Private Hong Kong: Kowloon Food Safari

Don’t know your dim sum from your wonton? Become an expert in Cantonese cuisine with this Hong Kong food tour that explores Kowloon’s most authentic restaurants, markets, and food stalls. Be warned: this safari takes you far off the tourist trail, to locals’ favourite haunts in Hong Kong’s working class community. Sit elbow-to-elbow with locals, learn about the history and traditions of Chinese food, and put your chopsticks to work.

Part foodie adventure, part culinary lesson, this Hong Kong private food tour will tell you everything you wanted to know about the city’s food culture. You’ll head to Kowloon’s vibrant Jordan District, a working-class area that’s a local favourite for its authentic and inexpensive restaurants and food stalls. 

The entire time, you’ll be eating and drinking like the locals do, stopping at Hong Kong-style cafés (known locally as cha chaan tengs) and open-air food stalls (known as dai pai dongs). Be warned, this is a tour for true food adventurers. We’re steering clear of 5-star restaurants and heading to family-run greasy spoons and chaotic food courts where tourists rarely venture. Sit elbow-to-elbow with locals, learn how to order in Cantonese, and experience the city’s authentic, no-nonsense culinary scene.  

You’ll check out Hong Kong’s wet and dry markets where vendors sell fresh and processed produce, and taste treats at a mix of independent diners, street stalls, and food courts with one thing in common: they’ve set the standard for traditional dishes in the city. You’ll taste locals’ favourites, from snacks, to mains, to Chinese desserts — sweet or savoury, authentic and tasty! Many of the restaurants you’ll visit will be family-run businesses where the owner is also the head chef and the vibe is deliciously authentic. These neighbourhood eateries are considered hidden gems by even locals. 

Along the way, you’ll learn plenty of facts about the Hong Kong food scene. Like, did you know Hong Kong has one of world’s highest per capita concentrations of cafés and restaurants? Or that Hong Kongers’ seafood consumption is four times that of the global average? Or that some specialities are listed as part of the city’s official cultural heritage? (Sorry, no spoilers here — you’ll have to take the tour to find out the full stories!) 

And don’t worry if you have any food allergies or aversions — your Hong Kong tour guide will help you pick dishes that match your tastes. Our tour is designed so that you pay for your own food along the way, so you won’t have to worry about wasting money on food you don’t want or like, or contributing to any food waste. 

If you’re still eager for more Hong Kong after all that food, your guide will gladly point out great places to grab a few drinks nearby — no matter whether your tastes are local dive bars or glamorous rooftop lounges that offer breathtaking Victoria Harbour views. 

We promise it will be an authentic Hong Kong culinary experience. So, ready to eat like a local? 

Note: Kowloon Food Safari is unique in that it’s about 50% cheaper than the average Hong Kong food tours but does not include in it the cost of food. You pay the restaurants directly only for the food that you want to try, at the quantity that you like. Whether you are a carnivore or a vegetarian, eat a lot or not that much, feel adventurous or prefer to stay more on the safe side, you won’t be wasting money on food that you don’t want. The average food cost per person is approximately 200 HKD (25 USD). But that can vary depending on how hungry you are! At the end of the tour we will stop for a bar beverage, at your own cost. Alcoholic drinks cost on average 100 HKD.