Lin Heung Tea House in Sheung Wan is one of the oldest teahouses in Hong Kong and it is one of the few Chinese restaurants that serves dim sum the traditional way.

An unassuming Chinese restaurant which offers both locals and tourists the most authentic Cantonese dining experience you can get, this restaurant is definitely a place that is worth visiting—if you are willing to brave the crowd.

Lin Heung Tea House has been in business since 1889. For first-timers, get ready to fight for your food when you get to Lin Heung Tea House. You’ll find diners swarming to a pushcart whenever it gets out of the kitchen, and some dishes can get sold out within minutes so you have to be quick on your feet!

This teahouse is almost perpetually crowded, but it truly is a must-visit destination when you are in Hong Kong. What else can we say? Lin Heung Tea House may not be the best option for the faint-hearted, but it sure is one hell of an experience.

Lin Heung Tea House
162 Wellington Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 25444556
Daily: 6am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan MTR Exit E2

Read: 15 Best Dim Sum Restaurants in Hong Kong that offer the quintessential dim sum experience.

Mido Cafe in Yau Ma Tei is one old-school cha chaan teng to visit when in Hong Kong.

Untouched by time, the cafe seems to be at a standstill. Its decor is as old-school as it can be; ancient Hong Kong still exists at Mido Cafe. Colourful wall tiles that are so tacky yet so nostalgic complemented with old tables and chairs; Mido Cafe is exactly how a cha chaan teng should be.

Our friends from Hong Kong have been urging us to make a visit and we finally did. And we finally understood why they have such high regards for this nondescript cafe that they grew up eating.

Mido Cafe sits on Temple Street, a very well-known street in Hong Kong infamous for its counterfeit goods and prostitution. We are not fans but we’d go to Temple Street for a taste of Mido Cafe’s famous French Toast.

Upon stepping in, you’d be transported back in time. The dimly lit space on level 1 is as ancient Hong Kong as it can go. You’d probably be directed to level 2 (accessible via a very narrow and steep flight of stairs) where most diners are gathered. And that is where you would be presented with the menu.

You have your usual cha chaan teng fares—from baked rice to noodles, sandwiches to classic HK-style drinks.

What you really have to try is the French Toast (HK$22). It is Mido Cafe’s most popular item and one that every first-timer to Mido Cafe must try. Two slices of soft bread coated with egg and deep fried to a slightly crispy texture then generously drenched in maple syrup, the French Toast definitely lived up to its hype.

The Bo Luo Bun with Butter (HK$15) on the other hand was a letdown. It was neither buttery nor came with a crispy tortoise shell top. We’d say to give this a miss.

Oh, you have to try the HK Milk Tea (HK$20). It was smooth with a fine balance of sweet and bitterness from the fresh tea.

Mido Cafe
63 Temple St, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2384 6402
Daily (except Wed): 9am – 9.45pm
Nearest Station: Yau Ma Tei

There is no lack of cha chaan teng in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. When you ask locals about their favourites, you’d get a myriad of answers—Hong Lin Restaurant in Mong Kok would probably be one of them.

We cannot agree more that it is one local eatery that you must visit if you are on the Kowloon side. Here’s what we loved from our visit, some of the must-orders and some misses.

Hong Lin Restaurant has a dine-in area as well as a take-out counter.

Let’s start with the take-out counter. The traditional way of displaying daily fresh bakes is visually arresting, to say the least. Of pineapple buns, egg tarts and soft breads, the shelves after shelves of golden brown beauties are simple yet comforting snacks if you want something to go.

The Egg Tart (HK$6/ S$1) comes with a flaky, butter case; the curd is smooth and subtly sweet just the way we like it. The Pineapple Bun with Butter (HK$10/ S$1.60)—also known as Bo Luo Yau—is one of the better ones that we’ve had in Hong Kong.

Let’s move on to the mains. There are aplenty for you to choose from in the likes of local favourites; think baked rice/ spaghetti, macaroni in soup, stir-fried rice and noodle dishes etc.

The Hoi Nam Chicken Rice (HK$60/ S$10) was not the most impressive rendition of the usual chicken rice you can find in Hong Kong. The boiled chicken came with skin that lacked flavours and the flesh was tough. But the totality of the set (includes a huge bowl of rice and a local-style hot soup) won us over. It was still pretty satisfying.

What surprised us the most was the macaroni set (HK$43/ S$7) that came with a large bowl of beef macaroni in tomato soup, buttered toast, scrambled eggs and a hot coffee/ tea. The sheer amount of food made it the most value-for-money set to order if you are feeling ravenous. The tomato soup was rich and thick; every sip was a joy. It came with many beef slices, and the side of buttered toast completed the very quintessential Hong Kong meal.

When at Hong Lin Restaurant, don’t forget to try the local-style Milk Tea too!

Hong Lin Restaurant
Hong Kong, Mong Kok, Tung Choi St, 143-145
Tel: +852 2391 8398
Daily: 6.30am – 3am
Nearest Station: Mong Kok

As one of the reigning Asian Tigers, Hong Kong is a bustling hub frequented by people from all walks of life. The cosmopolitan city’s cuisine is no longer confined to just cha chaan tengs and dai pai dongs, but now entails an eclectic mix of artisan coffee shops, specialty dessert stores, third culture gourmet and whatnot.

Home to a myriad of local traditional teahouses and swanky fusion restaurants, visitors will find themselves helplessly captivated by Sheung Wan’s refreshing diversity. So head over to hipster neighbourhood Sheung Wan and see for yourself what the old and new generation of Hong Kong natives have to offer!

From long-standing dim sum establishment Lin Heung Tea House, award-winning yakitori restaurant Yardbird (ranked as Asia’s 45th best restaurant in 2014) to new speakeasy bar Neo Cocktail Club, here is our guide to Bars, Cafes and Restaurants in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.

AGNES B CAFE LE PAIN GRILLE & FLEURISTE

Agnès B Café Le Pain Grille and Fleuriste on Gough Street is more than just a pretty face. While no designer handbags and fashion accessories are sold at this branded cafe, one should still check out Agnes B for their beautiful in-house florist—where flower species have been specially flown in from Africa—and their mouthwatering variety of French pastries, teas and coffee.

G/F, Chung San House
8 & 10 Gough Street, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2563 9393
Mon to Fri: 11am – 9pm
Sat to Sun: 9am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

BARISTA JAM

Specialty coffee shop Barista Jam is a paradise for all coffee connoisseurs. The hole-in-the-wall store sells not just aromatic coffees but also a collection of coffee-making equipment and coffee beans for both home and commercial purposes. Coffee aside, a selection of delicious pastas and patisseries are also available on the menu for those who are feeling peckish.

Shop D, G/F, 128 Jervois Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2854 2211
Mon: 10am – 6pm
Tue to Fri: 8am – 6pm
Sat: 10am – 6pm
Sun: 11am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

BLUE BUTCHER BAR & RESTAURANT

Blue Butcher Bar & Restaurant is a meat house in Sheung Wan that sources its meat from farms that do not compromise on quality, and hang the meat in-house using age-old recipes together with modern techniques.

G/F, 108 Hollywood Rd, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2613 9286
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

BREW BROS COFFEE

Set foot in Brew Bros Coffee and one cannot help but wonder if he/she is actually in Melbourne instead. If you find the taste of your coffee awfully familiar, that is only because coffees here have been prepared with Melburnian specialty coffee roaster Market Lane’s espresso blends.

Passionate Head Barista Hikaru Ono was previously working in Australia and Japan, hence delivering consistent premium espresso-based beverages to all caffeine addicts.

Shop F2, LG/F, 33 Hillier Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel :+852 2572 0238
Daily: 8am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

CAFE DEADEND

As its name suggests, Cafe Deadend is literally located at the dead end of Po Hing Fong road. The relatively hidden cafe is a breakfast hotspot amongst native yuppies and expatriates alike, who relish the idea of digging into wholesome breakfast items such as wholesome sandwiches and nutritious salads. Cafe Deadend shares the venue with sister bakery Po’s Atelier so one can also savour a delectable assortment of pastries.

72 Po Hing Fong, Tai Ping Shan
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 6716 7005
Mon: Closed
Tue to Sun: 9.30am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

CHA CHA WAN

Specialising in Issan cuisine, Cha Cha Wan is clearly no ordinary Thai restaurant. Food served here are of Northeastern Thai origin and one can expect a scrumptious selection of Dtom Sap Moo (HK$98) and Pla Phao Glua (HK$268), where the former is a hot and sour pork rib soup while the latter is a salted crusted whole sea bass perfect for sharing amongst friends.

206 Hollywood Road
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2549 0020
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 5.30pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

CRAFTY COW

As its name suggests, third-culture restaurant Crafty Cow specialise in craft beers and good steaks. The gastropub is primarily influenced by a myriad of international cuisines, hence one can expect revamped Western classics integrated with Southeast Asian flavours such as Bone Marrow with Sichuan Pepper Infused Oil and Spanish Duroc Pork with Kimchi Slaw.

G/F, 3-3A Upper Station Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2915 8988
Tue to Fri: 12pm – 12am
Sun: 11am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

ELEPHANT GROUNDS

Hidden at the back of retail store WOAW! is Elephant Grounds, a hipster looking cafe shop that is renowned for their aromatic espressos and ice-cream sandwiches. Flavours of the irresistible ice-cream sandwiches change weekly so each visit will be a refreshing surprise.

11 Gough Street
Tel: +852 2253 1313
Mon to Sat: 11am – 9pm
Sun: 12pm – 7pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

GRASSROOTS PANTRY

It is hard to walk pass Grassroots Pantry without doing a double take at the cafe’s beautiful decors. Think hanging chop boards, wooden ladles and heaps of potted plants. But the key driving factor in keeping its regulars returning is its vegetarian menu that caters to those on special diets. With buddhist-friendly, gluten-free, nut-free and vegan options available, Grassroots Pantry is packed with health conscious customers daily.

108 Hollywood Road
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2873 3353
Daily: 9am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

HALFWAY COFFEE

You might have seen pictures of their iconic coffee all over Instagram. Halfway Coffee in Sheung Wan isn’t your regular coffee shop with predictably good coffee; the game is up with a look that they had creatively coined and is famed for today.

Pretty patterns on the China complemented with intricate hand-pulled latte art; now, this is going to be one of the prettiest cups of coffee you’d ever have. Coffee-to-go are also served in paper cups with porcelain prints.

12 Tung Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 9511 7197
Daily: 10am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

HOI AN CAFÉ

Established in 1952, Hoi An Café is a charming old-school cha chaan teng located near to the Western Market in Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan district. It serves classic Hong Kong baked goods, such as cocktail buns, pineapple buns, Swiss rolls and its signature coconut tarts.

G/F 17 Connaught Road West, Sheung Wan
Tel: +852 2540 6340
Mon to Thu: 7.30am – 4.30pm
Fri: 7.30am – 3pm
Sat: 7.30am – 4.30pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

KAU KEE BEEF BRISKET

The relentless queues formed outside Kau Kee Beef Brisket on a daily basis is testimony to the fact that this age-old eatery is one of Hong Kong’s very best. Patrons include a variety of regular locals and curious tourists – all of whom flock to Kau Kee to savour a piping hot bowl (HK$60 / S$10.90) of springy noodles and fork-tender beef brisket.

21 Gough Street
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2850 5967
Mon to Sat: 12.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

#11 LIN HEUNG TEAHOUSE

Lin Heung Teahouse is a beloved household name amongst natives. It is the go-to restaurant for the quintessential Hong Kong dim sum experience and we are glad that the institution has remain unfazed by Sheung Wan’s increasing gentrification. Dishes are extremely affordable when compared to the expensive lattes and we say it is definitely one of the best haunts in this neighbourhood.

162 Wellington Street
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2544 4556
Daily: 6am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

LITTLE BAO

Little Bao is the epitome of Asian fusion done right. On first glance, the facade of Little Bao resembles a western diner but on closer look, one would notice that the gourmet eatery has successfully infused oriental flavours into revamped western classics. We thoroughly enjoyed their Mac & Cheese (HK$108) and Ice-Cream Burgers (HK$48 each).

66 Staunton Street
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2194 0202
Mon to Fri: 6pm – 11pm
Sat: 12pm – 4pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sun: 12pm – 4pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Central / Sheung Wan

MA SA RESTAURANT

Ma Sa Restaurant is famed for their Triple Sunny-side Up Eggs with Char Siew and Rice (HK$26 /S$4.70). The three wonderfully runny eggs are served atop an incredibly large portion of rice. It is recommended that you share this filling dish with someone.

It is worth mentioning that the price for such a substantial amount of food at Ma Sa Restaurant can barely get you a beverage in other white-washed establishments at Sheung Wan.

G/F, 23 Hiller Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2545 9026
Mon to Fri: 6am – 6pm
Sat to Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

NEO COCKTAIL CLUB

Neo Cocktail Club is an up-and-coming retro cocktail bar that is so camouflaged that you would not even know that you have walked past it. The bar is not just well-known for its drinks but also equally famous for its old school games. Unwind into the night with a round of foosball or a game at the vintage pinball machine.

10 Shin Hing Street,
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2812 2280
Mon to Sat: 6pm – 1am
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

RONIN

Ronin is a speakeasy 20-seated Japanese tapas bar with a primary focus on seafood. Dishes are on a rotational basis (depending on the availability of ingredients), which means there is always something new even for regulars. Fresh raw fishes are specially flown in from Japan and sourced from the finest local suppliers, hence diners are guaranteed only the best quality dishes. However, do note that patrons do have to be ready to pay a hefty price for a meal.

8 On Wo Lane, Central Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2547 5263
Mon to Sat: 6pm – 12am
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

SANG KEE CONGEE

Sang Kee Congee is nearly half a century old and it remains unpretentious and as authentic as it can be. Finding such a local diner in the gentrified area is rare and we are glad that such eateries are still being supported by the community.

People go to Sang Kee Congee for their tasty congee and you can get a bowl of Fish Belly Congee or Pork Balls Congee at HK S$27 / S$4.90 and HK $19 / S$3.45 respectively.

G/F, 7-9 Burd Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2541 1099
Mon to Sat: 6.30am – 9pm
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

SINMEI TEA

Quite essentially a modern tea house that serves pretty matcha desserts, Sinmei Tea might just be the it place to be now when you need some matcha fix in Hong Kong. It took us a while to locate the place, because it sits on the fifth level, within an unassuming building in Sheung Wan.

What welcomed us was a long queue of matcha lovers, and an atmospheric cafe with an interior that models after a traditional teahouse.

5/F, CS Tower, 50 Wing Lok Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3690 8238
Daily: 11.30am – 7.30pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

SOHOFAMA

Tucked at the basement of PMQ Cultural Hub is Sohofama, an organic modern Chinese restaurant that is so impressive that we say it is worth a special visit. Sohofama boasts an in-house hydroponic farm, where the culinary team actually source their herbal ingredients from there. Besides the impressive Chinese fare, one should also not miss out on their splendid cocktails—especially the Smoking Chamomile (HKD $168).

G/F, Block A, PMQ
35 Aberdeen Street
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2858 8238
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

TEAKHA

This tea specialist is housed in a little shophouse on a quiet alley off Tai Ping Shan Street, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest streets in Hong Kong lined with cafes, galleries, studios and lifestyle boutiques.

Teakha is a tiny cafe, and it is crowded all the time, especially on weekends. The interior of the cafe is cute and cosy, while the outdoor terrace is a charming spot to have a cup of tea and enjoy their range of luscious desserts, including the Osmanthus & Okinawa Black Sugar Chiffon and the signature Matcha cheesecake.

18 Tai Ping Shan St
Tai Ping Shan, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2858 9185
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

THE MIXING BOWL

The Mixing Bowl first started out to offer both adults and children baking classes, but the brand soon evolved into a bakery, coffee shop and a cafe. The Mixing Bowl is the ideal destination to hangout with friends, catch up on work on your laptop or simply grab a cuppa to go. The roasted coffee beans are from Ceremony Coffee Roasters, Maryland USA and is seriously legit.

22-26 Bonham Strand
The Pemberton
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2524 0001
Mon: Closed
Tue to Sun: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

YARDBIRD

Ranked as Asia’s 45th Best Restaurant in 2014 and 46th Best Restaurant in 2013, award-winning Japanese Yardbird is an extremely popular yakitori bar-cum-restaurant that will have latecomers queuing for hours. Do order a handful of chicken skewers and their signature KFC for sharing. Fun fact: KFC refers to Korean Fried Cauliflowers, not Kentucky Fried Chicken!

33 Bridges Street, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2547 9273
Mon to Sat: 6pm – 12am
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

If you are heading to Hong Kong, read our guides:

Tsim Sha Tsui Food Guide – 17 Places To Dine At

Wan Chai Food Guide – 14 Places To Dine At

15 Best Dim Sum Restaurants In Hong Kong

11 Best Cha Chaan Teng In Hong Kong

Whenever we hear about a new café, it is more often than not a coffee speciality house. Yet, Teakha at Sheung Wan chose a different path which offers the world an impressive range of organic tea like Masala Chai, Thai iced tea, Jasmine Blossoms, and Hoji au Lait, and Forest Black Tea.

This tea specialist is housed in a little shophouse on a quiet alley off Tai Ping Shan Street, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest streets in Hong Kong lined with cafes, galleries, studios and lifestyle boutiques.

Teakha is a tiny cafe, and it is crowded all the time, especially on weekends. The interior of the cafe is cute and cosy, while the outdoor terrace is a charming spot to have a cup of tea and enjoy their range of luscious desserts, including the Osmanthus & Okinawa Black Sugar Chiffon and the signature Matcha cheesecake.

Unassuming yet full of surprises, Teakha is a hidden gem in Sheung Wan where locals and expats hang out and spend an afternoon. It is a heaven, and a must-visit, for tea-lovers, but even if you are not a tea drinker, this tea café is worth the trip.

Teakha
Shop B 18 Tai Ping Shan Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2858 9185
Tue to Sun: 11am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan