Local Cha Chaan Teng Chau Kee in Hong Kong has become quite an Instagram sensation with its splendid Golden Lava French Toasts. While our love for Liu Sha Baos remains eternal, we got to admit that we have too taken a liking to these fluffy French toasts with a Cantonese twist.

Of course, Golden Lava French Toast is not the only item being sold here. Chau Kee’s comprehensive menu includes an impressive selection of handcrafted dim sums and Chinese-style dishes such as Siu Mais and Silver Pin Noodles.

Due to Chau Kee’s overwhelming popularity, guests will have to wait up to at least 20 to 30 minutes before getting a seat.

Look around and you will soon realise that every table will order the bestselling Golden Lava French Toast (HK$25).

The hearty buttery toast is injected with generous amount of salted egg yolk which oozes out instantaneously when you slice through the fragrant toasted bread. These Liu Sha French Toasts ain’t just gimmicky treats; yes, they actually taste pretty damn good!

For a savoury alternative, order the French Toast stuffed with Creamed Corn (HK$28) instead.

The piping hot delicate fried toast – encased in crisp egg wash – is an absolute joy to cut into! Knife it and watch the viscous cream corn mixture flow out rapidly. Sinful, but who cares?

French toasts aside, we would also highly recommend the Shrimp Toast with Sesame (HK$30) and Siu Mai with Black Truffle and Crab Roe (HK$24).

The former is a scrumptious platter of triangular toasts stuffed with aromatic al dente shrimp paste and covered in sesame, while the latter is a basket of classic steamed Siu Mai dumplings topped with premium ingredients.

For something more substantial, get the Fried Silver Pin Noodle with XO Sauce (HK$30). These noodles have also been interestingly nicknamed as “Rat Noodles” due to its uncanny resemblance to the rodent’s tail – but don’t worry, it smells and tastes nothing like the pests. Hand rolled and stir-fried with a spicy seafood sauce, the rice noodles are chewy and tasty.

First there was Urban Bakery’s Salted Egg Yolk Croissant, next it was Dim Sum Icon’s Gudetama Molten Custard Buns. Now, the latest craze is Hong Kong is Chau Kee’s Golden Lava French Toasts. We wonder what will be next.

Chau Kee
Shop H1, G/F, Tung Lee Mansion
Water Street, Sai Ying Pun, Western District
Tel: +852 2559 2389
Closed on Mondays Tue to Sun: 8am – 6pm
Nearest Station: HKU / Sai Ying Pun

For more recommendations, read our guide to the best cha chaan teng in Hong Kong.