The best restaurants in Happy Valley

A Hong Kong institution, Amigo has remained unchanged since opening in its current location in 1976. Owner Yeung Wing-chung is a bit of a character and a lovely man by all accounts – some of his staff have worked with him for 30-plus years. The ornately carved wooden beams and quirky features hint at the restaurant’s history and the personality of the man. The food isn’t bad either. Classic French dishes are served up with rustic charm. The lobster bisque is out of this world and the lamb chops with mint jelly have been consistently good forever.

No trip to Happy Valley is complete without a stop at this famous cha chaan teng, which has been feeding Hongkongers since 1951. Original features like the wooden booths and patterned floor tiles give it a nostalgic charm. It’s well known for its egg tarts and pineapple buns, but also serves fried noodles and other CCT classics. Of course, you have to try the milk tea too.

With branches across the city, you could be forgiven for thinking Classified is nothing more than just another boring restaurant chain. They pride themselves, though, on giving each of their outlets a unique character particular to the neighbourhood. With its open frontage and laidback vibes, the Happy Valley restaurant is a solid choice for hearty brunches and Western comfort food. Try the signature breakfast with scrambled eggs or avocado toast with tomato salsa.

Renowned for its Chinese ‘tid bits’ and colonial decor, Dim Sum is for those who romanticise about days gone by and want to experiment with luxury yum cha items such as abalone siu mai. Menus are availabe in both Chinese and English.

Feather and Bone are known for their top notch imported produce, with Australian grass-fed beef and lamb, organic vegetables and salads, cured meats, cheeses, wines and spirits on offer. From its open-kitchen, the Happy Valley branch also serves a casual dining menu utilising the ingredients on sale. There’s a range of bagels and sourdough sandwiches, or you can choose a cut of meat – grilled to your liking – with a choice of seasonal sides.

If you know about this place, then you’re already a member of Hong Kong’s Sichuan chilli appreciation club. Two great dishes to try: mouth-watering chicken in peanut-chilli sauce served cold, and stewed beef Sichuan spicy style. The hot pot’s not bad either. When you’re done with dinner, head up one flight for KTV. Apparently, many local Canto-pop stars were discovered here.

This local Cantonese favourite is renowned for its larger-than-life female owner – famous for shouting at customers – who regulars love and hate in equal measure. You can’t go wrong with standards like congee, wontons and fried noodles, and fried dough wrapped in rice-noodle rolls, all of which are particularly good. The sweetest part? They have another branch just for desserts down the road but you can order them to Lotus Garden, so you don’t have to leave your seat.

This low-key Happy Valley restaurant is a favourite among local celebs living in the area. The maritime-themed décor complements the menu of fresh, chilled and cooked seafood. As the name suggests, oysters are the main attraction – the restaurant stocks around 20 different varieties from around the globe. They’re worth shelling out for!

Pang’s Kitchen is well known for it’s Michelin-star status despite the tiny dining room and homely Cantonese cooking. As you can imagine, given the modest pricing and size, it can get incredibly busy, so booking is advised. The crispy garlic chicken is not to be missed and the snake soup comes with a good rep too.

This Australian owned bakery keeps customers up-to-date on daily specials on its social media. With a strong environmental and social ethos, there’s nothing artificial in this dough and all surplus stock goes to charity at the end of the day. Happily, this means the bread is always freshly baked. Try the range of bagels and sandwiches that are changed daily and wash it all down with a top-notch Aussie flat white.