Hong Kong recommendations for unmissable eats

[nikkib]

I am heading to hong king in a few weeks for a long weekend of exploring and eating and was hoping for some recommendations on where I should eat. I'm looking at local food, cheap to mid range and would be very grateful for any advice...

[annachan]

It's been a couple of years since we're in Hong Kong, but these were standouts:

*Lung King Heen had great dim sum. Prices weren't bad for 3 Michelin stars.

*Lau Sum Kee serves "bamboo" noodle, as seen in an Anthony Bourdain episode. The noodle is quite good and it's cheap (~US$3). It's a hole in the wall type place so it may be a little difficult if you don't speak/read Chinese or go with someone who does.

*Whisk had an awesome Sunday brunch. Roasted suckling pigs, caviar bar, a very good quality buffet, all you can eat main dishes cooked to order, plus more. I would say this is more mid-range.

*Kam Fung is another hole in the wall joint. Good for chicken pie and pineapple bun with butter.

*Rakuen has some unusual Japanese offerings like peanut tofu and fish roe stuffed chicken wings. It turned out to be a really nice meal.

Before my last trip, I found 2 websites that were quite useful in helping me find restaurants:

http://www.womguide.com/

http://www.openrice.com/english?tc=ornav

Have a good time there!

[nikkib]

Thanks annachan - lung king heen and lau sum kee sound great!

[KennethT]

I was in Hong Kong during the summer of 2011. There is a very long thread here started a few years ago, but then was updated before and during my trip. http://forums.egullet.org/topic/107932-reports-on-hong-kong-dining/

I would recommend Yung Kee for anything goose related - their roast goose is incredible, and their other Cantonese dishes are excellent as well - char siu, suckling pig, steamed whole fish,etc.

For Dim Sum, I would wholeheartedly recommend West Villa in Tai Koo (it's in a mall by the skating rink) - we thought it was the best dim sum that we had (and we had it every day for 7 or 8 days). They specialize in char siu. Note that you really shoudl have a reservation there (have your hotel make it for you unless you speak the language) as it's very popular with the locals - when we were there, we saw a lot of people turned away. There's anotehr West Villa in Central - but they don't have dim sum, but they have excellent Cantonese food.

[Pilori]

I really enjoyed Tsim Chai Kee Noodle (98 Wellington St, Central) for their wonton noodle soup. Also, if you're looking for craft coffee Rabbithole is great (2/F, 26 Cochrane St., Central).

[nikkib]

Thanks all!

[YSL]

Hope I'm not too late - I just got back from HK last week and whilst I am biased towards Tsim Chai Kee for their humongous wantons and soup, I have to admit that the noodles are better at Mak's - Which is across the road. However, the soup was a bit too peppery for my liking at Mak's.

I stayed in Tin Hau and thoroughly enjoyed a couple of meals I had at Shek Kee Kitchen (G/F Fai Hon building, No. 15-17 Ngan Mok Street), where they specialise in (literal translation) Small Dishes, but it's pretty much simple home-cooked food which is served here. I particularly liked the steamed minced pork and lotus root and various claypot rice dishes there.

Another Tin Hau essential is Teem Yee Yee which translates as "Sweet Auntie" (G/F 13 Tsing Fung Street, Tin Hau) which is a HK Style dessert house, I'm particularly partial to sago pudding (especially with mango), but there wasn't anything I didn't like from what we tried there; From the instant tofu dessert served in a bucket with a timer counting down when it's ready to reveal silky, soft tofu dessert, to the delicious grass jelly and cocoa de nata mxed with coconut milk and fruit of your choice. The service can be a bit patchy, but the desserts are all delicious here.

[nikkib]

Thanks YSL, Tsim chai kee and maks sound great- I shall enjoy comparing!

[nikkib]

So I got back from Hong Kong earlier this week, I have posted aboput my lunch at Lung King Heen here on my blog

http://beirutibrit.wordpress.com/2012/12/16/lung-king-heen-foureasons-hotel-hong-kong/http://beirutibrit.wordpress.com/2012/12/16/lung-king-heen-foureasons-hotel-hong-kong/

and will continue to update it as and when i can get around to it. Lunch was absolutely outstanding, food and service were just outstanding and I was so glad I went. I also made to Tsim Chai Kee for breakfast noodle wonton soup which was also excellent, Wellington St not only boasts them, Maks noodles across the road but many, many other options including a couple of dumpling places I went to and will post about later. Hong Kong is a great foodie city and I cant wait to return! Thanks to all for the recommendations!