Celebrating all that’s great about Hong Kong’s dynamic F&B scene in a record 40 categories, here’s where the Foodie team and our dear readers have deemed the top spots for dining and drinking around town, as well as the extraordinary chefs, front of house, kitchen and bar staff, and all those behind the scenes who keep us well fed and watered.

Foodie Forks 2024 award winners

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Which restaurant, bar, and café most impressed your taste buds over the past year? Let us know so that we can give them the recognition they so rightfully deserve.

This is the 10th edition of the Foodie Forks, back with a vengeance after a four-year pause. Foodie’s annual awards – this year featuring 40 categories in total – are designed to honour the achievements of restaurants and individuals within the F&B industry, whether it’s for their cooking, ethos, or the vibe they’ve created. 

We love to showcase those making all that edible and drinkable magic, and our awards give us the opportunity to do just that. 

Foodie Forks 2024 Readers’ Choice award categories – vote now!

Help us to give your F&B darlings a boost by celebrating their accomplishments, endurance, and delicious food and drink in the following three Readers’ Choice categories:

Best Restaurant: what eatery has made the biggest mark on your palate?

Best Bar: which watering hole is the hottest spot in town for a tipple?

Best Café: where do you head for good vibes, tasty eats, and a quality cuppa?

Voting ends on Apr. 24. The winners will be announced at our awards ceremony on May 23 and will be revealed on our website and social media on May 24.

Vote now!

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The Foodie Forks 2024 awards ceremony is set for May 23, where we’ll hand out trophies in recognition of the top bars, restaurants, and movers and shakers in the world of food over the past year, as voted for by both the Foodie team and our devoted readers. 

We want to big up the people and places that make Hong Kong’s food culture one of the most dynamic, inspiring, and diverse in the world!

Foodie Forks 2024 award categories

This year, we’ve come up with a record 40 categories honouring the achievements of the restaurants and individuals within Hong Kong’s incredible F&B industry, including three Reader’s Choice categories where you can make your own votes count.

Stay tuned for news of when voting opens for the Foodie Forks Reader’s Choice awards and then show some love to the restaurants and F&B folks who most impressed your palate this year!

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2020 has been an exceptionally tumultuous year for the F&B industry. These Foodie Forks 2020 winners, as voted by Foodie and our readers, have emerged as the most outstanding restaurants and chefs in Hong Kong, outperforming thousands of eateries. They rely on your support to continue thriving during these difficult times. Read up on what offers they have right now and show them some love.

Le Bec Fin

Photo credit: @themagicalbunnies

Voted Readers’ Choice Best Restaurant, fine-dining eatery Le Bec Fin is much loved by Foodie readers. Chef Nakao Kazuhisa, former head chef of the Japanese Embassy, creates exquisite French-Japanese dishes like chargrilled Wagyu tenderloin ($700), foie gras egg custard ($145) and grilled Japanese abalone ($600). Support Le Bec Fin by ordering from their new takeaway menu. Call to enquire.

Shop 8, G/F, China United Centre, 28 Marble Road, North Point, 2217 8889, book a table online

LPM Restaurant & Bar

Another fine-dining spot, this time voted Editors’ Choice Best Restaurant, LPM pride themselves on only using seasonal ingredients in their cooking. Enjoy fresh French-Mediterranean flavours with their LPM at Home menu for takeaway and delivery, featuring signature dishes such as salt cod croquettes ($158) and grilled Chilean white bass ($488), with complimentary extras such as the trademark LPM table decor for orders over $800. Scan the QR code to access LPM’s Spotify playlist to recreate the same dine-in experience at home!

Shop 1, H Queen’s, 1/F, 23–29 Stanley Street, Central, 2887 1113, book a table online

Update on 7 August: LPM has temporarily closed for dine-in, takeaway and delivery until further notice.

Rubia

Times are rough for new restaurants. Rubia, voted Readers’ Choice Best New Restaurant, suspended both dine-in and takeaway services for a bit, but they are now back with their usual Spanish steak, tapas and drinks. Head over for lunch for some delicious tapas (from $55) and indulge in their signature Rubia Gallega tenderloin ($527). Alternatively, share these dishes with your family with their takeaway option.

UG/F and 1/F, C Wisdom Centre, 35–37 Hollywood Road, Central, 2889 1199, book a table online

Castellana

Castellana delivers the vibrant flavours of the Italian region of Piedmont to your plate. Winner of Editors’ Choice Best New Restaurant, they now offer both takeaway and delivery with the Casa Castellana initiative. Choose from three-course ($280), four-course ($380) and group (5+) à-la-carte menus. Enjoy Castellana signature dishes such as vitello tonnato and carbonara “au koque” in the comfort of your home. Detailed instructions on how to reheat the food are also provided on their website. Delivery is complimentary for orders above $500, covering Causeway Bay, Happy Valley, Central and Mid-Levels; a surcharge applies for deliveries to other areas. Be sure to pre-order for lunch by 9pm the night before and, for dinner, by 11am on the day.
Get 10% off for takeaway.

10/F, CUBUS, 1 Hoi Ping Road, Causeway Bay, 3188 5028, book a table online

Shady Acres

Nights out may be a thing of the past, but Shady Acres will make sure you have your alcohol fix after work. Voted Readers’ Choice Best New Bar, they serve good food and, of course, banging alcohol. You can now have their signature fish fillet sandwiches, burgers, hampers, iced wine packs and cocktails delivered to you at no surcharge with their new Shady Go-Go mobile delivery service, available up to Hopewell Centre in Wanchai. Takeaway is also available. Call to place your order.

46 Peel Street, SoHo, Central, 9176 7500 (no bookings)

Kakure

A high-end Japanese restaurant, Kakure comprises a Ginza-style cocktail and whisky bar, sushi bar, teppanyaki cooking station and private tatami rooms. While their whisky and one-of-a-kind cocktail concoctions earned them the title of Editors’ Choice Best New Bar, they now offer a large selection of sushi and bentos for takeaway at 20% off. Items include daily sashimi set ($500), assorted tempura don ($250) and deluxe teppanyaki seafood set ($450). Have a look at their menu in the #Takeaway section of their Instagram page. Call to place your order; the adjusted opening hours are weekdays, 11:30am–3pm.

Shop M20–24, M/F, Prince’s Building, 10 Chater Road, Central, 2522 9990, book a table online

121BC

Readers’ Choice Chef of the Year Fabio Nicotra heads 121BC, a family-style Italian restaurant that serves elevated sharing plates. Delivery is available via Deliveroo, featuring mouth-watering, homey dishes such as prosciutto di Parma ($170) and balsamic lamb ribs ($170) and a delicious range of fresh pasta items including spanner crab tagliatelle ($198). Wine lovers can opt for the wine-delivery service, with free delivery across Hong Kong for orders over $750.

LG/F, Hilltop Plaza, 49 Hollywood Road (entrance on Graham Street), Central, 2672 8255, book a table online

Meraki Hospitality Group: BEDU, Mamma Always Said & Uma Nota

Corey Riches, named Editors’ Choice Chef of the Year, powers BEDU and Mamma Always Said. Both restaurants belong to Meraki Hospitality Group (in addition to Brazilian-Japanese restaurant Uma Nota), and the group’s co-founder Laura Offe was named Readers’ Choice Food Hero. Grab two-course set lunches ($115) featuring cosy Middle Eastern dishes such as lamb shoulder and sweet potato falafel at BEDU, snag comfort food lunch sets ($115) including a Malay spiced chicken burger and crispy squid salad at Mamma Always Said or enjoy unlimited salad bar (from $95) options at Uma Nota. Get 10% off your bill for takeaway; for delivery, BEDU and Mamma Always said are on Deliveroo, while Uma Nota is on foodpanda. Alternatively, order from multiple Meraki restaurants with the Meraki at Home delivery service upon a minimum spend of $350, which also offers great-value sharing sets. WhatsApp 6379 9748 to order.

BEDU: 40 Gough Street, Central, 2320 4450, book a table online, order via Deliveroo

Mamma Always Said: 42 Peel Street, SoHo, Central, 2386 2216, email to book a table, order via Deliveroo

Uma Nota: 38 Peel Street, SoHo, Central, 2889 7576, book a table online, order via foodpanda

Café Malacca

Named a Bib Gourmand restaurant in the past by Michelin, it’s no surprise that Café Malacca, a Malaysian and Singaporean gem, was voted Readers’ Choice Trusted Favourite. Dig into authentic flavours of Hainanese chicken rice ($138), gado gado ($98), beef rendang ($138) and more. Takeaway is available daily, 11:30am– 10pm. Call to enquire about their latest offers.

2/F, Hotel Jen Hong Kong by Shangri-La, 508 Queen’s Road West, Shek Tong Tsui, 2213 6613, book a table online

Samsen

Samsen never fails to disappoint with its authentic Thai dishes, hence why it was voted Editors’ Choice Trusted Favourite. The takeaway menu includes favourites like pad thai with tiger prawns ($138) and green papaya salad with salted egg ($108). Don’t forget to finish with some mango sticky rice ($78)! Note that Samsen’s lunch hours are now from 12–3pm and dinner hours are from 6–9pm. Call to place your order; email takeaway@samsen-hk.com for large orders.

Sheung Wan: 23 Jervois Street, 2234 0080 (no bookings)

Wanchai: 68 Stone Nullah Lane, 2234 0001 (no bookings)

Fineprint

Serving a variety of brunch items and quality coffee, Fineprint is a crowd favourite and was voted Readers’ Choice Best Café. Feast at home with their new grocery hamper ($895), which includes their signature sourdough loaf, fruit, coffee beans, wine and other goodies – call for more information. Takeaway and delivery are available for their usual menu items. Their coffee-bean selection is also for sale, with free delivery for orders over 5kg.

Central: 38 Peel Street, SoHo, 5503 6880, order via Deliveroo

Tai Hang: 1 Lily Street, 5331 5205, order via Deliveroo

Cafe 8 & The Nest Bakery

Photo credit: foodiebit

Cafe 8 is perched on the rooftop of the Maritime Museum, overlooking Victoria Harbour. Pair the stunning views with mouth-watering pastries and you’ll understand why it was named Editors’ Choice Best Café. Cafe 8 is a social enterprise founded by The Nesbitt Centre that supports people with special needs. Show your support while social distancing by opting for takeaway. Treat yourself with something from their extensive lunch and dessert menu – a feta cheese salad ($88) with a brownie ($25), perhaps? The Nest Bakery, a similar initiative, is also on Deliveroo. Enjoy their fabulous coffee and pastries when you’re feeling peckish at home. Also check out their showstopping whole cakes for your next celebration!

Cafe 8: Rooftop, Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Pier 8, Central, 3791 2158 (no bookings)

The Nest Bakery: 24 Mui Fong Street, Sai Ying Pun, 9869 6728 (no bookings)

TREEHOUSE

Keep your immunity strong with TREEHOUSE’s nourishing plant-based flatbreads and grain bowls. Chosen as Readers’ Choice Best Green Eats, they are now offering 15% off takeaway at the Pottinger Street flagship when you use the code STAYHEALTHY15 on your online order. Delivery is also available via Deliveroo. Their BaseHall branch serves the same green goodness; place your takeaway order on the BaseHall website.

Flagship store: Shop 1, G/F, The Steps, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central, 3791 2277

BaseHall branch: Shop LG9, LG/F, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central, 3643 0865

Confusion

Photo credit: gg852

A family-run business passionate about sustainability, Confusion definitely earned their title of Editors’ Choice Best Green Eats. In light of recent government restrictions, their dine-in service is suspended, but you can still enjoy favourites like spicy Vietnamese burrito ($95), Thai basil fried rice ($110) and brownie cake ($35) on their takeaway menu. Call to place your order.

103 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, 2563 3699 (no bookings)

TM’s by The Den

TM’s by The Den whips up bold Latin American flavours with indulgent dishes such as pork taco wrap with corn chips and chipotle mayo ($108) and half lemongrass duck breast ($118). Their weekend brunch menu is also impressive. Voted Readers’ Choice Hidden Gem, TM’s is nestled in the small neighbourhood of Sai Ying Pun. Delivery is available on Deliveroo and Uber Eats. They also welcome takeaway, with 20% off takeout orders. Their new mix-and-match drink packages look perfect for the summer months. Call or WhatsApp to enquire.

23 High Street, Sai Ying Pun, 2872 6288, 5496 9406 (WhatsApp), book a table online

前座飯堂 (Chin Jor Fan Tong)

Photo credit: Mochisa

You can never go wrong with cart noodles. Pair build-your-own cart noodles with flavourful Southeast Asian appetisers to enjoy a comforting meal at 前座飯堂, which won Editors’ Choice Hidden Gem. Place your takeaway order before 11:30am and collect at 1pm to enjoy 10% off. If you order after 2pm, orders over $150 come with complimentary veggies in broth, while those over $300 come with fried shrimp cake. You are welcome to bring your own containers. Call or WhatsApp to enquire.

39 Sun Chun Street, Tai Hang, 5118 1869 (no bookings)

Test Kitchen

Vincent Mui launched Test Kitchen to provide a creative outlet for both seasoned chefs from all over the world and budding local chefs to strut their stuff. This groundbreaking pop-up initiative is unprecedented in Hong Kong, hence why Mui was chosen as our Editors’ Choice Food Hero. Consider supporting talented local chefs with Test Kitchen’s Chef’s Table series, where you can select from several of the city’s culinary talents to prepare an exquisite tasting menu at home. All menus come with an optional sake-pairing experience, with a sake curator to guide you through the pairings. Another option is a nine-course tasting menu delivered in a box to your door. You can also whip up brilliant flavours at home with Test Kitchen’s packaged pasta sauces and roast chicken to go – follow their Facebook page for more details.

Shop 3, Phase 3, Kwan Yick Building, 158A Connaught Road West, Sai Ying Pun, 9032 7628

Dignity Kitchen

To support the needy during these rough times, Readers’ Choice Most Inspiring Initiative Dignity Kitchen is delivering up to 100 bento boxes every day to homeless hostels, service centres and street sleepers. Support their Pay-It-Forward campaign by purchasing their lunch boxes in bulk. All their takeaway orders have a 20% discount. Enjoy moreish Singaporean classics like chicken rice ($65), nasi lemak ($56) and kaya toast ($22) while giving back to the community.

2/F, 618 Shanghai Street, Mongkok, 2561 2633

Black Sheep Restaurants

Home to numerous quality restaurants, Black Sheep Restaurants published the SOP: COVID-19 Playbook to provide guidance to F&B outlets worldwide on how to handle the novel coronavirus crisis. We love this support system during these tumultuous times, awarding it Editors’ Choice Most Inspiring Initiative. Sign up for their Black Sheep Supper Cult ($1,400/5 nights) to get your weeknight dinners from varied Black Sheep eateries delivered straight to your door. The plan is highly customisable depending on your dietary preferences. Black Sheep Restaurants also provide delivery service on their very own app, GO; simply select a restaurant and add menu items to your trolley on their user-friendly site.

Amber

Located at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, two-Michelin-starred Amber offers fine-dining menu items that are gluten and dairy free, as well as ethically caught fish and an amazing selection of plant-based dishes. All single-use plastics have been eliminated from the restaurant. These steps towards a greener environment are thanks to Chef Richard Ekkebus, who won the Foodie Sustainability Award. Enjoy a lavish lunch without the heavy carbon footprint from 12–2:30pm on weekdays and until 6pm on weekends (last order at 3:45pm).

7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 2132 0066, book a table online

Amigo

Photo credit: @chillfoogle

Winner of the Foodie Lifetime Achievement Award, Amigo is a charming fine diner serving up exquisite French cuisine for nearly half a century. Choose either the weekly-changing lunch menu ($430) or premium lunch menu ($890), currently available daily from 12–6pm. Paired with impeccable service and elegant decor, we guarantee you’ll have a dining experience to remember at Amigo. Call to book a table.

Amigo Mansion, 79A Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, 2577 2202/8993

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It’s been quite a year. Never have we been more amazed by the resilience of the restaurant industry in Hong Kong than in a year like this one, when we’ve been unsettled by civil unrest and a global pandemic, with ever-changing regulations to adapt to and an uncertain customer base. The pertinacity shown by the individuals behind the eateries of this city has been indomitable.

We are inspired by this lion-hearted resolve to endure and prevail during the very toughest of times. These awards are dedicated to each and every person in the F&B industry who has kept this city’s dining scene – a gargantuan part of why its citizens have maintained such high spirits – from crumbling and, instead, managed to make it thrive.

This is a true testament to the people who make up the fabric of Hong Kong.

RELATED: HK Restaurant Data for 2020 held a few surprises

BEST RESTAURANT

Le Bec Fin

READERS’ CHOICE

This mysterious fine-dining restaurant is not alone in offering French-Japanese fusion cuisine to Hong Kong diners. But where it really stands out is in the experimental array of meticulously crafted and utterly decadent dishes from award-winning chef Nakao Kazuhisa, previously the executive chef to the Japanese ambassador. The French onion soup is a triumph of ingenuity, while the desserts are a feat of structural engineering, redesigning classics into modern marvels. Le Bec Fin is special and intimate – a diamond in the rough of North Point that will make your evening spent there feel like you’re a bit in the know. From the French expression for “fine palate”, Le Bec Fin is certain to find yours.

Shop 8, G/F, China United Centre, 28 Marble Road, North Point, 2217 8889

LPM Restaurant & Bar

EDITORS’ CHOICE

LPM Restaurant & Bar – La Petite Maison – is one of those rare restaurants that manages to be simple, elevated, playful and sophisticated all at the same time. With locations all over the world, including spots in London, Dubai and Miami, LPM celebrates French-Mediterranean cuisine with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Famous for its warm prawns in olive oil, grilled lamb cutlets with smoked aubergine and mind-blowing pain perdu, LPM is consistent in its quality, service and overall dining experience. We love the little touches of fresh bread and the “make your own salad” of tomatoes, lemon and the best olive oil around that are placed on each table. Be sure to sample a Tomatini – the signature cocktail – described as “the essence of La Petite Maison”.

Shop 1, H Queen’s, 1/F, 23–29 Stanley Street, Central, 2887 1113

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

Rubia

READERS’ CHOICE

This new offering from Epicurean Group has clearly taken hold of what diners are looking for. This small Spanish taverna is a charming space with affordable prices and great happy-hour offerings. We’re big fans of previous Foodie Forks winner Chef Edgar Sanuy Barahona and his authentic Spanish cuisine, and it seems his bright new spark of a restaurant Rubia has had a similar effect on all of you. Some of the menu highlights are, of course, the Rubia Gallega steaks, and there are some pretty spectacular tapas and a notable warm cheesecake made with blue cheese, served with whisky ice cream.

UG/F and 1/F, C Wisdom Centre, 35–37 Hollywood Road, Central, 2889 1199

Castellana

EDITORS’ CHOICE

A collaboration with two-Michelin-starred chef Marco Sacco of Italy’s Piccolo Lago, this intimate and elegant restaurant showcases the unique flavours of Piedmont, a region beloved for its impactful flavours, freshwater fish, truffles and the highest number of tier-one wines in all of Italy. Castellana succeeds in delivering impeccable service along with a tasting menu that directly transports diners to this extraordinary northern Italian food haven. The dishes are beautifully presented, matched only by the inspired flavours they present on the tongue. Lake fish smothered in a glossy berry sauce, handmade tagliolini with a gin-infused carbonara sauce, river prawns with black garlic risotto and a three-part tiramisu are some of the standout dishes we have tried that elevate this restaurant to the legendary experience we have found it to be. The one- of-a-kind cuisine of Piedmont has the perfect platform in Castellana to bring these striking flavours to Hong Kong.

10/F, CUBUS, 1 Hoi Ping Road, Causeway Bay, 3188 5028

BEST NEW BAR

Shady Acres

READERS’ CHOICE

This one comes as no surprise as the fan favourite, with the co-owner being award-winning Ryan Nightingale, who has already built legions of admirers from his stints as mixologist at Aberdeen Street Social and Back Bar at Ham & Sherry. The venue is a former flower shop transformed into a sanctuary for wine aficionados and cocktail fiends alike. There’s zero snobbery to be found here and an ace menu of bar bites to munch on while you peruse the hand-picked selection of wines on offer, which includes orange and Pét-Nat sparkling wine varieties, the latter of which is making a comeback now that the youngsters have discovered it. They also sell wine on-site in case you want to take a particular bottle back home with you to continue the fun. This is a thoughtful, cool and easy place to hang out, led by knowledgeable folk who’ve been in the industry for years. Shady Acres is everything you could want in a local.

EDIT: Shady Acres has teamed up with Young Master and have their own HK craft beer! Get yourself a Beer Hug IPA for a clean and hoppy Indian Pale Ale with a slight citrusy bitter finish.

46 Peel Street, SoHo, Central, 9176 7500

Kakure

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Tucked away in the LANDMARK complex is Kakure, an elegant Japanese restaurant complete with a sushi bar, teppanyaki cooking station, private tatami rooms and, last but certainly not least, a Ginza-style cocktail and whisky bar. Its cosy yet tranquil atmosphere and stunning interior make Kakure the perfect hideaway from the hustle and bustle of Central. Kakure bar is home to an impressive variety of Japanese whisky, shōchū and sake, as well as creative cocktails like the Wagyu old-fashioned, which combines Wagyu fat-washed Michter’s rye whisky with Okinawan black sugar, orange and aromatic bitters.

Shop M20–24, M/F, Prince’s Building, 10 Chater Road, Central, 2522 9990

CHEF OF THE YEAR

Fabio Nicotra

READERS’ CHOICE

It’s no easy feat bringing a restaurant back from the dead, but it helps when that restaurant was a much-loved hotspot with a renowned wine list. The renewed cuisine that Fabio Nicotra has been creating at 121BC is making its mark in dishes like the signature sea urchin and ikura spaghetti alla chitarra, homemade ricotta ravioli, crispy slow-cooked lamb ribs, house-made grilled sourdough and some cool vegan dishes that make the most of plant-based ingredients like morel mushrooms, white asparagus, slow-cooked eggs and fried spiced cauliflower. The Italian- Australian chef has worked in award-winning Italian and French restaurants and injects a unique creativity into his seasonal, ingredient-driven dishes, with a short menu that focuses on his strengths and has guests remembering his meals for many moons afterwards.

Corey Riches

EDITORS’ CHOICE

We were fans of the feel-good Middle Eastern food at BEDU right from the start, but when Corey Riches began his Dinner with Corey series, we really sat up to take notice. Stepping outside the realm of the restaurant’s cuisine and embracing complementary flavours, from Roman-inspired dishes from the Byzantine Empire that can be traced back to 330AD, to fish and seafood dishes from the Israeli seaside, to India’s culinary influences on Middle Eastern cuisine, it’s lovely to see a chef consistently making bold and inventive menus and challenging himself and his diners, with no better than the adventurous eaters of Hong Kong to appreciate his efforts. Chef Riches is also at the helm of newly opened all-day diner Mamma Always Said in SoHo.

TRUSTED FAVOURITE

Café Malacca

READERS’ CHOICE

It isn’t always easy to find good Malaysian food in Hong Kong, and if you haven’t found this one, you might be in the minority, judging by the number of fans who voted for Café Malacca. Housed in Shek Tong Tsui, this tasty bistro is a regular go-to amongst Malaysian and Singaporean expats, as well as locals who have discovered an intense love for hawker-style dishes like fried carrot cake, nasi lemak, char kway teow and more. The eatery’s tangy, spicy Penang assam laksa always leaves us with a feeling of longing that calls us back again and again, and it’s clear many of you feel a similar devotion to this delicious restaurant.

2/F, Hotel Jen Hong Kong by Shangri-La, 508 Queen’s Road West, Shek Tong Tsui, 2213 6613

Samsen

EDITORS’ CHOICE

We’ve been huge fans of Samsen since its opening in 2016, thanks to its consistent, flavourful and authentic Thai food. Founded by Adam Cliff, formerly the chef at Chachawan, and his partner, Bella Kong, Samsen Wanchai is beloved for its aromatic boat noodles and vibrant atmosphere. The hole-in-the-wall spot doesn’t take reservations, and it’s not uncommon to queue round the block. A second Samsen recently opened up in Sheung Wan, with the focus shifting from boat noodles to delectable, comforting khao soi. Samsen also offers a full vegetarian menu and irresistible Thai desserts.

Sheung Wan: 23 Jervois Street, 2234 0080

Wanchai: 68 Stone Nullah Lane, 2234 0001

BEST CAFÉ

Fineprint

READERS’ CHOICE

This was our Editors’ Choice winner last year, and it’s clear from the votes that you’re all in firm agreement with us. Fineprint is an all-rounder of a coffee shop that not only serves up a fab cuppa joe and some pretty sweet sourdough sarnies, but in the evening, they’ve added award-winning bartender James Barker to mix up their cocktail experience, providing the triple threat of café-bakery-bar. The friendly atmosphere and early opening hours (6am) are the cream on top of our flat white.

Central: 38 Peel Street, SoHo, 5503 6880

Tai Hang: 1 Lily Street, 5331 5205

Cafe 8

EDITORS’ CHOICE

This little gem could easily be considered one of Hong Kong’s best-kept secrets. The coffee is sublime and goes well with the bright atmosphere and sunny dispositions of the staff at this sweet café. Founded by The Nesbitt Centre, Cafe 8 provides employment and advancement opportunities for those with special needs and learning disabilities, creating a warm, inclusive environment for its staff. This warmth translates both into the service and delicious cakes and pastries on offer – including the best flourless chocolate cake on the block. The rooftop terrace with views over the harbour, along with an impressive herb garden that flavours the free water on offer, are yet more reasons to pop in. There’s a lot of love that goes into this place, and it comes out in the shapes of cookies, coffees and smiles that bring us back again and again.

Rooftop, Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Pier 8, Central, 3791 2158

BEST GREEN EATS

TREEHOUSE

READERS’ CHOICE

Now, this is not an unexpected win. TREEHOUSE’s Hong Kong-born Christian Mongendre first captured diners’ hearts with HOME – Eat to Live, and when that spot was forced to close, he rose up with another offering that’s captivating taste buds in equal measure. Fast-casual TREEHOUSE not only boasts the same moreish flatbreads, but it now offers a sourdough version. It also has design-your-own grain bowls, vegan ramen, a detox juice range, raw desserts and a deadly “forest burger”. It’s tech savvy – the clever AI will suggest dishes that you might like – and everything is made in-house. TREEHOUSE’s za’atar chips alone are reason enough to head over and dig in. We’re excited that there’s now a second iteration of TREEHOUSE that’s opened at new Central food court BaseHall, where we’re eager to dive into the mapo tofu grain bowl that’s exclusive to that branch, with every bowl purchased providing six meals for people in need via non-profit Foodlink Foundation.

Shop 1, G/F, The Steps, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central, 3791 2277

Confusion

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Confusion is delightful. It may be vegan, but it’s adored by everyone we bring here, no matter their dietary preferences. The menu is a panoply of global influences, from Japanese mushroom and tofu soba, to the Garden of Life pasta, to the hedgehog mushroom quesadilla, to the daily soups, to the Indian and Indonesian curries. Wait, did we mention the Impossible Philly cheesesteak on sourdough? Everything we’ve eaten here is the business, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that the atmosphere is warm, the staff friendly and the service on point. We adore Confusion’s executive chef and co-owner, Lisa Terauchi, and her commitment to both ethical sourcing and making divine meat-free dishes. We only wish we lived next door to this small wonder of a veggie restaurant.

103 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, 2563 3699

HIDDEN GEM

TM’s by The Den

READERS’ CHOICE

For those in the Sai Ying Pun ‘hood, TM’s by The Den may have been your little secret – until now, that is. This vibrant, friendly family-run spot has been hoisted up with votes from those willing to share, so that’s just what we’ll do. Known for its premium yet affordable Australian Wagyu beef, this place shares parentage with Sai Ying Pun steakhouse The Den, popular bar Pete’s Place and street-food skewer eatery Bingaz, while TM’s focuses on Latin American and Peruvian flavours. They have some pretty hot specials every Monday through Thursday, including Monday and Tuesday Wagyu nights that give diners the gift of choosing between four Wagyu options for just $168 including a drink – score!

23A High Street, Sai Ying Pun, 2872 6288

前座飯堂 (Chin Jor Fan Tong)

EDITORS’ CHOICE

This treasure in Tai Hang is the very epitome of a hidden gem. Nestled in a residential side street with no signage, behind antique Chinese screen doors that contrast the neon signs that light up the interior, is this cosy canteen that serves Taiwanese and Southeast Asian-inspired noodle dishes and snacks. Build your own bowl of noodles, cart noodle style (車仔麵), to taste by choosing your own noodles, toppings and soup base. We usually go for the mala spicy beef soup noodles or the Thai-style rice vermicelli mixed with green curry and shredded chicken. Their snacks and appetisers are mandatory too; drunken chicken wings, pepper and mala fried chicken, pickled cucumber and wood ear mushroom, roasted tofu and the Yakult + lime soda drink are just a few of the items that are absolutely worth trying. 前座飯堂 is a diamond in the rough, and we’re giving you directions straight to their heavenly pearly gates.

EDIT: You can get a Deadman beer at Chin Jor Fan Tong! Read more about HK local beers here.

39 Sun Chun Street, Tai Hang, 5118 1869

FOOD HERO

Laura Offe

READERS’ CHOICE

We were so pleased to see this lovely name appear so many times on the voting list for 2020. Despite all the troubles that restaurants have dealt with this year, co-founder of Meraki Hospitality Group Laura Offe has also found the strength and time to guide her team towards doing plenty of good while times have been tough. The staff at Meraki Hospitality (behind modern Middle Eastern spot BEDU, Brazilian-Japanese street-food restaurant Uma Nota and the new Mamma Always Said) have put their efforts into helping others out by joining Feeding Hong Kong and their charity partner RUN in providing meal boxes full of delicious eats to those most in need during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as offering a collection point for food donations at Uma Nota. Founded just two years ago by brother-and-sister duo Laura and Alexis Offe, the Meraki Hospitality team are already rooting themselves down as a part of the community and making an impact with both their gorgeous food and care for those around them.

Vincent Mui

EDITORS’ CHOICE

We were wowed by Vincent Mui from his very first foray at Test Kitchen, bringing Top Chef star Kwame Onwuachi’s uniquely stunning cuisine in from the USA. The concept of a permanent pop-up was groundbreaking at the time, and Test Kitchen continues to be a fascinating display of what could be the evolution of the restaurant scene. Test Kitchen itself is a beautiful dining space, but it functions like a blank canvas that allows chefs the freedom to fill it with the story of their cuisine. With more than 50 pop-ups under his belt from over 100 chefs around the world, Mui has given Hong Kongers adventurous and experimental flavours from outside the city, as well as offerting local chefs the chance to flex their muscles outside the confines of the restaurants in which they work. What started as a cool idea has become our constant source of inspiration in discovering new chefs and making new friends in this entirely new way to dine.

MOST INSPIRING INITIATIVE

Dignity Kitchen

READERS’ CHOICE

Led by Singaporean social enterprise Project Dignity, Dignity Kitchen offers more than just delectable Singaporean hawker eats. If the thought of laksa, Hainan chicken rice and pandan chiffon cake have got you salivating, at Dignity Kitchen you can enjoy these guilty pleasures knowing that you’re also supporting a truly commendable cause. Dignity Kitchen is the world’s first social enterprise food court that works with disadvantaged and disabled individuals. Offering culinary training programmes for these individuals, as well as catering services and an event space, Dignity Kitchen aims to restore dignity to the differently abled and to increase employment amongst this community.

2/F, 618 Shanghai Street, Mongkok, 2561 2633

Black Sheep Restaurants’ SOP: COVID-19 Playbook

EDITORS’ CHOICE

We have seen a gargantuan display of community spirit during the difficult times that the F&B industry has recently faced. We wanted to highlight a particularly poignant effort that started as an internal protocol for safety and solidarity during the pandemic, which accidentally became the international model through simple generosity of spirit. Black Sheep Restaurants’ SOP: COVID-19 Playbook details strict yet comforting instructions on how to handle the crisis. Black Sheep co-founders Christopher Mark and Syed Asim Hussain generously circulated the manual to aid other F&B outlets in Hong Kong, never imagining that it would make its way around the world and become the gold-standard code for hospitality during the novel coronavirus outbreak. The playbook has been disseminated in over 30 countries, translated into several languages and used at hotels, schools and in the fashion and retail industries. By sharing resources with others and putting their staff first by guiding them through extensive training, the Black Sheep team have proven themselves as role models for employers everywhere, extending far beyond the F&B industry. Available to download on their website, Black Sheep continues to update the handbook, which is currently on version number 4.

FOODIE SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

Richard Ekkebus

This gutsy chef has been chipping away for years at sustainability initiatives within the confines of haute- cuisine restaurant Amber. An iconic two-Michelin-starred eatery within five-star hotel The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Amber has long reigned as a must-dine establishment in Hong Kong, but Chef Ekkebus has gradually been making efforts to lower the carbon footprint of his fine-dining establishment. This year, he has eliminated all single-use plastics, an effect that has snowballed to take effect within all Mandarin Oriental hotels by 2021. When Amber closed to refurbish in 2018, Chef Ekkebus used the time to come back with bold new menu offerings that are entirely gluten and dairy free. You might not be able to fathom fine dining without all the butter-, milk- and cream-filled numbers, but Chef Ekkebus has doggedly found a way to make Amber’s dishes equally delicious without using any of the artery-clogging elements that we usually associate with special-occasion eating. Showcasing ethically caught fish, reducing the use of refined sugar and with half the menu now plant based, each dish is still as refined and meticulous as what brought the restaurant its fame in the first place. It’s a brazen effort and one that has resulted in stellar reviews for a haute-cuisine menu that not only tastes good but that nourishes diners’ bodies as well. The fine-dining rules have changed – and not everyone is keeping up – but Chef Ekkebus is ahead of the curve, leading by example in an arena that’s not known for embracing change. For that, he should be applauded and awarded as a role model, spearheading an ethical and health-conscious transformation for the future of fine dining.

RELATED: Food Made Good and the best disco cauliflower you’ve ever seen

FOODIE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Amigo

We love giving gongs to the long-standing establishments of Hong Kong, of which there are not nearly enough. It’s hard to endure in this town, but French fine diner Amigo in Happy Valley has done more than simply endure – it’s excelled for almost 50 years. Serving up white-gloved French cuisine, the tuxedoed waiters deliver an old-world charm set amongst the dark wood and velvet interiors of this elegant restaurant that’s housed in a Spanish-style mansion. Think classic dishes of snail soup, seared foie gras, grilled lamb chops with mint sauce and Grand Marnier soufflé that have kept their loyal customer base happy, returning year after year for a taste of time-honoured recipes to savour again and again. With a wine cellar that boasts more than 2,000 bottles of mainly French wines, Amigo has undergone very little change through its half a decade, a fact that its customers relish. Amigo was founded by Yeung Wing-chung, or Uncle Five, who hails from a toy-manufacturing dynasty and has employed some members of staff for over 30 years. Yeung famously stated that he opened the upmarket restaurant because he wanted to do something fun; we think that’s an achievement in itself, let alone by providing 50 years of flawless cuisine and service.

79A Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, 2577 2202/8993

Foodie Forks 2020 partners

Foodie Forks 2020 would not have been possible if not for our generous partners. With their help and your votes, we were able to donate $20,000 to two charities in Hong Kong.

Powered by

Uber Eats is an on-demand food delivery app and website that helps to bring millions of people around the world the food they want, at the tap of a button. We partner with over 400,000 restaurants in more than 6,000 cities across 45 countries and six continents who make meals for every taste and occasion. From speciality local favourites to everyday national brand names, Uber Eats offers millions of dishes while maintaining an average delivery time of under 30 minutes. Read more about Uber Eats.

Made possible in partnership with

Lee Kum Kee was established in 1888 when its founder, Lee Kum Sheung, invented oyster sauce. With a glorious history of over 100 years, Lee Kum Kee has become an international household name as well as a symbol of quality and trust. Read more about Lee Kum Kee.

With thanks to our venue partner

Guests of The Murray, Hong Kong will experience new encounters and timeless pleasures and an opportunity to discover new styles, tastes and cultures through its unique signature experiences. Built in 1969, the building has won multiple awards for its groundbreaking and energy-efficient design. Sir Norman Foster’s team at Foster + Partners accepted the challenge to redesign the architectural and interior finishes and are now bringing this magnificent building to life as a celebration of the past and future. Read more about The Murray, Hong Kong.

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Each of your votes has helped to get those numbers up to boost your favourite restaurants up the charts in the hopes that they will be rewarded for the hard work they’ve been doing over an incredibly bruising year.

What’s more, every vote has propped our donation higher – we’ve now reached $10,000, which has been matched by our fantastic sponsor, Lee Kum Kee, for another $10,000, bringing the total to an incredible $20,000! This will directly translate to $10K each for Feeding Hong Kong and Pei Ho Counterparts to go towards the wonderful efforts of these two organisations.

A special thanks from us for all your votes and our sponsor’s support to get extra aid to those who may be overlooked during these days that are proving difficult for everyone, but especially for those already struggling.

“Our heartfelt thanks to Foodie and all who voted in this year’s Foodie Forks for supporting our work at Feeding Hong Kong. This fantastic donation will help us to keep food flowing to where it is needed most during this challenging time and support over 2,000 meals – meals that will vitally go to feed vulnerable people, rather than our city’s landfills.” – Gabrielle Kirstein, CEO of Feeding Hong Kong

If your business would like to donate along with us, let us know – we’d love to stretch our donation even further.

We will be presenting the donation at our Foodie Forks 2020 powered by Uber Eats event on Monday, June 22. If you’d like to get involved in the event, please get in touch with us by emailing shirin@afoodieworld.com.

Thanks again, Foodie Forks voters!

To learn more about the wonderful work that Feeding Hong Kong and Pei Ho Counterparts provide to those most in need, click here

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The last day of voting is 31 May. Don’t let your favourite people and places miss out on getting recognition for their hard toil in what has been an exceptionally tough year. Vote with your heart and spread the word; we want those who have impressed you and your taste buds to be celebrated!

The winners will be announced at our annual Foodie Forks awards party on Monday, 22 June and will be revealed on our Facebook page and website on 23 June. Have a read below, and if your favourite is missing from the front runners, get to work!

So far, here are the leading restaurants, bars, chefs and inspirations in our industry for 2020:

Best New Restaurant

Photo credit: Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

This is always a competitive category, but, man, there are some cool-cat contenders for this one this year.

Henry is an obvious one. Our previous Food Hero Nate Green is at the helm in these beautiful new digs at Rosewood Hong Kong, so we knew this one would appear on the playing field.

121BC’s new location with a new chef has certainly got the voters salivating with clicks on the keyboard.

Also capturing your hearts are Michelin-starred resto Amelia from San Sebastián, Ask for Alonzo, a hip trattoria in Quarry Bay focused on traditional Italian dishes, and Honjo, Pirata Group’s Japanese fusion restaurant with stunning interiors.

Tuscan trattoria Associazione Chianti by Black Sheep Restaurants is doing well with votes (we got some truly wild spellings for this one).

The Pizza Project is an obvious contender – pizza is pretty much everyone’s favourite comfort food, and we all need a little comfort right now.

Every year it seems, vegetarian food artist Christian Mongendre wins something. This year, his new restaurant, TREEHOUSE, which opened last August, is romping through several categories, and this includes Best New Restaurant.

Unsurprisingly, SOMM at Landmark Mandarin Oriental is up for the title.

Spanish steak specialist Rubia is a pretty hot favourite alongside MONO, the new French restaurant by JIA Group, and lovely LucAle with its family-style dishes in Sai Ying Pun, while Lobster Shack is shucking up oysters, lobster and a whole lotta love.

Rajasthan Rifles is gaining steam with its Anglo-Indian cuisine. It’s another Black Sheep restaurant, which are all well loved amongst our readers, with previous wins for several of their eateries over the years.

Pondi is also getting some attention in this category. One of the founders is a past winner for now-closed BlackSalt, which took the prize for Best Casual Restaurant in 2017, spawning this beauty of a restaurant.

Best Restaurant

Right up there, Arbor (which won Editors’ Choice for this category last year) and Amber are coming in tops for the place to go when you want to impress. Your faves here live at the front of the alphabet. Arcane (helmed by last year’s Chef of the Year, Shane Osborn) is also up there with votes.

Although it’s not a surefire race just yet, Carbone is clearly a place you return to time and again.

Caprice, Duddell’s, Frantzén’s Kitchen (our Best New Restaurant winner from 2017), Henry, Honjo, Mandarin Grill + Bar and Matsubishi are all getting the goods.

Also rating high is previous winner in this category in 2018, Mott 32, along with another previous winner from that same year for Best New Restaurant, New Punjab Club.

Settling into its Sheung Wan home is Pica Pica, and then there are the stalwarts of 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana and Petrus.

Other nominees include Roganic (last year’s winner for Best New Restaurant), T LAB by Chef Tiff’s Kitchen, TM’s By The Den, The Optimist (our winner for this award back in 2017), VEA, Yat Tung Heen and our Trusted Favourite winner from 2018, the always great Zuma.

We also have a “La” and a “Le” contender, and by that we mean the elegant and renowned La Petite Maison and North Point French-Japanese fine diner Le Bec Fin. Both have a large amount of votes that could put them over the top.

Are any of these on your list when you need something special for the night?

Best New Bar

Photo credit: Nick Fewings on Unsplash

This is always a category full of fun. Although less prolific than the nominees in previous years, these bars are ready to go. For 2020, we’re loving Shady Acres, The Diplomat, Tell Camellia and Scarlett Cafe and Wine Bar.

Italian aperitivo bar Bella Lee is a popular vote, as is Kakure, the serene new Ginza-style bar in Prince’s Building.

The new Rosewood offerings, ladies-only speakeasy XX at Rosewood and its sister, DarkSide, are getting on your good side and pulling in the punters, despite social distancing and all that jazz.

Chef of the Year

This year, more than any other, we’ve had a huge spread of votes in this category. Normally, the votes are for well-publicised chefs. But this year, there are so many votes for chefs who are far more under the radar, and we are thrilled at this result. We’re sitting here wishing we could give them all an award for doing what they do through the thick and the oh-so-very thin.

Here are some of the top contenders – and know this: if you spell it wrong or just write “the guy from Frantzén”, we will still know where to place your vote. So we’ll start with the “guy from Frantzén”, who is getting lots of votes – mostly by his name, which is Jim Lofdahl.

Pici’s Andrea Viglione is in strong standing along with Umberto Bombana.

Que Vinh Dang, one of our favourite chefs, who we collaborated with years ago, has both long-time fans and new ones for his restaurant Nhậu.

Corey Riches of BEDU, the talented chef from last year’s Best New Restaurant, Darnell Fields from Franks, the visionary Barry Quek of Beet, Michelin-starred Yat Tung Heen’s Tam Tung, Vicky Cheng from VEA, Fabio Nicotra of recently reopened 121BC, Eric Räty of Arbor, Adam Clifton of Samsen, Christian Mongendre of TREEHOUSE, Edgar Sanuy of Pica Pica, Max Levy of Okra Bar, Nate Green of Henry and Neil Tomes of Beef & Liberty are other nominees.

Our winner last year, Palash Mitra, is up for another swing, and Peggy Chan (our 2016 Food Hero) and Amber’s Richard Ekkebus always garner a great deal of votes.

Shane Osborne has his legions of fans, as does the inventor of the Earl Grey-infused Wagyu katsu, Tiff Chan of T LAB by Chef Tiff’s Kitchen.

Ricardo Chaneton of MONO is getting far more than mono votes, and our previous winner Uwe Opocensky is as popular as ever in his new home in the kitchens of the Island Shangri-La.

Is your fave up here? If not, the race is far from over as there is no clear-cut kitchen crusader as yet.

Trusted Favourite

This category has a bunch in it too. In contention are Yat Tung Heen, Yardbird (our Best New Restaurant 2012 and Trusted Favourite 2013), Pici, Uma Nota, TREEHOUSE, The Den, Sushi Kuu, Samsen, Nhậu, Mott 32, MANA! (2018’s Ethical Eats winner), Lobster Shack, Le Bec Fin, FRANCIS (2018’s Best New Concept winner), ÉPURE, Crystal Jade, Coffee Talks, Chullschick, Chôm Chôm, CIAK, Brut!, Café Malacca, Bingaz Street Food, Beef & Liberty, Agave, 22 Ships, 208 Duecento Otto, BEDU, Fini’s, Limewood, The Nest, TokyoLima and Yau Yuen Siu Tsui in Jordan (the LKF branch was named our 2017 Hidden Gem).

Also up for this award is the Foodie Lifetime Achievement Award winner from last year, Gaylord.

This is the first year that only one person has voted for McDonald’s in this category. We consider this progress.

Best Café

Everyone has an opinion on this one. As usual, most of the coffee shops in Hong Kong are listed here (including Pacific Coffee, but with just one vote thus far).

Previous winner NOC looks like it might ring the bell for another year, but there are some pretty strong contenders hot on its heels such as Elephant Grounds, % Arabica, Coffee Talks, Dalloyau, Artisan Garden Cafe, Fineprint (last year’s Editors’ Choice winner), Fuel, Bakehouse (winner in 2018), Barista Jam, Beanery, Black Sugar, Blossom, Brew Bros, Café 8, Café Corridor, Cafe de Jargor, Coco Espresso, The Coffee Academics, Coffee Art, Cofftea, Cupping Room, Dear Coffee & Bakery, Hashtag Coffee, Hazel & Hershey, Infiniti C, Classified, Little Cove, NINETYs, Le Petit Salon, Ralph’s Coffee, Stazione Novella, Happiness Single Coffee, teakha and previous winner Winstons, and, as always, Starbucks with its comfy seats and ubiquity pulls in the numbers.

And then we had a questionable java aficionado tell us, “Nothing beats my Nescafé.” Not sure we agree with you or your taste buds on that one, but to each his own – coffee is a very singular pleasure.

And then we had a potentially even more contentious answer from one very disgruntled coffee seeker: “No one can serve coffee in Hong Kong. They all taste watery.” You just can’t please everyone, can you?

Best Green Eats

TREEHOUSE is really hot out in front for this one – it seems surprisingly many like to type it as THREEHOUSE, but we know what you mean – and VEDA is also killing it in this category.

MANA! is doing well, as usual, SaladStop! is impressing the taste buds of many, readers are liking nood food and Samsen’s veggie menu is getting a lot of love, as are Confusion Plant Based Kitchen, Dandy’s Organic Cafe and Sweetpea Cafe.

Foodie Forks 2019 Food Hero Larry Tang continues to inspire with his green eats at Sohofama.

Green Common is getting some votes along with KALE in Sheung Wan, and to a niche but passionate group, Green Cottage on Lamma Island is the business. Chi Lin Vegetarian in Diamond Hill is also still going strong after all these years.

We got one vote for the succinctly put “I don’t eat vegetables.” And to that we say, good on ya, mate. Let’s see how long that body of yours lets you live.

Hidden Gem

Since the beginning of Foodie Forks nine years ago, this has been one of our favourite categories because sometimes we get wind of a new favourite place to try out!

As for the truly hidden, or at least partially obscured, restaurants, it was painful to our hearts to see one of our previous faves, Three Blind Mice, with votes as it has sadly shuttered its doors, but we were holy heartened to find Beet on there. Oh my goodness, do we ever agree with this one! And Café Malacca is really taking home the votes.

There are also votes for Wing Hop Sing, USRC Gascoigne Room, TREEHOUSE, Why Noodle, TMK, The Wise King, The Spice House (last year’s winner in this category), The Nest Bakery, TM’s by The Den, Terrible Baby, Thai on High, T LAB by Chef Tiff’s Kitchen, Stone Coffee, Te Quiero Mucho, Schragels, Shiro, Santorini, Rempah Noodles, Sangeetha, Ping Pong (Best New Bar 2015), Please Don’t Tell, Morokok, Nhậu, Manakamana Nepali Restaurant, Mama Malouf, Lobster Shack, Les Fils à Maman, Le Garçon Saigon, Kelly’s Cape Bop, Kakure, Jimmy’s Kitchen, JALAN, Hugger Mugger (last year’s winner for Best New Bar), HOWE Café, Hideout, Green Waffle Diner, GODENYA, Fridge, Flying Pig Bistro, Ever Shine, Elementary, El Macho, Crazy Noodles, Camper’s, Cafe Whale, Burger Deli, Bresola, Bingaz Street Food, Bangkok Canteen, Arashigawa Yakitori, Anjappar and Ancient Moon.

We got one vote for XXX – we assume that refers to XX, the new ladies-only speakeasy at the Rosewood, as opposed to the Vin Diesel film, unless XXX has started moonlighting as a chef in some hidey-hole in Hong Kong when he’s not saving the world.

Also, someone voted for Amber for Hidden Gem. Is this a true fan (some Mandarin Oriental punnage for you) or perhaps a devoted employee? This restaurant should really be put in the pretty-meticulously-discovered gem category, were we to create one.

Food Hero

Photo credit: TK Hammonds on Unsplash

Our favourite answer was the reader who put in, “My boyfriend, Phil! He pushes me out of my comfort zone.” Way to go, Phil! We applaud your efforts to get your partner cooking experimentally in the kitchen. Not sure how many other people will vote in your direction, but you’re definitely a food hero to someone out there, and that makes you a hero worthy of a shout-out. To Phil!

The late, incredibly great Anthony Bourdain has plenty of votes for his huge body of work that impacted so many, both in the industry and out. Gordon Ramsay has a few fans left in Hong Kong despite taking his restaurants away, and David Chang is another international hero.

Bobsy Gaia of MANA!, Que Vinh Dang of Nhậu, Christian Mongendre (2017 Ethical Eats winner) of TREEHOUSE, Christopher Mark of Black Sheep Restaurants and Arbor’s Eric Räty have pulled in a lot of the local votes, as have Laura Offe of Meraki Hospitality, Lindsay Yang of Yardbird, Richard Ekkebus of Amber and Peggy Chan of Nectar (formerly Grassroots Pantry), the lady that leads us all towards better dining habits.

Gabrielle Kirstein of Feeding Hong Hong has been our hero ever since we met her back in 2009; she continues to do great work for the underprivleged in the city.

Most Inspiring Initiative

A philanthropic, community-related or environmental purpose that has inspired you in the world of food

Last Straw Movement is getting a lot of votes, but they did win last year in this category – we love them, but there is so much more out there that’s worthy! One such initiative that’s getting votes is Make It Work HK, giving a fair chance in life to the working poor community, as well as Live Zero, the first zero-waste bulk grocery store in HK. Larry Tang (last year’s Food Hero) also has some votes coming in for his long-time locavore philosophy.

Two circular cup-sharing movements – Muuse and Go Cup – are getting attention, and the United We Dine initiative, launched by the Hong Kong media to reignite the public’s interest in dining out during these difficult times, is also a popular vote.

We got quite a few votes for “my mum”. So sweet, guys, but we’re not sure that inspiring you to eat your sprouts counts. Somebody else wrote, “Sure”. We’re not sure they read the question. And then someone wrote, “Ronnie”, who is apparently so famous in the inspiring initiative game that just a single name will do.

In case we haven’t said it enough times yet – VOTE!

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Click here to vote now in the Foodie Forks 2020!

Voting closes May 31st

We appreciate every vote our readers give to their favourite places to eat and drink, and we want to pay it forward with your continued support. Keep your votes coming in – and tell your friends! – because for every vote that comes in, we’ll donate HK$10* to our two charity partners to give back to the Hong Kong community we’ve been part of for the past decade.

The Foodie Forks is in its ninth year of shining a spotlight on the wonderful work of the F&B industry in Hong Kong. Our savvy readers continue to decide on the best places to drink and dine in the city, and we adore getting the chance to celebrate them for it.

The Foodie Forks awards issue of our Foodie magazine always reads like a handbook of the hottest new places, hidden gems and long-standing eateries that deserve to get a little boost, especially in a year like this one. So this year we’re going one step further to help to support Hong Kong’s hardest hit. The F&B industry has been one of the most affected by both the protests and the COVID-19 crisis, and those who are clinging on, adapting and reacting to their customers and the changing regulations are exactly who we want to be singing about.

We’ve extended the deadline for voting to 31 May, so you have an extra month to get voting!

Our charity partners include Pei Ho Counterparts, founded by the inspirational Ming Gor, our previous Foodie Forks 2016 Food Hero, who has become well known in Hong Kong for giving out free rice boxes to those in need from his own restaurant. He continues to do incredible things for the people of Hong Kong and has furthered his reach by opening the charitable social enterprise division of his restaurant in Sham Shui Po to aid more of the underprivileged in the city.

And, since 2009, Feeding Hong Kong has been doing just that – feeding the city. By collecting and redistributing surplus food, this fabulous organisation works with over 200 companies to rescue unsold food that is safe to eat. Their aim is to fight hunger and reduce food waste in Hong Kong. This inspiring food bank relies on volunteers to help to collect, sort and distribute food. They also run a cool programme where volunteers can sign up as “bread runners” to pick up unsold bread from bakeries across the city to distribute.

Our partnership with Feeding Hong Kong and Pei Ho works by us translating your votes that support the dining industry into cash donations for these two remarkable organisations. Show your love for the industry and for the local community in Hong Kong – all you have to do is vote!

Let us know who and where impressed your palate this year, and we will shout about them from the rooftops while also donating to the local community on your behalf to help those who need it most right now.

Send your friends this link so that they can get their votes in too. You’ll be supporting the community and your favourite places to eat and drink will be celebrated as they deserve!

Vote now for the Foodie Forks 2020!

*Donation up to HK$10,000 will be made.

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If you’re going to go out for a socially isolated meal, where would you choose to do it? Or when the bars reopen down the line and life returns to some semblance of normality, where would you choose to head for a tipple? Let’s give these spots a little love for their toil and an award to bring a smile during the dark hours of this pandemic.

Here’s a reminder of last year’s Foodie Forks Hidden Gem winners, in case you need a little memory jog.

Lamees

If you need more inspiration, check out our writer Jeniffer Chiat’s favourite Kowloon hidden gems.

Pasta Zone

Or these eight must-try noodle places might qualify for some hidden gem love…

Ming Ming Cart Noodle Bar

Vote now for Foodie Forks 2020 and give this hard-hit industry the boost it so deserves!

The post Where Are Your Hong Kong Hidden Gems? appeared first on Foodie.

Foodie Forks 2020 categories

• Best Restaurant: Where do you go for a special occasion?
• Best New Restaurant: What new eatery made a mark on your taste buds?
• Best New Bar: Where’s the hottest new spot in town for a tipple?
• Chef of the Year: Who cooked up a meal that you still remember?
• Trusted Favourite: What’s your trusted go-to for an effortless dining experience?
• Best Café: Which café serves up the best cuppa in town?
• Best Green Eats: Which restaurant offers the best vegetarian menu options, even if it also serves meat?
• Hidden Gem: Reveal that great place you cherish that never seems to get enough love
• Food Hero: Tell us who inspired you in the world of food this year
• Most Inspiring Initiative: Which enterprise has a philanthropic, community-centric or environmental purpose that has inspired you in the world of food?

For a reminder of all the new eateries that have landed on the local scene since last May, have a look at these lists to jog your memory for the Best New Restaurant category: New Restaurants: March 2020, New Restaurants: February 2020, New Restaurants: January 2020, New Restaurants: December 2019, New Restaurants: November 2019, New Restaurants: October 2019, New Restaurants: September 2019, New Restaurants: August 2019, New Restaurants: July 2019, New Restaurants: June 2019 and New Restaurants: May 2019.

Your favourite restaurants, both long-standing and newly opened, need your help this year more than ever. It’s been a challenging time for everyone, and the F&B industry has been hit especially hard. Help us to give your favourites a boost by celebrating their achievements, endurance and great food.

Also, check out all the Foodie Forks 2019 winners.

Vote for this year’s Foodie Forks now!

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