With a staggering 63 Michelin-starred restaurants scattered across the city as of 2019, it’s no surprise that Hong Kong makes many a bucket list based on the food alone. It’s nearly impossible to point to the absolute best—because the variety of top-tier local and global cuisine is just as wide as the food is artfully crafted and unforgettably delicious. But we’ve done our best to pull out a handful of restaurants that you absolutely can’t miss on your next trip to Hong Kong. Pro tip: if a restaurant accepts reservations, be sure to plan ahead, as some of these spots are extremely popular with both locals and foreigners.
Below, a roundup of must-try Hong Kong restaurants.
For fresh baked goods: Bakehouse
Helmed by chef Grégoire Michaud’s, this Hong Kong-born bake shop features the freshest-of-the-fresh baked goods, baked daily on-site using flour produced in a Suire Mill in France. Note that the selection changes with the season—and the sour dough is known for being some of the best in the city.
For the best Michelin-starred fast food in the world: Tim Ho Wan
The second you get settled into your hotel (nay, the second you step of the plane) waste no time making your way to Tim Ho Wan, a little all-day dim sum joint with a massive global following—and a Michelin star. It’s not the easiest to find (it’s located on level one of the bustling Hong Kong Station), and the line can seem a bit daunting, but once there, it will move quickly, and the service is lightning-fast. Don’t miss the barbeque pork buns and plan for the meal to be relatively quick.
For a quick, hearty lunch: Little Birdy
A great spot for a quick lunch, Little Birdy features an “Aussie-roast” chicken-centric menu—you can get a whole chicken, sandwiches, salads, and more. The best part? All ingredients are feathered ingredients are hormone and cage-free.
For nuanced and healthy fusion cuisine: Amber
Coming off of a recent renovation, this modern Japanese and French fusion restaurant (with two Michelin stars) is located within the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property The Landmark, a boutique offshoot of Mandarin Oriental. The setting is just as enticing as the menu: Amber features a gleaming dining room with elegant, soft-lit table settings and sweeping views of the city below. Helmed by famed Dutch chef Richard Ekkebus, the menu boasts an impressively-executed emphasis on dishes free of dairy and refined sugar, crafted with natural ingredients often sourced from Japan. The best part? If you sit for the tasting menu, you’ll likely get to go behind the scenes and into the kitchen for some up-close dining.
For fancy and French: Caprice
Situated in Hong Kong’s beautiful Four Seasons, another American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, Caprice—boasting three Michelin stars—brings diners not only a globally-inspired French menu, but also an opulent setting in which to dine. You’ll swoon over the leather-backed chairs, crisp white table cloths, and menu classics like laska with king crab, confit egg and sudachi lime.
For upbeat, Yardbird
Go for the chicken, stay for the cocktails. This Japanese-style yakitori restaurant is quite the scene (like, line-out-the-door kind of scene), and has been named one of Asia’s 50 best restaurants in recent years. Canadian chef Matt Abergel uses all parts of the chicken for his small-plate grilled skewers that are full of flavor and perfect for sharing.
For traditional Cantonese at a Michelin-star restaurant: Man-Wah
It won’t come as a surprise that the original Mandarin Oriental, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, outpost in Hong Kong is home to one of the city’s finest Michelin-starred Cantonese kitchens. And a trip to Hong Kong simply isn’t complete without Cantonese. At Man-Wah on the hotel’s 25th floor, guests will eat in an upscale dining room, often referred to as one of the most beautiful spaces in the city, complete with meticulous, traditional interior decor (think silk paintings and golden hanging light fixtures). Dinner is served next to panoramic views of Victoria Harbor and the Hong Kong skyline. Don’t miss the deep-fried sea urchin pudding or the Pan-fried wagyu with matsutake mushroom.
