Where to feast on hairy crab in Hong Kong

Hairy crab is an irresistible autumn treat, prized for its flavourful roe. As you crack open the crab shell, the golden roe emerges, its richness perfectly complementing the delicate sweetness of the crab meat. To bring you the season's best hairy crab offerings, we've rounded up six restaurants around town that have crafted special menus around this delicacy. 

Make the most of exclusive dining discounts at our partner restaurants and earn Asia Miles while you feast. Cathay members can earn miles at a rate of HKD4 = 1, while Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard^® holders can earn up to HKD4 = 2.

HEYA

Spacious banquet venue HEYA is known for taking traditional Cantonese dishes and adding creative Western touches. This season, they’re offering four specially crafted hairy crab set menus tailored for groups of 4-12 people. The highlight is the Yangcheng Lake hairy crab, served whole to preserve its delicate flavour. Accompanying dishes include sautéed scallops and sliced clam, roasted suckling pig with cheese, and pan-fried fish fillet with teriyaki sauce. For a refreshing finish, try the salted egg yolk custard buns and cashew nut sweet soup. 

Exclusive offer for Cathay members: a complimentary bottle of red wine.

Dining period: 16 September - 31 October 2024. 

HEYA, L503-504, The One, 100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2628 3178

Voynich

Straight out of a classic spy movie, Voynich’s decadent interiors provide the perfect setting to relish an exclusive ten-course hairy crab dinner. The set showcases the versatility of the prized ingredient, with dishes including chilled crab meat in goldleaf jelly and steamed snow swallow dumpling with hairy crab coral. The showstopper, of course, is the steamed hairy crab, served with a choice of osmanthus or perilla leaves. The feast concludes with a refreshing chrysanthemum iced jelly and sweetened rose ginger soup.

Exclusive offer for Cathay members: a complimentary bottle of Echigozakura Junmai Daiginjo sake.

Dining period: 7 October - 30 November 2024.

Voynich, Shop 401, 4/F, Ocean Centre, Harbour City, 5 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 26882408

T'ang Court

At the three-Michelin-starred T'ang Court , diners can savour the pure taste of steamed whole crab or explore innovative creations such as steamed egg white with imperial bird's nest, hairy crab meat and roe. The chef's expertly combines textures and flavours to delight with dishes including braised sea cucumber filled with minced pork and dried shrimp roe, and stewed shrimps and turnip with hairy crab meat and roe served with steamed bread – delectabledisplays of culinary artistry.  

Dining period: 1 October - 31 October 2024

T'ang Court, 1/F, The Langham, Hong Kong, 8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2132 7898 

Chinesology

Celebrating the versatility of hairy crab, the Tang dynasty-inspired restaurant Chinesology has created an 11-course menu featuring three types of crab cooked in different ways, from stewed to steamed to pan-fried. The inventive menu takes diners on a journey through Chinese culinary history, with a few contemporary twists. A standout dish is the eight treasure glutinous rice with crab meat, dried scallop, preserved sausage, and salted egg yolk, showcasing the chef's skill in preparing traditional ingredients with modern techniques.  

Dining period: 16 September - 15 November 2024

Chinesology, Shop 3101, 3/F, IFC Mall, 8 Finance Street, Central, 6809 2299 

Tze Yuet Heen

At the Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East, elegant dining space Tze Yuet Heen has designed a six-course feast around hairy crab. The menu begins with a visually striking dish of scrambled egg white and assorted seafood served in a hairy crab shell, accompanied by deep-fried shrimp toast. The main event is the crab itself, served steamed or with pot ale and galangal. Other highlights include braised fish maw soup with scallop and bamboo pith, and braised Inaniwa noodles with shrimp topped with hairy crab roe. The meal concludes with a soothing ginger tea and red dates.

Exclusive offer for Cathay members: enjoy an additional piece of hairy crab at HK$129 (originally HK$258)

Dining period: 16 September - 31 October 2024 

Tze Yuet Heen, 2/F, Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East, 3 Tong Tak Street, Tseung Kwan O, 3983 0628

Moments Together 

Shanghainese and Hunan cuisine come together in this elegant restaurant, where a lavish menu transforms hairy crab into the main star. Crispy yellow eel, foie gras and caviar-topped eggs open the doors to three hairy crab dishes including scrambled egg whites with crab coral, hairy crab soup dumplings and – naturally – the crabs themselves, steamed to perfection. Mouthwatering meat dishes follow with either sous vide Iberico pork belly bites or a slow-cooked Angus beef short rib before ending on a sweet gingery note with a glutinous rice ball soup. With both a Causeway Bay and a Tsim Sha Tsui location, book ahead of time to avoid disappointment. 

Dining period: 25 September – 31 October 

Causeway Bay location: Shop 1103, 11/F, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, 2321 6833 

More inspiration