What’s the key to a good mac & cheese?
Obviously, cheese is the most important ingredient, but not any old cheese will do. Using lighter cheeses such as mozzarella and ricotta result in subtler flavours, whilst stronger Cheddars and blue cheeses sharpen a mac’s taste.
When it comes to texture, creaminess is next to godliness – no one likes a dry mac!
What about toppings? Sometimes additions like truffle and bacon can elevate a mac, whilst at other times, simple truly is best.
We’ve scoured Hong Kong to find the mac & cheese dishes with the best balance of all these elements, so check out our list below.
The best mac & cheese in Hong Kong
FINI’S
We’re starting strong with FINI’S. Our go-to mac & cheese on the Hong Kong scene has got to be the mac & cheese (HKD178) served up at this popular Italian-American joint. When sister restaurant Stone Nullah Tavern closed back in 2019, we were genuinely concerned that their mac would be gone forever. However, the Stone Nullah folks knew they had a good thing going, and when they rebranded as FINI’S, this mac & cheese with its luscious Cheddar sauce has remained on the menu ever since. Topped with chopped scallion and a glorious Japanese egg yolk, which is mixed in after serving to add an extra layer of richness, there is no mac & cheese as cheesy or satisfying in Hong Kong. You can gild the lily with toppings (+HKD40 each) of truffle pesto, chilli con carne, or spinach and artichoke.
FINI’S, G/F, 49 Elgin Street, Soho, Central, 2387 6338, book here
FINI’S, G/F, 69 Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai, 3182 0128, book here
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Smoke & Barrel
Whilst mac & cheese can easily be an entire meal, Smoke & Barrel offers its mac as a side to its hearty, meaty dishes, in true Southern BBQ style. The tangy taste of the restaurant’s mac & cheese (HKD88) comes from the addition of American red Cheddar and Gruyère, whilst the mozzarella makes for a smooth texture. We also enjoy the shallot-dust topping, which becomes nice and crispy from the grill.
Smoke & Barrel, 1/F & 2/F, Wyndham Mansion, 32 Wyndham Street, Central, WhatsApp 5191 0117, book here
Bakehouse (Sha Tin)
Lobster seems to be the “it” luxe mac & cheese addition these days, and we think the new Bakehouse branch in Sha Tin, the first to provide dinner service, truly takes the cake with its rendition of this dish (no pun intended). The grilled lobster mac & cheese (HKD298) takes pride of place on the eatery’s à-la-carte menu, featuring a hefty portion of sweet and succulent lobster meat in contrast with the velvety Gruyère cheese sauce, which carries a subtle nutty undertone. Need more to satisfy that mac & cheese urge? A topping of fresh truffle (+HKD28) can be added on for aroma overload.
Bakehouse, Shop 247, 2/F, Phase I, New Town Plaza, 18–19 Sha Tin Centre Street, Sha Tin
Morton’s The Steakhouse
Mac & cheese is a quintessential side dish at any American steakhouse worth its salt. At Morton’s, the bacon & onion mac & cheese (HKD130) competes with the restaurant’s USDA Prime steaks for most popular dish on the menu, an ooey-gooey, comforting mix of four cheeses (cream, Cheddar, Parmesan, and Swiss) jazzed up with sautéed onion and smoky bacon – this recipe tastes as close to homemade as it gets. Our favourite bit of the cheesy cavatappi is the crunchy top layer scattered with breadcrumbs. Morton’s also offers a lobster mac & cheese (HKD320) that is just as delicious (but almost triple the price).
Morton’s The Steakhouse, 4/F, Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers, 20 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2732 2343, book here
The Point Pizza & Pasta
When it comes to mac & cheese, some of us are purists, whilst others find the classic version far too boring. Stepping outside the box is The Point, which presents a trio of intriguing mac options for your consideration. The four-cheese mac & cheese (HKD148) takes an Italian slant, incorporating gorgonzola and ricotta into the mix alongside the more standard Parmesan and buffalo mozzarella. For truffle fans, the truffle mac & cheese (HKD158) stands out with its earthy but not overpowering truffle flavour that balances perfectly with all that cheesy goodness. Finally, the lobster mac & cheese (HKD228), crowned with a half Boston lobster, is the most decadent of all.
The Point Pizza & Pasta, Shop 409, 4/F, The ONE, 100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2598 0030, book here
