A guide to the best noodles to try in Hong Kong

Noodles are woven into everyday life in Hong Kong; popular dishes appear everywhere from humble neighbourhood eateries to long-established Cantonese restaurants. Whether it’s a bowl of wonton noodles, beef brisket in fragrant broth or lobster e-fu for a special occasion, these are some of the city’s must-try noodle dishes.

Wonton bamboo noodles

Few dishes capture the flavour of Hong Kong quite like wonton noodles. The best versions use traditional bamboo-pole noodles, made by kneading duck egg and flour dough beneath a long bamboo pole, creating their signature springy bite. They’re most commonly served in a savoury broth with delicate wontons filled with pork and shrimp. The dry version is equally popular – served dry, they’re often tossed with sauce and finished with bright orange shrimp roe, adding a savoury depth that complements the noodles’ firm texture.

Best places for wonton bamboo noodles

Lau Sum Kee Noodle, 48 Kweilin Street, Sham Shui Po, 2386 3533
Ten Noodle Shop , G/F, Roxan Mansion, 45 Yu Chau Street, Prince Edward, 3705 8436
Tsim Chai Kee Noodle, locations across Hong Kong

Beef brisket noodles 

Imagine slow-cooked beef brisket, tripe and tendon simmered in chu hou paste, a savoury fermented soybean sauce, alongside garlic, ginger, star anise, Shaoxing wine and a long list of aromatics. Hong Kong’s beef brisket noodles have attained classic status for a reason. They’re typically served with braised white radish and your choice of noodle, whether e-fu noodles, chewy bamboo noodles or flat rice hor fun. The aroma reaches the table before the bowl does, carrying the rich, savoury notes that have made the dish a Hong Kong staple.

Best places for beef brisket noodles 

Kau Kee, G/F, 21 Gough Street, Central, 2850 5967
Sister Wah, G/F, 13A Electric Road, Tin Hau, 2807 0181

Cart noodles 

Back in the 1950s, street vendors would sell affordable bowls of cart noodles in low-income neighbourhoods using mobile carts. While the vendors can no longer be found on the streets, cart noodle restaurants remain a cherished part of Hong Kong’s culinary scene. Across the city, diners can choose their preferred toppings and noodles, typically served in a rich meat broth. Topping choices vary by restaurant, with some places offering dozens of ingredients to mix and match. The beauty lies in the freedom to build a bowl to your own taste, with favourites ranging from soy-braised chicken wings and beef brisket to fish balls and offal.

Best places for cart noodles 

Man Kee Cart Noodles , G/F, 121 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po, 9059 5104
Lam Kee Cart Noodles, Shop A12, Tai On Building, 57-87 Shau Kei Wan Road, Sai Wan Ho, 2535 8829

Beef hor fun 

Flat rice noodles, or hor fun, are used in stir-fries and soup noodle dishes in Hong Kong. However, the most popular flat rice noodle dish must be beef chow fun, served in cha chaan tengs, Hong Kong’s classic diners. Stir-fried over intense heat with beef, soy sauce, scallions and bean sprouts, the noodles take on the prized smoky wok hei flavour, while the alliums provide welcome sweetness.

Best places for beef hor fun

Kam Wah Cafe, 45-47 Bute Street, Mong Kok, 2392 6830
Tai Ping Koon , locations across Hong Kong, locations across Hong Kong 

Breakfast chow mein

There’s arguably nothing better for breakfast than a big plate of chow mein, typically served in congee and rice roll shops. A world away from the Western version of chow mein, the Cantonese version uses thin egg noodles seasoned with oyster sauce, soy sauce, bean sprouts and scallions. Pair them with a glass of soy milk, a bowl of congee or a steamed rice roll, and you have the perfect breakfast. 

Best places to try breakfast chow mein

Wing Li Congee, 147 Sai Yee Street, Mong Kok, 2219 0992 
Chung Kee Congee , locations across Hong Kong

Roast goose lai fun

Siu mei (Cantonese roast meats) occupy a special place in Hong Kong’s dining culture. Roast goose is one of the more celebratory meats due to its higher price point and intensely fatty skin. To balance its richness, the meat is often served with steamed rice or lai fun, a type of rice noodle that’s partly translucent and tube-shaped, resembling spaghetti. Lai fun’s delicate flavour makes it the ideal partner for roast goose, while its silky texture encourages another bite, and then another.

Best places to try roast goose lai fun

Tin Hung Roast Goose Restaurant, 88 Kin Yip Street, Yuen Long, 2474 8849
Kam’s Roast Goose, G/F, Po Wah Commercial Centre, 226 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, 2520 1110

E-fu noodles

Nothing says celebration quite like e-fu noodles. Closely associated with longevity, these flat Cantonese egg-wheat noodles are usually served during birthdays, weddings and Chinese New Year as a symbol of a long and healthy life. They’re most often enjoyed at banquets and traditional Chinese restaurants, with one of the most popular preparations being lobster e-fu noodles. The sauce is rich and velvety, luxuriously enveloping the noodles while allowing the freshness of the lobster to shine through.

Best places to try e-fu noodles

Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant , G/F, 21-24 Connaught Road West, Sheung Wan, 2668 9638 
Sing Kee Seafood Restaurant , G/F, 33-39 Sai Kung Tai Street, Sai Kung