Last Updated At: 05-May-2025
Did you know that Hong Kong is popularly known as the “World’s Food Fair”? Not only that, it is also famous for the most popular dining spots, which one should enjoy as a tourist. The region boasts 15,000 restaurants, comprising the world’s highest number of restaurants globally. As a tourist, you can mostly enjoy Cantonese-based cuisines, which give you a touch of East-meets-West offerings.
When searching for Hong Kong's famous foods, several varieties of ingredients are found in the dishes such as duck eggs, Chinese cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, red beans, lotus seed, and Chinese sausage. The best food in Hong Kong is Pineapple Buns, Wontons, Roast Goose, Tofu Dessert, Dim Sum, and so on.
If you are interested in unrolling the list of famous HK foods, then what are you waiting for? Let’s read it out!
Food is one area that Hong Kong has a particularly strong affinity for. Given the many foods available in the city, it's no wonder people say you can "Eat Your Way to Happiness" here. Let’s get started and discover why Hong Kong is a paradise for gourmands and what delicious meals one can taste in the city!
Pineapple Buns
The pineapple bun is a famous food in Hong Kong and is very popular among many people. These are soft and fluffy buns with a sugary crumble topping that resembles the texture of a pineapple but does not contain any pineapple. When you take a bite, you get to taste the crispy caramelised sugar covering the bread and feel the soft and warm bread beneath it. For something more special, order the buttered pineapple bun, served with a slab of chilled butter on the side. The blend of hot and cold brings that mouth-watering feeling that is hard to resist.
You can easily find it at any bakery and cha chaan tengs are a must-try on any Hong Kong food tour.
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Zhu Cheung is very popular in Hong Kong and is considered part of the local food culture. These smooth and tender rolls are steamed and carry the fragrance of fresh rice. They can be consumed as street food or as part of the dim sum menu. When served, they are accompanied by a gravy made from seasoned soy sauce, sweet sauce, sesame sauce, and chilli sauce to make it spicy. You can add sesame seeds or order different versions with dried shrimp and spring onions for extra taste. It is important to note that these rice rolls are not sticky but rather smooth, which makes them a great dish. They are extremely easy to prepare and are very tasty, which makes them one of the best foods in Hong Kong.
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Dim sum is the part of Hong Kong's food culture that is very much associated with the place. This is a compilation of small tasty portions of food, which is meant to be served to many people, as is the tradition of the city’s dining. One of the most sought-after dim sum dishes is har gow, which is shrimp dumplings wrapped in translucent rice skin. Siu mai, which is pork and shrimp dumplings; cha siu bao, which is barbeque pork buns, and crispy fried roll. The term dim sum means ‘touch the heart,’ and this is well captured by the numerous varieties of tastes in the food. Whether a first-timer or a second-time visitor, you must take your time and do some dim sum at a tea house.
Hong Kong-style milk tea differs from other Asian-style milk teas because of its thick, creamy texture and flavour. This beverage is made with strong black tea and evaporated milk, which may be filtered through silk stockings to produce a smooth drink. For those who require that extra kick, there is the yin-yang, a mixture of milk tea and coffee. This East-meets-West beverage is ideal to kick-start your day. Due to such preparation and taste, it is widely accepted as one of Hong Kong's famous foods and a must-eat for every visitor.
Egg tarts are a beloved pastry in Hong Kong, with two main varieties: shortcrust and puff pastry. They are both tasty, but the people of Hong Kong have enjoyed the traditional shortcrust egg tart. The custard has a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture, while the crust is buttery and flaky, making the two components complement each other perfectly. These tarts are typically served, consumed hot, and usually accompanied by a steaming cup of milk tea. They are not to be confused with Portuguese egg tarts, as they are distinct. They are not overly sweet and not as thick as the original Singaporean ones, which makes them one of the best desserts in Hong Kong. It’s a good example of how the city has evolved and even localised foreign features to the best of its ability.
Tofu dessert, also known as tofu fa, is a creamy, custard-like dish suitable for vegan and vegetarian diets. This is a sort of pudding-like dessert with a subtle soy taste, and the texture is as smooth as the most excellent panna cotta. It is traditionally eaten with light syrup and garnished with tiny red sugar granules to give it a slightly sweet taste. It is best eaten warm during the cold seasons, especially in the winter, or cold during the hot summer. This dessert is popular among the people of Hong Kong and is highly recommended for those interested in local cuisine. The dish's simplicity and the mangoes' crisp taste make it rank high among the best desserts in HK.
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Wonton noodles are one of the most famous dishes in Hong Kong. They consist of thin, springy egg noodles served in a bowl of soup and topped with wontons. The wontons, usually containing shrimp and pork stuffing, are tender and full of savoury flavour. Served with yellow chives, this dish can be referred to as a combination of textures and tastes. Some restaurants have shrimp-only dumplings, but purists only accept Pork and Shrimp dumplings. The secret of having delicious wonton noodles is that you should eat them before they soften. This is one of the most popular meals in many local restaurants and is a must-try for every visitor who wants to taste Hong Kong’s food.
Siu mei means various kinds of Cantonese roasted meats, popular lunch dishes in Hong Kong. Some of the more common options are BBQ pork (cha siu), roast pork (siu yuk), suckling pig (yu zhu) and roast goose (siu ngo). The meats are also prepared in different marinades of spices and sauces and are roasted to their respective tenderness. The most preferred is BBQ pork with a combination of sweet and savoury sauce and the crispy roast pork with crackling skin. These meats are often eaten over rice with some vegetables, so one can prepare a quick meal from them. Siu mei is one of the delicacies that one has to taste to get the best food in Hong Kong.
Egg puffs, egg waffles, or gai daan jai, are famous street food in Hong Kong, and they are made of eggs, flour, and sugar. These sweet dough delicacies contain eggs fried in a waffle maker, giving them a golden honeycomb pattern on the outside but a tender inside. You can find vendors that experiment with tastes and create new options such as matcha, chocolate chip or those that are served with ice cream. However, the traditional egg puffs, which are less rich in egg flavour, are still popular among the residents. It is a snack best enjoyed in groups and a must-have on any food trip.
Curry fish balls are one of the most popular foods from street vendors in Hong Kong. These fish paste balls are deep-fried, presented on sticks, and then drowned in a curry-flavoured soup. Every stall has its special blend of spices used in preparing curries, making each stall a different experience. The fish balls are soft and tender, and the taste is mouth-watering when consumed with the curry sauce. They are ideal to take when walking around the town and feeling a bit hungry. Fish balls are among the most popular food items in the ‘best foods in HK’ list and a must-have for any tourist interested in the local cuisine.
Beef brisket noodles is again a type of meal that is quite filling and can make any person feel full. Slices of beef brisket are soft and melt in the mouth, it is served with springy egg noodles and in a bowl of hot, tasty beef broth. Some versions include e-fu noodles which are noodles that have a chewy texture. A sprinkle of freshly chopped spring onions is usually added to the dish to impart a fresh taste. Some places serve a curried version for those who prefer the taste to be more intense. This meal is one of the best examples of the richness of Hong Kong cuisine and it is a must for every visitor to the city.
Due to its geographical location, Hong Kong can always afford fresh seafood as it is close to the sea. Some recommended dishes are steamed grouper, as the fish is soft and has a ‘QQ’ texture, served with a pile of spring onions. Another favourite is the stir-fried mud crabs with ginger and spring onion, which has a strong and full-flavoured charcoal wok hei fragrance. Seafood lovers will appreciate these meals, which are some of the tastiest foods in Hong Kong due to their freshness.
Hong Kong-style French toast is a popular local item that amazes tourists. This version entails the preparation of a sandwich of two bread slices and peanut butter in between, which is then fried in an egg before frying. This is normally accompanied by a generous portion of butter and a spoonful of the thick, treacle-like golden syrup. It creates a very tasty, greasy treat, which is quite often tempting even if it is not very good for your health. This dish is a testimony to how Hong Kong has bastardised a universal Western dish that everyone should try to taste upon visiting HK.