You can find authentic egg waffles in a hidden alley in Tainan! The decor is full of Hong Kong-style charm

By /Puwu Food Travel Notes

Full of Hong Kong flavor: A hidden authentic cha chaan teng tucked in the alleys of Tainan’s residential area~

Rongyu Cha Chaan Teng is located in the very secluded and quiet Rongyu Street in East District, Tainan. There’s no signboard at the entrance—only insiders can find this place. The shop has limited operating hours (12:30–18:30), and there’s no strict time limit for dining. To enjoy my afternoon tea in comfort, I arrived and waited at the door by 12:20 haha.

If it weren’t for the red Spring Festival couplets with playful phrases like “cake, Swiss roll, egg waffle,” I wouldn’t have found the entrance to Rongyu Cha Chaan Teng. This place is run by a Hongkonger who settled in Tainan (the one with glasses is the owner). The space is filled with strong Hong Kong vibes and nostalgic elements. Not only that, but even the TV plays Hong Kong programs—it really feels like you’ve been transported to Hong Kong in an instant.

Cha chaan tengs are the predecessors of modern Hong Kong-style cafés. Early cha chaan tengs only served drinks and light meals, unlike today’s cafés that offer a wide variety of food. The owner named the shop “cha chaan teng” instead of café to commemorate and preserve the unique features of Hong Kong’s food culture. The cha chaan teng culture first emerged in the 19th century when there were no ice-making machines, so ice had to be imported from overseas. Back then, only wealthy families could afford to visit cha chaan tengs. It wasn’t until later, when ice could be produced locally in Hong Kong, that it became accessible to the general public. Even now when I go to Hong Kong, I make a point to look for cha chaan tengs. It’s not always about the taste—it’s more about the sentiment. (Getting old, getting sentimental XD)

When talking about Hong Kong cha chaan tengs, there are a few essential elements, such as ceiling fans, booth seating, and patterned tiles. Rongyu Cha Chaan Teng also has “Ping An Bao.”

Ping An Bao are buns used for rituals during festivals like the Hungry Ghost Festival. People believe that eating these red-stamped buns can bring them peace and safety. They’re super cute in photos.

The shop has a very talkative cat. He might come up to you on his own, but since he has a bit of a personality, it’s best not to hug or grab him randomly—he’ll get upset XD

Rongyu Cha Chaan Teng mainly serves Hong Kong-style drinks, herbal teas, cakes, light meals, and pour-over coffee. After 6 PM, only drinks and cakes are available, and the shop closes at 6:30 PM. It’s better to come earlier ^^ On the top right corner of the menu, it even specifically states that Cantonese is welcome for ordering.

There are quite a few options for pour-over coffee, and all the coffee beans are roasted in-house. If you’re not sure what to choose, you can directly ask the owner, who will recommend and suggest options based on your preferred taste.

Yuenyeung Milk Tea $180, Salted Lemon 7-Up $130, French Toast $150, Egg Waffle $120
Note: In Hong Kong-style cafés, cold drinks cost extra. At Rongyu Cha Chaan Teng, cold and hot drinks are the same price.

Egg Waffle (made to order, 15-minute wait)

The golden-brown egg waffles are lightly crisped on the surface and emit an irresistible aroma when served. Be sure to eat them while hot. Each egg waffle is plump in shape—you’d almost want to press them down XD

Rongyu’s egg waffles have a crispy exterior and a soft, chewy interior, with a great texture.

The cross-section of the egg waffle retains moisture, and you can clearly feel its elasticity and sweetness as you chew—getting tastier the more you bite.

The egg waffles also come with cane sugar syrup for dipping.

French Toast (made to order, 15-minute wait)

The golden French toast, coated in egg wash and pan-fried until crisp, is probably one of the most popular light meals at Hong Kong-style cafés ^^ Watching the unsalted butter slowly melt on the toast has an oddly comforting effect XD

The surface of the French toast is not only topped with butter but also drizzled with honey, giving it that shiny, glossy look. The scene is so tempting I can’t bear to look—but the calories are definitely intimidating too!!!

The filling inside the French toast contains chunky peanut butter, blending sweet, salty peanut flavor with the richness of butter—delicious.

Yuenyeung Milk Tea (made to order, 15-minute wait)

The way this drink is presented is quite special. In addition to serving it in a commemorative bottled mug, they also provide an empty chilled cup and a small coffee cup with plain milk tea, allowing customers to compare the difference between the original and the yuenyeung version.

Note: The shop also sells Rongyu Cha Chaan Teng commemorative glass bottles ($250).

Plain milk tea is the “silky milk tea” listed on the menu, made with various types of tea and fresh and condensed milk. It has a rich tea aroma and thick, smooth milk flavor. Yuenyeung is a combination of coffee and milk tea, perfect for people like me who prefer coffee over milk tea but still want some of that sweet milkiness.

The owner mentioned that most Hong Kong-style cafés use Dutch-produced Carnation condensed milk, and interestingly, this product is sold only in Hong Kong worldwide—even the Netherlands doesn’t carry it. It was created specifically for the Hong Kong market. The milk is made from fresh milk, distilled at high temperatures, then 60% of the water content is removed, preserving the natural milk aroma and creaminess. Therefore, the quality of the condensed milk plays a crucial role in the taste of Hong Kong-style milk tea. Take a sip of Carnation, and you’ll notice its thick, silky texture and delicate, rich milk fragrance.

Note: The shop also sells Carnation condensed milk ($80).

Salted Lemon 7-Up $130

Funny enough, this was actually the first time in my life I tried salted lemon 7-Up. I usually skip sodas because I don’t like them. I decided to try it this time purely because a netizen strongly recommended it, and seeing salted lemons being sold in-store made me think I should step out of my comfort zone XD Salted lemons are made by curing fresh lemons with salt for six months to a year. Online sources say drinking salted lemon with water can help relieve coughs and phlegm. Adding it to soda just makes it easier to drink.

Note: The shop also sells canned salted lemons ($220).

The salted lemon 7-Up tastes sweet with a hint of salt, and salty with a touch of sourness. You can also taste plenty of lemon pulp, making for a uniquely rich and enjoyable flavor.

The owner of Rongyu Cha Chaan Teng is very friendly and enjoys chatting. Friends who love conversation can sit at the counter and chat with the owner ^^ He said he chose to set up the cha chaan teng in Tainan’s alleys to strike a balance between work and life (meaning he’s not in it to get rich XD). He hopes to preserve the unique cha chaan teng culture of Hong Kong and isn’t willing to alter the original flavors to cater to Taiwanese tastes. I think what you’re tasting at Rongyu Cha Chaan Teng is also a sense of longing for Hong Kong.

Rongyu Cha Chaan TengFacebook Fan Page

Address: No. 55, Lane 84, Rongyu Street, East District, Tainan City
Phone: 06-2908281
Business Hours: 12:30–18:30; closed days subject to fan page announcements
WIFI & Power Outlets Available, No Time Limit