street carts and hole-in-the-wall shops.
Where: Street-snack shops in Mong Kok, Causeway Bay and Sham Shui Po.
Snack · Vegetarian
9.Egg waffle (Gai daan jai)
Bubble-shaped waffle with crisp edges and a soft, eggy inside, eaten hot from a paper bag.
Where: Snack stalls in Mong Kok, North Point and Tsim Sha Tsui.
Dish
10.Claypot rice (Bo zai fan)
Rice cooked in a clay pot over charcoal or gas with Chinese sausage, chicken or spare ribs, until a crisp crust forms on the base; drizzle sweet soy over the top.
Where: Temple Street and Yau Ma Tei restaurants, especially in the cooler months.
Breakfast
11.Congee (Juk)
Silky rice porridge cooked for hours, with additions such as century egg and pork or fresh fish, eaten with a fried dough stick.
Where: Congee shops in Mong Kok, Jordan and Sheung Wan, many open early.
Food experiences
Morning yum cha
Join locals for dim sum and tea in a large Cantonese restaurant before noon; go early on weekends, when families fill the halls.
Cha chaan teng lunch
Hong Kong's tea restaurants serve fast set meals of macaroni soup, baked pork chop rice and milk tea; expect shared tables and quick service.
Dai pai dong dinner
A handful of licensed open-air food stalls survive in Central, Sham Shui Po and Sheung Wan, serving wok-fried dishes at folding tables on the street.
Seafood in Sai Kung or Lamma
Pick live fish, prawns and shellfish from tanks along the Sai Kung waterfront or at Lamma's Sok Kwu Wan and have them steamed or stir-fried to order.
Quick bites and street food
- Dim sum — Traditional dim sum halls across the city and Michelin-listed budget dim sum chains in Sham Shui Po and Central.
- Wonton noodles — Noodle shops in Central, Sheung Wan and Mong Kok.
- Pineapple bun — Cha chaan tengs and bakeries, freshest in the morning and mid-afternoon.
- Hong Kong French toast — Cha chaan tengs everywhere, often as part of a set breakfast or tea set.
- Curry fish balls — Street-snack shops in Mong Kok, Causeway Bay and Sham Shui Po.
- Egg waffle — Snack stalls in Mong Kok, North Point and Tsim Sha Tsui.
- Congee — Congee shops in Mong Kok, Jordan and Sheung Wan, many open early.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Egg tart, Hong Kong-style milk tea, Pineapple bun, Hong Kong French toast and Egg waffle. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Many restaurants add a 10% service charge; check the bill before leaving extra.
- In dim sum restaurants, rinse your bowls with the first pot of tea if locals around you do, and tap two fingers on the table to say thanks for a refill.
- Leave the teapot lid ajar when you want hot water topped up.
- Smaller shops and cha chaan tengs may be cash or Octopus only; carry some Hong Kong dollars.
- Expect to share tables at busy local restaurants; it is normal.
Tipping
A 10% service charge is added in most sit-down restaurants, so further tips are optional. Locals round up taxi fares and may leave small change in cha chaan tengs.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Néih hóu | Hello |
| M̀h'gōi | Thank you (for a service) / excuse me |
| Dō jeh | Thank you (for a gift) |
| Màaih dāan | The bill, please |
| Géi dō chín? | How much is it? |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Hong Kong famous for?
Dim sum, Roast goose and char siu, Wonton noodles and Egg tart. Steamed and fried small plates eaten with tea from morning to mid-afternoon: har gow (prawn dumplings), siu mai, char siu bao, cheung fun rice rolls and chicken feet.
+Is Hong Kong good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Egg tart, Hong Kong-style milk tea and Pineapple bun.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Hong Kong?
A 10% service charge is added in most sit-down restaurants, so further tips are optional. Locals round up taxi fares and may leave small change in cha chaan tengs.