Hong Kong char chan tangs are really popular here - apart from the ubiquitous Xin Wang HK Cafe, others like Central HK Cafe, Honolulu Cafe, Tsui Wah, So Good Char Chan Tang have opened a few branches in Singapore.
Friends Cafe HK was opened in September last year by a couple who spent months to painstakingly design the cafe's interior that would closely resemble a char chan teng setting. Little details such as the mosaic tile flooring, wall mirrors, back-to-back benches, right down to the glass-covered table top with menus inserted in-between allowed visitors to be immersed in a realistic HK cafe atmosphere.
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| Homemade HK Milk Tea, $3.50 |
The first thing that my wife jotted down on the order chit was of course the milk tea (which they did not serve in the opening months of business) - and it did not disappoint. The aroma, concentration and smoothness were on-point and close to what we remember having in Hong Kong cafes. Just like it is over there, the sugar came separately in another container to be added to your liking. A definite must-order here in my opinion.
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| Beef Balls Brisket Hor Fun, $7.50 |
Being fans of beef brisket, and having fond memories of the ngow lam we had along the streets of Causeway Bay and Mongkok, we ordered the Beef Balls Brisket Hor Fun with great anticipation. The beef balls were huge like how we remembered it, but it was the beef tendons which we loved - delightfully soft, wobbly and jelly-like. The broth had a good braise flavour but was a little overwhelmed by the taste of the hor fun. Note to self to customise and omit the hor fun on my next trip.
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| Deep Fried Chicken Thigh, $5.50 |
This was my favourite dish here - just check out the appetizing gleam on the exterior. I liked how the meat was subtly-flavoured with five-spice powder, lightly-salted and fried to a crisp on the outside, yet retaining its juiciness on the inside.
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| Chicken Chop Instant Noodles with Luncheon Meat, $8.50 |
Instant noodles or 公仔面 is one of the mainstays of a char chan tang menu. It is simple fare but popular in Hong Kong due to its status as a "fast food" in the fast-paced city - something that can be churned up quickly and conveniently. Here, the dish is served in a familiar chicken broth, topped with a wedge of luncheon meat and grilled chicken thigh. Not bad, but nothing out of the ordinary either. You could choose other familiar toppings like pork chop, spiced pork cubes or satay sliced beef too. Their preserved vegetable bee hoon is popular too - something I would like to try on my next visit.
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| French Toast with Peanut Butter ($4.50) |
We also tried out the French Toast with peanut butter, which was served with a peanut butter filling plus a thick slice of butter on top. Pretty decent on first-bite, but the combination of deep-fried bread, peanut butter, butter plus maple syrup meant that it was a little heavy - ideally, this order must be shared within the table, otherwise it will probably be too cloying for one person.
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| Spicy Century Egg, $5 |
The spicy century egg came with a mala-based sauce. Visually-pleasing with bright colours, the cold century eggs in a tart mala sauce plus garlic bits were very refreshing. A pleasant combination that would probably be more at home in a Chinese eatery, but nevertheless it was delicious and I would order it again on my next visit.
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| Red Bean with Ice Cream, $4 |
We ended off the meal on a sweet note by ordering their red bean with ice-cream, another recommended item on their menu. essentially it's red bean paste at the bottom with some milk and topped up with ice-cream. Nothing mind-blowing again, but still a tasty concoction.
Overall, while the menu is not as extensive as other HK cafes around, the fare is competent and I find the items reasonably-priced. Its casual setting also makes for an ideal informal catch-up venue as well. Just be wary that peak hour queues can take a while to clear as seating is limited here.
You can check out my TikTok clip below for a closer look at the dishes:
Friends Cafe HK 朋友冰室
60 Springside Walk, #01-18, Singapore 78602
Opening Hours: 11.30am to 2.30pm, 5.30pm to 8.30pm
Closed every Tuesday
Date of Last Visit: 29th April 2022
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