6 New Bib Gourmand Establishments in Hong Kong
Dragons' Den
Reopened as Dragons' Den, this restaurant is hidden in a shopping mall at the foot of Lion Rock. Its retro decor and mid-century modern furniture complement a menu that features a roll call of Cantonese classics from yesteryear, including the hard-to-find baked egg omelette with fish tripe. Their famous squab is dry-aged for five days before being smoked with pear wood and deep-fried. The dim sum lunch is also immensely popular, while certain barbecue and seafood dishes require pre-ordering.
Fiata
The delightful aroma of freshly baked pizza wafts through the air as the chef, originally from Southern Italy, prepares a concise menu of expertly crafted Neapolitan pizzas along with a selection of starters. Each pizza is made to order using Italian DOP (Denominazione d' Origine Protetta) ingredients and features a light, chewy crust, a gooey center, and perfectly charred edges. Among his standout creations is the provola e pepe pizza, which combines smoky, creamy mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, and a sharp, peppery kick.
Further Reading: Pizza Napoletana or Pizza Romana?
Ho Ho Chak
The fitting name of this Chiu Chow restaurant is Ho Ho Chak, meaning ‘delicious’ in the Teochew dialect. The three brothers who operate the restaurant also engage in wholesale seafood and fruit, ensuring they have consistent access to top-quality ingredients. Their signature dish, the steamed pork patty with mud crab, is rich with buttery roe, while the pork itself is springy and finely textured. The fried omelette with dried radish and ground pork is perfectly browned on the outside and custardy on the inside. (Right image © Ho Ho Chak)
Lai's Kitchen
Lai's Kitchen features neon signs and a street food stall vibe, paying homage to Hong Kong's dai pai dong culture. Lunch focuses on budget-friendly staples like steamed rice and noodles, while the more extensive dinner menu offers a variety of Cantonese stir-fries and claypot rice dishes, all cooked to order. Be sure to try Chef Fung's three-treasure claypot rice, which includes pork sausage, goose liver sausage, and salted pork belly. The tea-scented crispy-skin chicken is also a delightful choice.。(hero image © JN/Lai's Kitchen)
Further Reading: What Makes The Perfect Claypot Rice, According To Hong Kong's Top Chefs
Siaw
Siaw, which means "friends" in Thai, is a lively spot featuring an open kitchen, a colorful façade, and a soundtrack of Thai pop music that exudes tropical vibrancy. The menu includes all-time Thai favorites, ranging from street snacks and boat noodles to rice dishes and desserts. The pad kra pao, consisting of minced pork or beef with holy basil served with fried eggs on steamed rice, packs a delightful kick. Don't miss the kha nom krok either, crispy coconut rice flour pancakes with creamy centers.
Uncle Quek
Uncle Quek is another dining concept overseen by chef Barry Quek, known for his work at Whey. This restaurant delights with innovative home-style Southeast Asian dishes inspired by the chef's childhood memories. His signature lobster laksa, crafted in a shrimp broth with tomalley, spices, and coconut milk, offers irresistibly complex flavours. The cereal-crusted fried chicken, crispy and aromatic, is a unique twist on the renowned Singaporean shrimp recipe. Additionally, the lunch sets provide excellent value.
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A Lorcha
A Lorcha is a thriving, friendly restaurant near Barra Temple, featuring a retro nautical theme that appeals to both locals and tourists who rave about its hearty Portuguese cuisine. Begin with the essential salted cod fritter. In addition to barbecue dishes prepared over a charcoal grill, the extensive menu showcases specialties like sautéed pork and clams Alentejo style, mixed seafood rice, and Macanese coconut and turmeric chicken.
Nok Song
• With ribbed vaults that evoke the grandeur of a Gothic cathedral, Nok Song features dark wood flooring, wall panels, and furniture that add warmth and richness, while quality ingredients sourced from around the world are transformed into fusion Thai dishes, such as a spicy raw shrimp salad featuring Obsiblue from New Caledonia and a heart of palm red curry with Iberian pork collar from Spain; to conclude your meal, don't miss the fruity and fluffy mango soufflé pancake roll. (left image © Nok Song)
The full restaurant selection of the 18th edition of the MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong & Macau will be announced on 19 March 2025, at a physical MICHELIN Guide Ceremony, and it will be published in digital form on the MICHELIN Guide’s official website and the MICHELIN Guide mobile app (iOS and Andriod) on the same day.
Hero image courtesy of Lai's Kitchen.