15 budget eating worth the trip across Hong Kong, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Hong Kong guides.
Tim Ho Wan (Sham Shui Po) ★ 4.5 · Hong Kong
sham-shui-po · 24-38 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong
Tim Ho Wan in Sham Shui Po has held Michelin Bib Gourmand for 17 consecutive years, with three baked char siu buns and a dim sum sampler that lands well under HK$100 a head.
Tip: Three baked char siu buns is the canonical order; the sweet polo crust is the signature.
Sister Wah Beef Brisket ★ 4.5 · Hong Kong
tin-hau · 13 Electric Road, Tin Hau, Hong Kong
Sister Wah in Tin Hau holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand and sells a full bowl of clear broth brisket noodles from HK$65, cheaper than the better known Kau Kee on Gough Street.
Tip: Half brisket, half tendon at HK$85 is the smart split; the chilli oil on the counter is the local hot sauce.
Yat Lok ★ 4.5 · Hong Kong
central · 34-38 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong
Yat Lok on Stanley Street in Central is a Michelin starred roast goose shop where you can eat a plate of crackling skin goose on rice for under HK$110 across a single Cantonese counter.
Tip: Roast goose lower thigh on rice is the value cut; go at 11:15 for the first batch.
Mak's Noodle ★ 4.4 · Hong Kong
central · 77 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong
Mak's Noodle on Wellington Street sells small bowls of shrimp wontons in clear broth from around HK$45, a Hong Kong wonton institution founded in 1989.
Tip: Order the small bowl by default; the noodle to wonton balance is calibrated for it.
Sing Heung Yuen ★ 4.4 · Hong Kong
central · 2 Mee Lun Street, Central, Hong Kong
Sing Heung Yuen on Mee Lun Street serves tomato beef macaroni and crispy condensed milk toast from a 1957 dai pai dong stall in Central, all in for under HK$75 a sitting.
Tip: Cash only; closed Sundays. Sit at the metal stools on the alley.
Mammy Pancake ★ 4.4 · Hong Kong
tsim-sha-tsui · 8-12 Carnarvon Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Mammy Pancake on Carnarvon Road in TST sells Michelin recommended egg waffles from around HK$28 each, the cheapest Michelin guide listing in Hong Kong.
Tip: Original is the budget pick at HK$28; pricier sweet potato, matcha and chestnut versions run HK$40 plus.
Ho Hung Kee ★ 4.4 · Hong Kong
causeway-bay · 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Ho Hung Kee at Hysan Place in Causeway Bay is a one Michelin star wonton noodle shop where a bowl of soup wontons clears the table for under HK$120 in a mall food court.
Tip: Order wonton noodles in soup with a side of congee; the broth is the day's signature.
Kwan Kee Clay Pot Rice ★ 4.4 · Hong Kong
sai-ying-pun · 263 Queen's Road West, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
Kwan Kee on Queen's Road West in Sai Ying Pun is Hong Kong's reference clay pot rice shop, with rice cooked over charcoal in individual pots topped with sausage and salted fish under HK$130.
Tip: Order ahead by 20 minutes; the pots cook to order over a fixed coal bed.
Kam Wah Cafe ★ 4.3 · Hong Kong
mong-kok · 45-47 Bute Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Kam Wah on Bute Street in Mong Kok sells warm pineapple buns from around HK$12 with milk tea for under HK$40 total, a 1973 Hong Kong cha chaan teng on a working class budget.
Tip: Pay with Octopus or WeChat Pay; no HK$1,000 notes accepted.
Tim Ho Wan (Central) ★ 4.3 · Hong Kong
central · 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong
Tim Ho Wan at IFC Mall in Central is the world's most affordable Michelin recognised dim sum, with a baked pork bun and steamed har gow lunch under HK$120 a head.
Tip: Walk in solo at 11:00 sharp; the lunchtime queue doubles by midday.
Tsim Chai Kee Noodle ★ 4.3 · Hong Kong
central · 98 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong
Tsim Chai Kee on Wellington Street in Central is the Bib Gourmand noodle shop across from Mak's, with a king prawn wonton bowl that lands under HK$70 for one of Hong Kong's best noodles.
Tip: Order the three topping bowl: prawn wontons, beef and fish balls.
Australia Dairy Company ★ 4.3 · Hong Kong
yau-ma-tei · 47-49 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong
Australia Dairy Company on Parkes Street in Jordan is the canonical Hong Kong cha chaan teng, plating scrambled eggs on buttered toast and steam milk pudding well under HK$80 a head.
Tip: Eat fast and leave fast; the queue waits for the seat the moment you finish.
Lan Fong Yuen ★ 4.3 · Hong Kong
central · 2 Gage Street, Central, Hong Kong
Lan Fong Yuen on Gage Street in Central invented Hong Kong's silk stocking milk tea in 1952, with paper cup tea and a pineapple bun set landing under HK$60 from the side hatch.
Tip: Use the side hatch for takeaway; the dine in counter has a 20 minute queue.
Hop Yik Tai ★ 4.3 · Hong Kong
sham-shui-po · 121 Kweilin Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong
Hop Yik Tai on Kweilin Street in Sham Shui Po is the Michelin Street Food cheung fun specialist, steaming silky rice rolls with sweet soy, sesame and chilli sauces for under HK$40.
Tip: Get the triple sauce; the canonical Sham Shui Po combination is sesame, sweet soy and hoisin together.
Kung Wo Beancurd Factory ★ 4.3 · Hong Kong
sham-shui-po · 118 Pei Ho Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong
Kung Wo on Pei Ho Street in Sham Shui Po grinds soy beans into tofu by hand since the 1960s, with douhua and fried bean curd plates landing under HK$35 in a Kowloon storefront.
Tip: Tofu pudding with brown sugar is the canonical order; fried bean curd skin is the savoury side.