Hong Kong Diner (2007-02-24)
Hong Kong's Cha Tsan Ten literally meaning Tea Restaurant is akin to diners in the US. These are old-fashioned eateries with booths and glass-topped tables and plastic chairs for cheap eats. The decor is less than simple in these diners and service is brusque. Reservations are non-existent but you usually don't need to wait too long for a table as customers are there for a quick bite, not for the ambience. The floor may be greasy, the tables may be stained and the waiters' white uniform will most likely be grey with grease spots; all of these are just part of the Cha Tsan Ten culture. And prepare to share a table, the aim for these restaurants is to seat as many patrons as they can, no seats are wasted if they can help it. There is usually no English menu and no English speaking waiters, so they aren't exactly tourist oriented.
The food served in these Hong Kong diners are basic and
simple. Breakfast may be toasts with condense milk and jam or
instant noodles with SPAM. The food is never fancy but it fills
hungry bellies and most of them do serve very yummy dishes. Many
of them
have a little bakery section where one can find the fluffiest buns and
flakiest egg tarts. They are cheap but absolutely
delicious.
Forget about Starbucks or Pacific Coffee Company, the best coffee is that served in Cha Tsan Ten in my opinion. It is full-bodied and rich. Apparently they always use evaporated milk instead of creamer to flavor the coffee and the brewing process is done with a special pot lined with pantyhose. Don't ask me how that will make their coffee taste better than chain stores', it just does.
KL and I had breakfast once at such a Cha Tsan Ten during this
trip. He had the classic coffee and I hot lemon tea served in the
typical plastic glass with four slices of lemon, fantastic! We
also had the traditional Mexico Bun (slightly sweet fluffy bun with a
sweet
crust), Pineapple Bun (also fluffy bun with a crispy crust that is
scored to resemble a pineapple) and egg tart. Our food was simple
but really hit the spot and satiated our craving for a simple
old-fashioned Hong Kong style breakfast.
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