Since moving to the New York City area, I’ve explored several old-school Hong Kong style Chinese breakfast restaurants in Manhattan’s Chinatown. There are countless options, so I usually do a quick online search to help me decide which restaurant to try. Inevitably I will come across a few 1-star reviews complaining of the poor service, lack of ambiance, and unsmiling staff. Ironically, these bad reviews can actually signal that this is one of the better restaurants to visit for good, authentic Chinese fare. It means that the restaurant is focusing its efforts on the food and authenticity in means of preparation. As long as these 1-star reviews for service are balanced by 5-star reviews for taste, it’s a green light in my book.
Unfortunately, the culture shock can also be a source of intimidation for visitors unfamiliar with how Chinese restaurants work, functioning as a bar against those who would otherwise quite enjoy the food. This is what inspired this guide to Chinese breakfast in NYC Chinatown- I hope it will come in handy and help you to survive (and enjoy!) the wondrous world of Chinese breakfast.
When to eat Chinese breakfast
Aim to arrive hungry between 9:00-10:30am. Check the restaurant hours online ahead of time, as different restaurants stop serving breakfast at different times. And keep in mind that the crowds come rushing in during the later half of the breakfast time slot. If your order isn’t placed by the cutoff time, you may not be able to get breakfast!
Chinese breakfast step 1:
First things first- you have to be seated. The service and wait staff really depend on how “old school” the restaurant is. More westernized Chinese restaurants will have someone smiling at the front door waiting to show you graciously to your table, and the rest of your dining experience won’t feel too foreign. This guide will focus on the more old school places as they function quite a bit differently. At grungier (these are usually tastier and more authentic!) places, you’ll have to fight for your server’s attention as he/she will be busy running around waiting tables and might not see you. Don’t be afraid- just call out to them and indicate the number in your party (if you’re worried they don’t speak too much English, just hold up the number of fingers and they’ll get the message). Don’t expect cheery smiles and pleasantry from the wait staff, but know that they aren’t angry or treating you differently from any other patrons, they just have a lot of tasks to do in very short time. Don’t be dissuaded if you feel awkward, the best part is yet to come after you’re seated!
How to order your Chinese breakfast
If you came for Hong Kong style breakfast, you’re in luck- breakfast options are usually presented in sets labeled “A, B, C, D.” You pick an option for food, select your accompanying drink, and are good to go. This makes it super easy to order even if you don’t speak a lick of Chinese. When it’s time to order, you simply say (or point) “breakfast C, with a Hong Kong milk tea” or “breakfast A, with a lemon tea.” Not sure what to order? Here’s a guide to the Hong Kong style food and drink that may appear on the menu!
Make eye contact with the waiter who sat you and call out to them to get their attention. Likely what will happen next is they will look up at you, give a brief nod, and go right back to what they were doing before. Never fear, they’ll be by your table soon. You’ll use the same “shout and gesture “ technique when it’s time to get your check and pay.
The Best Hong Kong Style Chinese Breakfast Foods
Oh my — there are so many absolutely scrumptious options — far too many to list out in one post, but you can read about some of my personal favorites here.
Things to keep in mind when eating Chinese breakfast
- Bring cash! The majority of smaller places serving Chinese breakfast are cash only.
- It will be loud. Very loud. Breakfast is the time when families get together and bond before a busy day, groups of elderly friends reconnect over food and tea, and younger adults like myself bring their friends to explore a small but delicious part of the world of Chinese food. You’ll be surrounded by the sounds of servers yelling orders to each other, parties chatting and laughing together, and customers calling out to place orders or get their checks.
- Speaking of checks, don’t be surprised when a group of elderly women suddenly break out into shouts while waving around fistfuls of dollar bills. What’s happening, you ask? They are fighting over who has the honor of paying the tab, and it’s not uncommon for one lady to sneak away from the table to pay, only to have a few others run after to hijack her plan and submit the payment themselves. All in good fun and quite amusing to watch- it’s all part of the experience of eating at a traditional Chinese restaurant.
- Portions are large and prices low. Think $5-6 for a breakfast combo that will more than fill your tummy. A winning combo.
- You will leave both physically and mentally satisfied, with belly stuffed and heart full after taking part in the vibrant experience of tasting flavorful food and people watching that is Chinese breakfast.
I’m so grateful to be living in a city that offers genuine options for Hong Kong style breakfast. It’s said that New York City’s Chinatown is like a time capsule, unchanged since the early 1900’s. I personally love all the tastes Chinatown has to offer and hope you all can experience it for yourself.
What are your favorite ethnic foods to experience?
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