ExploFood · Asia
What to eat in Hong Kong
Five dishes to try in Hong Kong, the most typical first. Two are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Hong Kong
Dim sum 點心
Small plates of dumplings, buns and rolls served with tea.
How to have it: Go for yum cha in the morning; order har gow and siu mai, and tap the table to thank for tea.
Wonton noodles 雲吞麵
Thin egg noodles and shrimp wontons in a light broth.
How to have it: A cheap meal at noodle shops; the small bowls are traditional, so order two if hungry.
Char siu 叉燒
Cantonese barbecued pork with a sweet, sticky glaze.
How to have it: Order it over rice at a siu mei shop, or with roast goose for a two-meat combo.
Egg tart 蛋撻
Custard tart in shortcrust or flaky pastry.
How to have it: Buy them warm from a bakery or cha chaan teng, ideally straight from the oven.
Milk tea 港式奶茶
Strong black tea strained through cloth and mixed with evaporated milk.
How to have it: Order it at a cha chaan teng with a pineapple bun; ask for 'dung' if you want it iced.
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Questions
What food is Hong Kong famous for?
Dim sum (small plates of dumplings, buns and rolls served with tea) comes first on our list, followed by Wonton noodles, Char siu, Egg tart and Milk tea.
What is the national dish of Hong Kong?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Hong Kong is Dim sum: small plates of dumplings, buns and rolls served with tea. Go for yum cha in the morning; order har gow and siu mai, and tap the table to thank for tea.
Which dishes in Hong Kong are vegetarian?
Two of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Egg tart and Milk tea. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What do people drink in Hong Kong?
Milk tea: strong black tea strained through cloth and mixed with evaporated milk.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.