2026 Black Pearl Restaurant Guide: Hong Kong chefs earn top honours

China’s 2026 Black Pearl Restaurant Guide awards were announced on March 23, just days after the star rankings for the Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau were unveiled on March 19, and before the coming ceremony for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants to be held in Hong Kong on March 25.

The guide, often referred to as China’s answer to France’s century-old restaurant ranking system, awards venues using a three-tiered “diamond” system as opposed to Michelin’s star ratings.

Similarly, Black Pearl spotlights individuals for special accolades, and this year presented two Hong Kong chefs, Vicky Cheng and Terry Ho Kai-tung, with the master chef and young chef awards, respectively.

Ho, who is currently the chef de cuisine at three-Michelin-star Amber restaurant in Hong Kong, is recognised for his role in moving the needle for sustainable fine dining as a young chef, with the guide noting that Ho is “making zero waste a culinary art [and] leading the industry towards a more environmentally responsible future”.

Richard Ekkebus, the culinary director of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental and Amber, immediately posted a tribute to his protege.