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Travel bucket list idea:

Last updated: 27 May, 2023
Expert travel writer: Lee Cobaj

To quote the late Anthony Bourdain, ‘in Hong Kong you don’t take the tour bus to find good food. . . just press start’. This is one of the world’s greatest foodie cities, packed with over 15,000 restaurants offering mind-boggling variety and a galaxy of Michelin stars.

And while you’ll find every kind of food imaginable – from Nepalese dumplings to French fine dining – it’s with home-grown, Cantonese dishes that Hong Kong really excels. Seasonal vegetables and super-fresh seafood are key ingredients, and dim sum is not to be missed – the city starts its day with steaming baskets of har gao (shrimp dumplings) and char sui bao (barbecue pork buns).

Lamma Rainbow

Hong Kong, China

Iron wok with whole prawns being cooked inside

This family-run seafood restaurant on Lamma Island runs free ferries from Hong Kong and Kowloon – so you get a harbour cruise and fabulous garlic prawns.

Best for ages 13+

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Luk Yu Tea House

Hong Kong, China

Exterior of a Chinese tea house

This traditional Cantonese restaurant has been around since 1933 and has art deco interiors, septuagenarian waiters in white tunics and wonderful dim sum. Try the British-Hong Kong hybrid roast duck pie.

Adult price: £20

Best for ages 13+

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Lung King Heen

Hong Kong, China

Lung King Heen

Lung King Heen at the Four Seasons was the world’s first Chinese restaurant to be awarded three Michelin stars for its spectacular takes on local dishes, including barbecue suckling pig, scallops with pear dumplings.

Adult price: £30

Best for ages 18+

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Tim Ho Wan

Hong Kong, China

Exterior of the world's cheapest Michelin starred restaurant

Looking for a Michelin-star spread for less than £10 a head? Head to one of five branches of Tim Ho Wan. Don’t miss the sweet and crumbly barbecue pork buns.

Adult price: £10

Best for ages 13+

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Tung Po

Hong Kong, China

A bowl filled with squid ink pasta

There’s a cooked food centre in almost every Hong Kong neighbourhood, but if you want to follow in the footsteps of Anthony Bourdain head to Tung Po in North Point’s Java Road Cooked Food Centre, famed for its squid-ink pasta, giant razor clams and crispy chicken.

Best for ages 13+

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Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around
Duration: -

Getting there & doing it

Hongkongers have ridiculously high standards when it comes to eating, which means it’s easy to find fabulous food at prices that won’t break the bank. Dim sum is the first meal of the day, and where you should start your foodie adventure – visit before 12 or after 2pm to avoid having to queue.

Other great spots for authentic local cuisine are the unglamorously-titled Cooked Food Centres. There’s one in almost every district, usually attached to a food market. They are ear-splittingly noisy, but the food is fabulous – think zingy sweet and sour pork, silky beef with crispy noodles and garlic-drenched scallops.

A food tour is highly recommended to get a real flavour of the city.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

A Taste of Hong Kong: Private Tour

Hong Kong SAR

A Taste of Hong Kong: Private Tour
Food and culture go hand in hand in Hong Kong, and there's a food tradition in particular that makes the city even more flavorful. Ready to try it? Get a taste of the food scene that characterizes Hong Kong and it's known around the world. Try coconut drink, dumplings, and more in its original recipe - forget about adaptations, this is the real deal! Your local guide is a food and culture expert and will show you spots in the city to enhance the cultural vibes. Go to Flower Market, and Temple Street Night Market, and get to know more about where this food tradition comes from and how it relates to Hong Kong. Withlocals Food & Culture Tour™ is one of Withlocals' signature tours available in major cities worldwide. We work with passionate local guides who earn a fair fee. We support local economies by only offering local products and prevent over-tourism with only small non-intrusive groups. Our tours are carbon-neutral and away from the standard tourist routes.

Price: €93

Min age: 0

Rating 4.47 / 5 [17 ratings]

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Kowloon Street Food Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized & Private

Hong Kong SAR

Kowloon Street Food Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized & Private
You’ll join one of our food loving hosts to explore Hong Kong's food culture in the heart of the colourful Kowloon neighborhood. Game changer - you’ll do so after dark. Eat your way around traditional night markets where you can try everything from steamed crab to fried octopus tentacles or head to Dundas Street and explore the gaai, where you’ll find tiny bars selling drinks ranging from herbal medicines to beers! Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded local host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.

Price: £126

Min age: 0

Rating 4.28 / 5 [14 ratings]

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The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour

Hong Kong SAR

The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour
Eat your way through Hong Kong's culinary scene on a private food tour. Go on a delicious journey as you try 10 of the best food items beloved by the locals: from savory to sweet and local drinks; this tour will leave every foodie satisfied! Enjoy tastings typical of the local cuisine and hand-picked by a local guide passionate about food like Dimsum and Pineapple bun. But that's not it! This tour is more than just food; it's a cultural experience! In between food stops, you'll also find city highlights making this experience a well-rounded tour that will satisfy every foodie. Withlocals The 10 Tastings Private Food Tour™ is one of Withlocals' signature tours available in major cities worldwide. We work with passionate local guides who earn a fair fee. We support local economies by only offering local produce and prevent over-tourism with only small non-intrusive groups. Our tours are carbon-neutral and away from the standard.

Price: €133

Min age: 0

Rating 4.55 / 5 [74 ratings]

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Organic Chinese Dumplings Class From Scratch with Market Walk

Hong Kong SAR

Organic Chinese Dumplings Class From Scratch with Market Walk
Hi ! Everyone, I am local from Hong Kong. Cooking has been one of my biggest interests since I was a kid as my Mom taught me how to make different types of Chinese dishes. Especially traditional dumplings in which it was our regular custom that gathers all the family together to prepare, wrap and cook. I would love to share this happy experience with guests from preparation to sitting around the table and enjoying the food. You can find me on the #Top 5 Classes and workshops in TripAdvisor, namely "Feliz Yau Organic DimSum Class” This workshop was broadcasted in Russia TV (Moya Planet) in March 2018. It was also featured in West Australian newspaper in Perth in 04 April 2019 *Vegetarian Applicable

Price: H711

Min age: 5

Rating 4.83 / 5 [30 ratings]

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Small-Group Hong Kong Island Food Tour

Hong Kong SAR

Small-Group Hong Kong Island Food Tour
This half-day food tour of Hong Kong makes five stops where you sample authentic Cantonese cuisine. Taste dim sum, wonton noodle soup, traditionally roasted meat, milk tea, and an egg tart, all eaten at local restaurants. Learn from your guide about the city's mix of British and Chinese heritage, from Guangzhou influences to Western favorites. A maximum of 9 people only makes this the most immersive food tour available in Hong Kong.

Price: H820

Min age: 6

Rating 4.94 / 5 [237 ratings]

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Hong Kong Food Tour: Sham Shui Po District

Hong Kong SAR

Hong Kong Food Tour: Sham Shui Po District
Savor authentic Hong Kong delights on a food-tasting tour through the Kowloon neighborhood of Sham Shui Po! Follow an entertaining local guide on foot through this foodie enclave and discover everything from local specialty stores to old mom-and-pop eateries. Stop at six family-run food venues and sample delicious treats – from breakfast to lunch – as you learn about Cantonese flavors and Hong Kong cultural history. Numbers are limited to eight people, ensuring an intimate experience with a small group of like-minded food lovers.

Price: H821

Min age: 0

Rating 4.95 / 5 [124 ratings]

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Small Group Kowloon Michelin Star Street Food and Culture Tour

Hong Kong SAR

Small Group Kowloon Michelin Star Street Food and Culture Tour
Enjoy 4-hours exploring the night view of the Kowloon area of Hong Kong. Follow your professional guide through the 'Dark Side of Hong Kong' to discover the city on a captivating walking tour. Enjoy a Michelin star food tour in Sham Shui Po, Explore Mong Kok, the Goldfish Market, Ladies Market and Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront where you will watch the famous Hong Kong light show.  Ensure personal service with your small-group tour limited to 9 guests.

Price: H875

Min age: 12

Rating 4.93 / 5 [30 ratings]

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Secret Food Tour With the Locals in Tin Hau Hong Kong w/ Private Tour Option

Hong Kong SAR

Secret Food Tour With the Locals in Tin Hau Hong Kong w/ Private Tour Option
Discover the hidden gems in Tin Hau Hong Kong with the locals and the traditional Chinese food modified in their werternised city. During the tour, our guide will take you to experience the local life with visits to temples, a traditional paper shop and local food market to stroll and discover the various kinds of foods which you may have never seen before.

Price: H1,130

Min age: 4

Rating 4.96 / 5 [199 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Private Kowloon Michelin Star Street Food & Culture Tour

Hong Kong SAR

Private Kowloon Michelin Star Street Food & Culture Tour
Take a 4-hour private walking night tour of Kowloon, affectionately known as the ‘Dark Side’ of Hong Kong, and see the city at its grittiest and most captivating. When the sun sets and the humidity starts to ebb, Hong Kong really comes alive. Enjoy a Michelin rated food tour of Sham Shui Po, trying Hong Kong's most loved street foods and comfort foods. Explore Mong Kok, the Goldfish Market, Ladies Market and Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront where you will watch the Hong Kong light show. Private night tours are just for you and your friends and family. No one else will be on the tour.

Price: H1,700

Min age: 0

Rating 5 / 5 [17 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Private Food Tour: Hong Kong Island

Hong Kong SAR

Private Food Tour: Hong Kong Island
This private food tour of Hong Kong with a private guide includes five foodie stops where you'll sample authentic Cantonese cuisine. Taste dim sum, wonton noodle soup, traditionally roasted meat, milk tea, and an egg tart, all eaten at local restaurants. Learn about the city's mix of British and Chinese heritage, from Guangzhou influences to Western favorites.

Price: H1,800

Min age: 0

Rating 5 / 5 [55 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Carved lion statue outside a temple

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