Hong Kong City in Atlanta: Where to Find Authentic Cantonese Flavor

When people in Atlanta search for “Hong Kong City Atlanta,” they’re usually looking for Hong Kong–style Chinese food in or near the city—especially Cantonese dishes, dim sum, roast duck, and seafood that feel similar to what you’d find in Hong Kong.

Atlanta doesn’t have a single official “Hong Kong City” district, but several neighborhoods and restaurants offer a strong Hong Kong–inspired dining scene, especially around Chamblee, Doraville, and parts of Buford Highway.

Below is a practical guide to how “Hong Kong City” shows up in Atlanta: where to go, what to order, how to get there, and what locals and visitors should know.

Understanding “Hong Kong City” in the Atlanta Context

In Atlanta, “Hong Kong City” usually means one of three things:

1. A Hong Kong–style Chinese restaurant (often with words like “Hong Kong,” “Canton,” or “Seafood” in the name).
2. A cluster of Asian businesses that together feel like a “little Hong Kong,” especially along Buford Highway.
3. A general search for authentic Hong Kong–inspired food:
   • Cantonese stir-fries
   • Dim sum
   • Roast meats (barbecue pork, roast duck)
   • Seafood with ginger and scallion
   • Hong Kong–style café dishes (milk tea, baked rice, macaroni soup)

When you’re in Atlanta, Georgia, your best bet for a “Hong Kong City” experience is to focus on where these foods and shops are concentrated, rather than looking for an official district by that name.

Key Areas in and Around Atlanta for a “Hong Kong City” Feel

Buford Highway: Atlanta’s Main Asian Food Corridor

If you want a Hong Kong–like experience, Buford Highway is the closest thing to a “Hong Kong City Atlanta” strip.

What you’ll find:

• Cantonese and Hong Kong–style restaurants
• Dim sum spots
• Asian bakeries with egg tarts and buns
• Chinese herbal shops and grocery stores

Major stretches to explore:

• Atlanta / Brookhaven segment – Near 3145 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, you’ll find shopping centers with Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean restaurants clustered together.
• Chamblee / Doraville segment – Around the Chamblee and Doraville city lines, Buford Highway becomes even more dense with Asian businesses.

Getting there:

• By MARTA rail:
  • Use the Gold Line to Brookhaven/Oglethorpe, Chamblee, or Doraville stations, then use a rideshare or bus for short hops along Buford Highway.
• By car:
  • Buford Highway (U.S. 23) runs northeast from central Atlanta, with large parking lots at most shopping plazas.

Chamblee and Doraville: Suburban “Mini–Hong Kong” Vibes

While not official Chinatowns, Chamblee and Doraville host many Chinese and Hong Kong–leaning spots.

Why these areas matter:

• High concentration of Chinese supermarkets, seafood markets, and Cantonese restaurants.
• Shopping plazas where you can find:
  • Roast meat shops
  • Noodle houses
  • Asian bakeries
  • Bubble tea cafés

Examples of useful anchor points in this area:

• Around 5000–5300 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340 – several plazas with Chinese eateries and grocery stores.
• Near Chamblee’s city center – walkable pockets of restaurants and markets within a few blocks of the Chamblee MARTA station.

What “Hong Kong–Style” Usually Means in Atlanta Restaurants

When you’re searching menus around Atlanta for a Hong Kong City–type experience, look for these signature categories:

1. Dim Sum

Many Atlantans associate Hong Kong with dim sum: small plates served in steamer baskets or on small plates.

Common items:

• Har gow (shrimp dumplings)
• Siu mai (open-topped pork and shrimp dumplings)
• Char siu bao (barbecue pork buns)
• Cheung fun (rice noodle rolls)
• Egg tarts and sesame balls

Tips:

• Dim sum is usually best earlier in the day, often from late morning through early afternoon.
• Some places offer cart service on weekends and menu-based ordering on weekdays.

2. Cantonese Roast Meats

Roast shops around Atlanta often display meats in the window or behind glass. Look for:

• Roast duck
• Soy sauce chicken
• Char siu (barbecue pork)
• Crispy pork belly

How locals use them:

• As a takeout dinner with rice and vegetables.
• As part of a family-style meal with several shared plates.

3. Seafood and Clay Pots

A strong Hong Kong–style menu in Atlanta will often feature:

• Whole steamed fish with ginger and scallion
• Salt and pepper squid or shrimp
• Seafood hot pot or clay pot dishes
• Braised tofu with seafood and vegetables

These dishes are more common in larger, banquet-style restaurants often found in bigger plazas on or near Buford Highway.

4. Hong Kong–Style Cafés (Cha Chaan Teng–Inspired)

Some Atlanta-area spots offer menus influenced by Hong Kong’s casual cafés:

You might see:

• Hong Kong milk tea and yuanyang (coffee–tea blend)
• Baked rice dishes with sauce and cheese
• Macaroni soup with ham or spam
• French toast or simple bakery-style desserts

These are especially useful if you’re looking for a lighter or solo meal rather than a big family-style spread.

How to Plan Your “Hong Kong City Atlanta” Food Day

Here’s a simple way to structure a day built around Hong Kong–style dining in and around Atlanta.

Morning or Midday: Dim Sum

• Aim for a late morning time to avoid the peak lunch rush.
• Go with 3–5 people if possible, so you can share a wider variety of dishes.
• Ask staff for house specialties—many places have standout dumplings or buns.

Afternoon: Bakeries and Milk Tea

• Visit an Asian bakery for:
  • Egg tarts
  • Pineapple buns
  • Sausage buns
• Pick up Hong Kong–style milk tea or a similar drink for an afternoon break.

Evening: Roast Meats or Seafood

• For a casual dinner, grab roast duck or barbecue pork over rice.
• For a group dinner, consider a spot with:
  • Whole fish
  • Clay pot dishes
  • Stir-fried greens with garlic

Navigating the Area: Transport and Practical Tips

Getting Around Without a Car

Atlanta is spread out, but you can still reach Hong Kong–style areas by public transit and short rides.

• MARTA Gold Line:
  • Brookhaven/Oglethorpe Station – closest to the southern Buford Highway corridor.
  • Chamblee Station – access to central Buford Highway and nearby plazas.
  • Doraville Station – near the densest collection of Asian markets and restaurants.

From these stations, you can:

• Use MARTA bus routes serving Buford Highway.
• Take a rideshare for short trips between plazas.

Driving and Parking

• Most Asian shopping centers outside central Atlanta have large surface parking lots.
• Weekends around lunch and dinner can be crowded; arriving slightly off-peak often makes parking easier.

Quick Reference: Hong Kong–Style Experience in Atlanta

Tips for First-Time Visitors Looking for Hong Kong–Style Food

• Go with a group: Many Hong Kong–style dishes are meant to be shared.
• Ask about off-menu favorites: Some places quietly offer seasonal or special dishes.
• Be flexible on timing:
  • Dim sum: best late morning to early afternoon.
  • Roast meat and seafood: evenings are often livelier.
• Bring cash as backup: Most places accept cards, but some smaller shops prefer cash.
• Check hours before you go: Many restaurants close between lunch and dinner or close earlier on weekdays.

If You Live in Atlanta: Making “Hong Kong City” Part of Your Routine

For locals, Hong Kong–style spots can become:

• A regular weekend dim sum tradition.
• A go-to takeout option for roast meats and simple rice dishes.
• An easy way to host out-of-town guests and show them Atlanta’s international side.

Consider:

• Exploring one new plaza along Buford Highway every few weeks.
• Trying a different category each visit: dim sum one time, roast meats the next, seafood another.
• Learning a few common dish names so ordering becomes faster and more comfortable.

If you’re searching “Hong Kong City Atlanta,” you won’t find a single official neighborhood by that name—but you will find a rich Hong Kong–influenced food scene, especially along Buford Highway and around Chamblee and Doraville. With a bit of planning around transit, timing, and what you want to eat, you can build an experience that feels very close to a day of eating in Hong Kong, right here in metro Atlanta.