Lan Fong Yuen — Restaurant in Hong Kong Island

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...

I was recommended to try this shop famous milk tea. My friend tried it at least more than 5 years ago and he said it was good.

There was limited space for manoeuvring by the workers as all the tables are stacked closed to one another. Not really a problem for us .

We arrived around 9.30am and some meals meant for 11am were not available . We ordered 猪仔包 厚身Toast ( Thick skin toast)

猪扒包 (Pork bun)

餐蛋面

Milk tea (hot and iced) The milk tea was definitely the worst we'd ever tasted. The taste is so light that even 3in 1 instant milk tea was better. And the toast? I can't say it's of normal quality, coz I cannot understand how one could make such an awful toast! I practically throw away the thick skin toast. The only thing normal was perhaps the noodles. All the workers including the 'boss' were extremely rude to us (including other customers). We shared a table with some singaporeans and one of them practically lost her patience and shouted back at the worker. There were some Thai who were not familiar with the menu and the person taking the order was doing all the little acts to show his nuisance. Come'on, you should treat your customers with respect. If you are thinking to visit this shop, be prepared to To be given bad treatment, (from ordering to being served and pay bill)

To drink milk tea so bad that you cannot taste anywhere else.

Served toast that are so hard and tasteless

Cramped into tiny space with other people

From being voted as one of the best in Central in 2008, after 8 years, no one could understand how this shop can reach such a horrifying state.

And I will finished with a quote from my travel mates “看你几时关门大吉“ (loosely translated as "We await the day your shop lost all...

Lan Fong Yuen is a cozy local restaurant that specializes in serving authentic 撈公仔麵 (lo mein with toppings), a popular Chinese dry mix instant noodle style dish. While the restaurant may not offer a spacious seating arrangement, it compensates with its unique atmosphere.

Let's start with the food. Lan Fong Yuen's 撈公仔麵 is undoubtedly tasty and satisfying. The noodles are cooked just right, and the toppings complement them nicely. The flavors are authentic, capturing the essence of this classic Chinese dish. However, it's worth noting that the taste, while good, may not necessarily blow you away. It falls more into the category of enjoyable rather than mind-blowingly amazing.

What truly sets Lan Fong Yuen apart is its vibe. The restaurant exudes an ambiance that resonates with many customers. It has a certain charm that beckons people to step inside and experience a slice of local culture. Whether it's the hustle and bustle of the staff or the mingling of guests, there's a bustling energy that adds to the overall appeal of the place.

The cozy seating arrangement, while it may be a bit tight, contributes to the intimate and authentic experience. You'll find yourself in close proximity to other diners, creating a sense of camaraderie. This is especially appreciated by those seeking a more immersive and communal dining experience.

Overall, Lan Fong Yuen is a restaurant worth visiting, particularly if you're looking for an authentic taste of 撈公仔麵 and a unique atmosphere. While the food may not be groundbreaking, it is still enjoyable, and the restaurant's charm and cozy ambiance make up for any shortcomings. So, if you're in the mood for a comforting meal and a cultural experience, Lan Fong Yuen is a place...