Some might say that Wan Chai ranks the highest on a foodie’s list of eating neighbourhoods, and we can’t disagree. From Starstreet Precinct, to the bar strip, to everything in between, Wan Chai is teeming with a litany of Hong Kong’s highest-quality restaurants.
Once you head down to the neighbourhood (and we know you will after reading this), check out our guide to the best restaurants in Wan Chai to feed yourself with a world’s worth of delectable cuisines.
The best restaurants in Wan Chai
El Taquero
Colour paints the plates and interior of El Taquero, a new taco emporium located in Wan Chai with an alluring aura and meaty smell filling the air. Featuring an authentic trompo spit to grill pork, chicken, and beef, fresh corn tortillas are prepared daily to serve Hong Kong perfect tacos. Our recommendations include the cactus-punchy nopales (HKD46), fish sayulita (HKD56), tender ox-tongue lengua (HKD48), and chapulines (HKD46) with spicy grasshopper.
El Taquero, Shop B–F, G/F, Yan King Court, 119 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, 2811 1998, book here
Trattoria Felino
The temper and tenor of Naples arrive in Ship Street with Trattoria Felino, where chef Marcello Scognamiglio injects authentic Italian family recipes with modern ingredients. The seasoned menu is vibrant in its pizza selections, cold cuts, small bites, pastas, soups, and mains. Felino shines with the salty-sour L’affumicata pizza (HKD158), moreish and umami-rich yellow chicken (HKD288/HKD498), beef cheek (HKD248), and an ending of scrumptious tiramisu (HKD98).
Trattoria Felino, 1–7 Ship Street, Wan Chai, WhatsApp 5697 4477, book here
Qi – House of Sichuan
This formerly Michelin-starred restaurant deserves all the hype, even after losing its star in 2020. Qi – House of Sichuan explores the seven flavours of Sichuanese cuisine: spicy, aromatic, sweet, bitter, sour, numbing, and salty. The bang bang chicken in spicy peanut sauce (HKD80) and dan dan noodles (HKD78) are great dishes to start off, with mains of sugar-glazed ginger and scallion beef (HKD168) and kung pao chicken with peanuts (HKD128) perfect for Qi exploration.
Qi – House of Sichuan, Shop 12, 2/F, J Senses, 60 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, 2527 7117, book here
AMA Ristorante
AMA Ristorante, created by local legend chef Paolo Monti, is a true love letter to Roman flavours. Paolo has built a delicious menu that exists as a tribute to the simple yet vibrant recipes hailing from Italy’s capital. A visit to AMA is not complete without trying the signatures maccheroni amatriciana (HKD288) and Roman-Jewish carciofini crispy fritti (HKD168). For mains, must-orders include the Marango steak (HKD428), sea bass (HKD368), and milk-fed veal chop (HKD458). Pair your meats with a milky AMA La Burrata (HKD178) and trippa alla trasteverina (HKD178).
AMA Ristorante, 25/F, 208 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, 3702 0806, book here
FRANCIS
One of three Israeli restaurants serving Hong Kong, FRANCIS has nurtured a religious obsession since its opening in 2018 by chef Asher Goldstein. The Tel Aviv native showcases familiar Israeli mezze and grilled recipes at the Wan Chai restaurant, with a complementing affordable wine menu. Begin with the chef’s signature hummus (HKD120) with zhug and pita, followed by the spiced beef cigars (HKD120) with green tahini. The chicken schnitzel (HKD180) and beef short rib (HKD360) are fantastic meaty mains to salivate over.
FRANCIS, 4–6 St Francis Street, Wan Chai, WhatsApp 5216 8318, book here
Artemis & Apollo
Housed on the cul-de-sac of Moon Street, Artemis & Apollo is one of just three Greek restaurants in Hong Kong, serving a strong menu of taverna classics to wash down the salt- and meat-laden plates. The menu is split into hot and cold mezze, spit-roasted meats, seafood, salads, and sides. Our picks go to the tzatziki theodoros (HKD58), pork souvlaki (HKD138), halloumi mestia (HKD138), and marinated olives (HKD58). Make sure to order some ouzo for the table.
Artemis & Apollo, 9–11 Moon Street, Wan Chai, 2818 8681, book here
Grand Hyatt Steakhouse
Grand Hyatt Steakhouse is one of very few steak-speciality restaurants in Hong Kong that has access to imported Hanwoo steak, the most buttery and juiciest beef cut from South Korea. To savour the best of beef at Grand Hyatt, order either the Hanwoo striploin (HKD1,200/12oz) or Hanwoo rib-eye (HKD1,200/12oz). For starters and sides, complement the meat with pan-fried foie gras (HKD320), yellowtail tartare (HKD280), and Caesar salad (HKD180). Save room for dessert with the Washington apple crumble (HKD120).
Grand Hyatt Steakhouse, G/F, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, 2584 7722, book here
KIN KAO
Operating three locations in the west of Hong Kong Island, with two situated in Wan Chai, KIN KAO is your casual option for Thai dining in the city. It’s powerful, punchy, and bravely authentic. Sample sour, spicy, and salty flavours with the classics that we always go for, including poached Hainan chicken on rice (HKD80), mango salad (HKD78), pad thai (HKD80), and Chiang Mai curry soup (HKD80).
KIN KAO, G/F, Tai Wong Building, 3 Tai Wong Street East, Wan Chai, 2529 3806
KIN KAO, Shop 10, G/F, Rialto Building, 2 Landale Street, Wan Chai, 2591 4741
My Cup of Tea
Built for the modern Cantonese food lover, My Cup of Tea is a viral cha chaan teng serving up beloved local dishes and plates with twists. Seating is limited at the diner, so hurry before the lunch rush or sit tight for the dinner queue. For the full experience, we recommend ordering the satay beef and sunny-side-up egg on rice (HKD48), parsley triple egg sandwich (HKD30) with century egg, salted egg, and scrambled egg, spring onion boneless chicken rice (HKD48), and bo lo bao with butter (HKD20).
My Cup of Tea, G/F, Wing Hing Building, 6–12 Spring Garden Lane, 2386 0007, WhatsApp 5543 7833
Kam’s Roast Goose
If you ignore the ever-long queue at Kam’s Roast Goose, or head there at an off-peak time, you are bound to enjoy the goose experience here in Wan Chai. For lunch time during the weekday, the roast goose on rice (HKD74), or combo with choices like BBQ pork and soya chicken, has the meat glistening under the store lights. Each meaty part is delicately crispy and salty, made even better when swiping up plum sauce on each bite.
Kam’s Roast Goose, G/F, 227 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, 2520 1110
Ra Cha Moo Yang
Open for 17 years, Ra Cha Moo Yang is a genuine hole in the wall housed inside a small cubby near Southorn Playground. With just a handful of tables, the Thai eatery is cosy and the food is prepared fresh to order, with tons of spice. No meal cannot be complete without the pad krapow (HKD80), green papaya salad (HKD59), chicken satay (HKD108), Panang curry (HKD88), and fried morning glory (HKD80).
Ra Cha Moo Yang, 87 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, 2529 6378
Jeanpo Meat Shop
Jeanpo’s story began in Wan Chai when their most popular location opened at the edge of the neighbourhood. Staffed by an eccentric clan of South Korean foodies, the KBBQ restaurant has perfected the craft in Hong Kong, especially with their special set of grilled beef short ribs, pork belly, pork rinds (HKD880, 800g). With a menu designed for sharing, we recommend ordering their japchae (HKD148), steamed eggs (HKD88) and ripe kimchi stew with pork (HKD78) for the essential barbecue experience. They were awarded the best Korean restaurant in Foodie Forks 2024.
Jeanpo Meat Shop, G/F, 28-34 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, 6805 4692, book here
Tomato C Hing
Founded in Sham Shui Po and with a second location in Lai Chi Kok, Tomato C Hing’s latest outpost in Wan Chai is as good as its sister restaurants. Serving up bowls of salty and umami-splashed noodles, they are most popular for their customised noods with tomato broth. Order the grilled chicken tomato soup noodles (HKD48), ox tongue signature tomato sauce omelette rice (HKD68), or scrambled egg luncheon meat noodles (HKD44) for your much-needed serving of MSG!
Tomato C Hing, Shop B, LG/F, Lee Cheong Building, 1 On Lok Lane, Wan Chai, 3563 8456
Minato
The newly-minted Minato in Wan Chai North, neighbouring the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre, unravels the power of omakase, kaiseki, and teppanyaki in a venue exploring all three powerful sub-cuisines under the Japanese culinary umbrella. Their Teppanyaki dinner menu (HKD2,808 for two persons), whilst boasting a large price tag, delivers great value for a premium sharing of A5 Miyazaki Wagyu sliced beef that melts on the tongue. Their whitebait fried rice and beef tongue on the menu also impress with bold, meaty flavours.
Minato, Shop G4-G6, G/F, Great Eagle Centre, 23 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, 2345 0663, book here
Sun King Yuen Curry Restaurant
If you haven’t heard of Sun King Yuen, you’ve been living under a rock. This Wan Chai hotspot has graced people’s stomachs for decades, all thanks to their sumptuous curry and classic local dishes. For first-time visitors, you must order the curry pork rice (HKD94) or curry chicken rice (HKD94), beef ho fun (HKD86), and Singaporean fried noodles (HKD96).
Sun King Yuen Curry Restaurant, 20 Spring Garden Lane, Wan Chai, 2574 9172
Tung Po
After Hong Kong’s famed dai pai dong shuttered at North Point’s cooked food market in 2022, customers revelled when the restaurant found its feet again on Wan Chai’s Jaffe Road. Tung Po serves the familiar local classics, along with beer in bowls and sassy service. Note to self to order the deep-fried fish fillet with sweetcorn sauce (HKD168), deep-fried bean curd (HKD98), Chinese “doggy” duck with bone (HKD368), and sautéed crab with black bean sauce (market price) for a taste of true Cantonese fare.
Tung Po, 2/F, KONNECT, 303 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai, 2880 5224/2880 9399
Cats’ Eye
The ever-famous Wan Chai staple Cats’ Eye pours over the Japanese-style egg on rice dish, known as omurice, with a variety of flavours and combinations of different curry flavours. The pork curry and hayashi (HKD92) omurice dish combines a smoky dark pork curry with a beef curry cooked in a tomato broth. The demi-glace burger (HKD88) is simple and recommended with a juicy patty oozing with a dark, salty gravy juice poured over. If you are really hungry, go crazy with the burger, pork curry, tomato beef, and egg (HKD114) combination.
