Must-Visit Cha Chaan Tengs & Hong-Kong Style Restaurants

Want to get a true taste of Hong Kong? From award-winning bowls of congee and noodles to scrambled eggs and macaroni to baked rice, we’ve curated a list of the best and most popular Hong Kong cha chaan tengs.

Few dining experiences capture the spirit of Hong Kong quite like the cha chaan teng. They’re fast, affordable and reliable, blending Western-style influences with Cantonese flavours and twists. Today, they remain a beloved part of local culture and one of the best ways to experience authentic Hong Kong comfort food. Whether you’re new to the city and want to dive straight into the best local eats or are simply a huge fan of Hong Kong cuisine, we’ve got you covered with this curated list of must-visit spots.

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What Is A Cha Chaan Teng?

It’s easy to confuse a cha chaan teng with other iconic eateries such as dai pai dong and bing sutt. A cha chaan teng is an indoor café known for its extensive Chinese-focused menus and signature Hong Kong-style milk tea. Dai pai dongs are traditionally open-air street or market stalls, famous for wok-fried classics and a more rustic atmosphere (great for a more raucous group gathering!). Bing sutt predates cha chaan teng as old-school ice parlours that traditionally serve lighter snacks and Western pastries in nostalgic settings (although these days most bing sutts have expanded their menus to resemble that of a cha chaan teng). Like an American diner, the cha chaan teng remains the most affordable and crowd-pleasing choice for many Hong Kong locals looking for a quick, satisfying bite.

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Our Top Cha Chaan Teng Picks In Hong Kong

Mak’s Noodle – A beloved wonton noodle shop

If you’re a fan of wonton noodles but still haven’t visited Mak’s Noodles, you’re missing out. Continuing to follow the recipe of the current Mak’s grandfather (aka “Guangzhou’s King of Wonton Noodles”), who founded the noodle shop back in the 1920s, you can expect perfectly plump shrimp wontons, silky noodles and a rich, clear broth. A Team Sassy favourite eatery that you’ll be thinking about for days after!

Mak’s Noodle, various locations across Hong Kong, www.maksnoodle.com

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Australia Dairy Company — Longstanding, legendary eatery famous for its long lines and fast service

An absolute Hong Kong institution, Australia Dairy Company is a favourite not only for its deliciously silky scrambled eggs but also for its famously rushed service (though we think it’s gotten tamer in recent years!). While queues are typically long, its speedy service and no-nonsense atmosphere mean wait times are reasonable. Order its renowned breakfast sets that come with scrambled eggs, buttered toast, macaroni soup and a steaming cup of milk tea for the quintessential cha chaan teng experience. Don’t forget to order a milk pudding for dessert too!

Sassy Tip: Head over at dinner time for a more relaxed setting, with the same delicious plates!

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Tsui Wah — Longstanding cha chaan teng chain with an extensive menu

One of Hong Kong’s most recognisable cha chaan teng chains, Tsui Wah helped bring this local dining tradition to a wider audience by marketing itself to feature in Hong Kong-made films, such as Love in a Puff and Lan Kwai Fong. Its extensive menu covers everything from satay beef instant noodles to pork chop buns. In recent years, you’ll also find more Western-inspired plates, such as steak and egg platters and borsch soup (another Hong Kong favourite plate!).

Tsui Wah, various locations across Hong Kong, www.tsuiwah.com/index.php

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For Kee 科記咖啡餐室 — Eatery famous for its pork chop rice

Tucked away in Sheung Wan, For Kee is a beloved neighbourhood gem best known for its famous pork chop rice, pork chop buns, instant noodles and chicken wings. It’s a no-fuss spot that is sure to deliver a satisfying bite, but queues at lunch can be long, so be prepared! 

For Kee, Shop J-K, 200 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

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Cheung Hing Coffee Shop — Happy Valley neighbourhood spot famous for its pineapple buns

A personal favourite of Sassy editor Jess, this neighbourhood spot has earned a loyal following for its exceptionally delicious pineapple buns — try them alone, with butter, or with spam, egg, cheese or beef fillings! Cheung Hing Coffee Shop is a great place to experience the everyday charm of a traditional cha chaan teng in a decades-old dining space!

Sassy Tip: Arrive around 3pm to sample the afternoon buns fresh out of the oven!

Cheung Hing Coffee Shop, 9 Yik Yam St, Happy Valley, Hong Kong

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Yuk Kin Fast Food — Traditional Hong Kong fast food acclaimed for curry fried rice

Rather than serving Western-style cha chaan teng classics, this local favourite focuses on hearty Cantonese comfort food, such as its much-loved curry fried rice topped with a sunny-side-up egg. Just note, all its seating is outdoors, so you’ll be dining next to the hungry queues who will definitely be eyeing your delicious plates!

Yu Kin Fast Food, 6 Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

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Cha Chaan Teng – Classic Hong Kong-style cafe fare

Founded in 1991 as a humble cafe in Wan Chai, the aptly named Cha Chaan Teng now boasts a prime Central location on Wellington Street. The shop prides itself on preparing its food with care, using ancestral cooking techniques and family recipes. You’ll find a wide array of quintessential Hong Kong-style cafe fare here, including the restaurant’s signature Crust Egg Cookie and Crusted Baked Chicken.

Cha Chaan Teng, G/F, Shop B & D, Sunwise Building, 112-114, Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2838 9730, www.facebook.com/goldenrice.rest.hk

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Kam Wah Cafe & Cake Shop金華冰廳 — Pineapple buns in the heart of Mong Kok

Kam Wah Cafe is famous for serving up Hong Kong’s iconic pineapple bun. Pair it with a strong milk tea for the full bing sutt experience, or lean in all the way and grab a fried beef ho fun! 

Kam Wah Cafe, 45-47 Bute St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong

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Kee Wah Tearoom – Tea time favourites served in a Historic Grade III building

Housed in a Grade III historic building on Queen’s Road East, Kee Wah Tearoom is located within Kee Wah Bakery’s flagship shop. The nostalgic 1930s-inspired décor creates the perfect setting to enjoy an afternoon tea break — the perfect time to enjoy local favourites such as traditional carrot cake and prawn toast.

Kee Wah Tearoom, 1/F, 188 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, www.facebook.com/KeeWahTearoom

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Swiss Cafe — Hong Kong Swiss chicken wings in North Point

A somewhat overlooked Hong Kong classic, Swiss Cafe’s chicken wings are irresistibly delicious, soy-based chicken wings that are tender and juicy! It’s also rather renowned for its hot dogs that come with mayonnaise and tomatoes — sounds strange, but it might just be your new favourite!

Swiss Cafe, 12 Li Yuen St W, Central, Hong Kong

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Ho Hung Kee (1946) Congee & Noodle Shop – The first wonton noodle shop to earn a Michelin star

This longstanding establishment has upheld a reputation for high-quality food and service for over 70 years and remains a popular haunt for locals and tourists alike. While congee is one of the shop’s specialities, the House Wonton Noodles stands as the most popular item, earning Ho Hung Kee its title as the first wonton noodle shop in the world to be awarded a Michelin star.

Ho Hung Kee (1946) Congee & Noodle Shop, Shop 1204-1205, 12/F, Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, www.facebook.com/hohungkee

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Sun Heung Yuen 新香園 堅記 — Eatery famous for beef and scrambled egg sandwiches and Hong Kong-style French toast

This tiny open-air eatery in Central is one of the city’s most atmospheric breakfast spots. Sun Heung Yuen is most famous for its corned beef and scrambled egg sandwiches that are juicy, mouth-watering and more-ish! If you’ve got the stomach space, we also recommend a bowl of its wonton noodles for the ultimate comfort meal.

Sassy Tip: No English menu is available here, so have Google Translate ready to go!

Sun Heung Yuen, G/F, 186 Yu Chau Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong 

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Milk Cafe — Cha chaan teng chain with signature milk tea and classic plates

With a name that pays homage to Hong Kong’s love affair with milk tea, you’ll easily recognise Milk Cafe by its cow logo on the shop exterior. While it offers all the familiar favourites, from baked pork chop rice to thick-cut French toast, we especially enjoy its brightly lit interiors and warm ambience.

Milk Cafe, various locations across Hong Kong, www.tasteofasia.com.hk/brand/milk-cafe

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Hung Wan Cafe — Hearty breakfast sets in retro interiors

Hung Wan Cafe serves classic comfort dishes in a retro setting. Following a recent revamp, its nostalgic spirit is captured not only in its rich, flavoursome plates such as its scrambled egg rice, but also in the films projected onto the restaurant’s walls (it was once featured in a Steven Chow film!).

Hung Wan Cafe, 726 Shanghai St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong, Instagram: @hungwan.cafe

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Red Tea — Popular chain with an extensive menu and large dining spaces

Known for its modern interiors and fresh buns baked in-house, Red Tea Cafe offers everything from satay beef noodles to French toast. With plenty of locations around the city, it’s a reliable stop when you’re looking for fuss-free Cantonese fare.

Red Tea, various locations across Hong Kong, red-tea.shop

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Waso Cafe (華嫂冰室) — Cha chaan teng chain famous for corned beef pineapple buns and quality local dishes

Waso Cafe blends traditional Hong Kong comfort food with a slightly more modern presentation. Signature dishes include twists like the Corned Beef Pineapple Bun and the Tomato Pineapple Bun that incorporate popular local flavours and ingredients.

Waso Cafe, various locations across Hong Kong, Instagram: @wasocafe

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Mido Cafe — Historic cha chaan teng and bing sutt popular for its original interiors

Opened in 1950, Mido Cafe is one of Hong Kong’s most iconic retro eateries. Overlooking Temple Street Night Market, it is beloved for its vintage tiled floors, green-framed windows and atmosphere that’s popular among tourists looking for a slice of old Hong Kong.

Mido Cafe, 63 Temple St, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong 

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Wah Lok Cafe — Authentic Hong Kong dining on Sheung Wan’s Cat Street

A Sheung Wan staple since the 1940s, Wah Lok Cafe is a must-visit if you’re looking for an authentic bite while browsing antiques at Cat Street. Its classic Hong Kong-style French toast is a standout for its crunchy exterior and soft interior, and comes Team Sassy recommended.

Wah Lok Cafe, Tai Shing Building, 16 Tung Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

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Congee King – Famous for its signature fish-broth congee

Is there anything more comforting than a hot bowl of congee? This particular spot is famous for its signature fish-broth congee, which at the time of opening was the first of its kind. Having held its Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2018, this local gem will not disappoint. For something more traditional, order the Pork Liver and Scallops Congee, and we wouldn’t skip on the sticky rice dumplings either.

Congee King, various locations across Hong Kong, www.facebook.com/tckhk

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Lok Yuen – Master of handmade fish balls in Hong Kong

A master of handmade fish balls, wonton and dumpling noodle shop Lok Yuen has been using the same traditional techniques for over 50 years. Customise your ideal bowl, picking your preferred type of noodle and combination of tasty toppings (the freshly made wontons and dumplings are also worth a try!).

Lok Yuen, various locations across Hong Kong, www.lokyuenhk.com

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Tips & Tricks For Visiting A Hong Kong Cha Chaan Teng

• You might not be seated until your whole party is here. If there’s a long queue, eateries will prioritise seating whole parties that are fully present so that you don’t occupy a table instead of a full group.
• Know what you want before you sit down. Service moves quickly, and staff will often come to take your order within moments of you sitting down. Menus can be a mix of Chinese characters and charmingly quirky English translations, so it helps to have a few dishes in mind beforehand.
• Remember to bring cash. While more cha chaan tengs are beginning to accept cards and digital payments, many old-school spots still operate on a cash-only basis or use local payment apps such as Alipay.
• Expect a different service from the usual. This isn’t to mean service is bad, but for locals, efficiency makes the service, rather than chitchatting. Once you understand the rhythm, it becomes part of the charm — and your meal will likely arrive piping hot in just a few minutes.
• Vary the time of day to have a different experience. Certain eateries specialise in breakfast, where the lines tend to be longest. If they serve breakfast all day, it’s a good idea to head over late afternoon or tea time to experience the food at a slower pace — you’re less likely to be rushed out here too!
• Expect to share a table. Communal seating is completely normal and part of the wonderfully fast-paced rhythm of dining in Hong Kong.
• Wash your utensils first. In many cha chaan tengs, a pot or cup of hot tea will appear at your table shortly after you sit down and it is often used to rinse utensils before eating. We don’t recommend drinking this tea!
• Be mindful of your dining time. Leisurely brunches don’t exist at a cha chaan teng. Once you’ve finished eating, it’s a good idea to free up your table as part of respect towards the establishment.