Hong Kong’s Must-See Traditional Diners

It may not look like much but Australia Dairy Company is one of Hong Kong’s most popular “cha chaan teng” cafés. No-one does cooks eggs better than here. The breakfast set consists of fluffy and moist scrambled eggs served with rich buttery thick toast, and comes with a plate of macaroni along with char siu in chicken broth. Australia Dairy Company also specialises in steamed milk pudding and custard dishes. Whatever you choose, just make sure you order fast, eat fast and leave fast as there’s almost always a queue of people waiting.

Once located near Victoria Harbour before years of land reclamation extended Hong Kong Island into the sea, this stalwart neighbourhood favourite offers diners a simple menu with authentic Hong Kong dishes such as egg tarts, toasted goodies, pineapple buns and classic HK style beverages. Hoi On is one of the last authentic old-school HK diners keeping it real in this fast-moving cosmopolitan city.

Despite being a classic, Lan Fong Yuen can be easy to miss. A shack, which is half photo-op, half station for preparing food and drinks, blocks the entrance to the restaurant. To enter, customers must pass through a small space around the side. Treat yourself to a cup of Lan Fong Yuen’s famous “silk stocking milk tea” paired with French toast or a bun with condensed milk.

This legendary café sits just outside of Yuen Long, along the Ping Shan Heritage Trail. Mrs Tang’s speciality is her pineapple butter bun with tomato and egg. If a bun isn't enough to satiate your appetite, get a bowl of the delicious tomato noodle soup with chicken wings. Wash it all down with a bottle of “champagne” milk tea, which comes chilled rather than diluted with ice. There are other branches in Kwun Tong and Wan Chai, run by Mrs Tang’s sons, but the original remains the best.

Located in the basement of an old residential building in Tsim Sha Tsui, this basement café can be a little difficult to locate but it’s one of the most unique eateries of its kind. The retro Coca Cola posters and faded newspaper reviews that decorate the walls and the mismatching wooden tables and chairs lend Star Cafe a nostalgic vibe. Locals flock here for the refreshing tomato soup noodles with egg and luncheon meat. The place is pretty down at heel, but that’s all part of the charm.

If you’re looking for some comfort food that’s quick and filling, Swiss Café is the place to go. It offers a full Hong Kong café menu with your usual instant noodles and macaroni served with different types of toppings, a large variety of sandwiches and different rice dishes. The star attraction, though, are the Swiss wings – braised chicken wings marinated in a divine sticky, sweet soy sauce.