🇭🇰 Hkg Food Crawl: non-cafe edit
Hong Kong remains my familiar, nearby playground where I spent most of my growing years. And their food scene? It’s still as vibrant as ever for anyone willing to venture beyond the tourist traps.
Of course, there are always those personal favorites I’ll revisit time and again. Here’s my 💌 to all the food spots I hit up this trip - the new discoveries and old faithfuls that reminded me why this city owns my heart (and stomach).
🦸🏻 The Unexpected Heroes
📍SOUTH LANE (Quarry Bay) caught me completely off guard. Located inside a co-working space, I was genuinely shocked to see the queue snaking around at noon and watch the second floor transform from quiet workspace to chaotic lunch battlefield. Their concept is refreshingly simple: order items individually or customize your own bowl for HKD108.
This bowl became hands down one of the best healthy meals I’ve had to date. For HKD108, I loaded up with 1 base, 2 hot veggies, 1 hot protein, 1 salad, 1 spread, 1 topping and 1 dressing - all at net price. The portions were ridiculously generous, they threw in infused water on the side, and the taste was absolutely stellar. It completely knocked The Daily Cut off my healthy eats throne.
📍Pici Central remains my reliable Italian go-to with their value-packed 3-course lunch sets (HKD158++). The Central outlet still hits different - friendly staff, decent portions, familiar flavors. Though I’ll be honest, something felt off this time around. Maybe it’s the summer heat, but the flavors weren’t quite hitting like they used to. Still, when you want something predictable and reasonably priced, this spot delivers.
🥩 The Meat Situation
Chukfo Taipan Restaurant in Wan Chai has blown up recently, which means everything sells out fast. I rolled up at 4pm for takeaway and their suckling pig was already gone. Props to the staff for offering a replacement at a lower price - classy move. The crispy pork belly was the clear winner here. Skip the roasted goose and Chinese sausage, but the pork belly? Chef’s kiss.
📍La Vache! Pacific Place had me curious after walking past their consistently packed dining room multiple times. Turns out it’s Hong Kong’s answer to L’Entrecôte - fixed menu at HKD418 including bread, salad, 300g steak and endless fries.
The portions here are absolutely bonkers. The salad alone filled me 60% before the massive steak even arrived. When the fries showed up, I literally gasped. Steak was executed well, though the fries were hit-or-miss depending on the batch - some were perfectly crispy, others were salt bombs that had me reaching for water. Just when I thought I was done, they rolled over the complimentary dessert trolley (courtesy of our hotel reservation). The raspberry millefeuille was enormous and surprisingly excellent. Not a casual dining spot unless money isn’t an object.
🌟 The Michelin Reality Check
📍Fook Lam Moon taught me that Michelin stars don’t guarantee great experiences. This one-star dining institution in Wan Chai attracts wealthy locals and the occasional gweilo, but the service calibration based on appearance and ethnicity was uncomfortable to witness. Food presentation was lackluster, flavors didn’t justify the star or the price tag. For what we paid, Spring Moon at The Peninsula would’ve been infinitely better.
The Comfort Food Chronicles
📍Thai Fat Restaurant in Kowloon City made me chuckle before I even stepped inside - the name sounds like fat-shaming until you realize it’s a literal Cantonese translation. This unassuming spot serves solid localized Thai food that had locals packing the place within 15 minutes of my 7pm arrival. Wallet-friendly prices, good for casual group hangs, though it gets loud fast.
📍sen-ryo (Fashion Walk) reminded me why their Hong Kong locations outshine Singapore. Better lunch variety, superior value, wider à la carte selection. The Fashion Walk outlet is my pick - tucked away from crowds, quieter even during peak hours. Must-orders: Hokkaido white corn tempura (mind-blowing) and fried burdock root chips. No reservations accepted, so timing is everything.
🤕 The Injury-Induced Meal
📍Joongang Haejang in Wan Chai will forever be remembered as the place I stumbled into with a bleeding finger after taking a spectacular fall down a slope. The staff were angels - offering alcohol wipes and bandages before I even ordered. Skip the bulgogi soup though; it’s a sugar-salt overload that’ll have you questioning your sodium intake.
🥰 The Pleasant Surprises
📍Sai Wah Tea Restaurant broke every cha chaan teng stereotype I know. Clean, calm service, reasonable prices, and staff who don’t yell at you for being indecisive. Tucked away from main streets but the signage is impossible to miss. The MSG-heavy beef hor fun hit all the right comfort food notes. Definitely returning to work through their menu.
📍Min Gaa in Causeway Bay was Uncle K’s Instagram recommendation that delivered hard. Known for supersized wontons packed with umami and flavorful broth. Four things that won me over: English menu availability, noodle-to-vegetable substitution for carb-counters, and their ridiculously fancy takeaway cutlery set (designed chopsticks and metal spoons - who does that?!). The flounder fish soup base was a flavor bomb, while their wontons stuffed with whole prawns and dried sakura ebi were absolute perfection. Skip the chicken soup unless you enjoy consuming a lot of sodium.
🍢The Street Food Pilgrimage
📍Hop Yik Tai in Sham Shui Po operates exactly how street food should - queue up, order your cheong fun portions, pay, eat standing up. The cheong fun was silky smooth and pillowy, drenched in the holy trinity of soy, peanut, and sweet sauces. Sanitation might be questionable, so weak stomachs should proceed with caution.
🌏 International Interventions
📍CATCH. Quarry Bay reminded me why Australian café culture conquered the world. Initially seated behind rowdy, half-drunk Hongkongers (my ears were ringing), but management smoothly relocated us before mains arrived. The dinner sets came with starter, main, and dessert - all in full portions that had us exploding by the time mains hit the table. The crab fries were dangerously addictive with fresh, sweet crab meat. Crab pasta and fish & chips were equally stellar. Had to pack dessert because human capacity has limits.
🛫 The Tourist Traps (Some Worth It)
📍One Dim Sum in Prince Edward earned its Michelin Bib Gourmand but comes with tourist pricing and mixed execution. No reservations, cash only, English menu available. Their steamed shrimp and vegetable dumplings were standouts, but avoid the fried items unless you enjoy grease with your tea.
📍Mammy Pancake draws hour-long queues at Central Market, but their scattered outlets taste identical. Earl Grey chocolate version is my pick, though portions are generous enough for sharing.
🇨🇳 Mainland Invasion
Tai Er proved that their Hong Kong locations demolish Singapore’s versions in both portion size and flavor execution. Made the rookie mistake of arriving at 7pm to find lengthy queues and full dining rooms. Different menu items and portion sizes compared to Singapore, but the signature suan cai fish hits different here.
🍬 Sweet Endings
📍Tei Mou Kee in Kowloon City provided perfect post-park refreshment with desserts that weren’t cloyingly sweet. Their mango douhua was exceptional, though pricier than Jordan’s 佳佳. Cash or Octopus only.
🛃 The Airport Situation
📍Duddells at HKIA offered Michelin-starred dim sum convenience before departure, though nothing compared to their Central flagship (which was under renovation). Skip the soup, embrace the convenience.
📍SKL (SilverKris Lounge) at HKIA reminded me why status doesn’t guarantee quality - overcrowded with limited food options. Only redeeming feature: their douhua.
🤔 Reality Check
Not every meal was a winner.
Chee Kei at Lucky Star proved that some childhood favorites don’t age well - tiny portions, inflated prices, and flavors that don’t justify the nostalgia tax.
Cheung Hing Kee Shanghai Buns didn’t live up to their Michelin Bib reputation either; maybe the TST location hits different.
Hong Kong’s food scene continues evolving while honoring its roots. Some meals transcend expectations, others serve as expensive lessons, but every bite contributes to the city’s ongoing culinary narrative. The hunt for the next great meal never ends - and honestly, that’s exactly how I like it.
P.s: If you’re looking for more …
👉🏼 Read my 2025 summertime coffee post here
#lemon8travels #hongkong #foodreview #lemon8recommendations #MyPOV
If you’re planning a food adventure in Hong Kong, timing and location can truly enhance your experience. For example, many popular places like Chukfo Taipan and One Dim Sum fill up quickly, so it’s best to go early or during off-peak hours to avoid disappointment. Also, don’t hesitate to explore lesser-known neighborhoods like Sham Shui Po or Kowloon City where authentic street food and local favorites abound. Hong Kong’s breakfast options deserve special mention. Aside from the usual tea restaurants, spots like Sai Wah Tea Restaurant offer a nostalgic yet fresh take on cha chaan teng classics with a friendly atmosphere that makes decision-making easier. For those seeking hearty, comforting meals, places like Joongang Haejang offer attentive service that can surprise you even in unexpected moments. When it comes to dining on the go, street food places such as Hop Yik Tai provide the quintessential Hong Kong experience with their traditional cheong fun and other quick bites. However, always be mindful of hygiene especially if you have a sensitive stomach. For a treat, visit CATCH in Quarry Bay to taste Australian-style dishes with generous portions, perfect for sharing. And if you’re curious about how Michelin-starred restaurants compare, Fook Lam Moon offers a reality check—sometimes the hype doesn’t match the experience. Airport dining options like Duddells at HKIA can be convenient, but they often fall short of their city counterparts, so consider grabbing a comforting mango douhua dessert at Tei Mou Kee in Kowloon City before you leave. Finally, keep an eye out for unique local touches like Min Gaa’s fancy takeaway cutlery or Mammy Pancake’s Earl Grey chocolate flavor—small surprises that add delight to your Hong Kong food journey.
