We had four days in Hong Kong to eat at every restaurant we wanted to try, drink as much as we pleased, and hunt down the best roast goose the city had to offer. It was the most epic food trip we’ve ever been on.
We recently published a story on Lifestyle Asia about extreme day trips. It explored a growing trend in Europe and the United States where travelers visit a destination for just one day and pack in as much as they can before heading home. Inspired by the article, I decided to book a trip myself. But since I no longer have the energy of a 20-year-old, I figured I might as well stay for the weekend with a group of friends. Hong Kong, just an hour and a half away from the Philippines by air, felt like the perfect choice, especially since Philippine passport holders don’t need a visa.
And with the recent closure of Kam’s Roast in SM Megamall, one of my favorite restaurants in Manila and a place I used to eat at least once a week (no joke), I was even more motivated to go. The original Kam’s was calling. What was meant to be a quick four-day getaway turned into the craziest food trip I’ve ever been on. We ate everywhere, from the city’s finest French-style steakhouse to one of the cheapest Michelin-starred noodle shops in the country. It was absolutely worth the trip—and the calories! Here’s what happened at all 18 restaurants we ate at.
Start At The Peak
The first day of our Hong Kong food trip was jam-packed, as we managed to hit what was probably the best batch of restaurants in a single day. Naturally, we couldn’t kick things off without starting with traditional dim sum. One of my travel companions was born in Hong Kong and knows some of the city’s best food spots, having lived there for several years during her childhood. So despite landing on a red-eye flight, we dropped our bags at the hotel and headed straight to Maxim’s Palace Central, located at Central’s City Hall, to line up just before it opened at 11 AM.
If you arrive any later than 1030 AM, expect to wait an hour or more. The classic Hong Kong rule: the longer the line at a restaurant, the better the food. When the doors finally opened, we jolted towards our preferred table—a cozy corner spot with beautiful views of the iconic harbor.
Maxim’s Palace Central is a tourist-friendly dim sum institution known for serving only the freshest handmade dumplings and small plates. Founded in 1980, it’s considered a pioneer in bringing dim sum into a more refined dining setting. However, tradition is still very much alive: you’ll need to flag down (or chase) one of the many servers pushing carts loaded with steaming dishes and bamboo baskets to place your order. Honestly (and I’m not exaggerating), the dim sum at Maxim’s is some of the best I’ve ever had. The crispy shrimp wontons, lotus rice wrapped in leaves, and delicate Cheung Fun (beef or shrimp wrapped in rice noodles and served in sweet soy sauce) were standouts.
To say I was busog after that indulgent meal is an understatement. And the fact that I had to work for my food (waiting in line and chasing down servers), made it all the more satisfying. After paying our bill—which, by the way, ended up being a lot more than we expected (so a friendly warning to pace yourselves)—we headed back to the hotel to shower and rest for a bit. Later, we got dressed for dinner and took an Uber up to The Peak, one of the city’s highest points, known for its high-end restaurants and classic tourist spots.
Once we arrived at The Peak, we made our way to La Vache, one of the top restaurants on all our lists thanks to a wonderful experience we had there two years ago on a previous trip. This newly opened Peak branch is beautifully appointed, with classic interiors and sweeping city views. The checkered tablecloths, topped with white paper featuring playful illustrations, screamed timeless elegance while still feeling warm and modern.
La Vache is a Parisian-style steakhouse that keeps things simple with just four items on their prix fixe menu: perfectly cooked entrecôte steaks done just the way you like them; unlimited crispy homemade fries fried in beef tallow (sinful, but absolutely worth it); a bright, fresh salad tossed in a classic vinaigrette; and of course, warm bread on the side. We enjoyed the meal with a bottle of their in-house red wine.
It was a perfect dinner that proved Hong Kong isn’t just a haven for Chinese cuisine, but a true destination for world-class dining of every kind. Pro tip: Be sure to book your table at La Vache well in advance, because it’s nearly impossible to get a seat if you just walk in.
After-dinner drinks happened at Falcone, an Italian restaurant-bar just a stone’s throw away from La Vache. We were killing time before our 1030 PM reservations at the buzzy restaurant Yardbird, and Falcone’s vibrant, all-pink interiors looked like the place to be. While we didn’t try any food, we happily sipped on draft beers and Old Fashioneds.
At 10 PM, the pilgrimage for more booze and food began. After squeezing into a packed tram down from The Peak and back into the city, we finally made our way to Yardbird, a modern dining destination tucked in the heart of Hong Kong. It’s another spot where reservations are essential, and they enforce a strict two-hour seating policy because demand is that high. But I get it—everyone wants to eat there, especially since the restaurant was awarded one Michelin star in 2021.
Walking into Yardbird feels like stepping into a scene straight out of a modern foodie fantasy. The lights are dim, the music’s loud, and its well-dressed crowd buzzes with Friday-night energy. We were, naturally, still stuffed from our steak dinner, but that didn’t stop us from ordering whatever yakitori dishes (their specialty) the servers recommended. I tried the Breast (served with wasabi and soy sauce) and the Meatball (with tare and egg yolk). The latter was a standout, and I only wish I wasn’t so full so I could have truly savored it. We paired everything with various highballs.
To end Day One, we made a slightly tipsy trek to The Old Man, a proud member of the World’s 50 Best Bars list. Hidden in one of the alleys of Central’s hilly streets, the bar draws inspiration from the works of Ernest Hemingway. As their official website puts it: they craft drinks with novel ingredients that pay homage to the spirits and cocktails he loved. I’d been here before and sampled much of the bar menu, but the best drink by far is The Sun Also Rises—a vibrant green cocktail made with copra fat-washed applejack, rotovap curry gin, lime, kaffir, and pandan leaves sous-vide in sweet vermouth. It’s delicious.
A special shoutout to Michelle, the Filipina server who, upon learning we were her kababayans, generously treated us to a round of tequila shots—a perfect (and slightly blurry) end to Day One of our Hong Kong food trip.
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Hong Kong, A Michelin City
Hong Kong is truly a global destination; and lately, with its growing array of upscale restaurants, it’s also become one of the most expensive places to wine and dine in Asia. But to balance things out, the city is home to one of the highest numbers of inexpensive Michelin-starred eateries in the world, offering high-quality food at affordable prices, lovingly prepared by incredibly skilled local chefs and cooks.
Day Two of our Hong Kong food trip was all about trying to eat at as many of these Michelin spots as possible. That said, I should admit up front that we failed. We only made it to two. Special shoutout to Sister Wah Beef Brisket, which we really wanted to try, but honestly, our overly full stomachs just couldn’t handle one more bite.
Slightly hungover from the night before, we woke up early to line up at Kam’s Roast Goose, the iconic Michelin-starred roast goose shop now run by third-generation family entrepreneurs. This was my one non-negotiable for the trip, and even though we were still reeling from last night’s drinks, we powered through, standing in line under the unforgiving morning sun, waiting for our chance to be seated. But in true Michelin-worthy service, the kind folks at Kam’s handed out branded fans to everyone in line, doing their best to keep us cool while we all waited (and sweated) for roast goose glory.
Luckily, we were about the 20th party in line when we arrived at 11 AM (the restaurant opens at 1130). Had we gotten there just a few minutes later, we might’ve had to wait a couple of hours. The line thankfully moved, and by around noon, we were finally seated and ready to order.
Our meal at Kam’s was probably the best one of the entire trip. We ordered a whole roast goose in all its oily, glistening glory, unafraid that it might be just a little bit too much. After all, we came to Hong Kong to eat—why be penny-pinchers now? Alongside the goose, we ordered a combo plate of suckling pig and their legendary fatty char siu, a big plate of their pickled cucumbers, and (because why not) some jellyfish to top it off.
We were completely stuffed but so, so happy. It was worth every bite, every calorie, and every drop of sweat under that sun. We ended up heading back to the hotel for a much-needed siesta just to process everything we’d eaten.
Our group couldn’t even think about food for the next couple of hours, so we made an impromptu museum stop at M+, which showcases a great selection of modern art from around the world. But you’re here to read about food—so let’s fast-forward to 5 PM, when the gastronomic trip resumed.
We missed our chance to eat at Sister Wah’s, but I knew a spot near the museum, inside the Harbour City mall, called Mak’s Noodles. It’s a simple but well-loved eatery that earned a Michelin star in 2017 for its wonton soup. The shrimp wonton soup at Mak’s was the perfect light meal after our indulgent feast at Kam’s earlier that day. The noodles tasted so fresh, the broth so bright; the shrimp dumplings were fluffy and perfectly cooked, and the soy sauce was the ideal balance of salty and sweet. I even checked the menu to see if they sold it by the bottle so I could take some home. Sadly, they didn’t. Just another great food memory filed away. I didn’t have to, but I also ordered a side of deep-fried shrimp wontons just for myself (mostly as an excuse to dip them into the lovely soy sauce).
That early dinner at Mak’s tided us over for the next few hours. Later that evening, we ended up at a small rugby bar in Causeway Bay called Ruggers, where we camped out for most of the night. Our original plan was to check out the buzzy Bar Leone, but word on the street was if you don’t show up early, you’ll have to wait in a long line. After that sweat-filled queue at Kam’s earlier, we weren’t in the mood for any more waiting. Ruggers had your typical bar food and drinks list, so we just grabbed some sweet potato fries and curry-covered fish chips to munch on while we drank.
Finally, at around 130 AM (true to our slightly drunk and totally unhinged selves), we decided it was time to sample the menu at McDonald’s, especially the items you can’t get in Manila. We weren’t exactly hungry, but it felt wrong not to hit up McDo at least once while in Hong Kong. I ordered the Crispy Chicken Thighs with a side of fries, but I have to say: sorry McDonald’s, those thighs weren’t vibing. It was just regular fried chicken, and not even half as good as our local Chicken McDo. Still, I tried something new, and that’s what a food trip’s all about, right?
Street Food Trip
By Day Three of our food trip, we were almost at our limits. Our stomachs were about to pop, and I still hadn’t gotten enough of my roast goose fix, even after all that Kam’s the day before. But before chasing another Michelin-starred goose, we all agreed it was one of those days that called for an incredibly light lunch.
Near Times Square in Causeway Bay, there’s a row of local eateries tucked under the highway. We wandered down the narrow street to see if anything would catch our eye. The steaming broth wafting out of one doorway and the glistening beef brisket hanging by the window of Dai Hei Noodle did the trick. It looked like the perfect spot to recover after a long night out.
We later learned that Dai Hei Noodle is actually a well-known chain in Hong Kong, offering a variety of hand-pulled noodles in their signature broth, topped with your choice of protein. I ordered the beef brisket with flat rice noodles with soup, but swapped the rice noodles for egg noodles instead. What I love about Hong Kong, our spontaneous visit to Dai Hei being an example of this, is that you can walk in practically anywhere and walk out satisfied. The restaurant’s soup dish was hearty and restorative—exactly what I needed to come back to life.
Near Dai Hei, at one of Times Square’s busiest intersections, was Happy Corner, a kiosk selling classic egg waffles. I’ll admit, I kind of wish I saved my egg waffle craving for somewhere more old-school and authentic. This one leaned a bit more touristy, but hey, it was right in the commercial zone and the smell was just too good to resist. Was it delicious? Of course! Have I had better? Definitely. Still, props to them for churning out a crazy number of waffles in a matter of minutes to feed their growing crowd.
The rest of the day was spent walking around and exploring, attempting to burn off a few calories before the meal I was truly excited for. I suggested we hit up Yat Lok early (way before the dinner rush) to avoid the line. We arrived at the Michelin Guide-recognized roast goose house by 5 PM and were seated right away, despite the place being packed.
Eating at Yat Lok is an experience in itself. You don’t get to choose your table or your seat. You just squeeze in wherever there’s space, eat fast, and get out. And honestly? That’s part of the charm. The food is so good, you won’t care what the setup is.
Yat Lok is probably my second favorite restaurant in Hong Kong (right after Kam’s). The experience feels truly authentic to the country’s food culture with its tight, no-frills space serving food that’s ridiculously delicious. Founded in 1957 and still run by the same family, Yat Lok is best known for its juicy, award-winning roast goose with the crispiest skin imaginable.
What’s amazing is, even though they serve the same kind of goose as Kam’s, the difference in taste is clear. The cooking style is so specific to each restaurant that you can actually differentiate a Yat Lok roast goose from a Kam’s roast goose. It’s wild. If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m very much a Roast Goose Fan Boy.
After that decadent meal, it was time to wash it all down with some beers. We searched for the nearest pub, and just up the street from Yat Lok was Goose Island Beer Co. I laughed at the name—goose again! But after the past few days of nonstop goose, it honestly felt like destiny. What I wasn’t aware of was that Goose Island is actually a brewery founded in Chicago back in 1988 by a guy named John Hall, who wanted to give Americans more (and better) beer options.
As for the beer itself? Just as refreshing as you’d hope. Light and smooth on the palette. It was the perfect way to cut through the rich, oily meal we just devoured. The night wrapped up at a random sports bar in Central called Soho Taproom, which we stayed at ’til closing time. No food here, or for the rest of the night. Just a few good glasses of whisky to help melt all the goose away.
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Last Push On The Last Day
If you haven’t already noticed, we tried to do a light lunch every day as a sort of “we’re feeling guilty for eating too much” penance. Same story on the last day of the food trip. We went hunting for something a little bit healthier (but not really). One of my companions, who went to a British boarding school for high school, told us how much he used to love Pret A Manger, the sandwich and coffee chain popular all over Europe. Lucky for him, Hong Kong has branches scattered all over, so we humored his nostalgia and made our way there.
To be honest, the Pret A Manger in Hong Kong is pretty excellent. What’s usually considered a “fast food chain” in Europe felt genuinely fresh and tasty. To stay somewhat aligned with all the Chinese food I’d been eating, I picked up a Peking Duck wrap—a simple, ready-made roll packed with duck, mixed greens, onions, and hoisin sauce. It was delicious but not super filling, so I followed it up with a classic chicken sandwich. No regrets.
After lunch, we decided to split up and enjoy our last few hours however we pleased before flying back to Manila. The first thing that popped in my head? Mrs. Fields. I remembered spotting a shop in Times Square and made my way there to buy a few boxes to bring home to my family. Mrs. Fields is one of my all-time favorite cookie brands, and I was devastated when they closed their last branch in Shangri-La Plaza Mall. The boxed ones from S&R just don’t hit the same as fresh-from-the-oven cookies.
I sat near the shop (conveniently located at the train station) and treated myself to two chewy chocolate chip cookies with a glass of iced coffee. Heaven. The warm dough, the melty chips. Pure joy. Afterwards, I hit up the local grocery to hoard junk food I’d never seen in Manila. And then, of course… I got hungry again. There was no way I could convince my friends to join me for yet another goose run. They would’ve laughed in my face. So I took it upon myself to continue the food trip solo.
I’d heard of Kitchen One Roast Goose, a popular spot near our hotel in Causeway Bay. It was mid-afternoon, so I figured I’d get a seat with no problem. I found it on Google Maps, walked over, and was seated instantly.
Like Kam’s and Yat Lok, One Roast Goose had its own distinct flavor profile. I’d say it’s the closest to the roast duck (no goose in Manila) we get back home in the Philippines—meatier, and a lot less oily than the other places I’d been to. But still absolutely delicious. What really set it apart were the pickled vegetables served on the side, which added just the right balance to the richness of the meat and crispy skin. I loved it. I’m definitely adding this spot to my Hong Kong must-eat list.
After that “final” goose, it was time to pack up and head to the airport. My flight was at 830 PM, and it was already close to 6 PM, but I wasn’t panicking. Hong Kong’s airport is a well-oiled machine. I breezed through check-in, security, and immigration in under 30 minutes. And guess what? I was already on the hunt for one more roast goose dish.
I’d eaten at Yung Kee before, the award-winning roast shop, and knew they had a branch at the airport. But when I realized it was in a different terminal—and that I needed to take a train to get there—I decided not to risk it. Instead, I settled for a roast goose stall (sorry, I don’t remember the name) in the food court. No regrets, though. Was it as good as Kam’s or Yat Lok? Of course not. But it was still Hong Kong good, which is really saying something. To balance out the oil, I ordered a wonton noodle soup on the side. I know, I know. It’s a lot, but I figured if I ate heavy, I wouldn’t need to eat on the flight back.
Sitting on the plane, I scrolled through the photos on my iPhone, looking back at the madness of the food trip we just pulled off. Any regrets? Naaah. Will I be dieting and working out like crazy for the next couple of weeks to repent? Most definitely. Did I still eat the in-flight meal? Of course I did.
