A Singaporean Mum

I’ve been to Hong Kong four or five times in my life — and I almost ended up living there (my husband was nearly posted there)! Although we didn’t make the move in the end, it’s still one of my favourite cities, especially when it comes to food.

Here’s my first-timer itinerary, followed by my list of must-try eats. Just a heads-up: my itinerary leans way more towards food than activities — because let’s be real, that’s what I travel for!

6D5N ITINERARY

Day 1 – Arrival

Evening

• Check-in to hotel and freshen up

• Dinner at Tsim Chai Kee Noodle

• Take a leisurely walk around Central to soak in the city’s energy

Day 2 – HK Island

Morning

• Coffee stop at Halfway Coffee (Sheung Wan)

• Wander around Cat Street and Upper Lascar Row for antiques and local finds

Afternoon

• Dimsum lunch at Luk On Kui

• Walk to 萬利隆臘味家 to buy traditional lup cheong and yun cheong

• Ride the nostalgic HK tram (ding ding) through the city

• Drop by Tai Cheong Bakery for egg tarts and char siew pie

Evening

• Refresh with a glass of hand-beaten iced lemon tea at LinLee

• Dinner at Mak’s Noodle

• Stroll around SoHo

 Day 3 – Causeway Bay + Tin Hau

Morning

• Breakfast at Sister Wah – try the beef brisket noodles

• Walk through Victoria Park nearby if you want to digest a little

Afternoon

• Coffee at OMA Specialty Coffee

• Explore Jardine’s Crescent Market or Lee Gardens (shopping, local snacks)

Evening

• Check out Times Square for some light shopping and snacking

• Head back early to rest up for Disneyland

Day 4 – Disneyland

Morning

• Breakfast at Tim Ho Wan (IFC Mall) – efficient and tasty start to your day

• Take MTR to Hong Kong Disneyland

Afternoon

• Full afternoon in Disneyland: rides, parades, and themed snacks

Evening

• Stay for the night parade or fireworks (if available)

• Light dinner inside the park or nearby if you prefer something simple after returning

Day 5 – Kowloon

Morning

• Breakfast at Shine Island Cha Chaan Teng (Yau Ma Tei)

• Grab a snack at Mammy Pancake – egg waffles!

• Temple Street Market (quiet in the morning but nice for a walk)

Afternoon

• Chill at N1 Coffee & Co. in Tsim Sha Tsui – a great spot for oat milk lattes

• Visit Harbour City or stroll along the TST Promenade

Evening

• Take the Star Ferry across to HK Island – beautiful at sunset

• Dinner options back on HK Island: something light like congee at Mui Kee or even revisit Mak’s!

Day 6 – Departure

Morning

• Breakfast at Lan Fong Yuen – go for their famous milk tea and crispy pork chop bun or condensed milk toast

• Head back to hotel to pack and check out

• Depart for the airport

TO EAT

There are two iconic wanton noodle shops within walking distance in Central — yes, you guessed it: Tsim Chai Kee and Mak’s Noodle. They’re actually very different! Tsim Chai Kee is more hearty and with big portions and bold flavours. Mak’s is light and more refined but portions are smaller.

Tsim Chai Kee Noodle (Location in Google Maps)

• A local favourite known for its generous bowls of wanton noodles, topped with plump dumplings, sliced beef or fish balls. Hearty, affordable, and perfect for a quick, satisfying meal.

• My comments: I would go for Tsim Chai Kee if I’m famished and want to eat something large. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mak’s Noodle (Location in Google Maps)

• Well-loved for its springy wanton noodles and light, flavourful broth. Portions are on the smaller side, but packed with traditional taste. A Michelin-recognised noodle shop with decades of history.

• My comments: I would go for Mak’s if I’ve been eating the whole day and just want something light. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tai Cheong Bakery (Location in Google Maps)

• Famous for its iconic Hong Kong egg tart with a buttery, flaky crust and silky custard filling. Don’t miss the char siu pie either—it’s a savoury-sweet treat!

• My comments: Yes, this famous Tai Cheong Bakery is in Singapore — but what you won’t find there is their Char Siew Pai. Buttery and soft with a rich, sweet char siew filling, it’s the perfect sweet-and-savory combo in one bite. Possibly artery-clogging… but so worth it. A definite must-try! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lan Fong Yuen (Location in Google Maps)

• One of the city’s oldest cha chaan tengs, famed for its creamy, hand-beaten milk tea and crispy pork chop bun. A must-visit for a proper taste of old-school Hong Kong.

• My comments: Old school Cha Chaan Teng, famed for their french toast and pork chop bun. The rest? I would give it a miss. The place was very small and crowded. Full of tourists because they are a 老字号. For atmosphere, I would recommend going for once to try it out. But food wise, I’ve had better. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Luk On Kui (Location in Google Maps)

• A fuss-free dim sum spot in Central, popular with the locals. Expect traditional, trolley-style service, hearty portions, and great value—without the tourist crowds.

• My comments: An old-school dim sum spot that’s popular with locals. Staff push trolleys around the tables and ask for your order — quite impatiently, so best to have your picks ready! Food was good, especially the bo lo char siew bao. Oh, and be prepared to share a table! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sister Wah Beef Brisket (Location in Google Maps)

• Renowned for its tender, richly flavoured beef brisket served with noodles or rice. A humble eatery in Tin Hau with a loyal local following.

• My comments: Sister Wah’s beef brisket is honestly one of the best I’ve had in the world! The meat is incredibly tender and the broth is full of depth — really aromatic! The kway teow was smooth and slippery, really pairs well with the soup! This is definitely my top recommendation for HK — I’m salivating while writing this! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tim Ho Wan (Location in Google Maps)

• The world’s most affordable Michelin-starred dim sum. Freshly made classics like BBQ pork buns, prawn dumplings and cheung fun, served in a convenient city centre location.

• My comments: A convenient spot before heading to Disneyland. It’s located at IFC, which connects directly to Disneyland via the MTR. The fare is similar to what we pay in Singapore. They had this 煎蛋牛肉饭 (pan-fried egg with beef on rice) that we don’t get back home — but to be honest, it was a little bland. Wouldn’t order it again. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Shine Island Cafe (Location in Google Maps)

• A tucked-away Hong Kong-style café in Yau Ma Tei, serving nostalgic comfort food—from macaroni soup to spam toast and silky milk tea, done just the way locals like it.

• My comments: Apparently a popular spot among locals for traditional Hong Kong comfort food — I didn’t see any foreigners at all, which made me feel like a true Hongkonger, haha! We ordered the French toast (as always), Gong Zai Min (公仔麵, aka Nissin noodles), and their famous Bo Luo Yiu (菠蘿油) with butter. Food was typical cha chaan teng style — nothing mind-blowing, but everything was tasty and satisfying. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️