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Hiromi Takano and Hideaki Sato of Ta Vie, which earned a third Michelin star in the Michelin Guide 2023 Hong Kong and Macau, at the ceremony in Macau to unveil the new edition. Photo: Charmaine Mok

Lifestyle Food & Drink

Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau 2023 full list: Ta Vie gains a third Michelin star, Neighborhood and Godenya end long waits for first stars

The Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau 2023 includes 95 starred restaurants, with only one newly minted three-Michelin-star venue, Ta Vie in Hong Kong
Several restaurants, including some that have waited years, have earned their first stars, while one restaurant loses a long-held third star

Food and Drinks

Lisa Cam

Published: 5:13pm, 26 Apr 2023

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Hong Kong loses a three-Michelin-star restaurant but gains a new one in the Hong Kong and Macau Michelin Guide 2023, unveiled on Wednesday.

Ta Vie is the restaurant elevated to three-star status, seven years after earning its first star and six years after gaining its second.

The loser is Lung King Heen, which drops to two Michelin stars. Its chef Chan Yan-tak, was conspicuously absent from the annual unveiling of the guide for the first time in over a decade.

David Lai’s Neighborhood ended a nine-year wait to earn its first Michelin star. “We made [Bib Gourmand] the first year and finally after nine years we got [a Michelin star].” Lai said. “We didn’t expect anything but we’re very honoured for this recognition.”

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Shinya Goshima, who closed his sake-centric restaurant Godenya in Tokyo to open up shop in Hong Kong eight years ago was elated to earn a first star. “One of my dreams has come true!” the chef-owner said. “My dream was to advance the agenda of globalisation of sake and to get a Michelin star.”

Other Hong Kong restaurants to earn a first star are Italian restaurant Estro, Japanese restaurant Kappo Rin at the Landmark Mandarin, Nagamoto, Noi, Italian restaurant at the Four Seasons Hong Kong, and Cantonese restaurant The Demon Celebrity. Macau’s Chengdu-specialist Five Foot Road and The Huaiyang Garden also earn their first.

Estro chef Antimo Maria Merrone. His restaurant earns a first Michelin star. Photo: Ramato

St Regis Hong Kong’s Chinese restaurant Run was another gainer, jumping from one to two stars.

Modern Thai restaurant Aarharn at Tai Kwun in Central has lost its one-star rating.

French-Japanese fusion restaurant Ta Vie’s chef and owner, Hideaki Sato, expressed his surprise at the achievement. “Of course I’m very happy and I can’t believe this has actually happened. I want to thank all our supporters, suppliers, guests and media friends and I vow to remain the same as always. This was totally unexpected.”

Chefs hold their awards at the guide’s unveiling in the Grand Lisboa Hotel, Macau. A total of 95 restaurants are recognised. Photo: Charmaine Mok

After three years of online announcements, the unveiling of the 2023 Michelin Guide was held at the Grand Lisboa Hotel in Macau, where the excitement was palpable not only in anticipation of the upcoming announcements but the ability of everyone to meet, hug and chit-chat freely without masks.

There is a dark horse among the restaurants attaining their first Michelin star: D.H.K. Seafood Restaurant. Headed by former chefs of Chinese fine-dining restaurants Fook Lam Moon and Guo Fu Lou, it opened quietly in Wan Chai.

However, nobody from D.H.K. was present in Macau to receive its first Michelin star, and it appears to have shut up shop on the eve of the ceremony.

Michelin gave out three new awards in recognition of talent and service in the bar and restaurant industry this year. Jacky Luk of three-Michelin-star Forum Restaurant received the inaugural Sommelier Award. The newly minted Service Award went to Kit Li of Sichuan Moon at Wynn Palace in Macau, while the Young Chef award went to Steve Lee of Hansik Goo.

Cheng Kam-fu of The Demon Celebrity, which earns a first Michelin Star. Photo: Celebrity Demon

This year’s Michelin Green star, awarded for environmentally friendly practices, went to soy-themed restaurant Mora in Sheung Wan.

“We are so happy we are extending the long history of soy and bringing that to the forefront,” said Vicky Lau, chef and owner of Mora and two-Michelin-star Tate Dining Room. When asked about extending her green ambitions to Tate as well, Lau said: “It’s a little bit harder but we will always strive for sustainability.”

Additions and promotions in the Michelin Guide to Hong Kong and Macau 2023

New one-Michelin-star restaurants

DHK

Estro

Five Foot Road

Godenya

Kappo Rin

Nagamoto

Neighborhood

Noi

The Chairman (moved)

The Demon Celebrity

The Huaiyang Garden

New two-Michelin-star restaurants

Bo Innovation (moved)

Lai Ching Heen (formerly known as Yan Toh Heen)

Lung King Heen (demoted from 3*)

Run

New three-Michelin-star restaurants

Ta Vie (promoted from 2*)

Existing one-Michelin-star restaurants that kept their status

8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana (Macau)

Ando

Arcane

Beefbar

Belon

Chaat

Duddell’s

Épure

Fook Lam Moon (Wan Chai)

Fu Ho

Gaddi’s

Hansik Goo

Ho Hung Kee (Causeway Bay)

Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine (Tsim Sha Tsui)

I M Teppanyaki & Wine

Jardin de Jade (Wan Chai)

Kam’s Roast Goose

Lai Heen (Macau)

Liu Yan Pavilion

Loaf On

Louise

Mandarin Grill & Bar

Man Ho (Admiralty)

Man Wah

Ming Court (Mong Kok)

Mono

New Punjab Club

Pang’s Kitchen

Pearl Dragon (Macau)

Petrus

Roganic

Ryota Kappou Modern

Seventh Son (Wan Chai)

Shang Palace

Sing Kee

Spring Moon

Summer Palace

Sushi Saito

Sushi Wadatsumi

Takumi by Daisuke Mori

The Araki

The Kitchen (Macau)

Tosca di Angelo

Whey

Wing Lei Palace (Macau)

Vea

Xin Rong Ji

Yardbird

Yat Lok

Yat Tung Heen

Ye Shanghai (Tsim Sha Tsui)

Ying (Macau)

Yong Fu

Zest by Konishi

Zhejiang Heen

Zi Yat Heen (Macau)

Zuicho

Existing two-Michelin-star restaurants that kept their status

Alain Ducasse at Morpheus (Macau)

Amber

Arbor

Bo Innovation

Écriture

Feng Jei Wu (Macau)

L’Envol

Mizumi (Macau)

Octavium

Sichuan Moon (Macau)

Sun Tung Lok

Tate

Tin Lung Heen

Wing Lei (Macau)

Ying Jee Club

Existing three-Michelin-star restauranats that kept their status

8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana

Caprice

Forum

Jade Dragon (Macau)

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon

Robuchon au Dome (Macau)

Sushi Shikon

T’ang Court

The Eight (Macau)

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