Authentic Hong Kong-style tea restaurant in Taoyuan – Golden-yolk soulful char siu rice!

Text & Photos bySir San Gao

Since moving to Hsinchu, I rarely eat at tea restaurants anymore. I commute between Taoyuan and Hsinchu every month, and compared to Taipei, there are far fewer such eateries here. When I saw a friend check in at a newly opened tea restaurant on Zhongzheng Road, I thought I’d invite some friends here for lunch next time I’m in Taoyuan.

This Causeway Bay spot does brisk business at lunchtime. The space isn’t very large, and it fills up quickly after we’re seated. We ordered several shared dishes, and the use of seasonings—the balance of sweet and savory, the aroma—all had an authentic Hong Kong flavor. The cooking methods have been slightly adjusted to suit local Taiwanese tastes, but the degree of adaptation feels just right.

The Soulful Char Siu Rice was topped with some lightly blanched greens. The char siu had a generous amount of honey glaze and came from the leaner portion of the pork—tender without being fatty. Later, I asked the owner and learned that the photo outside the shop shows this dish with extra layers of flavor. The version we got was still quite good, though after some customer feedback, they’ve made further refinements.

The Chicken Cutlet with Scrambled Egg and Scallion Oil Noodles had a sunnyside-up egg cooked to a better degree than the previous one. The noodles were springy, and the scallion oil was well incorporated—tasty overall. The chicken thigh cutlet would have hit the spot even more if it were a bit crispier.

The Dry-Fried Beef Rice Noodles had a firmer texture compared to the fluffy, soft rice noodles from Hsinchu. They reminded me of similar ones I recently had at Ho Hung Kee in Hong Kong—well-seasoned and evenly flavored. The oil seemed to have been reduced somewhat, which I appreciated. I’d have liked a bit more chewiness in the beef, but the taste was solid.

We also ordered a few snacks: curry fish balls, pineapple buns, toast sandwiches, and XO sauce stir-fried radish cakes. I especially loved the stir-fried radish cakes—they were lightly fried first, so they held their shape well. Beyond the inherently good flavor of the radish cakes themselves, the seasoning was authentic and well-executed. The dish had a lovely aroma of lightly caramelized onions, bean sprouts, and eggs.

A great meal. For those craving a more authentically Hong Kong-style dining experience, customer support is definitely important too.

Causeway Bay Hong Kong Cuisine

Address: No. 313, Zhongzheng Rd., Taoyuan District, Taoyuan City
Business hours: 11:00 AM–8:30 PM (Closed Wednesdays)

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