Master Chefs Lead the Way: Explore Great Tastes Everywhere in Hong Kong HKTB Invites 50+ Master Chefs to Debut a Gourmet Guide Showcasing Hong Kong’s Delicious Flavours to the World

Each neighbourhood in Hong Kong reveals its own culinary treasures, embodying the diversity, authenticity and excellence of the city’s dining scene. Together, they weave an unparalleled tapestry that has earned Hong Kong the reputation of a Gourmet Capital and draws visitors from across the globe to discover its flavours. Hou Mei — the Cantonese expression for “delicious flavours” — captures not only the essence of great taste, but also the vibrant dining culture that defines the city. To promote the local foodscape and strengthen its tourism appeal, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), in partnership with the Chinese Culinary Institute (CCI), a member of the Vocational Training Council (VTC), has launched the first-ever “Taste Hong Kong” Gourmet Guide. The guide provides visitors with an inspiring gateway to explore the city’s flavours by inviting over 50 local master chefs who graduated from the CCI to recommend 250 of their favourite restaurants across Hong Kong.

Dr. Peter Lam, HKTB Chairman said, “The Chinese Culinary Institute has long been a cradle for countless culinary talents, contributing significantly to the city’s reputation as a ‘Gourmet Capital’. The ‘Taste Hong Kong’ Gourmet Guide, created through our collective efforts is not just a restaurant list; it is a heartfelt tribute to the spirit of our city’s dining culture. With master chefs leading the way, we invite visitors to embark on a tasting journey to explore Hong Kong’s myriad types of Hou Mei. This initiative also aligns closely with the HKTB’s ‘Hong Kong Neighbourhoods’ campaign, encouraging visitors to 1 experience every corner of the city in depth while stimulating spending and promoting the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry.”

VTC Chairman Mr Jeffrey LAM Kin-fung said, “As a member institution of the VTC, Chinese Culinary Institute (CCI) has long been dedicated to promoting Hong Kong as the hub for Chinese culinary training in the Asia-Pacific region. CCI provides systematic and professional training in Chinese cuisine, promotes the rich heritage of the Chinese culinary art, and supports the development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry. This initiative brings together alumni of the CCI’s ‘Master Chef Course in Chinese Cuisine’, telling the story of Hong Kong’s diverse food culture and help strengthen Hong Kong’s reputation as the culinary capital of Asia.”

Led by Master Chefs: A Culinary Exploration of Hong Kong Neighbourhoods

The HKTB promotes delicacies in the city through its dedicated “Taste Hong Kong” campaign website and has released a series of videos introducing great tastes across neighbourhoods. These videos are also launched simultaneously on HKTB’s social media platforms, with master chefs leading global visitors and locals on a gastronomic journey around Hong Kong.

More than 50 local master chefs have recommended 250 exceptional dining destinations across Hong Kong, enabling visitors to “dine as they go”. Participating chefs include executive chefs from five‑star hotels and Michelin‑starred culinary talents, including Wong Lung To, Ronald Shao Tak‑lung, and Lee Man‑sing. These culinary leaders strive for excellence in combining heritage preservation with innovative cooking skills and are dedicated to promoting the development of the local dining culture. Their recommended restaurants feature a dazzling array of Chinese cuisines, covering different flavours such as Beijing, Shanghai, Sichuan, Cantonese and Yunnan; and global cuisines, including French, Italian, American, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Indian, Singaporean and Malaysian. The restaurant types are diverse and marked with distinct characteristics, ranging from authentic noodle shops, Hong Kong-style dessert shops, time-honoured restaurants and hipster cafes to star-rated hotel restaurants and Michelin top-tier dining venues. Through the discerning recommendations of these master chefs, visitors and locals can experience the profound heritage and diverse landscape of Hong Kong’s dining culture, indulging in Hong Kong’s Hou Mei.

Commissioner for Tourism, Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau Mrs. Angelina Cheung (fifth from left, front row), HKTB Executive Director Mr. Anthony Lau (fifth from right, front row), VTC Executive Director Mr. Donald Tong (fourth from left, front row), HKTB Board Member and Legislative Council Member Mr. Jonathan Leung (third from left, front row), and Legislative Council Members Mr Perry Yiu (fourth from right, front row) and Ms. Vivian Kong (third from right, front row) join the master chefs to witness the launch of the "Taste Hong Kong" Gourmet Guide.

One of the participating master chefs, Wong Lung To, Executive Chef of Forum Restaurant, remarked, “It is a great honour to be invited by the HKTB to participate in this campaign. It allows us local chefs an opportunity to join hands to contribute to Hong Kong tourism industry and introduce the spirit of craftsmanship and exquisite skills in Hong Kong’s food culture to global visitors.”

Lee Man Sing, Group Chinese Executive Chef of Mott 32, added: “I enjoy wandering around the city in search of new flavours. The ‘Taste Hong Kong’ Gourmet Guide brings together restaurant recommendations from a group of chefs, enabling visitors to experience Hong Kong’s diverse and exciting food culture.”

Browse the “Taste Hong Kong” Campaign Website for a Convenient On-the-Go Guide to District Delicacies

Today, HKTB is introducing the “Taste Hong Kong” campaign website featuring participating master chefs, recommended restaurants, neighbourhood highlights, and a downloadable digital gourmet guide. The website is designed for ease of use, with multiple tags for neighbourhoods, cuisine types and dining occasions, allowing users to search according to their personal preferences. Visitors can also filter for restaurants accredited under the Quality Tourism Services (QTS) Scheme, halal‑certified venues, and Michelin‑starred establishments, catering for diverse dining preferences. In addition, QR codes will be displayed at various MTR stations, bus shelters and visitor signage across neighbourhoods. By scanning these codes on their phones, visitors can easily access the campaign website and browse information on chef-selected restaurants within specific neighbourhoods, enabling them to enjoy delicacies on the go and effortlessly discover more delights and surprises for the palate. HKTB will broadcast the “Taste Hong Kong” promotional video at major tourist hotspots, such as visitor information centres, Hong Kong International Airport, Lan Kwai Fong, and prominent shopping malls and hotels across the city.

Promoting Hong Kong’s Culinary Appeal through Top Asian Culinary Programmes and KOLs Overseas Media Explore the City’s Flavours from First Person Perspectives

Targeting multiple source markets, HKTB is collaborating with popular culinary programmes to launch exclusive content based on the Gourmet Guide to engage a broad global audience of food enthusiasts and inspire culinary travel to Hong Kong.

HKTB will also invite key opinion leaders (KOLs) from the Chinese Mainland, the United Kingdom, Southeast Asia, and other countries and regions to visit recommended restaurants and share their first hand experiences on social media, promoting Hong Kong delicacies across various neighbourhoods. HKTB is also collaborating closely with Xiaohongshu, leveraging the Gourmet Guide and culinary travel in Hong Kong to appeal to food and travel enthusiasts. Collectively, the global KOL and social media promotion is expected to reach over 100 million followers.

Additionally, HKTB will invite media representatives from the Chinese Mainland and international markets to visit Hong Kong in March. They will closely engage with local master chefs, dine at the selected restaurants featured in the Gourmet Guide, and attend the “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants” awards ceremony, which will be hosted in Hong Kong for the first time. Through their extensive coverage, these media outlets will showcase Hong Kong’s dynamic dining scene to audiences worldwide, inspiring visitors to discover their own version of “Taste Hong Kong”.