You may be tempted to check out Hong Kongâs most popular attractions and eat its most famous foods â and youâd be right to. But Iâd like to hear what a chef living in the city has to say too.
So I asked Chef May Chow of Little Bao and Happy Paradise. :)

I interviewed her in 2017 for Smile magazine, after she won Asiaâs Best Female Chef. But it was more of a travel piece, and I was just given one page. (I still loved writing it, though.)

I didnât really get into her favourite spots and activities in Hong Kong.
But thatâs okay, because now I can. :) Want a simple yet different kind of Hong Kong holiday (or staycation)? We can use her special memories as inspiration, and her best experiences as a guide.
EAT
#1 Look for a steaming bowl of comfort food
May recalls âhaving claypot rice on the street during winter season, because itâs delicious. It does for me for what it does to some people â like getting hot chocolate during winter. So heartwarming.â
#2 Street vendors = tasty meals
âWhen I was a kid, Iâd watch old men still using charcoal in pushcarts to make egg waffles on the streets.â
#3 Try something new with the family
âI remember when my parents took me to a fancy teppanyaki restaurant, and I was amazed by the food and the chef.â
#4 Treat yourself to top restaurants (theyâre worth it)
âAll the recent Chinese food experiences, like Xin Ron Ji, Seventh Son, The Chairman, 102 House in Guangzhou, and the Wynn Palace with Chef Tam blew my mind.â
#5 Consider a chef or cuisine you admire
For example: âBelon, because Daniel Calvert is the kind of chef that obsesses on perfection and is of a certain caliber. Combined with youth thatâs so exciting, because itâs just the beginning.â
And LIVE
#1 Go where the artists and thinkers meet
âWhen I first went to Wontonmeen hostel, Patricia, the owner, made me realise that there were so many local creatives in Hong Kong.â
#2 Travel back in time
âWhen I worked at Yardbird, it was an era where Hong Kong restaurants exuded lifestyle and cool, and would compete with any restaurant in the world.â
#3 Learn from an expert
âWhen I worked at Bo Innovation, Chef Alvin (Leung Jr) showed me that Chinese food was able to play on the world stage. His global recognition inspired me to look at the possibilities of showcasing my culture through food.â
#4 Attend events and visit places unique to the city
âMy first pop-up at Island East Markets and Clockenflap music festival was hard and challenging, but Iâm so happy that my career starting point happened alongside amazing people who were creating differences in culture with regards to music, sustainability, and the local food movement.â
#5 Celebrate with loved ones
âMy family came to Pink Dot to support Little Bao, and was surrounded by a positive LGBTQ awareness event in Hong Kong.â
Of course, donât forget to check out Mayâs unique and modern take on Chinese cuisine at her restaurants. :)