A first trip to Hong Kong is a magical experience for any visitor. The dazzling lights, fragrant smells, alluring sights and bustling restaurants tease the palate like no other. Every first-timer can remember their first bite of dim sum, the first sip of tea and the first chomp of the city’s traditional fare.
This guide features eight must-visit restaurants accredited by the Quality Tourism Services (QTS) Scheme, which ensures high standards of food quality and service. These restaurants are among the best places to dine during your first visit to Hong Kong.
Beef Bang Taiwanese Hot Pot
A trip to Hong Kong is not complete without diving headfirst into a pool of hotpot broth. At Beef Bang Taiwanese Hot Pot, the rich flavours of Taiwanese beef take centre stage. Conveniently located in the centre of Tsim Sha Tsui, this restaurant offers traditional and authentic Taiwanese dishes, including spicy duck blood, bubble milk tea and taro balls. It provides value-for-money with its Ultra All-you-can-eat Hot Pot set, which features unlimited refills of eight types of beef, including Australian M9 Wagyu, as well as a DIY Taiwanese dessert station with ice cream.
Black Lamb Company
Specialising in black lamb rice noodles, Black Lamb Company showcases the rich flavours of Yunnan cuisine in locations easily accessible by public transportation. For those intent on exploring China’s diverse regional cuisines, this restaurant is a must-visit, especially for its spicy and starchy Yunnan-style noodles. If lamb is not your preference, they also offer beef brisket, pork and chicken noodles, alongside juicy dumplings.
Café de Coral
No dish represents Hong Kong’s cuisine than the Baked Pork Chop Rice from Café de Coral. First introduced in 1968, this dish has remained incredibly popular ever since. It features a bone-in pork chop that is pan-fried and baked to perfection. On top of the Baked Pork Chop Rice, the Hong Kong-style beef tendon and brisket curry is also a must-try item for first-time visitors to the city. Dining at Café de Coral is convenient due to its many locations across major transport hubs and tourist districts, including Tsim Sha Tsui, Central and Mong Kok. In addition, various language options are available on the restaurant's self-service kiosks, enhancing the dining experience for visitors.
Ginger Grill
Located at Ocean Park’s Aqua City, the theme park’s aquarium complex, Ginger Grill invites visitors to savour Thai cuisine prepared over their open flame-powered sizzling charcoal grills. All of the restaurant’s dishes, including favourites like the Charcoal Grilled Sea Bream in Thai special sauce and Thai-style Roasted Kamei Chicken, adhere to traditional Thai culinary and strict sustainability practices. The staff speak various languages to assist with visitors from all over the world.
Men Wah Bing Teng
Originally a standalone bing sutt established five decades ago, Men Wah Bing Teng now boasts dozens of locations in Hong Kong, sharing the classic 1970s Hong Kong taste and feel. Most popular for their nostalgic Men Wah BBQ Pork with Egg and Rice and Chiu Chow Style Sa Cha Beef Noodles, great care goes into every dish to provide a taste of Hong Kong to residents and visitors alike.
Tao Heung Tea House
For visitors seeking a real Cantonese dining experience, Tao Heung Tea House is a must-visit establishment on your trip. With locations within major shopping malls in Kowloon and the New Territories, the restaurant chain offers quintessential dim sum bites and their signature roast goose. With bilingual menus with photos and dish descriptions, Tao Heung Tea House is well-suited for diners diving deep into the rich techniques, flavours and traditions of Cantonese cuisine.
Very Good Seafood Restaurant
Specialising in Cantonese cuisine, inclusive of dim sum, hot pot dishes and seafood, Very Good Seafood Restaurant is an English-speaking-friendly restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui, perfect for visitors. The restaurant is located opposite the Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre, and beside two MTR exits, making for a convenient visit. Their signatures include the Steamed Crab with Taro Paste, Braised Fish Maw with Goose Feet and Fried Lobster with Garlic.
Yum Cha
Enshrined as a must-visit restaurant in Hong Kong, due to its new way of presenting dim sum, Yum Cha turns the cuisine on its head. Literally meaning ‘to drink tea’, Cantonese cuisine is made modern and playful here, with the hot custard molten buns and BBQ piggy buns signatures on its menu. Other favourites include baked pineapple pugs, steamed red bean and tangerine-flavoured buns. Located in Central, Yum Cha's staff provide seamless service and expert menu guidance, ensuring a pleasant dining experience.
Information in this article is subject to change without advance notice. Please contact the relevant product or service providers for enquiries.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board disclaims any liability as to the quality or fitness for purpose of third party products and services; and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, adequacy or reliability of any information contained herein.
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