This City Was Just Named Asia's Best Food Destination-Here's Where to Eat, According to a Chef

""Hong Kong is renowned as a food haven embracing diverse cultures, where you can journey through the flavors of the world within a small city," Jayson Tang, executive chef of Man Ho, the one-Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant inside the JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, told Travel + Leisure. For first-time visitors, Tang believes dim sum is a non-negotiable, especially the yum cha experience. Think traditional tea houses, wheeled trolleys stacked with bamboo steamers, and pairing it all with Chinese tea. "It's more than just a meal," he said. "It's a cherished cultural experience that engages all the senses.""

"Egg tarts are another Hong Kong staple, and Tang is quick to explain that the local style comes in two versions: one made with a rich, crumbly shortcrust pastry, the other with light, flaky puff pastry. Tang favors the latter and heads to Honolulu Café in Wan Chai, a beloved institution that's been baking for generations. "Their freshly baked egg tarts, made using a traditional recipe, are a comforting, delightful treat," Tang said."

"For travelers looking to dig deeper, Tang recommends trying something many tourists miss entirely: the "buy and cook" experience. It starts at a wet market—he namedrops Aberdeen Fish Market—where you choose live seafood straight from the tanks. From there, nearby restaurants will prepare your selection exactly to your liking. "It is an interactive adventure," Tang expla"

Hong Kong ranks among Asia's premier culinary destinations and placed fourth worldwide, offering gastronomic diversity across price points. The city features street foods like pineapple buns and egg tarts alongside Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurants and world-class bars. Dim sum and the yum cha tea-house ritual provide a multisensory cultural dining experience. Egg tarts appear in two local styles—rich shortcrust and light puff pastry—with longstanding bakeries preserving traditional recipes. Wet markets such as Aberdeen Fish Market enable interactive buy-and-cook experiences where customers select live seafood and have nearby restaurants prepare it to order. Nightlife complements dining with acclaimed cocktail bars.

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