31 Best Restaurants in Hong Kong, China

Hidden behind a signless gray door, Ronin is an ultraslick izakaya-style restaurant that serves some of the most creative seafood dishes in town. The menu is market driven and always features a selection of fresh sashimi. Most dishes are designed to share. Be sure to try the deep-fried fish karaage, which is perfect for pairing with the bar’s extensive selection of Japanese whiskies, sake, or shochu. Word of warning: there are only 14 seats at the bar, and reservations are only accepted via email. You could also head down a few blocks and check out Ronin’s sister restaurant, Yardbird, which serves delicious yakitori (grilled chicken) to an eager, walk-in crowd.

This stylish restaurant and bar serves the delicious flavors of the Mediterranean. Start with a round of warm pita bread and savory dips, such as the addictive taramasalata (smoked fish roe blended with lemon and garlic). Other must-try items include the succulent octopus, grilled halloumi cheese, and tender lamb ribs. Of course, you should also try the namesake souvla, which is a Greek-style spit-roasted meat.

Some of the homespun dishes at this restaurant require at least a day’s advance notice and can be pricey, but the extra fuss is worth it. Simpler (and cheaper) options are also available, such as pomelo skin sprinkled with shrimp roe or panfried flat rice noodles.

Enjoy a fun, communal dining experience at this buzzing tapas bar opened by celebrated chef Jason Atherton. Expect a creative and contemporary menu with to-share dishes from Ibérico pork and foie gras miniburgers to toasted bread filled with ham, truffles, and melty manchego cheese. Be sure to arrive early, since the restaurant only seats 38 people around the open kitchen and by the windows. Fortunately, you can always take advantage of the fantastic sherries and sangrias while you wait for a seat outside.

You may be familiar with mainstream Japanese sushi and sashimi, but Okinawan cooking is something completely different. Dishes from the Ryukyu Islands carry Chinese and American influences, and you’ll find plenty of chanpuru (stir-fry) dishes, as well as obscure delicacies like salt and cookie ice cream. The islands are also credited for their bountiful fresh produce; be sure to try the umi budo “green caviar” sea kelp and the bitter gourd melon. Carnivores, don't fret—Okinawa’s Motobu Wagyu beef and Aguu pork are delicious, well-marbled versions that work well in everything from grills to shabu shabu.

Set in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, this convenient, family-friendly restaurant promises views of Victoria Harbour, an outdoor terrace, and a stylish cocktail bar. Though the menu is eclectic enough to keep everyone happy, most people come for the views.

This is, without a doubt, one of the finest Spanish restaurants in the city. The experience begins with the space itself, which combines Spain’s classical nuances with the contemporary vibe of a cosmopolitan city. There are two main dining rooms where you can enjoy the Catalan-inspired recipes. Highlights from the tapas menu include the bombas (deep-fried pork and beef meatballs covered in potato purée and bread crumbs) and the famous ham, cheese, and truffle “bikini” sandwiches. Another must-try is the Segovian-style roasted suckling pig, which is large enough to feed four. Catalunya also offers exceptional weekend brunches with free-flowing sparkling wine. Book early if you want to join the fun.

The Mandarin Oriental’s Clipper Lounge has long been lauded for serving one of the best afternoon teas in town. Sandwiches and miniature cakes cascade down a multitier stand, and classic scones are served with clotted cream and the restaurant’s famed rose-petal jam. The restaurant also offers sumptuous buffet and à la carte options throughout the day.

The first thing you’ll notice here is the most Disney-ish touch: a computer-animated koi pond, where electronic fish dart out of the way as you walk by. Once inside the crystal-studded space, your focus will turn to the food: the pan-Chinese menu includes favorites like Sichuan dan dan noodles, honey-glazed barbecued pork, and double-boiled pear topped with mandarin peel. Kids will get a kick out of the “character dim sum,” which includes pork and vegetable buns shaped like Toy Story’s little green men, and seafood pancakes bearing the likeness of Mickey Mouse. Make sure to order these in advance. If you wind up in Disneyland, this is by far the best way to dine (unless the kids demand a character meal at the Enchanted Garden in the hotel’s lower level).

One of the best in the city, this Cantonese restaurant is known for its traditional menu embellished with nouvelle liberties. The restaurant is also loved for its elegant harborside location, which has recently been refurbished into an even sleeker space. In this gorgeous setting, enjoy signature dishes such as sautéed crystal king prawns and fried rice with minced beef and greens.

This ultracool wine bar and restaurant serves small plates for casual snacking and mixed platters ideal for sharing. Not surprisingly, it’s popular with the drinks-after-work crowd. But don’t underestimate the food: the tuna tartare with avocado, for starters, is delicious. You can also enjoy cheese and charcuterie for snacking purposes or create your own tapas platter. Gorgonzola and black-truffle penne or lobster linguine with fresh tomatoes are among the best mains. DiVino also stays open for revelry late into the evening.

Located along a stretch of semi-alfresco eateries known as Brim 28 (named after its waterside location on 28 Harbour Road), DiVino Patio touts rustic, homestyle Italian fare to match its laid-back surroundings. The expansive space is designed like a retro grocery store, and you can purchase gourmet condiments, salumi, and cheeses to enjoy on the go. For eat-in orders, try any of the hand-tossed pizzas, or go for one of the succulent selections from the rotisserie. The spit-roasted Vallespluga game hen is exceptional, with tender meat and crispy skin. The restaurant also has an excellent lunchtime antipasti buffet matched with a rotating choice of mains.

This buzzing Chinese restaurant specializes in Beijing and Huaiyang cuisine and draws a following for its upscale atmosphere and its stellar appetizers (try the smoked eggs and crispy eel), hand-cut noodles, traditional Peking duck, and award-winning combo dishes such as wok-fried crabmeat, rock lobster, and salted egg yolk served on rice crackers.

The name stands for Finland, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, and these Nordic countries are from where the restaurant draws its inspiration. Finnish chef Jaakko Sorsa explores the flavors of his home country with dishes such as house-smoked salmon and wild game pâté served with rowanberry jelly. The menu expands from there to cover other parts of Scandinavia; be sure to try the Danish smørrebrød open-faced sandwiches and the Daim parfait—a crunchy, sticky, layered dessert based on a popular Swedish chocolate bar. Another reason to love FINDS? The restaurant is a firm supporter of eco-conscious eating, and you'll find seafood specials on the menu that have been sustainably sourced.

The Hong Kong outpost of Shanghai’s popular restaurant is showy, with a snow-white interior decked out with designer chairs and fiberglass animal figurines. On the food side of things, authentic tapas share menu space with creatively contemporary Spanish dishes. Ibérico ham served with tomato bread, sautéed prawns with garlic, and chilled tomato gazpacho represent the classics, and they’re certainly well executed, but the modern dishes offer much more excitement. Scallop ceviche, for instance, is laid on a bed of creamy avocados and topped with crispy shallots, while braised beef cheek is served with bananas and passion fruit. The paellas are also worth trying, whether steeped in the flavors of Boston lobster or bathed in jet-black squid ink.

This culinary gem does modern-fusion cuisine without any pretentious gimmicks. The food is well thought out and expertly executed in a constantly changing, market-driven menu. Reasonably priced set lunch and dinner menus are available, but the tasting menu (six or eight courses) is the way to go. Sunday brunch here is legendary, and requires booking several weeks ahead. The food is paired with friendly and attentive service.

Come here for a refined, modern rendition of classic Korean cuisine. Barbecued meats are a must, and we especially recommend the sam gyup sal (thick slabs of pork belly). Moving away from the conventional dishes, Han Ga Ram also offers a few newfangled creations such as bulgogi beef and spicy pork sliders, which are available on the lunch menu. Traditionalists may want to wash down their meal with soju (a distilled rice liquor), but the staff is also happy to suggest wine pairings to go with each dish.

Located within the International Finance Center, Isola’s floor-to-ceiling windows and harborside terrace afford spectacular views of Hong Kong’s famous skyline. The restaurant serves regional Italian fare, with selections like hand-twisted pasta with Parma ham, black truffle, fava beans, and Norcia cheese, or sea bass baked in sea-salt crust. Don't pass up the simple and well-executed stone-baked pizzas. Isola is also as much of a nighttime destination as anything else, and it’s worth coming just to sample cocktails in the equally trendy Isobar upstairs.

One of the oldest restaurants in Hong Kong, Jimmy’s Kitchen opened in 1928 and continues to serve comfort food from around the world in a private-club atmosphere. The handy location just off Queen’s Road in Central and a menu that offers a wide selection of dishes—including steak, borscht, goulash, bangers and mash, curry, and burgers—have made Jimmy’s a favorite with both Chinese locals and tourists looking for a taste of home. It’s not cheap, but it’s a good choice for a night out with friends, especially if your group’s cravings are pulling you in different directions.

In homage to the iconic Relais de Venise restaurant in Paris, this intimate neighborhood brasserie offers only one entrée: steak frites. A typical dinner here includes a green salad, a perfectly grilled entrecôte steak, and unlimited refills of crispy, stick-thin fries. It’s probably one of the best deals in town. But if that’s not enough food for you, you can always pick up something from the dessert trolley, which features traditional confections such as éclairs and mille-feuilles.

This two-level restaurant and bar serves modern American food with fine-dining execution and finesse. The menu offers small sharing plates and includes refined yet hearty creations such as crabmeat and chorizo mac and cheese, or buttermilk-fried cornish hen served with organic honey. The team behind Liberty Exchange also runs a reservations-only kitchen near Lan Kwai Fong called Liberty Private Works, which offers a more personal (and more expensive) experience.

Enjoy American comfort fare at this Prohibition Era–style restaurant and bar. The upper level—Lily—serves assorted late-night bar bites and classic cocktails made with premium spirits. For a more formal dining experience, head downstairs to Bloom and enjoy catchy Cotton Club tunes and hearty dishes such as Iberico pork chop and hickory-smoked skirt steak. The kitchen at Lily & Bloom stays open until late at night, making this a popular snacking pit stop for Central’s party crowd.

Hidden inside the famous Stanley Market, this warm, intimate eatery is rarely discovered by tourists. You may feel like you’ve walked into someone’s house when you enter the dining room, but Lucy’s is a professionally run restaurant offering excellent home-cooked dishes made from the freshest ingredients. The menu has a Mediterranean slant and often features light salads and grilled meats or fish. Desserts, especially the pecan pudding, are not to be missed. More upscale than most of the beachside restaurants in Stanley, and with lots more character, Lucy’s is a perfect end to a relaxed day browsing in the market, and easily your best bet in Stanley.

Named after a convenience store that was once at the heart of New York’s Chinatown district, Mott 32 embraces the East-meets-West identity that pervaded early immigrant communities. This is duly reflected in the interior design, which marries Imperial Chinese furnishings with grungy industrial elements. The menu offers classic Cantonese, Beijing, and Sichuan recipes prepared with modern inflections. Expect only the finest ingredients in dishes from barbecued Iberico pork cha siu to crab and caviar xiao long bao dumplings. Be sure to try one of the Asian-inspired cocktails, such as the whisky-based Old Harbor flavored with goji berries and chrysanthemum.

If you’re exploring the Sha Tin neighborhood, consider visiting Sha Tin 18 for a pan-Chinese feast. The restaurant is equipped with several open kitchens, each with its own culinary specialty. Northern Chinese dishes are best, and you’ll find a range of homespun noodles and dumplings, but the traditional Peking duck, which is roasted in-house and served as three separate courses, is also excellent. If you’re dropping by for lunch, the extensive dim sum menu should keep you well sated. Save room for dessert, though, because the selection—which includes candied pomelo crème brûlée and pink peppercorn ice cream—is definitely more innovative than your average Chinese eatery.

Inside a luxury residential complex, Spices is a staunch favorite among well-heeled locals in search of relaxed dining. The menu has favorites from throughout Asia, and service is friendly and professional. The prawn-and-green-mango salad and the deep-fried prawn cakes are excellent. Other choices include curries, satays, and stir-fried noodles, but everything here is a good. The indoor dining room, with high ceilings and wooden tables and floors, can get noisy. If the weather permits, reserve a table in the colonial courtyard for the full tropical experience.

Tucked away on a quiet street across from the famed Blue House, Stone Nullah Tavern serves new American cuisine that revolves around locally sourced ingredients. The menu changes regularly, but you’ll always find unabashedly hearty offerings such as cheddar mac and cheese and the notorious "fat kid cake" (essentially four desserts mixed into one). Adventurous diners will enjoy the wide selection of offal-centric dishes, including crispy pig’s head, tripe “fries,” and chicken liver dip served with homemade potato chips.

This place started out as a one-table private kitchen in a quiet Wan Chai neighborhood. Due to popular demand, chef-owner Esther Sham moved to a much larger location. Decked out like a chic Parisian apartment, the newer space accommodates 48 guests. There are seven different menus from which to choose, ranging from the Japanese-inspired meal to the Shanghai-style dinner. The latter includes the famous not-so-Shanghainese foie gras dumplings. Wine connoisseurs can also take advantage of the extensive selection at Hip Cellar next door.

Lobsters, clams, abalone, crabs, prawns, fish, and everything else from the deep blue sea is here for the tasting on Sai Kung’s picturesque harbor. Crustaceans and fish are quickly cooked by steaming and wok frying, but are first presented whole, leaving no doubt as to the freshness of your food. A quick look inside the tank is like a lesson in marine biology. Pick your favorites, and leave the rest to the chef.