5 Must-try foods in Hong Kong: What to eat and where to find it

Planning a trip to Hong Kong? You’ll need two things: this guide and a forgiving waistband. The food scene here is wild—in the best way possible. Hong Kong blends Cantonese traditions with global flair, so get ready to eat your way through street stalls, bakeries and Michelin-star favourites.

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You may also like to read:

• Where to stay in Hong Kong
• Know Before You Visit Hong Kong
• Favourite photos from Hong Kong

1. Hong Kong-style breakfast

Start the day with a crispy bun toasted with butter and condensed milk—sweet, crunchy, and dangerously addictive. Then hunt down Hong Kong-style French toast, often stuffed with kaya jam, or a simple scrambled egg sandwich served on fluffy white bread. If you’re feeling adventurous, order a full local breakfast: macaroni with ham and sausages in broth, plus fried eggs. It sounds odd, but tastes great. Find it at Lan Fong Yuen, 2 Gage Street, Central, or Matchbox Café, 2 Sun Wui Road, Causeway Bay.

2. Freshly baked goodies

Hong Kong’s bakeries are irresistible. Grab a warm pineapple bun with its crumbly sugar crust, then move on to flaky egg tarts and sweetheart cakes filled with lotus seed, almond, or red bean paste. Coconut tarts and cream buns also hit the spot. Try ang Heung Cake Shop, 579 Nathan Road, Mongkok, or Hoover Cake Shop, 136 Nga Tsin Wai Road, Kowloon City.

3. Delicious dumplings

If you eat only one thing in Hong Kong, make it dumplings. From xiao long bao to shrimp har gow, every bite is comfort wrapped in dough. High-end or hole-in-the-wall, there’s no shortage of options. Find Hong Kong’s best dumplings at:

• Din Tai Fung at 68 Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay
• Tim Ho Wan at Olympian City Mall
• DimDimSum at 7 Tin Lok Lane, Causeway Bay
• Sun King Kee at 12 Queen Victoria Street, Central HK, or
• Lin Heung Tea House at 162 Wellington Street, Central

4. Hong Kong diners

Don’t overlook the old-school diners with bright lights and sliding doors. These spots, known as cha chaan tengs, serve everything from breakfast sets to curry rice and stir-fried noodles. They’re fast, no-nonsense and full of character. Try Tsui Yuen Restaurant, 21 Centre Street, Sai Ying Pun, or Matchbox Cafe, Causeway Bay.

5. Delicious burgers

Sometimes you just crave a good burger. Hong Kong’s indie burger joints mix local flavour with Western classics—think soy-marinated patties or pineapple toppings. Go to The Burger Shop by Shake ’em Buns, 76 Wellington Street, Central; burgeRoom, 7 Caroline Hill Road, Causeway Bay; or The Big Bite, Java Road, North Point.

6. The Hong Kong egg waffles

Chances are you’ll see quite a few street vendors selling delicious traditional egg waffles as you stroll around town, but what are they? Well, they’re basically just a waffle with spherical bubbles all over them. They’re an eggy batter cooked fresh and served hot, often plain or with fruit and other flavourings like chocolate and coconut. Egg waffles, or gai daan jai, are crispy on the outside and soft inside—perfect for a street-side snack. Mammy Pancake (multiple locations) and More Eggettes are the go-tos for 2025.

7. HK Milk Tea

If you love tea, then there’s a chance you’re going to love HK-style Milk Tea! A local icon. This smooth black tea mixed with condensed milk dates back to British colonial times. You’ll see locals sipping it hot or iced throughout the day. Get it at Cheung Hing Coffee Shop, 9 Yik Yam Street, Happy Valley, or Hoi On Cafe, 17 Connaught Road, Sheung Wan.

8. Silk stocking & espresso coffee

Try both sides of Hong Kong’s caffeine culture: the strong, sweet silk-stocking brew made with condensed milk, and the new wave espresso scene.

Find Hong Kong’s best coffee at:

• Lan Fong Yuen at 2 Gage Street, Central Hong Kong for silk stocking coffee
• Matchbox Cafe at 2 Sun Wui Road, Causeway Bay for silk stocking coffee
• 18 Grams at 10 Johnston Road, Wan Chai for espresso, or
• Cafe Corridor at 26A Russell Street, Causeway Bay for espresso

9. Spicy Crab

If you find yourself walking past a spicy crab restaurant, you’ll definitely smell it before you see it, it just smells so dang good. Truth be told, some of these restaurants can be a bit of a scam. When you get your bill you may find you were charged for four seats at a table when only two of you sat there. You’ll also be surcharged for all manner of things and find the cost of your crab quite high, but if you know all of this before you go and you expect it, it’s not so bad. So, what is it? It’s perfectly cooked crab in the shell served with a mountain of deep-fried garlic and chilli on top. It’s sweet and spicy and crunchy and all the other wonderful things you want it to be! Eat it at Under Bridge Spicy Crab, 421-425 Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay.

10. Traditional congee

A fantastic traditional breakfast doesn’t come much better than traditional congee. The scary thing about congee is that sometimes it can be made from entrails and if that’s not something you’re into, it can be a massive turn-off. Thankfully, it isn’t the only kind of congee available, and you can get your hands on some really delicious salty fish congee. There are a few accompaniments you can order to go with it, including an absolutely delicious fried dough stick, also known as youtiao, and rice noodle rolls, which are served with a peanut, sweet and sour and soy sauce. They are freaking delicious. Visit Mui Kee Congee, 4th Floor, Yuen Street Market, Mong Kok.

11. Weird & wonderful desserts

When I think of desserts, I imagine things like chocolate cake, tiramisu and brownies topped with ice cream. That isn’t the same kind of way they think about desserts in Hong Kong. In place of big chunks of chocolate cake, you’ll find gelatinous bites flavoured with coconut, scoops of home-made ice cream that isn’t as sweet as you’re used to, sago puddings and tapioca pearls topped with fresh fruit and shaved fruit ice! It’s a whole new world out there, and you should definitely eat as much of it as possible. Mostly because it’s pretty much guilt-free compared to what we usually eat for dessert. Find Hong Kong’s best desserts at Chung Kee Dessert at 15 Canal Road West, Causeway Bay.

12. Claypot rice

This incredibly tasty traditional dish is usually cooked over a charcoal stove, which gives it a really distinct flavour. In Hong Kong, you’ll find these beautiful big clay pot bowls filled with delicious rice and delicious, well-seasoned meat like chicken, salty fish or even beef or Chinese sausage, which are added later in the cooking process. Find Hong Kong’s best claypot rice at Hing Kee Claypot Rice at 15 Temple Street, Kowloon.

Where to stay in Hong Kong

If you’re planning a trip to Hong Kong and aren’t quite sure where to stay, this map makes it easy. It highlights the very best hotels across the city — from luxurious harbourfront stays with sweeping skyline views to boutique gems tucked in lively neighbourhoods like Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, and Causeway Bay. Each spot has been chosen for its unbeatable location, comfort, and that special something that makes your time in Hong Kong unforgettable. Whether you’re here for the food, shopping, or city buzz, these hotels are your perfect home base.

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