Local Hong Kong Foods You Must Try

Hong Kong is a true gastronomic paradise. From inexpensive restaurants and street food to Michelin starred restaurants. But what makes Hong Kong’s food scene genuinely unique is its local dishes. Whether it’s traditional Cantonese dim sum or drinks influenced by British culture, these restaurants and cafes capture the eastern and western city’s heritage in the most authentic and delicious ways.

Dim Sum

No HK experience is perfect without a dim sum meal. Traditionally served in bamboo pots, these small plates are meant to be shared, allowing you to taste a bit of everything.

The usual orders include steamed Siu Mai (pork dumplings), har gow (shrimp dumplings), and char siu bao (soft grilled pork rolls). There are plenty of dim sum restaurants that offer delicious interpretations of these classic dishes.

Try one of the best places in town, Tim Ho Wan, the Michelin-starred restaurant, known for being delicious and fresh and not to mention — affordable.

Snake Soup

If you’ve never eaten snakes before, you should try them when you get to Hong Kong. Snake soup is a popular treat in Hong Kong due to its (supposed) medicinal benefits and high nutritional value. The history of this dish dates back to over 2000 years.

Any doubts? Don’t worry; you won’t see anything like a snake, and it tastes like chicken and mushroom soup. She Wong Lam (“Snake King Lam”) in Sheung Wan is recommended for snake soup.

Grilled Meats

From glazed pork grains with melted honey and crispy pork to fatty pork belly and juicy geese or ducks, nothing beats good grilled meat — also known as ‘sui mei.’

Joy Hing from Wan Chai has a substantial selection of roast meats, and pork is wildly popular because of the perfect meat-to-fat ratio. Head to West Villa Restaurant for the famous char siu rice dish.

Egg Tarts

Egg tarts are a sweet staple in Hong Kong. The cream comes in a golden crust that can either be a pastry or crumbly puff pastry. There’s an intense debate over which type of crust is best, but it would be good to eat these fresh and hot pies straight from the oven anyway.

Visit local bakeries, such as Door Door Bakery or Hoover Cake Shop, for the best egg tarts.

Wonton Noodles

Wonton noodles can be found in several other parts of the world. Still, in our opinion, the Hong Kong variety is the best. This dish features thin, insulated egg noodles in a soup topped with delicious shrimp-stuffed wonton balls in a flexible wrap.

Some restaurants may add a little pork to the wontons. Topped with garlic and chives, these kind of noodles are the food that makes Hong Kong people feel good. Try a bowl at Mak Man Kee.

Egg Sandwich

The humble scrambled egg sandwich holds a special place in the hearts of Hong Kong people. With a creamy, soft centre between two slices of white bread and butter.

It’s simple, yes, and incredibly satisfying — both for breakfast and for a snack. Everyone loves eggs at the Australian Dairy Company, but we recommend you try Luen Fat’s Three Egg Rolls.

Fish Balls

Fish balls are a typical Hong Kong snack made from fish meat and divided into two varieties. It is one of the famous dishes cooked and sold by street vendors. Its history dates back to the 1950s. These balls are made from fried fish meat. Food stalls usually sell them with hot or sweet sauces.

The other type is sold raw and is usually served as the main ingredient in a pot or cooked with pasta in a hot soup. The price is a bit higher and tastes different from the first type. This information is available in traditional markets and supermarkets.

Beef Brisket Noodles

Beef brisket noodles, known as ngau lam mein or niunanmian in Mandarin, are a typical Hong Kong dish. As the name suggests, the main ingredient is beef brisket (belly meat), fried or cooked and served with wheat spaghetti. Many restaurants in Hong Kong serve this dish, the most famous being Kau Kee.

What else do Hong Kongers Eat?

At least 98% of Hong Kong residents are Chinese, Cantonese, Teochew, Hakka, or Shanghai. Many enjoy a traditional breakfast that includes congee (rice porridge) and yau cha kwai (oil-fried breadsticks). However, Western breakfast, which includes bread, sausage, pancakes, and eggs, is increasingly popular.

For lunch and dinner, most people serve Chinese food with rice at home. Some of the most common ingredients used in Cantonese cuisine include shiitake mushrooms, Chinese cabbage, salted duck eggs, kai-lan, kidney beans, dried shrimp, hoisin sauce, dried shells, jujube, and lotus seeds.

Of course, dim sum (rich snacks for meals, usually served with tea) is also very popular.

With such a variety of dishes, Hong Kong has indeed become a foodie’s paradise. Try these foods, you won’t regret it!