Hong Kong has long been considered a “food paradise”, offering local and international cuisine across different budget ranges. When it comes to local Cantonese cuisine, many immediately think of char siu, dim sum and milk tea – but it is so much more than that. Let’s have a look at our curated list of 10 best Chinese restaurants for all budgets, each excelling in their own category, from fine dining, to local street food, cha chaan teng and tea houses.
Howard’s Gourmet — Central
Since its establishment in 2015, Howard’s Gourmet has become a beloved institution in the local dining scene. Nestled in a commercial building in Central, this culinary masterpiece takes a scientific approach to Chinese cuisine, reimagining time-honoured recipes for the contemporary era. With locations in Guangzhou and Hangzhou, Chef Howard Cai and his team have earned international acclaim, offering a seasonal tasting menu that highlights the freshest ingredients that can be perfectly paired with a selection of wines.
Price range: $$$$
Signature dish: Steamed Chaozhou Style Bun
Location: 5/F, CCB Tower, 3 Connaught Road, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2115 3388
Kam Wah Café — Mong Kok
Kam Wah Café is a bustling cha chaan teng located in Prince Edward. A favourite among the locals, this local gem is known for its ‘boloyau’ pineapple buns and mouthwatering egg tarts that keep crowds lining up all day. Indulge in the signature pineapple bun, where the crispy, sweet, crumbly top and the soft bread underneath are paired with a generous slab of butter that creates a delightful contrast of hot and cold, sweet and savoury. Wash it down with a cup of aromatic Hong Kong milk tea to balance the flavours.
Price range: $$
Signature dish: ‘Boloyau’ Pineapple Buns
Location: 45-47 Bute Street, Mong Kok
Contact: Website | +852 2392 6830
Kwan Kee Claypot Rice — Sai Ying Pun
This no-frills establishment in Sai Ying Pun with its iconic red sign and greasy spoon interior is a haven for clay pot rice. Served exclusively at night, Kwan Kee offers signature charcoal-cooked rice that is flawlessly crispy across the entire bottom, using a fragrant three-rice blend. Be prepared to wait patiently as each pot is fired to order, but the wait is definitely worth it. Whether you opt for the Curry Spareribs or the Stewed Eel & Roasted Pork with Garlic, you will not be disappointed with the hearty flavours.
Price range: $$
Signature dish: Stewed Eel & Roasted Pork with Garlic
Location: Shop 1, GF, Wo Yick Mansion, 263 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun
Contact: Website | +852 2803 7209
Luk Yu Teahouse — Central
Luk Yu Tea House is a long-standing Chinese restaurant located in the heart of Central, serving traditional dim sum for generations. This elegant teahouse transports diners to old times with its wooden chairs, nostalgic paintings and a doorman, just like the colonial days. While the downstairs dining room of the three-storey establishment is reserved for loyal patrons, others can enjoy their offerings on the upper floors. From prawn toast and siu mai to crispy deep-fried chicken and stir-fried noodles with sliced beef, savour the authentic flavours of Luk Yu’s classic recipes.
Price range: $$
Signature dish: Fried Pork Rib
Location: G/F-3/F, 24 Stanley Street, Central
Contact: Website | +852 2523 5464
Lung King Heen — Central
Nestled within the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel in Central, Lung King Heen has been serving refined Cantonese cuisine for over two decades. Led by Executive Chinese Chef Chan Yan Tak, the first Chinese chef to earn three Michelin stars, this legendary restaurant offers sophisticated dishes using the finest ingredients. Come here for dim sum lunch, or try their signature dishes such as the Baked Abalone Puff with Diced Chicken. With panoramic Victoria Harbour views, this esteemed establishment continues to be celebrated by both locals and international food connoisseurs.
Price range: $$$$
Signature dish: Baked Whole Abalone Puff with Diced Chicken
Location: 4F, Four Seasons Hotel, 8 Finance Street, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 3196 8882
Sing Heung Yuen — Central
Tucked in a bustling alleyway, Sing Heung Yuen is a historic dai pai dong that has captivated the hearts and palates of Hong Kong locals for over 60 years. Despite its unpretentious setting, this open-air haven has stood the test of time, becoming a go-to spot for locals seeking for a hearty bowl of their renowned tomato noodle soup and their kayak toast that comes with butter, condensed milk, and mixed spreads. Its humble setting and comforting offerings make it a must-visit spot for those seeking an authentic taste of local cuisine.
Price range: $
Signature dish: Tomato and Beef with Instant Noodles
Location: G/F, 2 Mee Lun Street, Central
Contact: Website | +852 2544 8368
Sister Wah Beef Brisket — Causeway Bay
This small eatery in Tin Hau, recognised as a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, has become a local favourite for its unbeatable beef brisket soups and typical Cantonese food. While the legendary Sister Wah has passed the torch to her sons, the tradition lives on. The secret lies in the fresh local beef, meticulously braised with a blend of over 10 aromatic herbs, resulting in a soul-warming bowl of beef brisket in clear soup, accompanied by scallions and daikon. Alongside the signature dish, their brief menu features homemade dumplings, drunken chicken and Dan Dan noodles.
Price range: $
Signature dish: Homemade Pork and Cabbage Dumplings
Location: Shop A1, 13 Electric Road, Causeway Bay
Contact: Instagram | Facebook | +852 2807 0181
WING — Central
Situated beneath its sister restaurant, VEA, WING is created with the vision of celebrating the understated elegance of traditional Chinese gastronomy, reimagining the Eight Great Chinese Cuisines with modern culinary techniques. Each dish is prepared to capture the essence of seasonal ingredients from Chili Japanese Oyster to Fragrant Chilli Alaskan King Crab, reflecting Chef Vicky Cheng’s commitment to seasonality, precision and innovation. Secure your reservation well in advance to dine in this sought-after restaurant that’s among Asia’s best.
Price range: $$$$
Signature dish: Fragrant Chilli Alaskan King Crab
Location: 29/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2711 0063
Yat Lok — Central
With a rich history dating back to 1957, this family-owned establishment has perfected the art of roasting goose. Yat Lok is renowned for its perfectly crispy and succulent roast geese, marinated with a secret recipe and prepared through a process of over 20 steps. Pair the goose with a bowl of lai fun noodles in a flavoursome broth, and don’t miss their char, roast pork belly and soy-marinated chicken.
Price range: $$
Signature dish: Roasted Goose
Location: G/F, 34-38 Stanley Street, Central
Contact: Instagram | Facebook | +852 2524 3882
Oi Man Sang Dai Pai Dong Restaurant — Sham Shui Po
Since 1956, Oi Man Sang Dai Pai Dong has remained an unfussy and unpretentious gem in Sham Shui Po, standing as one of Hong Kong’s oldest dai pai dongs. With a menu that has evolved subtly over the years, this restaurant remains firmly rooted in its traditional origins. You can witness the chef working with astounding speed in the open kitchen. From the salt and pepper squid to the garlic steamed razor clams, every dish showcases “wok hay”, the distinct smoky aroma that is created by authentic stir-frying, a skill that the chefs earned from years of working over roaring woks.
Price range: $$
Signature dish: Garlic Steamed Razor Clams
Location: Shop B-C, G/F, 1 Shek Kip Mei Street, Sham Shui Po
Contact: Facebook | +852 2393 9315
Bing Kee Cha Dong — Tai Hang
This tea stall that opened in the 1950s has a reputation for serving some of the best milk tea in Hong Kong. Bing Kee Cha Dong, which is sandwiched between two tong laus (tenement buildings) on Hong Kong Island, started out with a menu that featured only milk tea, bread, cakes and Chinese pastries. But by the 1970s, they started including noodle dishes and coffee. It isn’t hard to find this Tai Hang hotspot — you’ll see the inevitable queues of locals and foodies snaking around the corner of Ormsby Street looking to sample Bing Kee’s offerings.
Price range: $
Signature dish: Pork Chop Noodles
Location: 5 Shepherd Street, Tai Hang
Contact: Instagram | +852 2577 3117
Ser Wong Fun — Central
Ser Wong Fun, which opened in Guangdong in 1895 as a street stall, has been in Hong Kong since 1940 and has gained fame — or notoriety, depending on how you look at it — for their Five Snake Soup made with snake meat, black mushrooms and Chinese dried ham. The dish is so iconic that it inspired a snake soup-pizza mashup that was briefly on Pizza Hut’s special autumn menu. The restaurant is also known for its preserved Chinese sausages, which are used in local dishes in winter. And if you really want to go all out, we suggest ordering a bowl of their specialty Abalone Five Snake Soup.
Price range: $$-$$$
Signature dish: Five Snake Soup
Location: G/F, 30 Cochrane Street, Central
Contact: Facebook | +852 3579 5954
The Chairman — Central
The Chairman is considered the top Cantonese restaurant in Hong Kong, and often finds itself among the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. In 2022, it moved from its longtime location in Kau U Fong to nearby Wellington Street — and got a larger kitchen, but a smaller dining area in the bargain. This was intentional so that award-winning founder and chef Danny Yip could focus on his craft and keep up the standards that earned The Chairman its Michelin star. However, it also means that it’s booked out months in advance, so you need to keep an eye on their website for when the next round of reservations opens up. While long-time favourites such as the Steamed Fresh Flowery Crab and Slipper Lobsters Poached in Rice Broth are still on the menu, chef Danny and his team add new dishes depending on the season.
Price range: $$$$
Signature dish: Steamed Fresh Flowery Crab
Location: 3rd Floor, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2555 2202
Chui Wo Lee Restaurant — Wong Tai Sin
Chui Wo Lee Restaurant is one of the few cooked food stalls still in a housing estate in Hong Kong, and is called a mushroom kiosk because of the distinctive shape of its roof. It’s also open 24 hours every day because it’s actually three dai tai dongs — Chui Kee, Sam Wo and Lee Hing — in Lower Wong Tai Sin Estate that take turns running it every day. So you can head there at 2:30 am and get more than 40 different kinds of dim sum, or get congee, cheung fun, and other breakfast dishes from 5am onwards. During the rest of the day, you can choose from an abundance of stir-fry and soy-braised dishes and cha chaan teng favourites.
Price range: $$
Signature dish: Braised Baby Pigeon
Location: Shop No. 2, Cooked Food Kiosk, Ching Tak Street, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon
Contact: Website | +852 2323 1703
Peony — Discovery Bay
The Discovery Bay culinary scene may be better known for western restaurants, but Chinese restaurant Peony is a popular pick for special occasions like Chinese New Year Mid-Autumn Festival, and Winter Solstice for family gatherings. Peony, which was on the premises of one of DB’s members-only clubs, moved into the neighbourhood mall in 2021 and the new spacious location allows diners to have an intimate dining experience even when the restaurant is packed. The highlights of the expansive menu that features Cantonese cuisine, dim sum, seasonal delicacies are fan favourites like Peking Duck and moreish Roasted Crispy Pork Belly. But if you’re willing to try something more left-of-centre, then order the Braised South African Abalone with Shiitake and Supreme Oyster Sauce or fresh seafood like Geoduck Clam served either as sashimi or poached, which must be ordered a day in advance.
Price range: $$$$
Signature dish: Braised South African Abalone with Shiitake and Supreme Oyster Sauce
Location: 153A, 1/F, Block C, DB Plaza, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2215 0833
Want to explore all the cuisines that Hong Kong has to offer? Read our guides about:
- Best Thai restaurants in Hong Kong
- Best Japanese restaurants in Hong Kong
- Best Korean BBQ restaurants in Hong Kong
- Best Italian restaurants in Hong Kong
- Best burger restaurants in Hong Kong
- Best Indian restaurants in Hong Kong
FAQ about Hong Kong’s Cantonese restaurants
Which are the best Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong?
The best Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong are The Chairman, Lung King Heen, and Howard’s Gourmet.
Which are the best dai pai dongs in Hong Kong?
The best dai pai dongs in Hong Kong are Sing Heung Yuen, Oi Man Sang Dai Pai Dong Restaurant, and Chui Wo Lee Restaurant.
What Hong Kong food should I try?
The most iconic Hong Kong foods to try are char siu, beef brisket, and dim sum.
Header image credit: Zhang Lian Xun via Canva
