The good news is that Hong Kong has finally relaxed their quarantine measures. The bad news: their 3+1 testing policy is still off-putting for many of us who’ve missed the 买东西，吃东西，买东西，吃东西 (mǎi dōng xi, chī dōng xi, mǎi dōng xi, chī dōng xi), or “buy stuff, eat stuff, buy stuff, eat stuff” days of long-ago visits. Shopping in Singapore just isn’t the same, but grab a bite at any of these Hong Kong cafes in Singapore, and Mong Kok will no longer feel so far away.
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Kicking off this list is So Good Char Chaan Teng, which has six locations across Singapore. Fans of this HK cafe love their silky scrambled eggs, which you can get as part of the So Good All Day Breakfast Set ($7.50+) between 8am and 11am. Alternatively, Scrambled Egg Thick Toast ($3.50+) is an all-day option.
The menu at So Good CCT is super comprehensive, covering everything from roast meats to dim sum and various hor fun and baked rice dishes. But if you’re here for the cha chaan teng classics, go for “Yiding” Instant Noodle with Luncheon Meat & Fried Egg ($6+), French Toast ($3.50+), Polo Bun with Butter ($2.40+), and finish with a Hongkong Style Milk Tea (from $2.50+).
Website
Full list of locations
So Good Char Chaan Teng is not a halal-certified eatery
It’s been more than a year since Champion Bolo Bun first opened, and they’re still drawing in the queues—even on weekday mornings. They claim to be the world’s first bolo bun concept store, and the iconic pineapple bun is all they sell, plus legit Champion’s Milk Tea (from $5.50).
The most basic option is the Classic ($4.50), which you can enjoy as is or with a slice of Butter ($0.50). They also come in Mini ($4.50) versions, or four smalls as an equivalent to one big bun. There’s also Curry Potato ($6), and on weekends before noon, Breakfast ($6.80), which sandwiches Spam and cheese!
Check out our review of Champion Bolo Bun!
Address: 92 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088513
Opening hours: Mon-Tue, Thurs-Fri 11am to 7pm, Sat-Sun 8:30am to 7pm
Website
Champion Bolo Bun is not a halal-certified eatery
Honolulu Cafe has been around since 1940, when they first opened in Hong Kong hawking baked goods, coffee, and tea. When they launched in Singapore, their Egg Tart ($2.30), said to have 192 flakey layers, was so massively popular it would sell out within two hours of opening.
Come for their Curry Beef Brisket ($13.80++), which you can have on Macaroni in Tomato Soup, Pork Bone Soup Rice Vermicelli, or the classic instant noodles. They’ve also got HK Style Curry Rice with Pork Cutlet ($13.80++) and more.
Website
Full list of outlets
Honolulu Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery
Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe at Cineleisure may no longer be around, but you can still enjoy their Hong Kong-style cha chaan teng fare around the clock at their Bugis+ outlet on Saturdays. This, and their Northpoint City branch, are the only two which have extended hours past midnight.
Expect favourites including all-day dim sum, jook, Char-Grilled Pork Chop With Creamy Mushroom Sauce ($19.15), Chicken Chop & Egg Dry Nissin Noodle ($12.73), and HK-Style Stir-Fried Beef Hor Fun ($14.02).
Website
Full list of locations
Xin Wang Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery
We previously covered the hotpot at Empire Hotpot in Takashimaya Shopping Centre, but if you’re looking for cha chaan teng nosh, come at lunchtime instead. The lunch-only menu includes dishes such as HK-Style Curry Chicken ($8.80++), which you can have with rice or noodles, and Cheese Baked Rice with Chicken Chop ($14.80++). It doesn’t get more HK-style than this, with a choice of tomato or Portuguese sauce to go with it.
On the drinks front, apart from HK Milk Tea (from $3.80++) and HK Yuan Yang (from $3.80++), there’s also Salty Plum Lime Soda ($5.80++) and Boiled Coke with Ginger and Lemon (from $4.80++)!
Address: 391 Orchard Road, #05-13/14, Ngee Ann City, Singapore 238872
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm, Sat 11am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm, Sun 10:30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm
Tel: 6908 0606
Website
Empire Hotpot is not a halal-certified eatery
Central Hong Kong Cafe, headed by a chef who spent 20 years cooking at Summer Palace in Regent Hotel, claims to be the only authentic Hong Kong cafe in Singapore. They’ve got customisable Rickshaw Noodles ($8.03), AKA che zai meen, but focus on the Legendary Hong Kong section of their menu for the stuff you can’t miss: Hong Kong Style Fried Beef Hor Fun ($11.66), Hong Kong Fish Four Treasures Soup Noodle ($8.03) and more. They even have Macau Pork Chop Burger ($8.03) here too!
Website
Full list of locations
Central Hong Kong Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery
Pay a visit to Friends Cafe in Upper Thomson to really feel like you’re in a Kowloon City 冰室 (bing sutt) circa the 1900s. Started by a husband-and-wife team who are native Hongkongers who missed the food back home, you’ll find that there’s nothing on the menu that’s priced above $10.
Go for French Toast ($4.50), or Peanut Butter with Milk Toast ($2); the Curry Fish Balls ($4.50 for five) are meant to be really good too. You’ll also be able to order Satay Sliced Beef Instant Noodles ($7), which comes with a free side—choices include scrambled eggs, luncheon meat, hash brown and more.
Address: 60 Springside Walk, #01-18, The Brooks I, Singapore 786020
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 11:30am to 8:30pm
Tel: 8621 1125
Website
Friends Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery
With a history that dates back to the 1960s, Tsui Wah is one of the most recognisable names in the cha chaan teng business in Hong Kong. One of their most iconic dishes is Crispy Bun With Condensed Milk ($4.70++), or go for my favourite: Kagoshima-style Braised Pork Cartilage with Tossed Instant Noodles ($12.50++).
If you’re a fan of Hong Kong-style scrambled eggs and roast meats, consider ordering BBQ Pork and Scrambled Egg Fried Rice ($16.50++); otherwise, Luncheon Meat & Sunny Side-up Egg in Premium Soy Sauce with Steamed Rice ($9.50++) redefines comfort food.
Website
Full list of locations
Tsui Wah is not a halal-certified eatery
Legendary Hong Kong launched their third outlet at Buona Vista several months ago to great fanfare, being situated within a restored colonial bungalow. There are more than 100 items on the menu here, including French Toast ($4.20++), Scrambled Egg Sandwich ($4.50++), Crispy Egg Tarts ($1.80++) and more. Besides HK milk tea, they’ve also got HK Style Red Bean Ice (price TBA)!
Website
Full list of locations
Legendary Hong Kong is not a halal-certified eatery
Another spot where you can enjoy Macau Pork Chop Bun ($6) and Crispy Bun ‘w’ Butter & Condensed Milk ($3.30) is Wan Chai HongKong Tea Room, a fast-casual HK-style eatery, which has outlets in some malls.
The usual suspects on the menu here include Cheese Baked Chicken ‘w’ Mushroom Rice ($12.80) and Sliced Beef Crispy Noodle & Egg ($10.80), but you’ll also find desserts such as Sesame Cream ($4), Walnut Cream ($4) and Mango ‘w’ Pomelo ($5.80) too.
Website | Full list of outlets
Wan Chai HongKong Tea Room is not a halal-certified eatery
Helmed by an ex-Lei Garden chef, Pi Food is one of those underrated, lesser-known spots around town. They’re located at 9 Penang Road, the new mall which sprang up where Park Mall used to be, right across from Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station.
Look forward to HK Style Pork Chop Baked Rice with Cheese and Curry Sauce ($16.80) and HK Fresh Shrimp Wanton Noodle ($10.80), as well as a comprehensive roast meats selection and dim sum too. If you’re looking for scrambled eggs, then check out Vermicelli with Shredded Pork, Fermented Vegetable, Scrambled Egg and Toast ($14.80) or Corned Beef and Scrambled Egg Sandwich ($4.80).
Address: 9 Penang Road, #01-18, Singapore 238459
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11am to 3pm, 5pm to 10pm, Fri-Sat 11am to 10pm, Sun 10:30am to 9:30pm
Tel: 9239 0686
Website
Pi Food is not a halal-certified eatery
Image credit: @seannomnomnom
Modern cha chaan teng JuJu 津津 is perhaps better known as the third such eatery by Hong Kong actor Benz Hui’s daughter in Singapore. The menu here is concise, with the signature dish being Fried Chicken Whole Leg w/ Fries ($8.90).
There’s also house-roasted Char Siu Shrimp Roe Noodles ($10.90) and an interesting Hawaiian Fried Rice ($8.90). Toast-wise, they recommend Toast w/ Corn Beef & Scrambled Egg ($7.30). On the drinks front, check out Vita Chocolate Milk ($3.90), which they specially brought in!
Address: 501 Orchard Road, #02-17/17A, Wheelock Place, Singapore 238880
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9pm
Tel: 6513 3566
Website
JuJu 津津 is not a halal-certified eatery
Image credit: @kissfaithlove
Another iconic Hong Kong import is Tai Cheong Bakery, best known for their Egg Tart ($2.20). They’ve got plenty of stores around Singapore, but the only one that’s got a dine-in cha chaan teng option is the branch at Holland Village.
For the option with the most liao, order the Tai Cheong HK Dry Noodle ($14.20+), which comes with sausage, Swiss chicken wing, curry fishball, and braised cuttlefish! Of course, you’ll find French Toast ($8.70+) and Scrambled Eggs w. Toast/Bolo Bun (from $8.70+) here too, alongside Iced Red Beans w. Milk ($5+) and Silky Egg Rice (from $14.20+).
Address: 31 Lorong Liput, Singapore 277742
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 8pm
Tel: 9828 1954
Website
Tai Cheong Bakery is not a halal-certified eatery
Even if you’ve got no plans to visit HK anytime soon, it’s no tall task to pop into one of these Hong Kong cafes and feast on all your cha chaan teng favourites!
If you’re more of a siew yoke person, check out our guide to roast meat in Singapore. Alternatively, we’ve also curated a guide to dim sum in Singapore!
Feature image adapted from @yyw, @brickredlips, @tiara_star, @diningcompanion, @whatoeatagain, @fodevarer
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