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Best traditional mooncakes to buy this Mid-Autumn Festival 2023

By Lily Valette 29 August 2023 | Last Updated 21 September 2023

Header images courtesy of Yuè and Hong Kong Cuisine 1983

Mid-Autumn Festival 2023 is on the horizon. Whether this is your first, tenth, or fiftieth time partaking in the festivities, Mid-Autumn is not complete without mooncakes. To help you navigate the seemingly endless options of celebratory treats available in Hong Kong, we have compiled a handy list of the best traditional mooncakes to buy this Mid-Autumn Festival 2023.

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Photo: The Merchants

The Merchants

This newly opened Shanghainese restaurant inside Landmark’s Forty-Five is celebrating its first Mid-Autumn Festival this year. For the occasion, chef Chen Tian-long and his team have created a unique selection of homemade Suzhou-style layered mooncakes.

The signature mooncakes set holds four pieces, including classic flavours such as red bean, red date, lotus seed paste with salted egg yolk, and five-kernels and black sesame powder “salt and pepper.” If you are on the lookout for a grander gift, opt for the prestige mooncake set delivered inside a limited-edition silk-covered cherrywood handcrafted box. It includes two pieces of every flavour found in the signature set. Standing out is the savoury set, with two pieces of a meat-filled mooncake and two pieces of the smoky Jinhua ham mooncake.

Available until 28 September, orders can be placed through Alfred’s concierge service, with delivery and pick-up available from 4 to 29 September.

The Merchants, Forty-Five, Gloucester Tower Landmark, Central

Photo: Nam Fong

Nam Fong

The Cantonese restaurant of Le Méridien hotel in Cyberport, Nam Fong is embracing the natural side of the hotel’s surrounding park and sea views with an elegant pastel turquoise mooncake gift box tailor-made for this Mid-Autumn Festival. Complete with a delicate lotus pattern, the box can be filled with a selection of six mini white lotus seed paste with egg yolk mooncakes, six mini lava egg custard mooncakes, or four mooncakes paired with two packs of premium ginseng oolong leaf tea.

Orders can be placed on the hotel’s online shop, with discounts available until 10 September with a pick-up service from 21 to 28 September.

Nam Fong, Le Méridien Hong Kong, Cyberport, 100 Cyberport Road, Pok Fu Lam

Photo: Dynasty

Dynasty

Dynasty is Renaissance Harbour View’s Chinese restaurant. Those who have tasted the creative dishes on the menu can expect the same distinctive traits in Dynasty’s Mid-Autumn Festival offerings. Fully embracing the moon-themed celebration and mystique that comes with it, Dynasty has opted for intriguing fillings. Gift boxes include six pieces of the classic mini white lotus seed paste and salted egg yolk mooncakes, but also mini pandan paste and salted egg yolk mooncakes, or a mix of both.

Stealing the spotlight and straying from traditional flavours is the mini Musang King durian mooncakes with a limited number of 500 boxes available for purchase—get your hands on this option for a gift to remember.

You may enjoy a 20 percent discount if you order from the Renaissance Harbour View online shop before 23 September, with pick-up available until 26 September.

Dynasty, Level 3, Renaissance Harbour View Hotel, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai

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Photo: Ho Lee Fook

Ho Lee Fook

Nestled in vibrant Elgin Street, Cantonese restaurant Ho Lee Fook has become a staple in Hong Kong’s food scene, but it has never brought out a range of mooncakes—until now! Fans of chef ArChan Chan’s flavourful and carefully crafted recipes will be delighted to try the Ho Lee Fook mooncake collection. With four back-to-basics light custard and salted egg yolk square pieces presented in a colourful giftbox, this set is perfect if you are looking for a traditional Hong Kong bite with a modern feel to it.

Limited quantities are available to pre-order online for pick-up from Ho Lee Fook from 18 to 30 September.

Ho Lee Fook, 3–5 Elgin Street, Central

Photo: Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers

Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers

Branded with the signature “S,” Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers has prepared a set of four lotus seed paste mooncakes with double egg yolk for double the delight. Sheraton also answers to our custard needs, with a set of eight mini custard cream mooncakes with egg yolk. These two sought-after flavours are contained in a sophisticated cedar-brown coloured gift box decorated with golden Chinese-style cloud drawings.

To order, head over to Sheraton’s online shop.

Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers, 20 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Hong Kong Cuisine 1983

While most mooncake gifting in Hong Kong follows traditional lotus- and custard-filled recipes, a select few are opting for Suzhou-style mooncakes. Hong Kong Cuisine 1983, a contemporary Chinese cuisine institution in Happy Valley, joins that list with a mooncake gift box filled with an impressive variety of six flavours. Some familiar combinations such as the red bean paste with nuts, egg yolk, and white lotus seed paste meet the unconventional premium mixed nuts, Yunnan ham with mixed nuts, and purple sweet potato paste with yolk in these flaky and textured delights.

Stack up if you can, as each box only holds one piece per flavour. Pre-orders are available now, while pick-up will happen closer to the festivities later in September.

Hong Kong Cuisine 1983, 1/F, Elegance Court, 2–4 Tsoi Tak Street, Happy Valley

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Photo: YUÈ

Yuè

Perfectly located on the leisurely Gold Coast of Hong Kong, Yuè is an in-hotel restaurant recommended by the Michelin guide for its superior food. This Mid-Autumn Festival, Yuè’s culinary team is offering reduced-sugar mooncake sets. In partnership with the Music Children Foundation, Gold Coast Hotel will donate mooncakes to children and families in need.

A classic four-piece white lotus seed paste with double egg yolks collection will enchant all, while the mini six-piece Fragrant collection introduces low-sugar white lotus seed paste with pine nuts, mildly sweet golden-coloured egg custard, and chestnuts and red bean paste mooncakes for more adventurous gourmands. Purchased as gift sets, the collections come with a jar of ong lai pineapple tarts from Singapore, and sambal ikan bilis, a popular Southeast Asia snack.

Purchases can be made on the hotel’s online shop, or directly at the hotel. Pick-up will be available at the Gold Coast Hotel, as well as Olympian City and Tuen Mun Town Plaza for a more convenient experience.

Yuè, G/F, Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel, 1 Castle Peak Road, Gold Coast, Tuen Mun

Photo: The Peninsula

The Peninsula

The Peninsula is offering a series of traditional mooncakes alongside two new creations this Mid-Autumn Festival. Michelin-starred chef Tang Chi-keung has reinterpreted two traditional mooncake recipes for the Star Chef collection: the mini pineapple paste, red date, and fig mooncake with nuts is a reimagination of the classic assorted nuts mooncake (五仁月餅; ng5 jan4 jyut6 beng2; “five nuts mooncake”) while the mini osmanthus and yuzu egg custard mooncake with walnuts is a refreshing delight perfect as a post-meal snack.

Browse the full range Peninsula’s offerings and place your order at the Peninsula boutique online, or directly at The Peninsula Boutique & Café.

The Peninsula Boutique and Café, The Peninsula Arcade, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Man Ho Chinese Restaurant

The one-Michelin-starred Man Ho Chinese Restaurant is offering a selection of traditional mooncakes for your celebrations. The four-piece box of white lotus seed paste mooncakes with ginger and double egg yolks offers a tangy contrast to usual flavours, whilst the eight-inch Royal Supreme mooncake with white lotus seed paste, ginger, and eight egg yolks offers a unique sharing treat for groups of six to 10 to enjoy.

A selection of mini mooncakes is also available at Man Ho this year, including indulgent egg custard mooncakes crafted with an authentic recipe, nourishing and aromatic red dates and rose mooncakes, and the new dried tangerine peel and red bean mooncakes.

All sets are available for order on JW Marriot’s online shop. Mooncakes are available for pick-up at Man Ho Chinese Restaurant from 11 to 28 September.

Man Ho Chinese Restaurant, JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty

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Photo: Social Place

Social Place

The Chinese and dim sum restaurant Social Place is bringing out a large range of mooncakes for this year’s festivities! Among the more traditional options, the deluxe collection contains four of the OG dried meat and red lotus seed paste, ham and assorted nuts, double yolks with white lotus seed paste, and black sesame with salted egg yolk mooncakes. All of these delicious treats are contained in the same box for a variety of pleasures.

Social Place, locations across Hong Kong

Photo: Conrad

Conrad

This year’s mooncakes from Conrad will be presented in a revamped design that resembles a jewellery box, which can be repurposed once you have savoured its contents with friends and family. Four boxes are available, including the traditional six-piece white lotus seed paste with egg yolk mooncakes, the eight-piece mini creamed egg yolk mooncakes, the five-flavours Grand assorted mooncakes (red bean paste, white lotus seed paste with egg yolk, yellow lotus seed paste with egg yolk, mung bean paste with egg yolk, and low sugar white lotus seed paste), and the new mini Musang King Durian mooncakes available in limited quantities.

Simply head to the Conrad online shop or the hotel’s cake shop Golden Leaf to order.

Golden Leaf, Lower Lobby Level, Conrad Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty

Photo: Yat Tung Heen

Yat Tung Heen

This Mid-Autumn Festival, one-Michelin-starred Yat Tung Heen is offering two mooncake gift sets in an elegant and durable timber box that can be repurposed for storing jewellery, trinkets, and other small objects. The deluxe mini mooncake assortment gift set comes in three flavours: mini lava egg custard, mini lava egg custard white lotus seed paste, and mini red bean paste with mandarin peel. Fans of egg custard can also opt for the mini lava egg custard mooncake gift set.

Orders can be placed on Yat Tung Heen’s online shop.

Yat Tung Heen, Level B2, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Jordan

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The Ritz-Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton is welcoming the season of togetherness with a series of mooncake offerings. The Luna Serenity mini egg custard mooncake set comes with eight pieces, each branded with illustrations of traditional elements of the festival, including the Jade Rabbit, a lotus flower, and an iconic red lantern.

The M+ exclusive Madame Song-inspired lava egg custard with kumquat mooncake set presents eight unique pieces in a celebration of the museum’s latest special exhibition. The collaboration set is encased in an elegant butterfly-patterned box, perfect for gifting.

Meanwhile, the two Michelin-starred Tin Lung Heen is offering the time-honoured limited-edition homemade mini egg custard mooncake with selected premium tea gift set. Dressed in a new design this year, patrons can savour across the expertly crafted cakes while sipping on a cup of premium Nannuo ripe pu’er.

Finally, the premium bird’s nest egg custard mooncake set is brought back by popular demand. Presenting the nourishing properties of bird nests, this set is the perfect gift for showing your appreciation and gratitude to friends and relatives. With only 200 boxes available, be sure to place your order ahead of time!

All mooncake sets can be ordered on Ritz-Carlton’s online shop.

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, ICC, 1 Austin Road West, West Kowloon

Photo: Rosewood Hong Kong

Rosewood Hong Kong

Rosewood Hong Kong is offering a selection of traditional mooncakes to accompany your Mid-Autumn celebrations this year. Expect staple flavours such as the white lotus seed paste with double egg yolks, yellow lotus seed with olive seeds and double egg yolks, and mini egg custard mooncakes from the Rosewood’s Cantonese restaurant The Legacy House.

For innovative takes on traditional flavours, the mini assorted flavour mooncakes set is your best choice, featuring flavours such as jasmine tea-infused egg custard, lapsang souchong tea white lotus seed paste, and red bean paste with mandarin peel.

Gifting options include the Witty Moon mooncake gift box, which includes a mix of traditional and innovative flavours alongside a porcelain tray, while the Rosewood x Hong Kong Palace Museum mooncake gift box features a varied selection of time-honoured classics in an elegant and modern ink-painted pattern. Mooncake orders can be placed on the Rosewood Hong Kong online shop. Delivery and pick-up from Butterfly Pâtisserie are available from 28 August to 29 September.

Butterfly Patisserie, Level 2, Rosewood Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Photo: Duddell’s

Duddell’s

With a design that once again shows thinking outside of the box, one-Michelin-starred Duddell’s is offering a limited-edition LED lantern gift box with eight lava custard mooncakes that is sure to impress at this year’s Mid-Autumn gatherings. For more discreet yet delicious occasions, the signature gift box encases six lava custard mooncakes in an attractive red case. Orders can be placed online through Duddell’s website.

Duddell’s, Level 3, 1 Duddell’s Street, Central

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The Royal Garden

Imagine an appealing red box, a detailed golden moon motif, and white lotus seed paste with egg yolks mooncakes, Chinese ham with mixed nuts mooncakes, and egg custard mooncakes inside. It does not get more classic than that when it comes to Mid-Autumn Festival gifting. If you are wondering where to find such a traditional offering, The Royal Garden is the answer.

The Royal Garden also has some more modern gift boxes with newfangled flavours. The twins mini egg custard mooncake gift pack features the original egg custard mooncake alongside the aromatic Earl Grey tea custard mooncakes. Coffee lovers will find appeal in the assorted mini egg custard mooncake gift pack with three flavours: egg custard, Earl Grey tea custard, and coffee with caramel and sea salt custard—all perfect for sharing between you and your loved ones. All options can be viewed on The Royal Garden’s online shop.

The Royal Garden, 69 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East

Photo: Ying Jee Club

Ying Jee Club

Two-Michelin-starred Ying Jee Club is bringing back its popular mini egg custard mooncakes in time for Mid-Autumn Festival. Handcrafted in-house and encased in an elegant jewellery box, this is the perfect gift to express your appreciation. Orders can be placed directly at the restaurant.

Ying Jee Club, Shop G05, Nexxus Building, 41 Connaught Road Central, Central

China Tang at Landmark

One of the Landmark’s delicious destinations, China Tang, has brought out a collection of traditional mooncakes in harmony with the restaurant’s interior and cuisine—“chinoiserie yet modern.” The deluxe mooncake giftbox is an intricately designed box that looks like a window, complete with metallic frames and mirrors. However, the best part is found through the glass, with four lava bird’s nest egg custard mooncakes and four mini white lotus seed paste with egg yolk mooncakes.

If you have a favourite flavour, you can pick a simpler box with colourful drawers and flowery designs filled with either four authentic white lotus seed paste with double egg yolks mooncakes, or eight mini crafted egg custard mooncakes. Get more information on the online shop.

China Tang, 4/F, Shops 411–413, Landmark Atrium, Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central

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Photo: Hotel Icon

Hotel Icon

Tradition is not set in stone, nor in lotus seed paste. No one has understood this better than Hotel Icon and its now iconic emerald pandan lotus paste salted egg yolk mooncake recipe. Combining a Hong Kong classic with a modern touch, you can order four-piece sets of the delicacy. Further straying from conventional flavours is the snow skin Musang King durian mooncake, also available as a four-piece set—this one’s sure to surprise your palate.

Hotel Icon, 17 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Photo: Rùn

Rùn at The St Regis Hong Kong

2023 was a big year for Rùn as it received two Michelin stars, and the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival is a new opportunity for chef Hung Chi-kwong to please our tastebuds. Mooncake options include a flavourful mini red bean paste mooncake with mandarin peels, and a mini assorted caramel nuts mooncake that reimagines the classic assorted nuts mooncake. With those two unconventional recipes on offer, Rùn also thought about those of us who prefer traditional flavours, and is presenting a four-piece box of white lotus seed paste mooncake with double egg yolks mooncakes! You can order yours on St Regis’s online shop and redeem at Rùn from 4 to 29 September.

Rùn, The St Regis Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Drive, Wan Chai

Photo: Mandarin Oriental

Mandarin Oriental

On sale at The Mandarin Oriental Cake Shop is a wide selection of mooncakes, including the classic mini egg custard mooncake, specialities such as chocolate lava mooncake, and egg custard and red bean paste with dried tangerine peel mooncake. All come in an intricately designed, two-tiered box.

Going one step further, the Mandarin Oriental is pairing its white lotus with egg yolk mooncakes with Ruinart Champagne, Bordeaux wine, oolong tea, and an array of Chinese snacks in three different hampers and gift boxes. Orders can be placed on the online shop, with pick-up available at the East Lobby of the hotel. Delivery services are also available.

Mandarin Oriental, G/F, 5 Connaught Road Central, Central

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Nina Hospitality

Nina Hotel has tasked its team at Rú with creating a delightful mooncake selection this Mid-Autumn Festival, leading with traditional flavours such as white lotus seed paste mooncake with two yolks, mini lava egg custard mooncake, and mini red bean paste mooncake with mandarin peel, where the tanginess of aged fruit peels contrasts with the sweetness of red bean paste. The gift boxes vary in size and quantity of mooncakes to please everyone’s taste. Order from the Nina Hotel online shop. Purchases made on or before 10 September are eligible for up to 29 percent off.

, 7/F, Nina Hotel, 8 Yeung Uk Road, Tsuen Wan West

The Langham

Mooncakes come in every shape, size, and flavour, but some of us just cannot get enough of traditional recipes. Luckily, gifting the now classic mini egg custard mooncakes and white lotus seed paste with double egg yolks mooncakes can still be a novel experience thanks to The Langham’s wooden box, which can be reused as a jewellery case. Covered in a pale pink illustration of flamingos, butterflies, sunflowers, and other such natural beauties, this elegant box contains your favourite flavours, carefully prepared by the three-Michelin-starred T’ang Court at The Langham.

Order the gift boxes online or directly from T’ang Court from now till 28 September.

T’ang Court, The Langham, The Sun Arcade, 8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Photo: Grand Hyatt Hong Kong

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong has come up with a simple yet effective collection for this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival. Never shifting too far from tradition, Grand Hyatt’s Full Moon box satisfies your cravings for white lotus seed paste with two salted egg yolks mooncakes, while the Bright Moon box answers your mini egg custard mooncake prayers. The annual One Harbour Road collection offers two classic egg custard mooncakes accompanied by other unique creations: two egg custard with crystalised ginger mooncakes and two egg custard with yuzu and sea salt mooncakes.

Two more premium hampers are available that come with mooncakes, champagne, wine, or assorted snacks. Order your mooncakes from the online shop for pick-up from 1 to 29 September.

One Harbour Road, 8/F, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai

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Photo: Ming Court

Ming Court

Ming Court’s peculiar mooncake gift boxes are designed by artist Lingmuki and adorned with a psychedelic reinterpretation of the moon and the Jade Rabbit. Look past the fun exterior for a selection of mooncake flavours—you can opt for a classic box of four white lotus seed paste with double egg yolks mooncakes, six mini custard with egg yolk mooncakes, or the slightly unusual deluxe mini mooncake assortment of two lava sesame mooncakes, two lava egg custard white lotus seed paste mooncakes, and two red bean paste with mandarin peel mooncakes. You can purchase your boxes directly at the two Ming Court locations or order them online.

Ming Court, 2/F, Great Eagle Centre, 23 Harbour Road, Wan Chai

Ming Court, Level 6, Cordis, 555 Shanghai Street, Mong Kok

Photo: Johnnie Walker

Johnnie Walker Blue Label x Lei Garden

Hong Kong knows no shortage of mooncakes. Every Mid-Autumn, options abound, and everyone gets their share. However, it is not always clear which beverage should be served at those numerous gatherings where mooncakes are the centrepiece. Some gift boxes include tea leaves, but for those looking for something a wee bit stronger, Johnnie Walker Blue Label has paired its smooth whisky with Lei Garden’s mini lava spirulina lotus seed paste mooncakes! Each set contains eight pieces of the classic pastry and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. Enjoy to your heart’s content!

Lei Garden, locations across Hong Kong

Regal Hotels

Feast on some regal treats when Mid-Autumn arrives this month. Regal Hotels Hong Kong is offering different gift boxes to satisfy all your mooncake cravings, including a mini egg custard mooncake trio with two egg custard, two creamy custard, and two Earl Grey egg custard mooncakes; a classic four-piece white lotus seed paste mooncake with double egg yolks; and a classic mooncake duo with golden lotus seed paste mooncakes with double egg yolks and red bean paste mooncakes with mandarin peel. If you are looking for even more gifting ideas, how about the limited-edition Under The Moonlight set comes with a LED lantern? Check out the entire collection here.

Regal Hotels, locations across Hong Kong

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Photo: Jiangsu Club

Jiangsu Club

This year, Jiangsu Club is offering a series of Shanghai-style mooncakes. From sweet to savoury, flavours include traditional salty pork, tangerine peel and red bean paste, and diced South African abalone and beef. To order a set of these limited-edition treats, send a message to Jiangsu Club’s WhatsApp customer service at (+852) 6230 8973.

Jiangsu Club, 2/F, Alliance Building, 130–136 Connaught Road, Sheung Wan

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Lily Valette

Editor

Born and raised in the French countryside, Lily arrived in Hong Kong looking for an adventure. Passionate about books, she spent some time in Parisian publishing houses and is the author of an illustrated book about hair. Life in Hong Kong for her entails looking for seaside places to eat and a lot of hiking.

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