Hong Kong has drawn chefs and restaurateurs from all over the world for decades. The city’s rich culinary landscape, with authentic Chinese cuisine and global influences, means you can find both rustic local noodle joints and world-class fine dining in nearly every precinct. From astonishingly affordable Michelin-star meals to lively dai pai dongs here are our favourite, Michelin tipped, dining experiences you can only have in magical Hong Kong. This article was made in partnership with the Hong Kong Tourism Board
Michelin is one of most respected restaurant guides in the world, with dining establishments constantly clamouring to receive an award. In 2022 Hong Kong saw nine new one-star additions announced including the “neo-Parisian” Belon, Rosewood hotel’s Chaat for its refined modern Indian cuisine and Hansik Goo for bold interpretations of Korean cuisine. Michelin quantifies one star as being, “high-quality cooking, worth a stop”.
While the menu yields a scant few options – noodles, noodles with pork knuckle, fish balls, and fish balls with noodles – it’s for these dishes that Cheung Fat earned its Michelin recommendation and these dishes people travel for. Where: G/F, 14 Yiu Tung St, Sham Shui Po
Don’t let the humble decor fool you, the handmade-daily dumplings at Ah Chun Shandong use only the freshest ingredients in their exquisite, fluffy fillings. Do not leave Hong Kong without trying their diced chicken with sichuan chilli oil. Where: 60 Lai Chi Kok Rd, Lai Chi Kok
Often regarded as having the best roast goose in Hong Kong, Yat Lok serves their roast goose with a glorious marinade made with dark soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, star anise, cloves and a dozen other closely guarded ingredients. Where: 34-38 Stanley St, Central
When it comes to two Michelin stars, the guide awards them for, “excellent cooking, worth a detour”. The published rating is never decided based on just one visit or visitor. Instead, a collective of inspectors will individually visit restaurants on multiple occasions in order to ensure the quality is consistent, and the rating is then reassessed based on yearly visits.
This year Italian restaurant Octavium moved up from one star to two with their seasonal menu of fresh ingredients imported directly and mostly from Italy but also from France. The full ‘Octavium experience’ is a degustation menu of 6-8 courses and wine pairing service. Where: 8/f 22 Des Voeux Rd, Central
Bo Innovation is helmed by Chef Alvin Leung who likes to call himself “The Demon Chef”. Leung is known for using creative molecular gastronomy techniques to blend Chinese cooking with Western ingredients to come up with an artful style of cooking he calls “X-treme Chinese Cuisine.” Where: 1/F, 45 Pottinger St, Central
Famous for legacy dishes of gourmet dried seafood, abalone and high quality Guangdong cuisine. Operating since 1969 in various locations, it was the first non-hotel restaurant to earn a Michelin accolade. Where: Shop 401, L4, Food Loft, Mira Place, 132 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
Finally, the hard-won, prestigious three stars represent, “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.” While Michelin keeps a lot of their process a secret, it’s been reported that what elevates a restaurant from two stars to three is emotion. In practice this translates to, “completely unique dining experiences that last in the memory long after the meal has finished”.
Legendary T’ang Court has maintained an impressive three Michelin stars since 2016 – and has now opened an outpost here in Australia at The Langham Gold Coast. They deliver authentic Cantonese culinary masterpieces crafted with the finest ingredients, like stir fried fresh lobster garnished with three types of onion, baked oysters with port wine and golden-fried pork and crab meat puffs. Where: 1F and 2F, 8 Peking Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
Lung King Heen had the incredibly prestigious honour of being the world’s first Chinese restaurant to be awarded three Michelin stars. From table-side tea ceremonies to stunning views of Victoria Harbour, delicate dim sum to steamed seafood, Lung King Heen is very much a “special occasion” restaurant experience. Where: Four Seasons, 8 Finance St, Sheung Wan.
8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana was named after Federico Fellini’s cinema classic, by the restaurant’s iconic chef Umberto Bombana, and perfectly captures the spirit of the menu. The highest quality rustico ingredients are the staple of Bombana’s cooking, which is available here in a degustation lunch 8 ½ and dinner 8 ½. It’s easy to see how Otto e Mezzo became the first and only Italian restaurant outside Italy to receive three Michelin stars. Where: Shop 202, 2/F, Alexandra House, 16-20 Chater Rd, Central. For latest travel requirements for inbound travellers to Hong Kong, please head here. This gallery is brought to you by Hong Kong Tourism Board.
