A Food and Drink Guide to Hong Kong

Why Hong Kong is a food city

Few places pack as much flavour into a small space as Hong Kong. Cantonese cooking, Chiu Chow roots, British leftovers and global influences collide across tea houses, dai pai dong street stalls and Michelin-starred rooms. Eating here is cheap, fast and endlessly varied.

Signature dishes to try

• Dim sum (yum cha) - steamed har gow shrimp dumplings, siu mai, BBQ pork buns (char siu bao) and egg tarts, served with endless pots of tea.
• Char siu and roast goose - glossy barbecue pork over rice, or the famous roast goose at Yung Kee or Yat Lok.
• Wonton noodles - springy egg noodles with shrimp wontons in a clear broth; Mak's Noodle is the classic.
• Clay pot rice - rice cooked over charcoal with cured meats and a crispy bottom, best in winter at Temple Street.

Street food worth chasing

• Egg waffles (gai daan jai) - crisp, hollow bubbles cooked fresh on griddles in Mong Kok.
• Curry fish balls and siu mai on a skewer from any corner stall.
• Cheung fun - silky rice rolls drenched in sweet soy and sesame.
• Stinky tofu and roasted chestnuts in cooler months.

Drinks of Hong Kong

• Milk tea - strong, smooth Hong Kong-style tea brewed through a cloth sock. Try it at a cha chaan teng.
• Yuenyeung - coffee and milk tea combined, an only-in-HK creation.
• Soy milk and fresh tofu pudding (dau fu fa) for breakfast.
• Craft beer in Sai Ying Pun or a rooftop cocktail over Victoria Harbour.

Practical dining tips and etiquette

• Cha chaan teng (tea cafes) are fast, cheap and cash-friendly; expect to share tables.
• Rinse your cup and chopsticks with the pot of hot tea provided - it's normal.
• Tap the table with two fingers to say thank you when someone pours your tea.
• Tipping is minimal; a 10 percent service charge is usually added at restaurants.
• Use the Octopus card or mobile pay; many stalls now skip cash.
• Eat early or late to dodge the lunch crush in Central.

Stay connected in Hong Kong

A HelloSIM eSIM keeps you online for maps, menu translation and table bookings with no roaming fees, so you can find that hidden noodle shop the moment you crave it.