Cha chaan tengs—the quintessential Hong Kong-style cafés and diners—are, for many, the beating heart of the city. No matter where you are, these ‘tea restaurants’ are never far, offering the perfect pitstop to satisfy your cravings for Hong Kong’s distinctive take on Western comfort food.
From pillowy scrambled eggs to soothing macaroni in broth, indulgent Hong Kong-style French toast, and signature buns, these cafés are celebrated for their eclectic, wallet-friendly menus. And of course, no visit is complete without a classic Hong Kong-style milk tea, coffee or yin yeung (a combination of both), to wash it all down.
But with such variety, knowing where to go and what to order can feel overwhelming. Fear not—Tatler’s editors are here to steer you through Hong Kong’s sprawling cha chaan teng scene, sharing their top picks for must-try dishes and where to find the swiftest service.
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Cafe Seasons
Cafe Seasons’ creamy chicken soup with char siu macaroni (Photo: Instagram / @cafe_seasonshk)
Cafe Seasons’ cheese and corned beef bun (Photo: Instagram / @cafe_seasonshk)
Cafe Seasons is accessible and offers a great quality breakfast. I particularly enjoy their creamy chicken soup with char siu macaroni—a highlight of the breakfast menu. This dish features a rich, creamy broth that is comforting and satisfying. It’s the perfect hangover cure for me.
I also really enjoy the cheese and corned beef bun. This sandwich features a soft bun filled with savoury corned beef and melted cheese which is a deliciously indulgent option for breakfast. The combination of flavours is well-balanced, with the richness of the cheese perfectly complementing the beef. It's a great choice that pairs well with a cup of coffee or milk tea, with condensed milk, of course.
- Andy Cheng, regional head of Dining, Tatler Hong Kong
Cafe SeasonsAddress: Several locations around Hong Kong
Cheung Hing Coffee Shop
Cheung Hing Coffee Shop’s old school style (Photo: courtesy of Fontaine Cheng)
Cheung Hing Coffee Shop’s pineapple buns (Photo: courtesy of Fontaine Cheng)
Cheung Hing Coffee Shop is where you go when you need a reminder that life is better with carbs. Their pineapple bun is a sweet, golden treasure on its own, but to level up, you’ve got to take matters into your own hands. Add some pan-fried luncheon meat and scrambled egg, and suddenly, you’re indulging in a glorious combination that makes you grateful for Hong Kong’s cha chaan tengs, where rules are optional and indulgence is mandatory. The 70-year-old nostalgic charm of this place, with its old-school tiles and booths, is a vibe—and gives you just the right amount of privacy to devour your creation in peace.
- Fontaine Cheng, dining editor, Tatler Hong Kong
Cheng Hing’s egg tarts (Photo: Instagram / @Bettyshanghai)
I’ve been going to Cheng Hing since I was a kid, so I love that it’s kept much of the original interiors. It’s known for its baked goods like egg tarts and pineapple buns, which are delicious, but my go-to is a steaming bowl of satay beef noodles and a cold glass of iced lemon tea.
- Coco Marett, lifestyle editor, Tatler Hong Kong
Cheung Hing Coffee ShopAddress: 9 Yik Yam Street, Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Australia Dairy Company
Australia Dairy Company’s scramble eggs and toats (Photo: Instagram / @makanmakan_sby)
Australia Dairy Company’s macaroni with char siu in chicken broth (Photo: Instagram / @makanmakan_sby)
Iconic. Outrageous. Creamy. Australia Dairy Company leaves no one indifferent. This Jordan cha chaan teng is both a place you’ll be recommended to go to or to avoid at all costs. And guess what: there’s only one way to find out why.
Don’t be shy, join one of the long lines in front of the restaurant, and wait for one of the restaurant’s notoriously rude waiters to sit you somewhere. Be fast, order the eggs, the milk pudding, or their plate of macaroni and char siu in chicken broth. And more eggs. Because no one in Hong Kong does eggs better than Australia Dairy Company.
- Salomé Grouard, deputy digital editor,Tatler Hong Kong
Australia Dairy CompanyAddress: 47 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong
Read more: 11 Hong Kong restaurants loved by Anthony Bourdain
Milk Café
Milk Café’s cheese pineapple buns (Photo: courtesy of Milk Café)
Milk Café may be a chain, but they’ve cracked the code on bottling up the joy of comfort food and mass-producing it. Their menu is stacked with heartwarming options like beef brisket curry with rice, French toast with butter and syrup, and classic Swiss chicken wings with noodles. My go-to is pork chop rice with an egg that’s just one poke away from spilling its golden yolk and enough scallions to scare off a vampire. It’s the culinary equivalent of spending all day in your pyjamas—deeply satisfying, utterly indulgent, and no one’s business but your own. Oh, and did I mention their pineapple bun comes with cheese? Because it does, and it’s as gloriously over-the-top as it sounds.
- Fontaine Cheng, dining editor, Tatler Hong Kong
Milk Café Causeway Bay (Photo: courtesy of Milk Café)
When I'm not feeling adventurous, which is always, the boiled beef, tofu, egg and tomato soup with rice from Milk Café is the ultimate comfort food for a busy weekday lunch. Unlike most cha chaan tengs, which offer only authentic Hong Kong dishes, Milk Café presents a variety of food choices spanning from Sichuan mapo tofu to Singapore-style fried rice vermicelli—everyone can find something to satisfy their cravings here.
- Cathy Huang, Chinese content editor, Tatler Hong Kong
Milk CaféAddress: Several locations around Hong Kong
Sun Heung Yuen (Kin Kee)
Sun Heung Yuen (Kin Kee) (Photo; Instagram / @isitgraining)
Sun Heung Yuen (Kin Kee)’s Hong Kong-style French toast (Photo: Tatler)
It wouldn’t be right to talk about cha chaan tengs without mentioning Sun Heung Yuen in Sham Shui Po.
As a Frenchie in Hong Kong, nothing conjures mixed feelings more than Sun Heung Yuen’s Hong Kong-style French toasts. What’s French about a pool of condensed milk or syrup, peanut butter and loaves of white bread? Nothing if you ask me, it doesn’t even come close to pain perdu. But that’ll probably be the only time I'll let it pass. These Hong Kong-style French toasts are incredibly crispy, yet fluffy. They’re cooked to golden brown perfection, dripping with condensed milk and melted butter to make for a truly indulgent treat.
- Salomé Grouard, deputy digital editor,Tatler Hong Kong
Sun Heung Yuen (Kin Kee)Address: Address: G/F, 38 Kweilin Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Read more: Where to find the best French toast in Hong Kong
Wing Wah Southeast Asia Cafe
Inside Wing Wah Southeast Asia Cafe (Photo: Instagram / @wingwahsoutheastasiacafe)
Wing Wah Southeast Asia Cafe is the spot for comfort food with bold flavours. Located in the Tai Ping Shan neighbourhood, it is easily recognisable on Upper Station Street thanks to its teal exterior and old-school Hong Kong tiling peeking out the front. Menu items take inspiration from Singaporean, Indonesian, Malaysian and Thai cuisines with a local twist: think kaya toast, lemongrass pork chops, seafood noodle soups and beef satay sticks, along with drink options that include all the familiar classics such as milk tea and iced lemon tea as well as Thai milk tea and lychee soda.
- Amalissa Hall, style writer, Tatler Hong Kong
Wing Wah Southeast Asia CafeAddress: 1A Upper Station Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Read more: The best afternoon tea spots in Hong Kong, according to Tatler Hong Kong’s editors
Shun Hing Restaurant
Shun Hing’s scrambled eggs over rice (Photo: Instagram / @tykfung)
This unsuspecting cha chaan tang in Tai Hang serves—in my opinion—the ultimate Hong Kong comfort food. Silky, gooey scrambled eggs over rice, generous amounts of tender char siu, topped with a sweet soy sauce.
- Coco Marett, lifestyle editor, Tatler Hong Kong
Shun HingAddress: 5 Ormsby Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Mon Kee Cafe
Mon Kee Cafe’s egg sandwiches (Photo: Instagram / @monkeecafe_official)
Back when I was doing my Master’s, Mon Kee Cafe’s homemade char siu with Japanese scrambled egg and rice was a delightful reward after my gruelling morning classes. The scrambled egg’s exceptionally smooth texture stands out, while the cafe’s secret soy sauce steals the show and harmoniously blends all ingredients. For the best experience, arrive early to beat the rush.
- Cathy Huang, Chinese content editor, Tatler Hong Kong
Mon Kee CafeAddress: Several locations around Hong Kong
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