10 Best Restaurants on Hong Kong Island

208 Duecento Otto has been a mainstay of the Shueng Wan dining scene for many years. With a downstairs bar and a cosy-yet-cool upstairs bistro, the restaurant is known for its fantastic Neapolitan pizzas, along with a range of classic and signature recipes.

The intriguing appetisers and light bites are also outstanding – cured meats and Italian cheeses are prominently featured on the menu. You can also enjoy a roasted lamb rack or slow-braised ossobucco if you want the complete Italian dining experience.

Itacho Sushi is a Japanese chain restaurant in Hong Kong, where you can enjoy fresh sashimi and sushi at affordable prices. Standouts include the jumbo scallop sushi, sea urchin suchi, and fried softshell crab, all served up with no fuss in a modern setting. There are over a dozen Itacho Sushi branches throughout Hong Kong, most of which are in busy areas like Central, Causeway Bay, and Tsim Sha Tsui. 

The classic Hong Kong noodle dish – beef brisket with yellow egg noodles – is best enjoyed at Kau Kee Food Cafe. The queue is pretty much constant at this Central Hong Kong eatery, located just off the mid-level escalators on Gough Street.

The broth is incredibly rich, the beef tender and soft, and the ‘yee-fu’ flat wheat noodles are silky smooth. As with all the most famous local restaurants in Hong Kong, expect long queues (usually about 10 to 20 minutes) to get a seat at peak times.

Lin Heung Kui is certainly one of the best places for Cantonese food in Sheung Wan. Unlike most dim sum spots in Hong Kong, this restaurant maintains the traditional style of serving dim sum,  where a staff pushes a trolley with various types of bite-sized dishes.  

Lin Heung Kui is often packed at lunchtime, so it's best to visit in the morning to secure a table. Standouts include the radish cake, rice noodle rolls with shrimp, and lo mai gai (steamed sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf).

Lin Heung Tea House does dim sum the way they did back in the ‘50s. Old aunties push the freshly steamed dumplings around on a cart and you just stop her and point. Tables are packed and piled high with bamboo baskets, fans whirl overhead and the whole vibe harks back to days gone by.

If you want something in particular, Lin Heung Tea House has order sheets (though you may need some help unless you can read Cantonese). Thanks to the number of tourists, the staff can speak a bit of English. 

Peking Garden may sound like a generic Chinese takeaway, but this Hong Kong Island restaurant has been at the forefront of fine Cantonese dining since 1978.

Peking Garden's speciality is, of course, the Peking duck – expect an entire duck arriving at the table, before it's carved right in front of you by an experienced waiter. Stir-fried prawns and fried fish with sweet-sour sauce are also must-tries at Peking Garden. 

The Boathouse is a 3-storey building with a rooftop section offering great views over Stanley Bay. You can't miss it – the corner lot restaurant stands out with its European exterior. It's one of the best places to head for if you’re after a quaint seaside atmosphere and a memorable dining occasion. The Boathouse's international a la carte menu spotlights fresh seafood, with an incredibly diverse menu offering everything from curry crab to African chicken and tandoori swordfish.

Under Bridge Spicy Crab has pictures of local and international celebrities adorning the walls, all of whom have sampled its signature dish: spicy crab topped with deep fried garlic and chilli. Under Bridge Spicy Crab also specialises in seafood offerings such as mussels, shrimp and grouper. There are 3 restaurants owned by the same group, which are located on Jaffe Road and Lockhart Road.

Takumi by Daisuke Mori is an award-winning restaurant in the Wan Chai district of Hong Kong. With 1 Michelin star to its name, Takumi's expert team of chefs create unique Japanese dishes based around seasonal produce from Japan, France, and Europe. 

The restaurant has an open kitchen concept, with 12 leather seats fronting a Japanese-style bar. A 10-course dinner at Takumi by Daisuke Mori costs around HK$ 2,080, while its 4- and 6-course lunch sets are priced at HK$88 and HK$1,280. 

Yat Lok Restaurant serves a variety of roasted meats, but its signature roast goose is the one that attracts people from all over the world. The dining experience is typical of local Hong Kong joints, with Chinese-speaking staff and abrupt service.

But if you are looking for a fill of delicious roast goose, head to Yat Lok in Central – you won’t be disappointed. Roast pork belly and soy-marinated chicken are also must-tries at this Chinese restaurant.