Most Filipino travelers will confess to a long-term relationship with Hong Kong. The majority of those travelers will cite Hong Kong as the place they visited when heading abroad for the first time in their lives. And even if we hate to admit it, we are creatures of habit when it comes to dining; I know Filipino families who will literally play Same Time, Next Year or Groundhog Day each time they visit Tsim Sha Tsui, Central or Causeway Bay. It’s Yung Kee and/or Peking Garden with the whole family; Mott 32 and/or VEA for that fine-dining night.

So during our visit to Hong Kong last week, I made it a promise to head to the malls and areas that I know Filipinos will tend to gravitate to—but eat in restaurants that I’d be trying for the very first time. This way, if you aren’t on a Groundhog Day visit, this feature could act as your guide to new places you can try out and enjoy. And if you’ve eaten in these establishments already, join my chorus encouraging others to try them out.

The last time I was in Hong Kong was pre-pandemic, so I’ve been a regular of the K11 Art Mall on Mody Road, but had never stepped foot in K11 Musea at Victoria Dockside (which opened in late 2019). It is a beautiful mall, and I like the prodigious mix of art installations within the floor area. If you’re a burger junkie, Five Guys is on the third floor, and the basement floors have interesting food options. The day we were there, Issa spied the opening of a new cookie stall—Manen Royal Pastry from Denmark. The brand prides itself on offering cookies with crunchiness, and we loved the one with knafeh pistachio and the one with pineapple.

Chatterbox Café is the famous Singapore eatery found at the Mandarin Hotel on Orchard Road. It was among the first to serve hawker fare in a casual dining atmosphere in a hotel setting. And there’s a Chatterbox at K11 Musea—comfort food for the weary traveler—as the quality here is guaranteed. Their Mandarin Chicken Rice hit the spot, and the Shrimp Toast is the real deal, with the shrimp flavor truly embedded in the toast.

For the kiddies and young at heart, their Milo Dinosaur drink was a shot of enriched nostalgia—Milo cereal and chocolate milk. And if you wanted something a little spicier, I ordered the Scallop Laksa and was truly happy with the flavor profile, and it was easy to add to the spiciness.

A visit to Mong Kok meant I would finally be visiting a place that my second son, Matteo, had raved about—Dim Dim Sum. It’s just off Argyle Street, an unpretentious eatery, but the giveaway would be the long line of people trying to get in, even if it was already 1:30 p.m. You order online when seated, confirm your order, and it’s delivered efficiently to your table.

The usual suspects are all available, so I’ll just highlight the ones that I thought upped the ante. The Shrimp Toast Rolls with yuzu and orange truly had a defined citrus profile. The Taro and Vegetarian Spring Roll was especially crunchy, but suitably mushy inside. The Steamed Sticky Rice with Chinese Sausages is a must-try. And with a high IG cuteness factor, order the Panda Buns with Mapo Tofu filling—yummy! The Garlic and Taro Steamed Spare Ribs was Issa’s favorite. It’s dim sum elevated, and I was happy I got to sample their steamed offerings.

At the IFC Mall in Central, you’ll find the surviving Hong Kong Pierre Hermé store, and for my money, I still love their macarons and how distinct the flavors are. Also at IFC is my new ramen discovery—the Konjiki Hototogisu Ramen House. The broth, the tender pieces of pork or Wagyu beef—they all come together in a wonderful way. I can’t say if it’s the water in Hong Kong, but this ramen was one Issa and her daughters raved about!

And if it’s Peking duck, I’d say that Xi He Ya Yuan, at the very end of Ocean Terminal, is a good option. If you opt for an alfresco table, you can watch the Star Ferry come in, enjoy the breeze, and be entertained by the giant screen that straddles the nearby island. Their Grilled Diced Lamb with Cumin and Coriander has a very Middle Eastern flavor, but surprisingly works with the Chinese fare. Loved their Crispy Shredded Taro with Honey, and the Shrimp, Crab Roe and Seafood Rice.

For cat lovers, we visited one of the cat cafés that have sprung up in the city. The one we dropped in on was on Nathan Road, a block south of Argyle. I was amazed at how well run it is, the number of people who had booked appointments, and how they were ready to spend more than an hour in the company of cats. Several brought children, and I presume that for some, it’s a form of therapy.

Hong Kong is still a great destination, and there are good bargains to avail of. The few days we were there were marked by big crowds on the main thoroughfares, and it was nice to see it back to its bustling self.