Hong Kong has often been seen as a gateway to Asia. And, that’s not only true due to its connectivity to countries such as Australia, but it’s also very much the case when it comes to its cuisine.

Hong Kong’s food scene is above and beyond the already great experience, you’d expect from a city that straddles Asian and Western cultures.

Taste Around Town is a festival that reflects the popularity of a Hong Kong dining experience. It includes the HK Bar Show and Sip & Savour in LKF.

The HK Bar Show is inspired by Hong Kong’s more traditional and contemporary elements.

Talented mixologists from 60 participating bars and restaurants create cocktail recipes and food pairings with local ingredients and spirits.

Sip & Savour in LKF is also all about mixing up the cocktails. Popular with wine enthusiasts and cocktail aficionados, guests embark on a gastronomic adventure in Hong Kong’s most popular nightlife hot spot, LKF or Lan Kwai Fong.

During the event, dozens of restaurants and bars offer between 15 to 50 per cent discount on their special menus.

It goes without saying that food plays a big part in the lives of Hong Kong’s residents.  

Many destination reviews speak of people who haven’t dined at home for years, such is the selection and affordability of restaurants in the city.

According to Restaurant magazine, 4 of the best 100 restaurants in the world are in Hong Kong.

In a city as populated as this, dining out is just as much a social activity as it is one of eating.

There are options to cater for every socioeconomic section of the population, and therefore travellers.

You’ll be able to find something to eat while spending as little or as much as you want.

Another great example of great dining is The Chairman. It made history as the first restaurant in Hong Kong to be chosen as the number one venue on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2021. 

Another award winner is MONO. Reviews describe the place as hip, bold yet sophisticated, inventive and contemporary.

Mono interior. (Source: Mono – Asia’s 50 best restaurants)

The MONO experience links South American gastronomy with French cuisine. 

Australian chef Shane Osborn, who was a finalist on Netflix’s The Final Table is behind one-Michelin-starred Arcane, a restaurant which showcases the best of local Hong Kong produce.

As well as his own, he named Yardbird as one of his favourites and has been going there for nearly a decade.

“Yardbird is the benchmark for great hospitality in Hong Kong; the food and drinks are always delicious and consistent, the service is very knowledgeable and the atmosphere buzzing,” Osborn said.

He’s also a fan of Samsen originally in Wan Chai.

“Samsen serves very tasty Thai food. It was always difficult to get a table, but now that they’ve opened a second location in Sheung Wan, it’s much easier — and it’s also very close to my flat. I’m not usually a big dessert eater, but their coconut ice cream is insanely good!”

So, whether it’s a dim sum you’re after or something lesser-known, Hong Kong is a real melting pot of Asian and Western cuisine.  

It’s an ideal place to discover potential new favourite dishes or indulge in popular Western meals with an Asian influence.

Let tastebuds do the talking and make sure every food lover gets to have the Hong Kong experience. 

But there’s more in HK than just the food and drinks, from now until January next year, visitors may enjoy a tour on on of three night busses which explore various attractions and landmarks in Hong Kong Island and Kowloon and immersing yourselves in the city’s evening charm.

Rickshaw Bus: Hong Kong – Kowloon. (Supplied)

Our pick of the three has to be the Rickshaw Bus: Hong Kong – Kowloon package which stops in at the Central Ferry Pier, Waterfront Promenade, Kowloon Cultural District and the Clock Tower at Tsim Sha Tsui.

Vibrant back streets in HK. (iStock – Nikada)

In addition, to extend the vibrant nightlife, the HKTB is handing out 1 million sets of new “Hong Kong Night Treats” visitor dining coupons, each with a HK$100 value, starting from today to encourage visitors to go out and enjoy the city’s night-time offerings and experience the wine & dine culture.

After collecting the Night Treat for free, visitors can redeem it for a HK$100 discount after 6pm at more than 60 bars and over 1,100 restaurants accredited by “Quality Tourism Services Scheme” across the city in phase.

Upon their arrival to Hong Kong, visitors can collect the Hong Kong Night Treats at the following locations:

• Visitor centre at Hong Kong International Airport
• Redemption counter at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station
•  Redemption counter at Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui
•  Redemption counter at wwwtc mall, Causeway Bay

The HKTB will also hand out “Hong Kong Night Treats” visitor dining coupons to visitors booking travel products to Hong Kong through various travel websites.