JIA Group’s Yenn Wong shares her top picks for where to eat in Hong Kong

Yenn Wong is an undisputed leader in the Hong Kong hospitality industry. The founder and CEO of JIA Group has 14 restaurants in Hong Kong under her umbrella, and this year, five of them ­– Mono, Estro, Andō, Louise and Duddell’s – each earned a coveted Michelin star. Here, she shares some of her favourite places to eat in Hong Kong, ranging from Michelin-starred establishments to popular street food stalls.

1. For impressing out-of-town guests… 

“It would have to be The Chairman . It has a Michelin star and does Cantonese food in a unique way. Well-known dishes include the huadiao wine steamed crab with rice rolls. The smoked goose is also quite special, and there’s a stinky tofu dish that’s not for everyone, but it’s definitely different. 

“Another top spot for out-of-town guests is Wing by chef Vicky Cheng. The dishes are beautifully executed and presented; for instance, the fried chicken dish is aged for a few days before it’s cooked. This is unusual for Cantonese cooking, where everything is typically very fresh. It’s a difficult dish to execute because the chicken must be completely dry before cooking so the skin comes out thin and crispy, but not oily.”

The Chairman, 3/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Central, 2555 2202

Wing, 29/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Central, 2711 0063

2. For late night eats...

“Bamboo Village does an excellent roast duck with thick rice noodles in soup, but the seafood and congee are also great. It’s a casual place and can be very crowded – even at 11pm. Apparently Blackpink ate there when they came to Hong Kong.”  

Bamboo Village, 265 Temple Street, Jordan, 2730 5484

3. For less than HK$100…   

“An egg tart is always very nice. I also go to Hon Fat for a bowl of noodles, or head to Sham Shui Po for a plate of cheung fun rice rolls.” 

Hon Fat, 192 Tai Nan Street, Sham Shui Po, 2380 7068

4. For a working lunch... 

“I must recommend Duddell’s , simply because the location is great, the service is fast, and with its range of dining rooms, it’s perfect for introducing overseas business guests to real Cantonese food. It offers environments for different types of meetings, with a formal dining room downstairs and a more casual spot upstairs, as well as rooms for more private gatherings. We also have a lovely terrace.” 

Duddell’s, 3/F & 4/F, 1 Duddell Street, Central, 2525 9191

5. For comfort food...

“I would go to Liu Yuan Pavilion for Shanghainese or Yuk Cuisine for Chiu Chow cuisine. Both restaurants are in Wan Chai and are well-established. 

“Liu Yuan Pavilion does a very good lang wonton that you have to order in advance. These cold dumplings are made with vegetables and a little meat, but come with six types of sauce, including chilli oil, sesame, and minced ginger and spring onion. You mix all the sauces together then dip the dumplings in the mixture. During hairy crab season they serve a ridiculously delicious fried fun pei with crab roe. The simple noodles and dumplings are great too. 

“Yuk Cuisine is perfect for when you want something simple. You must order the cold fish, chiu chow oyster porridge or preserved radish omelette.”

Liu Yuan Pavilion, 3/F, The Broadway, 54-62 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, 2804 2000

Yuk Cuisine, Shop 4, G/F, Hing Bong Mansion, 117 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, 2815 8698

6. For the quintessential Hong Kong dining experience... 

“A lot of the Michelin-starred Cantonese chefs go to Ju Xing Home for supper. They do classic dishes like sweet and sour pork, as well as freshly steamed fish. If you want a taste of real Cantonese cooking with wok hei [a flavour achieved when stir-frying over high heat], this is a really good option.”  

Ju Xing Home, 418 Portland St, Mong Kok, 2392 9283

Cathay Pacific x Duddell’s 

We’ve partnered with Michelin-starred restaurant Duddell’s to bring Cantonese fine dining to the skies. First class and Business passengers can enjoy the new menus on select flights throughout the year. Explore the Duddell’s partnership here.

Hero image: Elvis Chung

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