11 Interesting Places To Eat In Hong Kong 香港; Claypot Rice, Dessert, Dim Sum, Roast Meats

Hey everybody, welcome to another exciting episode of Gibbon Travelog. Today, we're in Hong Kong, a bustling city that never sleeps, with a food scene that's just as lively. From traditional dim sum to hidden street food jams, this city has it all. In today's episode, we'll be exploring the top places to eat in Hong Kong. So grab your chopstick and let's dive in! Hong Kong's cha chan teng, or Hong Kong-style cafes, are a cornerstone of the city's culinary culture. These bustling eateries emerged in the middle of the 20th century as affordable dining options during British rule, adapting European dishes to local tastes. Signature offerings include the silky Hong Kong milk tea, macaroni soup with ham, pineapple buns and egg tarts. One of the most beloved cha chan teng is the famed Australian Dairy Co., located in Jordan. Australian Dairy Co. was founded in 1970 by the Tang family, and over the years, it has earned a reputation for its high-quality dairy ingredients, which are specially imported from Australia. Interestingly, this cha chan teng was named after the Australian farm where its founder worked in back in the 1940s. Especially worth noting is that this eatery is known for its abrupt but efficient service. On average, the length of their customers' visit is a short 10 minutes. When we visited, I could feel the pressure to order quickly, eat quickly and exit quickly. Not surprising, the food there is impressive. We ordered the iconic meal set consisting of butter toast, sunny-side up and ham. And we also ordered the spaghetti with char siu and Hong Kong-style milk tea. And I have to say, it does live up to its reputation of being one of the best cha chan teng in Hong Kong. Mak Man Kei Min Ka, which is situated just a few doors away from the famous Australian Dairy Co. in Jordan, is a no-frills noodle joint with a 67-year legacy. The business was founded in 1957 as a tai pai tong and has since moved indoors when it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2007. This traditional Cantonese eatery is celebrated for its wonton soup noodles, delicate shrimp-filled dumplings paired with springy duck egg noodles in a rich flavourful broth. The noodles are equally delightful when served dry with oyster sauce and shredded pork. A bowl of wonton noodles typically costs 50 Hong Kong dollars and both local and tourists are willing to travel the distance to this often packed and modest eatery to savour the flavours there. The restaurant received its Michelin star in 2017. Another iconic cha chan teng in Hong Kong is Honolulu Cafe in Wan Chai. It is known for its traditional cha chan teng style of food. Most people go to Honolulu Cafe for their egg tarts which are smoothly filled and fluffy crusted. We visited Honolulu Cafe for dinner and ordered stir-fried beef noodles and baked rice with pork chop in tomato sauce. The food is simple and the experience is authentic. We can really get a good picture of how locals start their day. Here's an interesting fact, Jackie Cheong and Tang Wei film Crossing Hennessy here. Another cha chan teng that is definitely worth visiting is Wa So Peng Sat, also located in Wan Chai. Wa So is a crowded lunch spot for the Wan Chai working crowd and is popular for their rich tomato soup noodles, koh lor yau and their Hong Kong milk tea. So who exactly is Wa So? Well, it is started by the Tang clan, one of the great five clans of Hong Kong. The original outlet is located in a village in Yuen Long and well known among the locals for their long queues and good food. As their location is not so accessible, this Wa So outlet is open in the district. The interior of the cha chan teng is modern and the seats are more comfortable compared to the usual hush and rush Hong Kong cafes. Hello, good morning. We are here for breakfast. We are now at Wa So Peng Sat, which is a cha chan teng, very traditional tea house cha chan teng and we ordered two things for breakfast. One is the noodles with pork chop and chicken wing on a tomato soup base and then we have the pineapple bun, koh lor pao with egg and a slice of butter. The portion was generous, so remember not to over order. We also tried their signature koh lor pao sandwich, which consists of a koh lor pao stuffed with a slab of butter, a thick slice of tomato and an egg. Hong Kong's dim sum restaurants are legendary institutions that embody the city's rich culinary heritage and social culture. Dim sum, meaning touch the heart, features bite-sized dishes designed for sharing from steamed shrimp dumplings ha gow and pork buns to turnip and carrot cakes. One of the most iconic of Hong Kong's dim sum restaurants is Lok On Koi. This historical restaurant retains the charm of old Hong Kong, where servers push carts laden with bamboo steamers through bustling dining rooms. A little history here, Lam Heong Tea House was first founded in Guangzhou in 1889 and opened two branches in Hong Kong in 1926. Unfortunately, the eatery went into financial difficulties and eventually announced its closure in 2022. The same owners then opened a new eatery called Lok On Koi in early 2024, using the same recipes at a different location. Anyways, Lily and I went for an authentic yum cha experience at Lok On Koi, located on a sprawling two-storey tea house in Xiong Wan. The dim sum is still served the traditional way on trolley carts. This lively atmosphere makes dining here a truly unique experience. The dim sum is also incredibly tasty and budget-friendly. For the uninitiated, eating at a traditional dim sum restaurant generally follows this format. As you enter the restaurant, you'll be handed an order form. Once you are settled at the table, each time you get a dim sum dish from the trolley, the staff will stamp the order form indicating if it is a small, medium or large dim sum dish. When you're done with your meal, you will hand the form to the cashier for computing your bill. Another practice that you will notice is that you will be served a pot of hot tea, which is not meant for you to drink, but to sanitize your cutleries. Just watch how the locals do it and copy it. Overall, the food is good and the experience is quite an eye-opener as many of the dim sum restaurants in Singapore are no longer served in push trolleys. One of our favourite dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong is London Restaurant. If you're hoping to soak in an authentic, noisy, crowded dim sum restaurant popular with the locals, this is the place to go. London Restaurant is located on Nathan Road. To get there, you can alight at Mong Kok Station and head towards Good Hope Building, then take the lift to the third floor. Here, you can check out the traditional feel of the interiors, the carpet, the carts and the loud Cantonese chatters. The large dining area can seat quite a big number of customers and as such, you can expect good value for money and a wider variety of dim sum dishes. Here, we order an assortment of dim sum and their super popular steamed coconut milk pudding for dessert. Definitely a must visit! Hong Kong's traditional Cantonese cuisine is a celebration of rich flavours, meticulous preparation and cultural heritage. Roast meat or siu mei are a cornerstone with dishes like crispy roast duck and succulent char siu, offering a perfect balance of smoky sweetness and tender texture. Taiyat Siu Ngor at Teng Fai Tai Ha, Cosway Bay is an acclaimed eatery with multiple awards and culinary titles. It is famous for its roasted goose and BBQ pork. Chef Wu, who is also the owner of the eatery, had worked in a Michelin-starred restaurant in Macau. When Lillian and I visited this restaurant, we were quite surprised how unassuming it is. We came to try the roast goose, but the star of the meal for us was the BBQ pork, the char siu. In fact, the char siu was so good that we needed to take some and carried it all the way back to Singapore for the family to try. This place is so good and the price is so reasonable. I wish I can take away and bring home tomorrow. Really good! The goose skin was crispy too. It was so well cooked and tasty. The service is also surprisingly very good, with friendly and helpful staff attending to us. Cut noodles, a humble street food, allows diners to customise their bowls with an array of toppings, from brisket to fish balls and pickled vegetables, all in a flavourful broth. Lillian and I visited Hei Kei Cut Noodles in Jordan. This is a shop with a pretty nice environment, with cosy seats and a nicely designed menu. The cut noodles come with a lush selection of add-ons and choice of noodles. So the menu is here and I like the fact that you can choose whatever ingredient you like. So you can choose the type of noodles you like, all the different types of ingredients, beef, beef ball, chicken wings. So you just circle whatever you want and you present it. And what I've ordered is Gong Jai Mee. Then the soup base is the premium spicy soup base and I've got two toppings. The two toppings is Taiwanese sausage and also cheese balls. And this is the Gong Jai Mee. Let me try the soup first. Spicy sia. And some of this is Xiao La, it's not even the Zhong La or Da La, this is Xiao La. But it's very flavourful. We can see why cut noodles is every Hongkonger's comfort food. Claypot rice or Bao Zai Fan is a comfort food staple, featuring rice cooked to perfection in a claypot, often topped with Chinese sausage, salted fish or marinated meats and finished with a drizzle of soy sauce. When it comes to claypot rice, our top pick is Xiong He Claypot Rice, located in Kennedy Town on Hong Kong Island. Beyond its unassuming exterior, this bit goman recognised eatery has become a local favourite, drawing nearby residents and foodies alike since its opening over a decade ago. Xiong He's claypot rice is slow cooked over charcoal, giving it an irresistible smoky aroma and a perfectly crispy rice crust. Topped with delicious options like spare ribs with black beans, preserved pork belly or Chinese sausage, every bite is a flavourful masterpiece. My favourite lak cheong and my favourite beef. Very tasty. With so many options to explore, it's no wonder this spot has become a must visit. While we couldn't try everything this time, one thing is certain, Xiong He will be at the top of our list the next time we are back in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a dessert lover's paradise. Classic Tong Sui shops serve comforting sweet soup like red bean, black sesame paste and peanut paste. At the same time, trendy dessert cafes also serve creations like mango pomelo sago, egg waffles with ice cream and durian desserts. If you're visiting Hong Kong and only have time for one dessert store, go to Kai Kai Dessert in Jordan. This traditional Cantonese dessert shop has been serving up comforting sweet soups and treats for nearly 40 years. Once a hidden gem for locals, it gained widespread fame after being listed in a Michelin Hong Kong street food guide. Despite facing challenges like steep ramp heights, Kai Kai has stayed true to its roots, offering classics like black sesame paste, red bean paste and black glutinous rice porridge. Their desserts are prepared with fresh ingredients and carefully brewed for the perfect flavour and texture. With its no-frills but welcoming vibe, Kai Kai Dessert is where tradition meets Michelin-recommended quality. But be prepared to wait in line. Our last recommendation is a traditional bakery. And for a true taste of Hong Kong's traditional baked goods, Kwan Hong Bakery in Sam Sui Po is a treasure trove of flavours and history. This family-run bakery, now operated by a second generation, has been delighting locals for over 40 years. It is known for hand-made treats like walnut cookies, loh pok peng and red bean pastries. After a brief closure due to rental issues, the bakery reopened with a fresh look in 2021, continuing its legacy with both traditional recipes and modern seasonal creations like pistachio mooncakes. I'm in Sam Sui Po and I was told that in Sam Sui Po there is a bakery that serves very good glutinous ball, loh mai chey. The texture is very soft and it's covered with coconut shavings. Look at this. This is lovely. So, whether you are a long-time fan or a curious first-timer, Kwan Hong Bakery is a heart-warming stop for authentic Hong Kong flavours. Okay, that's all folks. Our 11 interesting places to eat in Hong Kong. Oh wait, we have a couple of bonus places to recommend. Mammy Pancake is a must-try for its award-winning egg waffles or kai tan zai. Founded in 2009, this Michelin-recommended store has redefined a childhood classic with its crispy outer shell and soft, chewy interior. Made with whole egg yolks and free from additives, each waffle is freshly prepared to order, ensuring quality in every bite. Their menu offers a range of creative flavours from traditional, original and chocolate chips to adventurous options like pork floss with sesame or organic chestnut. So, whether you are at their Tsim Sha Tsui flagship or one of their other locations, these light, airy treats are a perfect snack for a day of exploring Hong Kong. When in Hong Kong, a visit to Jenny Bakery is a must for cookie lovers. Famous for their buttery melt-in-your-mouth cookies, this iconic bakery has been delighting locals and tourists, alike with its signature treats for years. Packaged in charming smart bear tins, their two-mix and four-mix cookie varieties are a perfect balance of rich flavours and crumbly textures. Interestingly, due to its popularity, there are many copycat products pretending to be from Jenny Bakery, so be aware. Jenny Bakery products in Hong Kong are sold only at their own shops. According to their website, they do not have any joint venture nor authorise anyone to manufacture or distribute their products. Until our next video, we'll see you again!