What comes to your mind when we mention the words “Hong Kong”? For me, it is the old-school cha chaan teng, the milk tea, egg tarts, and roast meats — just thinking about it now makes me drool. Since I can’t hop on a plane to Hong Kong now, I’ll just have to satisfy my cravings here in Friends Kitchen HK in Singapore.
Located along Neil Road, the entire eatery is decked out in a retro aesthetic that is reminiscent of the old-school cha chaan tengs found in Hong Kong. One step into the space and it feels as though we have been transported to the land of roast meats and egg tarts, with the wooden bench seats and posters of Hong Kong movie classics pasted all over the walls. To add to the feels, there’s also soft Cantonese music playing in the background.
Food-wise, you’re looking at an extensive selection of Cantonese favourites like curry fishballs, bolo buns, baked rice, beef brisket hor fun, pork chop and more. These are just some of the many dishes that came recommended to us from the whole menu. We reckon you might take a while to choose your dishes for sure. The menu also has a lunch set which comes with a choice of main, one free side, and a drink, all from just S$12 — super value for money! Although, do note that this lunch set is only available on weekdays.
In true Hong Kong fashion, we ordered the staple at every cha chaan teng — Nissin Noodles with Luncheon Meat. We added on a sausage plus a side of butter toast and the quintessential hot milk tea to complete the experience. The springy noodles and the flavourful chicken soup reminded me of my last Hong Kong trip almost 10 years ago. And yes, we get that ordering instant noodles outside might be a waste of money, but this truly was worth every penny.
Another must-try at the eatery is the Char Siew & Egg with White Rice (S$12). Most places the char siew is either a hit or a miss depending on how it is cooked and the cut of meat. The one served here was definitely a hit, with a good fat to meat ratio. The sweetness of the meat blended well with the semi-runny egg yolk. I only wish the char siew was a little thicker and the rice had a little bit more sauce.
You can’t make a visit to a cha chaan teng without giving their baked goods a go. We had the Bolo Bun with butter (S$5.60) and the Butter with Milk Toast (S$3). The bolo bun was hands down one of the better ones I’ve tried because it had a nice caramelised crust with a soft and pillowy centre. The dough soaked up the melted butter, giving it a nice burst of savouriness with each bite.
For the milk toast, the team at Friends decided to keep things simple with a copious amount of condensed milk sandwiched between two slices of toasted white bread. While my inner child gleefully enjoyed every drip of condensed milk, I would have preferred if a slightly thicker bread was used (instead of regular white bread).
Overall, Friends Kitchen does make for a great spot to hang out especially if you’re craving some authentic Hong Kong fare! There were so many items we wanted to try on the menu but weren’t able to, like the Homemade Black Sesame (S$5) and Baked Pork Chop Rice (S$14), so I’ll definitely be making a trip back.
Are you hungry for some egg tarts and roast meats?
Friends Kitchen HK
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???? 78 Neil Road, Singapore 088841
???? 11.30am—3.30pm, 6pm—10.30pm (Wed to Mon), Closed on Tue
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Photos by Marcus Leong
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