Student Accommodation - 188 Wan Chai Road

Chef Hung has worked in many 5-star hotels and values food quality and shrewd techniques more than anything else. Seasonal ingredients from around the world are painstakingly prepared the traditional way and then plated with modern refinement. Wok-fried crab claw with dried shrimps, spring onion and layered bean curd sheet is exquisitely presented and loaded with umami. The wine and tea sommeliers, as well as the professional service team, make for a pleasant experience.

Chinese

For over 70 years, the Kams have been famous for their roast goose and this shop was opened by the third generation. But the goose extravaganza doesn’t stop at their juicy roast goose with crispy skin. Try also their silky, melty goose blood pudding or the decadent blanched noodles tossed in goose fat. Other Cantonese barbecue dishes glistening in the window are also worth trying. With only 30 seats, don’t be surprised to see a queue.

Taizhou cuisine emphasises the natural flavours of ingredients, so dishes are only sparingly seasoned with aromatics. Braised wild-caught yellow croaker from the East China Sea is the must-try signature here; other recommendations include deep-fried conger eel and braised radish. Seasonal offerings include regional specialities like lamb offal which is rarely found in Hong Kong. Certain items require pre-ordering.

With 70+ years of glorious history, Fook Lam Moon is held dear by its faithful regulars as an institution in classic Cantonese cuisine. A stable kitchen team ensures the food is consistently good, be it exquisite dim sum or other traditional offerings. Standouts such as live seafood cooked various ways, deep-fried crispy chicken, baked stuffed crab shell, and gourmet soup in whole winter melon, are true delights. Some dishes need pre-ordering.

Co-founder and chef of this upmarket spot, the late Yeung Koon-yat – aka the "abalone king" – created the iconic Ah Yat braised abalone decades ago. To this day, it remains the speciality that attracts food-loving crowds from near and far. As well as the tender and flavourful abalone, classics such as pan-seared leopard coral grouper fillet and baked stuffed crab shell are nicely made. The extensive wine list showcases boutique wineries.

At this spot serving authentic Shanghainese cooking to a Shanghainese-speaking clientele, it's tempting to think you're in Shanghai. The menu covers all bases, from home-style favourites (sautéed river shrimps; eight treasures in chilli sauce) to painstaking recipes such as stir fried shredded mandarin fish. The dim sum, e.g. xiao long bao, and pan-fried pork buns are also well made. In season, dishes made with hairy crab meat and roe are unmissable.