The biggest surprise of the 10th Hong Kong and Macau guide was that there were no real surprises

Today, Michelin guide awards stars to its favorite fine dining destinations, released its 2018 guide to Hong Kong and Macau. .

The list includes 74 starred recommendations in Hong Kong and 18 in Macau

As in last year’s guide, the same eight restaurants retained three Michelin stars this year, including Eater Essential 38 restaurant Lung King Heen, which became the first restaurant from a Chinese chef to earn three stars, back in the 2009 Michelin guide. In addition, the two-star category — those restaurants that are “worth a detour” — is equally snoozy. Indeed, the same 16 restaurants, 11 in Hong Kong and five in Macau, retained their stars.

The year’s guide has a total of 11 two-starred restaurants in Hong Kong and 5 in Macau; 46 one-starred restaurants in Hong Kong and 11 in Macau

On top, the selection also includes 82 Bib Gourmand, 73 in Hong Kong and nine in Macau. Michelin guide added just eight new one-star selections to the guide this year, all in Hong Kong. Among them, Arcane, led by the Aussie chef Shane Osborn, which offers cuisine based on “down-to-earth recipes and quality ingredients”. Kaiseki Den by Saotome (relocated and renamed in 2017) where chef Saotome serves Japanese cuisine based on the freshest food in season, like his signature dishes of sea urchin truffle rice and char-grilled wagyu beef.

Already well-known by foodies from Singapore and Shanghai is the first Hong Kong branch of Imperial Treasure, which also gained one star this year. With panoramic views of the harbour, diners can enjoy refined Chinese cuisine, such as poached grouper in fish soup with crispy rice and stuffed crab shell. Two Cantonese restaurants have been awarded one star including Ying Jee Club and Yee Tung Heen.

Two restaurants run by renowned French chefs obtained their first star in 2018. ‘The Ocean’, owned by chef Olivier Bellin. Moreover, ‘Rech’, the first international outpost of the famous Parisian seafood restaurant run by Alain Ducasse. Furthermore, Chef Vicky Lau’s Tate, which has moved to a larger space on Hollywood Road, maintained her one star. Today, Hong Kong is a culinary hotspot in Asia, and one of the world’s most exciting and dynamic dining destinations. It’s ranked as No. 6 on the world’s most-Michelin-starred cities in the world.

Most of it, Michael Ellis, international director in charge of the Michelin Guides commented: “Ten years after the introduction of the very first Michelin guide selection for Hong Kong/Macau, we are pleased to note the vibrancy of the local culinary scene: the number of starred restaurants has been multiplied by three!”