The wait is over! The Michelin Guide for Hong Kong and Macau has been unveiled for 2022, presenting 9 brand new recipients of the coveted star alongside 2 new two-starred restaurants. 60 Hong Kong restaurants held their existing status and did not add nor lose a star, bringing the city’s total number of Michelin-decorated restaurants to 71.

This year’s newest crop of Michelin-starred eateries spotlighted the diversity in Hong Kong’s dining scene, from Latin American to Indian and Korean. The overarching similarity? Dishes rooted in tradition but executed with innovative flair and meticulous attention to detail.

Take ZS Hospitality’s Whey and Hansik Goo as prime example. Hansik Goo’s Samgye Risotto is Chef Mingoo Kang’s clever remix of Samgyetang (Korean ginseng chicken soup) and Korean fried chicken. In Chef Mingoo’s version, a crisp, fried chicken roll encircles a creamy mushroom mousse and sits atop a bed of ginseng-spiced risotto and chicken broth. On a similar front, Chef Barry Quek of Whey elevates the herbal, peppery flavours of Singaporean bak kut teh with New Territories pork ribs served with pork heart and fermented cabbage, and finished with homemade pepper jus and black garlic jam.

In an interview with Michelin Guide, ZS Hospitality chairwoman Elizabeth Chu shared her desire to highlight Asia’s vast array of culinary offerings. “As Vietnamese-Chinese, I grew up having Asian food and developed a deep connection to its diverse culture. However, Asian cuisine has often been stereotyped as affordable takeaways or street eats,” says Chu. “I aspired to challenge this misconception by offering a fresh take to these under-appreciated cuisines.”