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I absolutely loved Lan Fong Yuen. I came on a Thursday morning around 9:30 a.m., and yeah... I definitely walked past it like three times. It's a little hidden -- kind of tucked in near markets -- and honestly easy to miss if you're not looking closely. But once I found it, I was so glad I did. The place was already full, but there was no line and we got seated right away. We ended up sharing a table with another group, which is typical for a small Hong Kong cafe. It felt cozy and local. I ordered Hong Kong milk tea, French toast, Chicken wings with noodles, Tomato soup with pork chop, egg, and macaroni. I originally got the macaroni soup because I wanted something warm and not fried for breakfast -- and it hit the spot. But then I tried a bite of the chicken wing noodles and immediately thought: oh no... I ordered the wrong thing. It was SO good -- packed with flavor, comforting, just everything I wanted in that moment. And the French toast? Wow. I thought I was full until I took a bite. It literally melted in my mouth, and the pineapple filling in the center was such a fun surprise. The milk tea was perfectly balanced, it's not too sweet, not too strong. Just right. What really stood out, though, was how kind and welcoming the staff were. You know how some places in HK can feel a little rushed or cold? Not here. They were so warm and didn't pressure us to hurry up. It felt like they actually cared. I wanted to come back the next morning, but sadly we ran out of time. Definitely putting this spot at the top of my list for next time I'm in Hong Kong.
Would I want to eat this food every day? Mmmm probably No. Was it worth the experience of a cha chaan teng? Yes!!! Then again, we had no wait to get seated as a party of 4 on a weekday (yay for vacation). Expect to share tables with other groups here, due to limited space. I honestly enjoyed that aspect of Hong Kong dining. They are EFFICIENT here and do not waste space! If there's room, yes, please come in and dine. Service was pretty good, our server was really nice, spoke English, and answered our few questions for us as well as letting us know some of the dishes came with a set meal so we might as well order a drink (because it would be complementary as a set). We ordered a lemon iced tea, which is quite sugary but I very much enjoyed, and an iced milk tea which was good too. Tomato soup macaroni with ham - um definitely not my go-to but the tomato soup was refreshing paired with the sweet plates we ordered. Chicken atop noodle - good umami and a bit on the salty side. Pork sandwich - I liked the tomato, it complemented the salty pork well. French toast- this was actually my favorite. There's kayak jam in the middle of both french toast breads. Definitely feel free to share this one with someone else because it is quite large and very sweet. Overall food was good, and experience was great. Didn't get to go to other cha chaan tangs while I was in HK, so I can't compare. But I say if not a long wait this is a fun place to have a good meal- I'd say opt for sitting experience rather than just a hot tea takeaway to get all the vibes.
Lan Fong Yuen is a very famous quick spot dining in Central. Expect a line up all the time but pretty much guaranteed for you to be seated within 20 mins. We ordered grill chicken instant noodle, and French toast. The instant noodle is a bit dry, but the grill chicken is very tender. French toast is another signature that must order for dessert. I do recommend to try at least once in your life!
Solid HK style milk tea but not worth the hype or the trek. It's located in a part of Central that isn't particularly pedestrian friendly due to the slanted roads and narrow streets. The milk tea was served piping hot to the point where it was burning my hand through the paper cup! They give you packs of white sugar if you order it to-go.
You've gotta pay Lan Fong Yuen a visit for some OG HK Style milk tea. This little stand is not the easiest to find, as it's located on a little narrow street. My fiance & I ordered a hot and cold milk tea, and I enjoyed watching them whip up our order behind the stand. Definitely hit the spot, and the drink was super well balanced. Total came out to $53 HKD.
Came here because Anthony Bourdain visited here on one of his shows. There is a minimum amount you need to order here (I think it was like $40HKD). I ordered this dry noodle with pork chop and got their famous milk tea. The milk tea tasted amazing, but the noodle was just ok. For a HK cha chaan teng, the service was actually really good. They are accommodating and not rude at all, which was surprising. When I came, travel into HK was barely opening back up with no quarantine restrictions so there was no wait or crowd. Got in an out of here within 30 mins. Definitely come back to try their other stuff like their french toast, but will not purposely go out of my way to visit like I did this first time. There are far more better cha chaan teng's in HK imo.
Was planning my first trip to HK and this was on the top of my list after hearing so many friends rave about their pantyhose milk tea 絲襪奶茶. I came across their ready made version of the tea at a market in the states, tried it, and had to see how it compared to the real deal. Came here around 11:30am on a weekday and was seated right away. The restaurant sits behind what looks like a shabby shack. Walk in and you'll enter a room with a very low ceiling and the foldable wooden tables and stools you'd see in chinatown or asian markets; I loved how the atmosphere screamed 'cha chaan teng'. The ready made milk tea was way too strong, slightly bitter and hard to finish in one sitting. The fresh milk tea definitely lived up to it's hype by being the silkiest I've had. I usually turn away from milk teas that taste too bitter/strong/caffeinated but this one had me sipping more. The iced lemon tea, although not their signature item, was also really good. We ordered the chicken lo ding, french toast, pork chop bun, tomato/potato macaroni, beef sauce spaghetti, and the yin yang rice. Nothing came out piping hot, just warm enough to enjoy. Overall, the food and price point were decent and I'd still recommend it to others but would probably only come back for the drinks.
This place looks like a hole in the wall, but the cold Hong Kong milk tea was delicious. If you get it cold, they use condensed milk instead of sugar. The hot style doesn't come with sugar, so I'd recommend avoiding it since it's not as unique. It's fairly pricey for it's size but worth a visit.
I remember the first time I came to Lan Fong Yuen - my sister and I were blown away by their tomato soup with macaroni. It was amazing! Both my sister and I liked it so much that the owner even came by to comment on how much we enjoyed it. This little tiny café is pretty much an ancient shack in the middle of the street. But despite it looking a bit rundown, you actually see the authenticity of their food, especially in the way they brew their Hong Kong style milk tea. People seriously come from all over just to get a cup. Because the shop is so tiny, be prepared to be seated with other parties. Lots of round tables that can seat up to 8 (albeit super cramped). So returning back to Lan Fong Yuen, I had high expectations for their food although we could only make afternoon tea. Menu is pretty standard and fairly simple - classic HK styled traditional food. We ordered very basic and simple items since we were going to have dinner in a few hours. Condensed milk on toast: I expected something much more elevated than simply condensed milk on toast. But, in all honesty, they served what they advertised. This is something you can make at home, so I definitely do not recommend ordering it. Butter condensed milk buns: I don't remember if this came with another item, but ... this was seriously the exact same item as the condensed milk on toast, only this time it came on the piggy-styled buns (or hamburger buns). They were warmed up and crispy, but something you can make yourself! Not worth ordering. Instant noodle with spam and eggs: Again, very traditional HK styled. And for this dish, yes you can make it yourself, but there is that special charm of eating it in Hong Kong and enjoying the authentic HK flavor of the overall dish. There's something different about eating it in SGV and eating it in HK. Flavor was good and the spam wasn't too salty. For the price, I think it was pretty worth it. HK styled egg sandwich: You really have not eaten an egg sandwich until you've had an authentic HK egg sandwich. They do have some pretty good ones in SGV, but this was also really good. Egg was soft and creamy. Bread was super soft (and also cut pretty small without the crusts). Biting into the sandwich was kind of like biting into little clouds of joy. Egg had good flavor but didn't taste as if it was salted or anything. Must try! And the amazing French toast with Kaya cooked in the middle. To this day, probably the best French toast (HK style) I have ever eaten. Despite it being deep fried, it was so crispy and delightful, and didn't taste heavy at all! The Kaya in the middle gave it more sweetness, combating with the slightly savory taste of the fried toast. Dousing it in syrup and lathering up a piece with butter - the most amazing taste you can imagine. AND feeling it slightly crunch as you bite into the shell of the toast before chewing on the bread - so good! AND the HK styled milk tea or "Stocking Milk Tea" (which is what they are known for). Is it as good as expected? Does it live up to the hype? YES! The smoothest, tastiest, on point HK milk tea I have ever tasted. With just the right amount of sugar and sweetness, this tea seriously just slides down your throat and makes your taste buds thank you with happiness. It's that good! I prefer the iced milk tea, but the hot one isn't too bad either. It's definitely a matter of preference. So worth it - I don't know if they sell their secret formula for making the tea, but if they do, I would totally buy it! The service was as expected. We were trying to figure out the best way to order and still hit most of the specials, but the waitress taking our order just chided us and said she would help us take care of the money. I think she ended up overcharging us in the end, but whatever - still cheaper than a HK breakfast in LA! tl;dr - If you get a chance to try the tomato soup with macaroni, I do recommend it, but I'm not sure if the quality is still as good as when I've had several years ago. MUST order the French toast and HK styled milk tea.
Very limited space. Came on a Friday afternoon around 2PM. Like most popular eating places in HK, you're likely to share a table with others. We were lucky as we did not have to wait to be seated. Ordered 心多多撈丁 (combo noodle), French toast and "stocking" milk tea. The combo noodle included instant noodle, fried chicken wings, fried egg, and smoked canned tuna? It's a weird combo, but HK is a potpourri of East and West. Chicken wings were the highlight. Instant noodle is just that with some sauce. A few pieces of the canned tuna. This has the feel of peasant food - you put in what you have left in the fridge and the dish was created. Didn't know what to expect prior to eating it, but this was just OK. French toast has a slab of butter and it's normal practice to add a layer of honey syrup. Apparently they deep fry this sucker. It's hard to see myself not gain weight eating this. It's overly sweet yet somehow satisfying. 絲襪奶茶 (Stocking Milk tea) is normal HK standard. Added a teaspoon of sugar that made it OK. This is not the same style of Taiwanese boba powdered milk tea, but I enjoyed it regardless. You don't come here to expect great service or ambiance. You come here to get a fix of HK style comfort food at affordable prices. At least now I've been to this place. If there is no line, I may go back in the future. If I have to wait a while, this place probably isn't worth it.
This is the original location of Lan Fong Yuen. This place is well known for the milk tea, which is what I ordered. Except I ordered a iced milk tea. Excellent and actually I found it better than the hot variety. This place is very packed, which means that you need to share a table with other people. It is a must, if and when you are in Hong Kong.
Crazy long line that spans across the street... They have a back section to sit for food, but we just got the hot milk tea to go... Is it worth it? I wasn't impressed. They just dumped a bunch of sugar in a bag, handed us the tea, then pushed us away lol. It wasn't anything special in my book and not worth the line. Maybe the food is better?
Small little shop where you will definitely have to share a table with others! The folks we sat next to were friendly! Of course you must get the milk tea which was great! We also got the toast and dry noodles with pork chops. All three things were items that they are known for and everything was delicious!
I had a couple traditional HK breakfast places bookmarked and they are appealing to me because of the history/tradition, cheap costs, simple menu, and people-watching locals. They are cash only so make sure you have cash if you decide to come. Come early in the morning to avoid crowds, thanks to jetlag getting here at 7:30 was easy and I walked right in. Like many small place in HK expect to share a table if it is packed. Milk Tea: Very simple and traditional, don't expect michelin level taste. It's so good in hot and humid weather. It's brewed right up front using pantyhose as a strainer. Spring onion chicken over dry ramen noodles: The dish they are most known for. This was SO good after a night of drinking and mean whisky breath. The instant noodles are perfectly low-key and great for absorbing all the alcohol. Chicken was delicious and all of it is "activated" by pouring burning oil on the green onions and chicken. Pork Chop Bun: The noodles were enough for me but I really wanted to try this. Tender pork with tomato and mayo in a bun, simple street food that I loved! read more
This spot is a well-visited Hong Kong style cafe or cha chaan teng that has been very popular over the years. Located in the heart of Central, it's a convenient place to stop by if you're going to make the trek up or down Mid-Levels. The location is on a very narrow street where both pedestrians and vehicles are allowed, so be cautious. There is a sign indicating dine-in or carryout at the entrance of the cha chaan teng so be sure not to stand in the wrong line. The cafe inside is very small and crowded whether you go for breakfast or lunchtime. The space is very limited and if you consider yourself taller than the average person in Hong Kong, be very careful when moving through to sit or stand as there are various ceiling heights in the old building. Service is alright and efficient as most HK cha chaan tengs are expected to be however, I didn't like the attitude of one of the servers who brought out my table's meal as it was not what was ordered. She questioned our order and it was very clear that no one in my group ordered it, yet she insisted that we did. After a bit of back and forth, she decided to swap out the meal for the one we actually ordered. The food was A-OK, nothing particularly spectacular. The toasted and buttered bun was decent but didn't have enough butter not toasty char. The macaroni noodle soup was on the bland side. The hot dog and eggs were very typical. The best thing we had were the milk teas. Prices are very normal for Central but would be considered overpriced in other areas of HK. I'm not planning to make a return unless someone requests it specifically or if I only want to grab a milk tea to-go. read more
A classic cha chaan teng! Plenty of seating and fast service. They offer a wide variety of foods from french toast to noodles, grilled chicken, buns, and rice dishes. Food is brought out very quickly and everything tasted pretty good. They're most well known for creating stocking milk tea, or milk tea sieved through a fine mesh. Theirs is really strong and a bit on the bitter end. read more
1 year ago
I absolutely loved Lan Fong Yuen. I came on a Thursday morning around 9:30 a.m., and yeah... I definitely walked past it like three times. It's a little hidden -- kind of tucked in near markets -- and honestly easy to miss if you're not looking closely. But once I found it, I was so glad I did. The place was already full, but there was no line and we got seated right away. We ended up sharing a table with another group, which is typical for a small Hong Kong cafe. It felt cozy and local. I ordered Hong Kong milk tea, French toast, Chicken wings with noodles, Tomato soup with pork chop, egg, and macaroni. I originally got the macaroni soup because I wanted something warm and not fried for breakfast -- and it hit the spot. But then I tried a bite of the chicken wing noodles and immediately thought: oh no... I ordered the wrong thing. It was SO good -- packed with flavor, comforting, just everything I wanted in that moment. And the French toast? Wow. I thought I was full until I took a bite. It literally melted in my mouth, and the pineapple filling in the center was such a fun surprise. The milk tea was perfectly balanced, it's not too sweet, not too strong. Just right. What really stood out, though, was how kind and welcoming the staff were. You know how some places in HK can feel a little rushed or cold? Not here. They were so warm and didn't pressure us to hurry up. It felt like they actually cared. I wanted to come back the next morning, but sadly we ran out of time. Definitely putting this spot at the top of my list for next time I'm in Hong Kong. read more
6 months ago
Would I want to eat this food every day? Mmmm probably No. Was it worth the experience of a cha chaan teng? Yes!!! Then again, we had no wait to get seated as a party of 4 on a weekday (yay for vacation). Expect to share tables with other groups here, due to limited space. I honestly enjoyed that aspect of Hong Kong dining. They are EFFICIENT here and do not waste space! If there's room, yes, please come in and dine. Service was pretty good, our server was really nice, spoke English, and answered our few questions for us as well as letting us know some of the dishes came with a set meal so we might as well order a drink (because it would be complementary as a set). We ordered a lemon iced tea, which is quite sugary but I very much enjoyed, and an iced milk tea which was good too. Tomato soup macaroni with ham - um definitely not my go-to but the tomato soup was refreshing paired with the sweet plates we ordered. Chicken atop noodle - good umami and a bit on the salty side. Pork sandwich - I liked the tomato, it complemented the salty pork well. French toast- this was actually my favorite. There's kayak jam in the middle of both french toast breads. Definitely feel free to share this one with someone else because it is quite large and very sweet. Overall food was good, and experience was great. Didn't get to go to other cha chaan tangs while I was in HK, so I can't compare. But I say if not a long wait this is a fun place to have a good meal- I'd say opt for sitting experience rather than just a hot tea takeaway to get all the vibes. read more
Lan Fong Yuen is a very famous quick spot dining in Central. Expect a line up all the time but pretty much guaranteed for you to be seated within 20 mins. We ordered grill chicken instant noodle, and French toast. The instant noodle is a bit dry, but the grill chicken is very tender. French toast is another signature that must order for dessert. I do recommend to try at least once in your life! read more
Solid HK style milk tea but not worth the hype or the trek. It's located in a part of Central that isn't particularly pedestrian friendly due to the slanted roads and narrow streets. The milk tea was served piping hot to the point where it was burning my hand through the paper cup! They give you packs of white sugar if you order it to-go. read more
You've gotta pay Lan Fong Yuen a visit for some OG HK Style milk tea. This little stand is not the easiest to find, as it's located on a little narrow street. My fiance & I ordered a hot and cold milk tea, and I enjoyed watching them whip up our order behind the stand. Definitely hit the spot, and the drink was super well balanced. Total came out to $53 HKD. read more
10 months ago
Came here because Anthony Bourdain visited here on one of his shows. There is a minimum amount you need to order here (I think it was like $40HKD). I ordered this dry noodle with pork chop and got their famous milk tea. The milk tea tasted amazing, but the noodle was just ok. For a HK cha chaan teng, the service was actually really good. They are accommodating and not rude at all, which was surprising. When I came, travel into HK was barely opening back up with no quarantine restrictions so there was no wait or crowd. Got in an out of here within 30 mins. Definitely come back to try their other stuff like their french toast, but will not purposely go out of my way to visit like I did this first time. There are far more better cha chaan teng's in HK imo. read more
Was planning my first trip to HK and this was on the top of my list after hearing so many friends rave about their pantyhose milk tea 絲襪奶茶. I came across their ready made version of the tea at a market in the states, tried it, and had to see how it compared to the real deal. Came here around 11:30am on a weekday and was seated right away. The restaurant sits behind what looks like a shabby shack. Walk in and you'll enter a room with a very low ceiling and the foldable wooden tables and stools you'd see in chinatown or asian markets; I loved how the atmosphere screamed 'cha chaan teng'. The ready made milk tea was way too strong, slightly bitter and hard to finish in one sitting. The fresh milk tea definitely lived up to it's hype by being the silkiest I've had. I usually turn away from milk teas that taste too bitter/strong/caffeinated but this one had me sipping more. The iced lemon tea, although not their signature item, was also really good. We ordered the chicken lo ding, french toast, pork chop bun, tomato/potato macaroni, beef sauce spaghetti, and the yin yang rice. Nothing came out piping hot, just warm enough to enjoy. Overall, the food and price point were decent and I'd still recommend it to others but would probably only come back for the drinks. read more
This place looks like a hole in the wall, but the cold Hong Kong milk tea was delicious. If you get it cold, they use condensed milk instead of sugar. The hot style doesn't come with sugar, so I'd recommend avoiding it since it's not as unique. It's fairly pricey for it's size but worth a visit. read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
11 years ago
I remember the first time I came to Lan Fong Yuen - my sister and I were blown away by their tomato soup with macaroni. It was amazing! Both my sister and I liked it so much that the owner even came by to comment on how much we enjoyed it. This little tiny café is pretty much an ancient shack in the middle of the street. But despite it looking a bit rundown, you actually see the authenticity of their food, especially in the way they brew their Hong Kong style milk tea. People seriously come from all over just to get a cup. Because the shop is so tiny, be prepared to be seated with other parties. Lots of round tables that can seat up to 8 (albeit super cramped). So returning back to Lan Fong Yuen, I had high expectations for their food although we could only make afternoon tea. Menu is pretty standard and fairly simple - classic HK styled traditional food. We ordered very basic and simple items since we were going to have dinner in a few hours. Condensed milk on toast: I expected something much more elevated than simply condensed milk on toast. But, in all honesty, they served what they advertised. This is something you can make at home, so I definitely do not recommend ordering it. Butter condensed milk buns: I don't remember if this came with another item, but ... this was seriously the exact same item as the condensed milk on toast, only this time it came on the piggy-styled buns (or hamburger buns). They were warmed up and crispy, but something you can make yourself! Not worth ordering. Instant noodle with spam and eggs: Again, very traditional HK styled. And for this dish, yes you can make it yourself, but there is that special charm of eating it in Hong Kong and enjoying the authentic HK flavor of the overall dish. There's something different about eating it in SGV and eating it in HK. Flavor was good and the spam wasn't too salty. For the price, I think it was pretty worth it. HK styled egg sandwich: You really have not eaten an egg sandwich until you've had an authentic HK egg sandwich. They do have some pretty good ones in SGV, but this was also really good. Egg was soft and creamy. Bread was super soft (and also cut pretty small without the crusts). Biting into the sandwich was kind of like biting into little clouds of joy. Egg had good flavor but didn't taste as if it was salted or anything. Must try! And the amazing French toast with Kaya cooked in the middle. To this day, probably the best French toast (HK style) I have ever eaten. Despite it being deep fried, it was so crispy and delightful, and didn't taste heavy at all! The Kaya in the middle gave it more sweetness, combating with the slightly savory taste of the fried toast. Dousing it in syrup and lathering up a piece with butter - the most amazing taste you can imagine. AND feeling it slightly crunch as you bite into the shell of the toast before chewing on the bread - so good! AND the HK styled milk tea or "Stocking Milk Tea" (which is what they are known for). Is it as good as expected? Does it live up to the hype? YES! The smoothest, tastiest, on point HK milk tea I have ever tasted. With just the right amount of sugar and sweetness, this tea seriously just slides down your throat and makes your taste buds thank you with happiness. It's that good! I prefer the iced milk tea, but the hot one isn't too bad either. It's definitely a matter of preference. So worth it - I don't know if they sell their secret formula for making the tea, but if they do, I would totally buy it! The service was as expected. We were trying to figure out the best way to order and still hit most of the specials, but the waitress taking our order just chided us and said she would help us take care of the money. I think she ended up overcharging us in the end, but whatever - still cheaper than a HK breakfast in LA! tl;dr - If you get a chance to try the tomato soup with macaroni, I do recommend it, but I'm not sure if the quality is still as good as when I've had several years ago. MUST order the French toast and HK styled milk tea. read more
Very limited space. Came on a Friday afternoon around 2PM. Like most popular eating places in HK, you're likely to share a table with others. We were lucky as we did not have to wait to be seated. Ordered 心多多撈丁 (combo noodle), French toast and "stocking" milk tea. The combo noodle included instant noodle, fried chicken wings, fried egg, and smoked canned tuna? It's a weird combo, but HK is a potpourri of East and West. Chicken wings were the highlight. Instant noodle is just that with some sauce. A few pieces of the canned tuna. This has the feel of peasant food - you put in what you have left in the fridge and the dish was created. Didn't know what to expect prior to eating it, but this was just OK. French toast has a slab of butter and it's normal practice to add a layer of honey syrup. Apparently they deep fry this sucker. It's hard to see myself not gain weight eating this. It's overly sweet yet somehow satisfying. 絲襪奶茶 (Stocking Milk tea) is normal HK standard. Added a teaspoon of sugar that made it OK. This is not the same style of Taiwanese boba powdered milk tea, but I enjoyed it regardless. You don't come here to expect great service or ambiance. You come here to get a fix of HK style comfort food at affordable prices. At least now I've been to this place. If there is no line, I may go back in the future. If I have to wait a while, this place probably isn't worth it. read more
This is the original location of Lan Fong Yuen. This place is well known for the milk tea, which is what I ordered. Except I ordered a iced milk tea. Excellent and actually I found it better than the hot variety. This place is very packed, which means that you need to share a table with other people. It is a must, if and when you are in Hong Kong. read more
Crazy long line that spans across the street... They have a back section to sit for food, but we just got the hot milk tea to go... Is it worth it? I wasn't impressed. They just dumped a bunch of sugar in a bag, handed us the tea, then pushed us away lol. It wasn't anything special in my book and not worth the line. Maybe the food is better? read more
Small little shop where you will definitely have to share a table with others! The folks we sat next to were friendly! Of course you must get the milk tea which was great! We also got the toast and dry noodles with pork chops. All three things were items that they are known for and everything was delicious! read more
This spot is definitely a tourist trap and "do it for the gram" type of place. It's located in the "arts district" of hong kong and it has that old school hong kong cafe vibe inside and out. Because this spot is located on HK Island and in a more desirable neighborhood, the food is slightly more expensive compared to more local spots. Taste wise I feel like it doesn't really taste any different from other hong kong cafes either. There's just more hype at this spot from social media/local celebrities coming. In all fairness it's one of those bucketlist places to visit but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back again. read more
We came here as part of a Food Tour around Hong Kong. Our tour guide was from Hong Kong and chose to take us here to try their coffee and french toast. There is a cart outside of this place with the option to go sit in the restaurant. It is a little bit of a hole in the wall place that would be easy to miss, and would never guess how good it was. Our guide ordered us the coffee and tea mix that HK is known for. I've never had this before but we all enjoyed it. He also ordered the french toast that HK is also famous for. This dish was absolutely delicious. It was sweet and definitely worth trying. We loved being able to try these HK dishes and this small restaurant did not disappoint. It was also very inexpensive. We would definitely come back! read more
8 years ago
Came here for the si mut milk tea. Very delicious. One of the best I've ever had. Super creamy and smooth and delicious. There's just a bit too much ice and it quickly dilutes the taste of the tea. You can grab and go and enjoy your delicious milk tea while you walk read more
7 years ago
I can't get over how lame this cafe turned out to be. Given how long this place has been around, I expected a lot more. No wait though! - Stocking milk tea ($18 HKD)- what the cafe is famous for. Really, really strong hot milk tea. Tasted like Thai tea, just without the sweetness. - HK Styled egg sandwich ($19 HKD)- I ordered this based on a Yelp review. This was a white, crustless sandwich with a piece of egg inside. I mean... the egg was nicely folded in the sandwich... but it was an egg in bread. - French toast ($24 HKD)- Really buttery and oily. The outside was super fried. I felt like my heart would just stop if I finished the whole thing. Skip this, and go to Wai Kee Congee Shop a few blocks away instead. read more
9 years ago
Food is pretty good and cheap and everything is fast. But similar to all restaurant of this type, service is not great. They constantly try to increase turnover by rushing you out and forcing you to sit with others. While this is the norm for locals, it might feel awkward as a tourist. Come here if you're looking for a quick bite to eat and get a sense of hk culture. But don't expect to be comfortable. Order the iced milk tea, it is fantastic! They apparently were the inventors of the hk style milk tea. read more
I consider this place a very real rendition of Hong Kong's past, that lives on right till today. If you are around the area, and you are here during the morning rush, don't be surprised that this little hole in the wall has a line up, and is packed inside. This place has been talked about in many sites, and as the previous reviewer has said it is known for their ever popular Hong Kong milk tea. Unlike the other reviewer I decided to have this drink hot, even though it was a smoltering temperature outside, I am one of those who needs to start the day off with a kick... and cold just won't do. The cups, for some, may look small, but there is enough there and if you were to have anymore you may 'OD' on this stuff. The experience starts off as so, once you see this place, there is very few english words on the front, except the name in nice red bold letters "LAN FONG YUEN" and the rest is in Chinese. This place looks like it belongs in an 80's HK flick, with people cooking it up right in the front, and people going in and out... with some just coming here to pick up take-out, it's quite a scene. Once you walk in, you are blasted with a heavy does of air conditioning, probably the only thing that makes you comfortable, as the place, in today's standards, is quite dark no matter in the day or at night. Most likely if you are coming in a small group you will be seated with other strangers, as there are a bunch of small round tables with stools, and they direct you to where your sitting, do not expect a quiet, private moment with just you and your guest, this is an order fast, eat... get out type of place. This place is very well tiled, right throughout.. from the floors, to the walls, the only thing I noticed that gave it some character, aside from the specials listed in Chinese on the walls, was a college of old Alan Tam (譚詠麟) record albums. This place seems to be a favorite among the locals, whether you are rushing to school, or rushing to the office, all types of dress wear are in here getting their days all started. People looking at the paper, staring at their phones, slurping and eating away all the goodies this place serves. On the multiple times I have been here with my significant other we have ordered on both occasions, the ever-popular hot HK milk tea.. and the perfectly fried French toast with Kaya (coconut jam in between two thin pieces of bread), and once ordering the soup macaroni with strips of ham and some bits of corn and peas. The milk tea, as potent as it is, if you need a wake up call like most people who need to jump-start there day, is served quick... in small plastic cups that have seen better days as most of them are scratched up to the point they aren't even clear anymore. Served with a small egg-shell colored mixing stick so you can add as much sugar on the table as needed to this creamy tasting drink. The amount of caffeine in this sucker really gets you jumping, at the same time they have the taste down like a science. Every table in the morning is having this with something... don't be surprised. The French toast, coming out on a plastic plate (nothing can be broken in here... as all dishes and plates are plastic!) just looks perfect coming out of the fresh hot boiling oil, with a nice golden tinge, egg perfectly covering all the bread bits, golden with natural eggy residue hanging from the edges, crunchy but not overcooked, how else to describe this is kind of like fried chicken.. the most beautifully cooked piece you have seen.. just that this is French toast... and how dangerously delicious this could be in the morning. They don't over spread the Kaya in the middle either, it provides a perfect balance of sweetness where you can just eat this as is with nothing else.... oh, yes.. there also is a nice small square of butter that is semi-melting when they are bringing this dish to you. The bite is a mixture of crispy eggy outside texture, with very soft white bouncy bread, and a little sweetness to mix it all up. As for the macaroni.. nothing too special, for me, this was a staple of my Chinatown HK cafe breakfast visits... I wanted to see if they did it any differently... it's an acquired taste. Enough macaroni, actually enough meat... and enough of that simple broth that might make you drink more of that HK milk tea. While sitting here I watched people order, get their food, gorge, and get out... quite a site on the eyes.. as the kitchen staff, and the front of the house staff just moved like a well oiled machine. If you are not liking any of the items I wrote about, just know they have other things like instant noodles with various meats, spam with scrambled eggs, different types of Chinese inspired sandwich's.. just to name a few. When you get here.. the place looks like it just meshes with the city and the surroundings, even the produce shop next door looks like a part of this storefront. This is like reliving the past of HK, have fun! read more
#TBT throwing this review back to a Thursday in 1960's Hong Kong... "Be a good lad and get me a fine cup of tea." Today was Little Bright's first day on the job at Lan Fong Yuen. He was a young, hardworking fellow with a rather common name for a fictional character. He wanted to do well in his job so he can save up his wages for his mother's operation.....on the MahJong table. Everything was going very well up until this point. He was serving Condensed Milk Brick Toast with remarkable efficiency and his new co-worker, Mary, was looking awfully attractive with her fancy stockings. Then this had to happen. This last customer's order for a cup of tea may very well ruin Little Bright's first day at work. You see, this last customer (let's just call him Chirs P.) is what Little Bright (LB) would label as a Foreign Ghost. And there were three things that LB knew about Foreign Ghosts. First, they belong with the British government that's hanging out in Hong Kong. Second, they do not fancy being called Foreign Ghosts. And finally, and also most relevant to this story, is that Foreign Ghosts speak only English. It's not that LB didn't know any English at all, in fact, he knew all the English words that were frowned upon. But when Chris P. placed his order in conversational speed, the only words that LB caught were 'fine' and 'tea'. He didn't want to bring out the wrong order for Chris P. or else he might lose his job for 99 years. But he also didn't have enough English firepower to renegotiate with Chris P. about the order. That's when LB realized that he was absolute f_____ed. (hint: this is a word that LB actually knows) But LB was from Hong Kong, so by default he was clever, resourceful, and somewhat good-looking. He hoped that that was enough to get him out of this pickle. At the very least, LB knew that Chris P. had wanted tea, and he remembered from films that foreign ghosts enjoyed their tea with sugar and milk. This practice always seemed peculiar to him, but it may just be his saving grace today. LB borrowed a can of condensed milk from the Brick Toast shelf and emptied a large spoonful onto the tea. The condensed milk provided essentially what sugar&milk did, but in addition, LB noticed that the condensed milk gave the tea a richer flavor. That would be a good thing if the condensed milk had not turn the texture of the tea so dense and gooey. The second word he caught from Chris P.'s order was 'fine'. At LB's age (a young teen), the only thing that's fine in his dictionary were girls. But what in the world does a girl have to do with a cup of tea? Unless... LB called over his female co-worker (Mary) who, by even international standards, was damn fine. Mary was skeptical as to how she could help, since it was obvious to her that she does not physically fit into a cup of tea. But what she did not realize was that LB only wanted her fancy stockings. Ignoring hygiene (remember this was the 60's), Mary took off her stockings and handed it to LB. They did not know it at the moment, but together, they were about to make history. LB took the fancy stocking from his fine co-worker and stretched it over a cup. And in a bold move, he began to pour the tea into the stocking. The tea rushed through the fabric of the stockings and poured into the cup in thousands of individual streams. The resulting cup of tea was still very rich from the condensed milk, but the texture was now silky smooth. It was "fine"! He immediately served it to Chris P. and looked on with trepidation. "Young lad, this is an absolutely amazingly cup of tea. You and that young lady are doing some good work here! Here, please take my business card. Keep working hard, son. I foresee Hong Kong transforming into an international metropolitan in the upcoming years, and your tea shall take center stage!" Although lil Bright could not understand a word that Chris P. had said, he understood the respect and appreciation that he had just received from the foreign ghost. Lil Bright didn't know much people like Chris P., but he realized at that moment that they were not so different at all. It seemed silly to label them as foreign ghosts now that he thought about it. He put the business card in his pocket and gave Mary a big hug. Lil Bright continued to work hard at Lan Fong Yuen, and his new "Stocking Milk Tea" soared in popularity as Hong Kong rose to one of the greatest international cities of the world. Now, he and Mary are both in their later years, and their favorite grand daughter would always ask them about the day they first met. Mary would take out the business card while Lil Bright gets a cup of "stocking milk tea" ready. Then as their grand daughter sips on the world famous tea, Mary would show her the business card and tell her the day when grandpa and grandma served a cup of stocking milk tea to Mr. Patten himself. read more
9 years ago
If you're a brave sort of tourist, you will love this slice of Hong Kong life. Otherwise, don't bother. This looks like a food truck, and you may see a long inexplicable line that doesn't seem to be for any reason. But there's a tearoom behind. Get in the line and when you get to the front, gesture to the back. They'll show you through. You might be seated with other people. I went for the French toast and the egg sandwich (pretty pedestrian foods at home, but much revered here), and was very happy. Menus on the table were in Chinese but you can ask for English. I don't know how they make that French toast but it is GOOD. the egg Sammie was soft and nice to eat. The other people at my table got all kinds of stuff I couldn't recognize but they all looked happy. You pay on your way out. Enjoy! (There's a Lush store catty corner from this, use that for your landmark.) read more
7 years ago
Milk tea! We got to visit the famous Lan Fong Yuen while in Hong Kong and it was pretty cool! Probably one of the only places where you'll get to see the milk tea being made in front of you so if you're doing it for the gram this is a great place! The milk tea itself was pretty good but not mind blowing. Didn't get to try the food but overall seemed pretty tasty! read more
For all the times I've visited family members in Hong Kong, this was my first time ever visiting this local spot. Being born in HK but moved to the states as a kid, I've always grew up drinking HK milk tea at the Hong Kong cafe's in Los Angeles. Not once have I ever drank milk tea as good as this spot; closest would be in San Francisco. The way they brew it here is how they are traditionally made and the nickname my parents give it is "pantyhose tea", since the strainer they used back in the days looked like pantyhose. I wasn't planning on eating here but since my cousin came with my, we ordered food to try since she's never been there either and she lives in Hong Kong. I wasn't exactly sure what she ordered because I can't read Chinese but whatever it was, it was dam good. I ordered the iced milk tea and I would order one everyday I was on Hong Kong island or near this place. read more
9 years ago
Hong Kong restaurant, they serve Milk Tea, Pork-bread and yummy noodles. Welcome traveler to ask me questions about Hong Kong & follow my Yelp if you love my Yelping. read more
The shop was small and crowded, we sat in tight corner with another two parties on the same table (typical local HK scene). I was excited to try this super old stocking milk tea shop, I had such high expectations. The iced milk tea was not strong at all, I couldn't really taste any tea taste and that was really disappointing. I'm wondering if it would've tasted better if I gotten a hot milk tea. We also ordered a french toast and a bun with butter as snacks because we had just ate before coming here. The french toast wasn't bad. Overall, everything was mediocre for a total of $75hkd. read more
9 years ago
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More info about 蘭芳園
2 Gage Street
結志街2號
Hong Kong
Central, Hong Kong Island
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2544 3895
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