While Kowloon City is famous for Thai cuisine, you simply can’t look past Lok Yuen. This popular cha chaan teng is well-loved for its signature satay beef French toast, which provides a unique flavour combination of sweet and savoury in one bite. Their yuen yeung red bean drink is another must-try, blending coffee and milk tea with red beans for a sweet refreshing twist. Highly praised by renowned food critic Chua Lam, Lok Yuen is a true local gem.

Originally established in the 1950s as a street stall selling Chiu Chow dishes, Fong Wing Kee is a hotpot restaurant celebrated for its rich satay soup base, often recognised as the pioneer of satay hotpot. Aside from its freshly sliced beef, the restaurant also makes its own chilli oil and fried fish skin with remnants of fish bones still attached. One of the highlights is the satay beef noodles, served with premium beef and local ‘dai gwong’ noodles. Each strand of noodles clings onto the thick soup, ensuring a satisfying mouthful of flavours with every slurp. Having operated for over 60 years, Fong Wing Kee remains a beloved establishment with patrons returning time and again.

First opened in 1990, Tei Mou Koon Dessert is a go-to when it comes to curing that sweet tooth – and Kowloon City was the place that started it all. This shop specialises in traditional sweet soups, including classics like walnut soup, black sesame soup, almond and lotus seed soup, and more. If you’re looking for something with a bit more texture, Tei Mou Koon also serves a variety of specialty desserts, including coconut red bean and split pea pudding, black sesame glutinous dumplings and a delicious range of mango-infused desserts.

This quaint eatery stands out as one of the few in Hong Kong dedicated solely to Chiu Chow (Teochew) desserts. Its varied menu caters to both traditionalists seeking classic flavours and those looking for a more modern twist. Navigating the extensive menu can be daunting, but visitors are encouraged to experiment, mixing and matching ingredients to find the perfect combination. For the adventurous, pairing lotus seed with barley in green bean or sweet tofu soup offers a delightful blend of flavours and textures. Meanwhile, signature desserts like black sesame dumplings, water chestnut sweet soup and green bean soup provide more traditional options. The restaurant's ambience is unassuming, with simple decor featuring round foldable tables and classic red plastic stools or diner booths. 

Halal restaurant Islam Food has been a staple in Kowloon City since the 1980s, famously known around the city for its signature pan fried beef buns, which boast a thin, crispy outer layer and a special juicy beef filling. For curry lovers, the restaurant also provides delicious dishes like curry mutton, curry ox tongue and curry beef brisket bean vermicelli that complement the menu. Over the years, this humble eatery continues to thrive, solely relying on its quality and taste that have earned the restaurant a loyal customer base to this day.

Lok Hau Fook is a traditional Chiu Chow restaurant established in 1954. It specialises in quality Chiu Chow cuisine, served in an old-school setting that perfectly reflects its authenticity. The menu presents a variety of notable dishes and regional specialties that are hard to find elsewhere in the city, including a Chiu Chow-style melon pancake, chicken dumplings and sugar-coated deep-fried taro. With its rich history and commitment to preserving Chiu Chow culinary traditions, Lok Hau Fook remains a cherished dining destination for those seeking authentic flavours in a nostalgic setting.

Located inside an 80-year-old pre-war tenement building, Nan Kok is a charming cafe that blends history with modernity. Once home to a traditional hardware store, the space has retained nostalgic elements like the original Tonghua iron gate and wooden pavilion, paired with simple, earthy decor to draw customers in. Nan Kok’s menu is a love letter to its Kowloon City roots, featuring locally inspired creations such as white sauce made with beancurd from the iconic Yee Heung Bean Product Company and panda coffee made with syrup from Thai grocers in the area.

Tai Wo Tang blends the old with the new, offering a unique and nostalgic experience. Once a hub for traditional Chinese medicine, this historic establishment has transformed into a charming coffee shop. Opened in 1932 in a tenement building, it has an eclectic interior with vintage furnishings, including an 80-year-old herbal medicine cabinet and retro metal shutters. The ambience, enriched by wooden benches and gold-painted signage, reflect everyday life of historic Hong Kong. Order a homemade red date hawthorn cheesecake as you soak in its timely charm for a memorable visit to Kowloon City. 

Golden Thai BBQ is a must-visit for authentic and affordable Thai cuisine in Kowloon City. Crowd favourites include piping hot skewers, perfectly grilled and paired with their signature satay sauce, and their crispy garlic bread, generously slathered with butter and garlic for an irresistible aroma. Despite its modest size, Golden Thai BBQ delivers big on taste, showcasing Thai flavours in a casual, no-frills setting.

A long-standing gem in Kowloon City since 1991, Cambo Thai Restaurant is a go-to when it comes to genuine flavours and fresh ingredients. The decor here is simple, but the food speaks for itself. Two standout dishes you can’t miss are the fried shrimp balls – crispy on the outside, juicy and bouncy on the inside – and Thai-style fresh raw shrimp, a classic delicacy. These signature items are a hit with locals and visitors alike, making Cambo Thai a must-visit for anyone craving a true taste of Thailand in the heart of Kowloon City.

Thonglor is your ticket to Bangkok without leaving town. This street-style Thai joint oozes retro charm, with vintage movie posters and old-school collectables that make you feel like you’ve wandered into a back alley in Thailand’s capital. The menu is thoughtfully curated by their native Thai chef, who stays true to the essence of traditional Thai flavours and classic cooking techniques. Must-tries? The signature Wagyu Boat Noodles — a rich, marrow-packed broth simmered for three hours, topped with garlic oil and melt-in-your-mouth American wagyu. Go for the golden crab omelette, a fluffy creation lightly seasoned to let the crab’s natural sweetness and the chef’s finesse shine through.

Since opening in 1996, Sun Shing Chiu Chow Restaurant has become one of Kowloon City’s most beloved old-school spots for no-frills Chiu Chow cuisine. This humble neighbourhood eatery keeps things simple and makes its prices wallet-friendly. Their signature sweet deep-fried taro is a true test of the chef’s skill: bite-sized taro chunks coated in a delicate shell of caramelised sugar, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Other standouts include marinated goose slices, oyster pancakes, oyster congee and sweet-and-sour noodles — all made the old-fashioned way, preserving the authentic taste of Chiu Chow heritage.

Mini Bangkok Thai Food has been a popular fixture in Kowloon City for over 20 years. Helmed by native Thai chefs, the restaurant is renowned for its authentic flavours and has been officially recommended by the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Hong Kong. Its signature dish, fried crab with curry, features succulent crab meat infused with rich coconut and aromatic spices. Other favourites include the Bangkok night market volcano pork, and steamed osmanthus fish with chilli and lemon sauce on a stove. The warm, welcoming atmosphere and extensive menu continue to win the hearts of both loyal patrons and new visitors alike.