Cha chaan teng culture is a totally unique facet of Hong Kong’s dining scene. The cha chaan teng brings Western influences to Chinese recipes, serving simple and affordable fare at rustic cafés across the city.
Gaining notoriety in the 20th century, cha chaan tengs grew across residential neighbourhoods, providing Hong Kongers with fast “Western” food displaying local Cantonese characteristics. Think French toast, scrambled egg sandwiches, macaroni chicken soup, pineapple buns, pork chop rice, and milk tea.
To dive into the historic food culture of classic local Cantonese cuisine, here are our top picks of the best cha chaan tengs in Hong Kong.
The best cha chaan tengs in Hong Kong
Australia Dairy Company (澳洲牛奶公司)
Think of cha chaan tengs in Hong Kong and Australia Dairy Company is one that instantly comes to mind. Parked up in Jordan, this cha chaan teng sees a regular flow of local Kowlooners and tourists eager to sink their teeth into the signature fluffy scrambled egg, club sandwich, and macaroni soup and then dash out before being scolded by the service team, notorious for their rough-and-tough yet charming service.
Australia Dairy Company, 47 Parkes Street, Jordan, 2730 1356
Luen Wah Cafe (聯華茶餐廳)
Located on Centre Street in Sai Ying Pun, Luen Wah Cafe is a neighbourhood affair that sees a strong local patronage pass through its doors for a sampling of its sandwiches, soup bowls, and Chinese- and Western-inspired noodle and rice dishes. The staff at Luen Wah are affable and treat you like family if you frequent the café often enough. Their baked pork chop rice with tomato rocks.
Luen Wah Cafe, 28 Centre Street, Sai Ying Pun, 2540 1563
Kwong Ming Restaurant (肥仔銘茶餐廳)
San Po Kong might not be your go-to ‘hood for tasty bites, but Kwong Ming Restaurant exists here, and that’s a reason to make the trek. Famed for their whopping American pancakes, soy sauce macaroni noodles, and pork chop dishes, this cha chaan teng means business with its salty and sweet bites that fill your heart and tummy (but that will also make you sleepy afterwards).
Kwong Ming Restaurant, 9 Kam Wing Street, San Po Kong, 3542 5028
Lan Fong Yuen (蘭芳園)
Founded in 1952, Lan Fong Yuen predates many of its peers in Hong Kong’s cha chaan teng space, selling hearty and authentic Cantonese fare in Central. Sharing an open-air food stall offering their signature yuan yang, an intoxicating mix of tea and coffee, Lan Fong Yuen holds a small room indoors cooking great French toast, lemongrass chicken wings, pork buns, curry soup noodles, and lots more.
Lan Fong Yuen, 2 Gage Street, Central, 2544 3895/2854 0731
Mido Cafe (美都餐室)
Preserved in its mid-1900s shell, Mido Cafe is a cha chaan teng tale as old as the sub-cuisine itself, born in the era of Hong Kong’s first wave of cafés opening to serve this unique East-meets-West fare. Still retaining its original furniture, marbled floors, and art deco glass walls, Mido Cafe is a one-of-a-kind gem. We recommend trying the shrimp toast, baked pumpkin mushroom rice, beef noodles, and iced milk tea.
Mido Cafe, 63 Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei, 2384 6402
Tak Yu Restaurant (德如茶餐廳)
Tak Yu Restaurant in Starstreet Precinct is a rare local spot that has managed to survive the urbanisation and gentrification of the foodie-loving area. The service is bare bones, and the menu is straightforward, featuring classics of French toast, fried pork chop, satay beef, Demae instant noodles, Yangzhou fried rice, and two dozen options of “over rice” dishes.
Tak Yu Restaurant, 17–18 St Francis Yard, Wan Chai, 2528 0713
Swiss Cafe (Central) (瑞士咖啡室)
Whilst nothing is European about this cha chaan teng, Swiss Cafe in Central is famed for its cutesy interior complete with 1980s-style wooden chairs, beige and green decor, and exposed kitchen. The place is large, but the lines are few. Try out their hot dog, sunny-side-up egg with bread, Hong Kong milk tea, and signature chicken wings with Swiss sauce.
Swiss Cafe, 12 Li Yuen Street West, Central, 2111 0841/2111 0849
Kam Wah Cafe (金華冰廳)
Famous for its near-perfect pineapple bun, Kam Wah is a superb choice for a cha chaan teng meal in Prince Edward. Whilst the bun reigns supreme and Kam Wah’s egg tart is famous too, you also ought to try the fried sausage, egg, and luncheon meat noodle soup, iced milk tea, stir-fried beef noodles, and curry fried rice.
Kam Wah Cafe, 45–47 Bute Street, Prince Edward, 2392 6830
My Cup of Tea (我杯茶)
My Cup of Tea is not a traditional cha chaan teng per se, but a cool Cantonese café in Wan Chai that serves up beloved local dishes like corned beef and scrambled egg sandwich, tomato macaroni soup, char siu soup noodles, and curry fish balls. Seating is limited at My Cup of Tea, so scurry away when your plate or bowl is empty!
My Cup of Tea, G/F, Wing Hing Building, 6–12 Spring Garden Lane, Wan Chai, 2386 0007, WhatsApp 5543 7833
Luen Fat Restaurant (聯發茶餐廳)
With a similar vibe to Australia Dairy Company, Luen Fat feels like a long-lost twin, clad in old-school posters and yellow-washed walls. Top dishes like two eggs with bun, ham macaroni soup, French toast, char siu omelette, and beef donburi look great on Instagram. Go here if you’re seeking a historic experience beyond the usual tourist traps.
Luen Fat Restaurant, Shop 1, G/F, 2–4 Hau Wong Road, Kowloon City, 2718 8832
Hop Fat Cafe (合發茶餐廳)
One of many cha chaan tengs in the Mong Kok area, Hop Fat Cafe stands out with its amicable service and hearty plates of food. Expect the standard café menu, but with stronger flavours. Our picks go to the egg and ham sandwich, pineapple bun, Singapore-style fried noodles, and tomato beef curry with rice.
Hop Fat Cafe, 981 Canton Road, Mong Kok, 2388 0562
Shui Kee Coffee (瑞記咖啡)
If you can stomach the noise and bustle of Sheung’s Wan Cooked Food Centre, the food at Shui Kee Coffee beats a lot of rival cha chaan teng. It is rustic and homely. Their French toast has been regarded by many as one of the best in the city, notably for its strong vanilla taste and puffy texture. We also recommend their beef and scrambled egg sandwich and milk tea for a trip back to the basics.
Shui Kee Coffee, Shop 17, Cooked Food Centre, 2/F, Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building, 345 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, 2850 8643
Wing Heung Cafe (永香氷室)
Nothing is more like old Hong Kong than Wing Heung Cafe in Tok Kwu Wan, seemingly pickled in a time before ours in the city’s modern state. The mosaic tiles, booth seating, overhead fans, and window grills from the 1950s all remain, with the prices also stuck in the past too. Try their juicy beef macaroni soup, scrambled egg sandwich, lemon Coca Cola, and ham omelette.
Wing Heung Cafe, G/F, 29 Pau Chung Street, To Kwa Wan, 2712 1452
