11 Chef-Approved Hong Kong Restaurants You Don't Want to Miss

From family-run, hole-in-the-wall joints to chef-driven, Michelin-starred restaurants, Hong Kong’s thriving food scene is not to be missed. Matt Abergel, the restaurateur and chef behind popular izakaya-style eatery Yardbird, shares his top picks for dining out in Hong Kong.

HONG KONG – When I moved to Hong Kong nine years ago, I quickly felt at home. My sense of familiarity with the city comes from many things: the time I've spent in various Chinatowns throughout my life; the Hong Kong work ethic, which makes me feel like less of a workaholic; and the general sense of community that we've been able to create through our restaurants Yardbird and RŌNIN. When I’m not working, these are my favorite spots to eat and drink in the city.

Belon
41 Elgin St., Central; +852-2152-2872
Chef Daniel Calvert’s cooking is the most precise and focused in the city. Fuck the “stars.” This is the spot if you are in the mood for refined French food.

Celebrity Cuisine
1/F Lan Kwai Fong Hotel, No. 3 Kau U Fong, Central; +852-3650-0066
Always delicious, spot-on Cantonese cooking. Whether you go for dim sum or dinner, order the classics, like crispy paper skinned chicken, fried rice, and the best sweet and sour pork in Hong Kong.

Yardbird
154-158 Wing Lok St., Sheung Wan; +852-2547-9273
The modern yakitori eatery and bar was my first restaurant in Hong Kong, and it’s where I spend most of my time. We recently moved into a new location on Wing Lok Street, which means more seats, more specials, and a new charcoal grill designed specifically for vegetables.

Ho Lee Fook
1-5 Elgin St., Central; +852-2810-0860
A restaurant that really expresses what a contemporary chef can do with the vast Chinese cuisine canon. Always a good time and always delicious.

A meal at Belon Hong Kong — Bon appetite. French cuisine at Belon. Photo courtesy of Belon.

Yardbird Kitchen Hong Kong — Yardbird's team at work in their new restaurant space. Photo courtesy of Yardbird.

Le Garçon Saigon
12 Wing Fung St., Wan Chai; +852-2455-2499
Chef Bao La always kills it with his version of Vietnamese grill cuisine. Go with a group and try everything on the menu. Recently, he opened Le Petit Saigon, the best banh mi shop in Hong Kong by a mile, right next door.

Ole Spanish Restaurant
1/F Shun Ho Tower, 24-30 Ice House St., Central; +852-2537-8856
A classic Spanish restaurant with some of the best service in town.

Sake Central
S109-S113, Block A, PMQ, Central; +852-2656-6552
My brother from another mother, Elliot Faber, has managed to focus his intense love and passion for sake into this one-of-a kind space. Come for the knowledge and stay for a taste of chef Loki Lok’s take on otsumami (Japanese snacks).

Sun Hing Restaurant
Shop C, G/F, 8 Smithfield Rd., Kennedy Town; +852-2816-0616
Handmade dim sum that opens at 2:30 a.m. It’s the best place to go after a long night of work and play.

Inside Sake Central Hong Kong — Sake lovers rejoice at Sake Central. Photo courtesy of Sake Central.

Chino restaurant Hong Kong — An unlikely duo at Chino, where Japanese food meets Mexican cuisine. Photo courtesy of Chino.

Chino
1B New Praya, Kennedy Town; +852-2606-0588
My longtime friend and a very talented chef, Erik Idos, puts out his take on Mexican food with a Japanese twist.

The Chairman
G/F, No. 18 Kau U Fong, Central; +852-2555-2202
Pure-hearted Cantonese cooking with the best quality ingredients available.

The Old Man
Lower G/F, 37-39 Aberdeen St., Central; +852-2703-1899
A small craft-based cocktail bar that won’t break the bank, run by a group of big-hearted industry veterans.

Keep Exploring Hong Kong

The Indie Side of Hong Kong Island
How to Spend a Layover in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Streets Are Made for Walking