If you’re wondering where to eat in Hong Kong, start by understanding how Cantonese culture heavily influences the city, being part of Guangdong province—think fresh ingredients, balanced flavors, and a strong focus on texture. Also, Hong Kong used to be a British colony for over 150 years, which is why the food scene there is a mix of Chinese and Western influences.
In Hong Kong, food is a lifestyle and we had to experience it for ourselves! Two of my friends are foodies, so finding the best places to eat in Hong Kong was definitely part of our quick 42-hour escape, lol.
Bakehouse
Bakehouse is one of Hong Kong’s most popular bakeries. No wonder most of the people I saw in Hong Kong airport, including ourselves, have the blue Bakehouse paper bag takeaway. I mean, you should let your loved ones taste this, too!
The signature pastry of Bakehouse is their sourdough egg tart. It is a classic Hong Kong egg tart but with a sourdough crust. I like that it is not that sweet and it’s quite creamy but not overwhelming.
Be prepare to line up for a long queue. Due to its success, Bakehouse has opened more branches in SoHo, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Causeway Bay.
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Dim Dim Sum, Mong Kok
Dim Dim Sum offers restaurant-quality dim sum without the luxury price tag. It is a well-known local dim sum spot in Hong Kong and the Mong Kok branch is the original and most popular one, drawing both local and tourist to try their food.
Food
We absolutely loved the food—especially the eggplant one. Here are the dishes we ordered:
- Seafood Stuffed Eggplant with Spicy Sichuan Sauce (3 pcs – HKD 34)
- Shrimp and Pork Dumplings with Flying Fish Roe (Shu Mai, 4 pcs – HKD 36)
- Shanghai Soup Dumplings with Crab Meat & Flying Fish Roe (Xiao Long Bao, 3 pcs – HKD 34)
- Rice Flour Rolls with BBQ Pork & Zucchini (3 rolls – HKD 30)
- Piggy Custard Buns (3 pcs – HKD 27)
- Deep-Fried Shrimp Wontons with Sweet and Sour Sauce (3 pcs – HKD 25)
The seafood eggplant had just the right amount of spice! The shu mai and xiao long bao were also divine—flavorful, juicy, and incredibly satisfying. I wasn’t a big fan of the rice flour rolls, to be honest, but they did help balance out the richness of everything else.
Don’t miss the deep-fried wontons, they’re perfectly crispy and a great contrast to all the steamed dishes. And the custard buns? Not only were they delicious, but they were also almost too cute to eat!
Feel free to copy our order—my friends actually looked up their bestsellers before going, so you’re in good hands!
Dining Experience
Be careful when ordering, as everything is done through a QR code system. What happened to us was that our order got doubled. We placed our initial order, but then we decided to change one item and hit the back button. To our surprise, the previous orders seemed to disappear, so we re-entered everything and submitted it again.
When they started serving one of the dishes, we were shocked when the staff told us we had ordered two. It turns out our first order still went through—even though it looked like it didn’t. We asked if we could cancel the items but they said it wasn’t possible.
So… we ended up eating all of it. 😅
Vission Bakery
Vission Bakery is a trendy artisan bakery located in Prince Edward, Hong Kong, known for its sleek minimalist aesthetic and creative baked goods that blend Japanese, French, and Hong Kong influences. It’s especially popular among young locals—and when we got there, the line was already long.
They’re best known for their croissants and kouign-amann. As for what we ordered—it was delicious at first, but for me, the flavors became a bit overwhelming. It’s not the kind of bread you can finish in one sitting.
Bar Leone
Bar Leone is a neo-Italian cocktail bar located in the heart of Central, Hong Kong. It was opened in 2022 by Lorenzo Antinori, a celebrated bartender formerly behind some of Asia’s top hotel bars. Bar Leone achieved remarkable recognition in 2024 by securing the No. 1 spot on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. This accomplishment is particularly notable as it marked the first time a bar debuted at the top position in the history of the awards.
Drinks
The cocktails are known for its cleverly crafted drinks with Italian soul.
I ordered the Margarita de Maiz—and not to brag, but among all the cocktails we tried, mine was the most delicious (according to everyone else, too!). Taste is subjective, of course, but all three of us agreed that my drink stood out.
The next one we liked was the Olive Oil Sour, which had a nice, balanced flavor. My other friend went for the Sister Donelli.
Dining Experience
We arrived at Bar Leone around 4:30–4:45 PM on a Sunday. We were the first ones in line, and I honestly thought it was a bit insane—like, why are we even this early and its freezing outside, too. It felt kind of silly, lol. But by 5 PM, the line started to build up. A few other guests, personally known by Lorenzo, arrived before us—but we were next in line. Yey!
And the best part? Lorenzo Antinori himself served our cocktails! Before we left, we even took the chance to snap a photo with him. Yeah… some friends we are, haha. 😄 The whole experience was truly unforgettable.
Mon Kee Cafe Hong Kong
If you’d like to experience a cha chaan teng —which literally means “tea restaurant” in Cantonese—Mon Kee Café offers a modern take on this classic Hong Kong dining tradition. A cha chaan teng is a casual, affordable diner that serves a unique blend of Chinese and Western comfort food, reflecting Hong Kong’s colonial past where British influences merged with Cantonese flavors.
Food
We ordered Mon Kee’s specialty sandwich—a unique combination of scrambled eggs, peanut butter, lettuce, and luncheon meat—for HKD 42.
We also had the Instant Noodles with Satay Beef in Chicken Soup (HKD 45), which came with a side of buttered toast and scrambled eggs.
Another item we tried was from their French Round Bread series, topped with peanut butter and condensed milk (HKD 36).
Everything we ordered felt completely new to me—flavors and combinations I’ve never had before. It was definitely unusual, but in the best way. If I ever return to Hong Kong, this is something I’d absolutely want to try again.
On the Hill Coffee Bar
On The Hill is renowned for its exclusive use of fruity coffee beans, offering a refreshing alternative to traditional nutty profiles. The branch we visited is the one at Tai Kwun. The Tai Kwun branch stands out for its unique setting within a former prison block, preserving original features like whitewashed walls and iron-barred doors.
I mean, look at us, lol.
Verdict
Hong Kong really is a paradise for food lovers. From the nostalgic comfort of cha chaan teng staples at Mon Kee Café, to the refined cocktails of Bar Leone, and the flavorful dim sum feast at Dim Dim Sum Mong Kok, every meal was something to remember. Add to that the creative pastries from Bakehouse and Vission, and the aesthetic-meets-flavor combo at On The Hill Coffee Bar—it’s safe to say we didn’t waste a single bite.
That said, cramming all of this into roughly 42 hours? Whew. It was delicious, yes—but also incredibly energy-draining. Hong Kong’s food scene deserves to be savored slowly, not rushed through like a checklist.
Next time, we’ll stretch the trip out—but we’d still eat everything all over again. Just… maybe with more naps in between. 😅🍜✨
