Hong Kong 8AM cafe is one of the popular cafes in Georgetown selling Hong Kong cafe-style (cha chan teng) dishes. Located at Macalister Lane at Georgetown, although this shop is hidden away from the bustling main street, this shop is always packed with diners all the time. As the name suggests, the cafe opens as early as 8AM and closes at 3:30PM. Popular food such as Polo Butter Bun and Ice Bucket Milk Tea are usually sold off pretty quickly.
It is a very humble-looking little cafe with around 15 tables. Due to its capacity, it is common that you have to wait outside for a table.
The interior is very basic with minimal design, yet it is still very popular.
Polo Bun with Butter (菠萝油) – RM4.50, a very typical Hong Kong pastry. The top of the bun was covered with slightly sweet crust while the inner of the bun was stuffed with a piece of creamy butter.
In Penang, it is so difficult to get Polo Butter Bun. That is the reason I came to this cafe to try out the bun. It is in fact one of their best-sellers and usually sold out by noon. The top crust was so nice and the bun was soft and warm. Having it with soft and creamy butter was simply satisfying. This bun is perfect when it is served warm.
Fresh Shrimp Pork Dumpling Noodle (鲜虾猪肉水饺面) – RM6.90, This is similar to our Wantan Mee except for the dumpling. The dumpling was made with a mixture of shrimps, minced pork and shredded black fungus. The noodle was cooked with dark soy sauce with some vegetables and spring onions.
The texture of the noodle was so springy while the gravy was mixed-well with dark say sauce and a touch of oyster sauce. The dumpling was very tasty and slightly crunchy due to the black fungus.
Luncheon Meat & Egg Noodle (餐蛋面) – RM7.90, the noodle used was “Indomie” instant noodle and topped with luncheon meat and a sunny side-up.
If you are a fan of Indomie, you will love this. Although you might think you can easily cook this simple dish at home, it is still one of the popular dishes here. The noodle was slightly spicy due to the mixture of chili powder from the original instant noodle mix.
Pork Chop “Indomie” Noodle (猪扒Indo面) – RM8.90, this time the indomie noodle was served with slices of grilled pork chops.
The grilled pork chop was delicious and packed with flavors. This pork chop is one of the top sellers here.
Ice Bucket Milk Tea (冰镇浓厚奶茶) – RM5.90, this milk tea is one of the signatures here. It was served in a glass bottle which was then placed in an ice bucket. This kept the milk tea cold without diluting its rich-flavoured tea and milky taste. Most importantly, it was not overly sweet.
Yin Yong Tea plus Coffee (鸳鸯) Hot – RM4.70, the thick and aromatic combination of coffee and tea at this cafe is a signature drink in most Hong Kong-style cafes. This is something not to be missed for those who wish to taste the best of both worlds.
Overall, the price of the food here was very reasonable and the type of food served was very commonly accepted. If you are not a fan of instant noodle, the indomie dishes above come with other noodle options as well. The place is usually packed with people and it is advised to be here earlier to avoid disappointment.
Editor’s Review (5 Stars Rank):
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Quick Facts:
| Family Friendly |  |
| Parking |  |
| Pork Free | |
| Alcohol | |
| Credit Card | |
| Reservation | |
| Private Room (Private Area) | |
| WIFI Available | |
Operation hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm (Monday Close)
Contact: 012-5215060
Address: 93, Lorong Macalister, George Town, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang
GPS: 5.4166674,100.3236976